The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-11-30

charge up. the side of Cemetary Ridge
Our attack was to progress in the general
direction of Emmettsburg road, but the
Federal troops, as they were forced from
point to point, availing themselves of the
stone fences and boulders near the noun.
tains as rallying points, SO annoyed our right
flank that Gen. Hoods division was obliged
to make partial change of front SO as to
relieve itself of this CALLING flank fire
This drew Gen McLaws little further to
the right than Gen. Lee had anticipated, so
that the defensive advantages of the ground
enabled the Fcdcrals to delay our purposes
until they could occupy little Round Top,
which they just then discovered was the
key to their position. The force thrown
upon this point was so strong as to seize our
right, us it were, in wise.
THE CHARGE UP CEMETERY RIDGE
Still the battle on our main line continued
to progress. Tho situation was a critical
one. My corps had been fighting over an
hour, having encountered and driven back,
line after line of the Army of the enemy
In front OF them was a high and rugged
ridge, on it's crest the bulk of the Potomac
numbering six to one, and securely resting
behind strong positions. My brave fellows
never hcsitatcd, however. Their duty WAS
in front Of them, and they met it. They
charged up the hill i'll splendid style, sweep
ing everything before them, disledging the
enemy in the face of a withcring fire
When they had fairly started up the sccon
ridge discovered that they were suffering
terribly from fire that swept over their
right aud left hanks. | also found that my
left faux was not protected by the brigades
that were to move en- echelOn with it.
McIaws line was consequently spread out
to the left to protect its flank, and Hoods
line was extended to the right to protect its
flank from the sweeping fire of the large
| bodies of troops that were posted on Round
Top. Ths4e two movements of extension
SO drew my forces out that found myself
attacking Cemetery Hill with single line
Of battle against not less than $4,000
| troops.
| My two divisions at that time were cut
down to eight or nine thousand men, four
thousand having been killed or wouudcd-
We !clt at every step the heavy stroke Of
fresh troops--the sturdy, regular blow that
tells soldier instantly that he has cncoun-
tered reserves or rcinlorccmcuts. We nc
ceivcd no support at all, aud there was no
evidence of cooperation Oh any side. To
urge my mcn forward under these circum-
stances would have been madness and |
withdrew them i'll good order to the peach
orchard that VIC had taken from the Fedc-
rails early in the afternoon. 1t may ts u.AI
toned here, rs illustrative Of the dauutless
spirit Of these men, that when Gen. Hum
phries. of Mississippi, was ordered to with
draw his troops from the charge lie thought
there was some mistake, and retired to
captured battery near the swale between the
two ridges, where he halted. and when or
lcrcG to retire to the new line second
time he did SO under protest. Our men
had not thought of retreat. They broke
every line they encountered. When the
order to withdraw was given courier Was
sent to Gen. Lee informing him Of the re-
suit of the days work.
| A MARVELLOUS ASSAULT.
Before pursuing this narrative further
| shall say word or two CONCERNING this
assault am satisfied that my force mum
bcri.g hardly 1900 men, encountered du-
ring that three and a. half hours of hlQody
"ViT-uOt less than GJ,O0O Of the Fcdcrals,
and yet their charge was not checked nor
their line broken until we ordered them to
withdraw. | found that night that + l,529
of my men. more than oncthird of the
total number, had been left on the field -
History records no parallel to the fight by
these TWO divisions on the ID of july at
Gettysburg.
EwELLs INACTIoN.
1t may be imagined that was astonished
ut the fact that we received no support after
VIC had drivcn the Fcdcrals from the peach
orchard ard 900 yards beyond If Gen
cral Ewell had engaged the army in the
front at that time (say + o'clock he would
have prevented their maSsing their Who'll.
army III my front, and while he and kept
IGsEu tNa i9ggSf1ff1c; 9gff1;'%vSak %aak ana would have
threatened it while | broke through their
left and dislodgcd them Having failed to
move ut i o'clock while the enemy was in
his front it was still more surprising that
he did not advance ut > o'clock with vinor
and promptness when the trenches i'm front
OF him were vacated, or rather held by ore
single brigade, Gas General Mcude's tcst
mony before the committee on the conduct
OF the war statcs.) Had he taken these
trenches aud scattered the brigade that
held them he would have found himself in
the Fcdcral's flank and rear His attack
III the rear must have dislodgcd the FEEDER.
| ais, as it would have been totally unrxnrc