Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-08-05
Battles of Gettysburg.


We have been elmitted to make the following interest,"
ing extracts from letter written BY gallant young Off
Ger of the ID N c. regiment, Ramseurs brigade to his
mother in this City,
"Just as we arrived on the ground, our division
was recovering from repulse, in which VERSIONS
N. G. brigade and Daniels N. G. brigade were bad
ly cut up. Things looked decidedly blue, but lines
were reformed, and again we advanced, our brigade
being assigned position the left that overlooked
the enemy. The right and centre were soon en-
gagged, and brought to halt but amid bursting
Shells and whis.iss bullets we steadily advanced
until we had driven the enemy's weak right beyond
their main line when our gallant Brigsdier, Ram
seur, seeing the advantage, in the face of torrent
Of bullets, wheeled his entire brigade to the right
and before the Yankees could think, we were pour
ing showers Of rifle balls into their right flank and
rear. Their whole line breke and fed, and at one
time I was fearful their running troops would crush
our little brigade. We had them fairly in pen,
with only one gap open-the turnpike that led
into Gettysburg-and hither they fed 90 deep, we
all the while popping it to them as fast we could
load and fire, and into town we rushed pellmell
after them, our brigade in the advance. was with
my company in the skirmish line, in 'front.' and
when the Yankees got into town, they hid by hun
dreds in houses and barns, and had the felicity of
capturing any number l got three swords and
two pistols from officers who surrendered to me-
the enemy left the fields covered with the dead and
wounded
Just at the close of the fight, the other divisions
of our corps came up, but they had hardly chance
to fire gun. Our division had borne the brunt of
the fight by itself We lost 5000 men killed,
wounded and missing out of about 10000. Our
brigade loss was comparatively slight, and had
only one man wounded. The enemy hsd fled south
of the town, and had taken position on the ridge
H. raco
ing the enemy up, and continuing the fight (as
"old Jack" would have done) the pursuit was car
ried no further than the base of the enemy's new
position, when our line halted for the day, and
rev lines of battle were formed, and we rested in
that position till the next day, waiting for Long.
street and Hill to come up That delay Das JGtat
to u.s. Our new line of battle extended through the
streets of Gettysburg and there slept that night
1t is the opinion of many that we lost the golden
opportunity in not keeping up the attack that even
ing, and concur ip that opinion. The evenings re-
Enforcement had not como up; they had been badly
whipped and demoralized and it is believed that we
could have taken their position that evening with
the loss of less than 800 1t afterwards cost us TO-
900, and then we could not held it. Had we taken
it that evening it lis hardly possible to say, how
great our victory would have been. Washington
would have been evacuated, Baltimore would have
been free, Maryland unfettered, the enemy discom-
fitted, and our victorious banners Haunting defiant
" before the panic stricken North. There we miss.
ed the genius of jackson. The simplest soldier in
the ranks felt it. and results have proven it. But
timdity in the commander that stepped into the
shoes of the fearless jackson, prompted delay and
all night long the busy axes from tens ct thousands
of busy hands on that crest rang oItcseary on the
night air. and bespoke the preparation the enemy
were making for the morrow, while opr troops were
feasting the good things the fleeing inhabitants
of Gettysburg had left in their open and deserted
houses, and the sun of the I'd Of July reese on pill
LACED city, and feasted army, on our side, while
embrasured emnences and frowning. cannon arose
from the forest as if by magic, in our front The
enemy's whole army had come.up during the night
and so had ours. They occupied crest or ridge,
mountain like in appearance, running3 miles north
east by south west from Gettysburg while our
troops were deployed some halfmile frem its base,
fronting them Longstreet on the right, Hill in the
centre, and Ewell on the left, while our artillery
was placed Oh an elevated ridge behind the infantry
line. 7Skrmishing ratified along the'line from day
light to dark, but until 8 p m. Of the ID no heavy
fighting took place, the time being occupied in
making dispositions and preparing for the onslaught
The position of our division was Immediately to the
right of the town, where the enemys position was
the steepest and where there was less likelihood OF
making successful attack, and Gen. Lee intended
us only to hold our position, while these troops on
the right and left of u.s. charged the enemy. On
the extreme right Lee made his utmost endeavors
to drive the enemy, and there the hardest fighting
took place. The other positions were emily assaulted
in order that the enemy might notAnow where to
mass his greatest force.
Asp. NJ the ball opened. For tive hours the
roar Of artillery was iscessant and the bowling and