Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-08-04
BATTLES of GeffHshnrg.

We have been permitted to make the Flowing interest
INK 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 arrived on the ground our division
was recovering from repulse, in which Iverson's
n. Q. brigade and Daniels N. Q. brigade were bad
ly cut up. Things looked decidedly blue but lines
were reformed and again advanced, our brigade
being igned position the left that overlooked
the enemy. The right and centre were soon en-
| gagged, and brought to halt, but amid bursting
shells and whstling bullets we steadily advanced
until we had driven the enemys weak right beyond
their main line, when our gallant Brigadier 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 broke and fled, and at one
time 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 20 deep, we
all the while popping it to them as fast we could
load and fire. and into town we rushed pell nell
after them our brigade in the advance. was with
my company in the skirmsh 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-
We captured 900 prisoners during the fight while
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 l had
only one man wounded. The enemy had fled south
OF the town, and had taken position on the ridge
that caused US all our after loss. Instead of follow
ing the enemy up, and continuing the fight, (as
odd Jack would have done) the pursuit was car
rled no further than the base OF the enemy's new
position when line were halted for the day and
new lines of battle were formed, and we rested in
that position till the next day, waiting for Long
street and Hill to come up. Ihat delay soas fatal
to as. 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 in that opinion. The evenings re-
lntorcement had not come up; they had been badly
whipped and demoraZed, and it is believed that we
could have taken their position that evening with
the loss of less than 500 1t afterwards cost us TO-
600, and then we could not hold it. Had we taken
1t that evening it is hardly possible to say, how
great our victory would have been Washington
would have been evacuated, Baltimore would have
been Tree, Marylan unettered the enemy discom-
fitted, and our victorious banners fauLting defiant
ly 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
tmIdity in the commander that stepped into the
shoes of the fearless Jackson prompted delay, and
all night long the busy axes from tens of thousands
OF busy hands on that crest rang clearly on the
night air. and bespoke the preparation the enemy
were making for the morrow, while our troops were
feaSting on the good things the fleeing inhabitants
OF Gettysburg had left in their open and deserted
houses, and the of the I'd of July rose on pill
laged city, and feasted army, on our side, while
embra2ured eminences and frowning cannon arose
from he hur M.
enemyS whole army had come up during the night,
and so had ours They occupied crest or ridge,
mountain like in appearance, running miles north
east by south west from Gettysburg while our
troops were depoyed some halfmile from its base,
fronting them, Longstreet the right Hill in the
centre, and Ewell on the left, while our artillery
was placed on an elevated ridge behind the infantry
line. Skirmishing ratified along the line from day
light to dark, but until p. m. of the 3D. 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 less likelihood of
making successful attack, and Gen. Lee intended
only to hold our position, while those troops on
the right and left of US, 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 only assaied
in order that the enemy might not know where to
mass his greatest force.
At P. NJ the ball opened For two hours the |
roar of artillery was incessant, and the bowling and