The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-11-29

| >oi' 0h"oio III Poioou" liz Ielurll-
ed about 8 o'clock and informed me
that it would not do to have Ewell
on the attack. He finally determin-
ed that should make the main at-
tack on the extreme right. 1t was
fully II o'clock when Gen. Lee ar
rived at this conclusion, and ordered
the movement.
Our army was stretched in an ell
liptical curve, reaching from the
front of Round Top around Seminary
Ridge, and enveloping Cemetery
Heights on the left; thus covering a
space of four or five miles. The en-
emy occupied. the high ground in
front of us, being maseed within a
curve of about two miles nearly con-
centric with the curve described by
our forces His line was about 14OO
yards from ours. Any one will see
that the proposition for this inferior
force to assault and drive ont the
masses of troops upon the heights,
was a very problematical one. My
orders from Gen. Lee were "to en-
velop the enemy's left and begin the
attack there, following up as near as
possible the direction of the Em-
mettsburg road"
THE BATTLE OPENED.
My corps occupied our right, with
Mr.. Hood on the extreme right and
McLaws next. Hills corps was next
to mine, in front of the Federal GEN.
ire, and Ewell was on our extreme
left. My corps, with Pickett's divis
ion absent, numbered hardly l 5000
men. realized that the fl ,ht was
to be fearful one, but being assured
that my flank would be protected by
the brigades of Wilcox, Perry,
Wright, Posey and Malone moving
en- echelon, and that Ewell was to
cooperate by direct attack on the
enemy's right, and Hill to threaten
his centre and attack If opportunity
offered, and thus prevent reinforce
ments from being launched either
against myself or Ewell, it seemed
that we might possible disl"dgo the
great army in front Of us. At half
past 5 o'clock the order was given
General Hood to advance upon the
enemy, and hurrying to the head of
McLaw's division, l moved with his
line. Then was fairly commenced
what T do not hesitate 10 pronounce
the best three hours fighting ever
done by any troops on any battlefield.
Directly in front of us, occupying the
peach orchard, on piece of elevated
ground that General Lee desired me
to take and hold for his artillery, was
the third corps of the Federals, com,
manded by Gen. Sickles. My men
charged with great spirit and dislodg
ed the Federals from the peach Or
chard with but little delay, though
they fought stubbornly. We were
then on the crest of Seminary Ridge.
The artillery was brought forward
AID put into position at the peach or
orchard. The infantry swept down
the slope and soon reached the
marshy ground that lay between
Seminary and Cemetery Ridges,
fighting their way over every foot of
ground and against overwhelming
odds. At every step VIC found that
reinforcements were pouring into the
Federals from every side. Nothing
could stop my men, however, and
they commenced their heroic charge
upon the side of Cemetery Ridge
Our attack was to progress in the
general direction of the Eumettsburg
road, but the Federal troops, as they
were forced from point TO point
availing themselves Of the stone fem
ces and boulders near tie mountains
as rally ing points, 60 annoyed our
right flank that Gen. Hoods division