The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-19
General Early and the Battle Of
Gettysburg.
The First Louisiana Brigade.

Lynchburg Virginian, in answer to q commu.
nication from Gen. Longstreet on the battle Of
Gettysburg, which appeared some weeks ago
in the New Orleans Republican. 1t is written
in the trenchant style that characterizes all Of
"Jubars" literary productions.
At this time We have not the space to copy
or comment upon this paper, and we can only
present to our readers that portion which re-
fers to the part which the gallant old First
Louisiana Brigade took in the great battle.
Who can read Gen. Longsfreets letter to
his uncle without a smile at its ex rene ego
tism and folly, and the conviction that the
only palliation for its publication is the Excess
sive stupidity OF the act?
The defense of the First Corps by him
against an imaginary attack is ridiculous
Who has ever thought Of assailing its reputa-
ton? Its superb fighting qualities, and It's
many gallant achievements are readily
acknowledged by all. Its reputation is not
bound up IN that of its commander, though
il did vast deal to give him the reputation
he gained. Why. then, lug its reputation
into this quarrel that be has undertaken with
Gen. Fitz Lee, Gen. Pendleton, Mr. Jones
and myself 1t is because he feels that his
cause has need Of their support.
As to his petty fling at me, personally, they
are too contemplate to require farther notice
than the remark that, when he comes to that
part of his work, his big guns degenerated
into mere pop-crackers.
He has given long extract from Gen.
Meade's report, and in a foot note to his CON-
munication, be says:
81 hope that Gen. Meade's allusion to Gen.
Early's battle on his (Gen. Meade's) right may
be duly noted"
1t is very evident that he is under a misap-
prehension as to which part of Meades re-
port refers to my attack on his line, and out
OF regard for the portion of my old command
engaged in that attack, .and from no consider
alton for myself it gives me pleasure to duly
note Meades "ailusion" to the attack made
by Hays's and Hoke's brigades; he says:
AN assault was, however, made about P.
NJ, on the Eleventh Corps from the lett of
the town, which was repealed by the assist
ancs of troops from the Second and FIRST
Corps"
This is ell that Meade says in regard to that
assault, and it appears that it required, in adj
dition TO the Eleventh Corps troops from two
other corps, to repel my two biigades. Others
have spoken more definitely about that attack,
and among them Gen. Gibbon, who in his
testimony, page 440-1, says:
''After We had repulsed one attack there
was heavy firing over on the right Of Gene
terry Hill. received message from Gen.
Howard, commanding the Eleventh corps,
asking for reinfOrcemen.s. just about the
same time Gen. Hancock became alarmed at
the continued firing, and desired me to send
afterwards three Other regiments from my
division, to the assistance Of our right center.
Col. Carroll moved off promptly, and, as re-
ported to me, arrived on the right on Gene.
terry Hill to find the enemey actually in our
batteries and fighting with our cannoniers for
their possession. He calamity moved forward
with his command, drove the enemy back,
retook the position, and held it till the ne x:
day."
So that, according to him, my two brigades
had whipped the whole Eleventh Corps, and
it required a fresh brigade and three regi-
ments to recover the position, to say nothing
of the troops from The First Corps that Meade
mentions
Here il what Ewell says Il his report:
s'The want Of cooperation on the right
made it more Difficult for Rhodes's division to
attack, though, had it been otherwise have |
every reason to believe, from the eminent sue |
cess attending the assault of Hays and Avery
that the enemys liz es would have been car.
RED"
Avery COMMANDED Hoke's brigade, and |
though compelled TO retire before IRE sh troops |
Hays's brigade brought off four captured |
and one hundred prisoners.
These brigades accomplished more diff |
cult feat than even Pskett's Division, with all |
its conspicuous gallantry, accomplished NJ x.
the enemys lires, and that right at the ceme-
terry, where they were strongest Had they |
been supported on the right with the same |
vigor, they would undoubtedly have taken
and held Cemetery Hill As Gen. Longs.reet
has spoken Of the attack by my two brIgades
IS "his (my) emergence from the walls Of
for parade that might hide his
failure to meet the mandates of his chief"
must ssy that he is exceedingly happy in his
use of the word "parade." as applicable to
that attack, and I think he must be again
quoting from Prof. Bates. beg him to note
the following "allusion" by the Professor,
who is the State Historian of Pennsylvania,
to the same affair. On pages 1878, he says:
''Col. Won elisa, whose brigade was posted
1t the foot Of Cemetery Hill, detached q regi-
ment and sent it forward to observe the
movement of this force Ia small force that
moved cut of the town towards our lefl ], and
what was passing further to the right beyond
his view. This regiment had not proceeded
lar before there suddenly emerged from be-
hind hill TO the east Of the town, long lines
Of infantry formed for an assault, which
moved onward in magnificent array. This
isolated regiment could no nothing but hasten
back to its position; but this grand column
reaching from ear the town to Rock Creek,
moved with IL Q steadiness of parade. They
we're the brieades of Hays and Hoke, led by
he famous Louisiana Tigers. The instant
.hev emerged to view, Stevens to the right
opened with all his guns, and Wei1erick and
Ricketts, joined in the chorus. The slaughter
was terrible. Ricketts, charged his guns with
canister and with four shots per minute, was
1t every discharge hurting death upon their
ranks. S.evenA's fire was even moro effective,
Is it enfladed the enemy
"As the rebels came within musket range
Towards infantry, who had been completely
protected by the stone wall, poure in volley
lfter volley, sweeping down the charging host
But that resolute body of men believed them
'elves invincible, and now, with the eyes of
both armies of them, this attack began
title after sunset) they would not break so
ong as any were left to go forward The stone
walls were passed at bound, and when once
Imong the Union men Stevens was obliged to
lease & ring for fear of killing friend and foe