Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-07-08

$500" P'NPS1 W tAohsii ~. 3fz7Hl 30
30 Your friend; S. G. SNYDER.
General Trimble on the Battle of Get
tysburg.
Society of the Army and Many of the Com
federate State in Maryland, at Raine's HALL
Baltimore, General Isaac r. Trimble delivered
minute aud exhaustive criticism on an ac>
count of the battle of Gettysburg, in which
he participated.
Fhe General commenced by saying. that
much had already heen said and written about
the battle of Gettysburg, but that many errors
are yet entertained concerning it, The battle
took place without the intent or knowledge of
either commander of the adverse forces. and
hence confusion, uncertainty aud absence of
well combined action marked its progress on
both sides. Concert of action was rendered
extremely difficult by the fact that the extent
OF ground covered by the two armies was from
flank to flank about six miles. The first aim
OF Gen. Lee in his movement from Frederick
burg to the Valley Of Virginia, and thence
across the Potomac, Cen Trimble said. was
to thwart the Federal movement on Rich>
mond, and tn draw the Federal army from
Virginia. Gen. Lee knew that TO take large
army into Pennsylvania he had to fight great
battle somewhere. 49,
He hoped to be prepared for this battle.
which he,was not, because of the disobcdiepce
OF his cavalry commander, and the want of
concerted action between his corps COM
manders. The General then went on to give
narrative of the campaign aod battle in Che
form of Journal. Hesaid that the facts re-
lated came under his personal knowledge, and
OF the facts alone he now proposed to speak.
His narrative was interspersed with quite
number of anecdotes, one of which was
that General Lee, while debating as to what
should be his treatment of the people in
Pennsylvania, said: 81 cannot hope that
Heaven will prosper our cause when we are
violating its laws I shall therefore carry on
the war in Pennsylvania without offending the
sanction of high civilization and Of Christi
anity." General Trmble further remarked
"On the, 25th of June Gen. Lee entered
Maryland. l met him in Hagerstown and
suggested sending at once brigade to Balti>
more to take that city, rouse Maryland, and
thus emparrass the enemy. There was not
a brigade. however, which could be spared
General Lee said to me, on the evening of
the same day, that tho men we're in finer
spirits than he had ever seen them in anv
campaign, and that he hoped to meet the
enemy, as they came UP through Frederick,
broken down with hunger aud hard marching,
aud to throw an overwhelming force upon
their advance, crush it, follow up the success.
drive one corps back on another, and by sues
cessive repulses and surprises, before they
could concentrate. to create panic, and natu-
rally destroy their army. He then, placing
his hand on the map of Pennsylvania, said
that great battle would probably be fought
near Gettysburg; and. IF God gives us the
victory be added, Che war will be over.'-
The General then enters into detail of the
varying fortunes of the battle of Gettysburg
At 2:3O P. NJ. on the 1st of July the Union
forces were retreating; General Ewell, how
over, did not follow up the success. having
been ordered by Gen. Lee not to bring on a
general engagement without his knowledge.
The moment seemed to me critical one
About $3.50 p. NJ advised Gen. Ewell TO
occupy wooded hill northeast of Gettysburg.
and commanding the town, which was not
done. That night it was occupied by the
enemy.
''Ihere we're two separate attempts after
wards to take that hill, which resulted in inn
mense loss to u.s.. On the I'd Gen. Lee was
extremely anxious to make an attack. but.
however, was prevented. The first and cley-
enth corps were signally defeated on the first,
and their reserve did not come up until that
night The failure to follow up properly the
successes gained in the early part of the battle
was the first fatal error committed. There
was no action from 3 P. Nj. on the lst until
4 +. NJ. on the I'd, when J.ongstreet drove
the enemy half mile. About suudown a
vigorous attack was made to take Culpp's
Hill, which failed disastreusly." General
Irimble concluded his remarks with sum-
mary of the mistakes made, and declared that
but for one serious mistake, which lie said he
did not care to mention, the battle might have
been won after all.