The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-01-17

THE THIRD DAYS BATTLE-A STUDY AND
REVIEW OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THE
CONFEDERATE COLUMN, BY A FEDERAL
OFFICER.
General A. NJ Scales, N. c., Washington,
d. c.:
My DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 18th
instant, asking me to give the result OF my
investigations regarding the movements OF
the Confederate column in LongstreeI's IA
nous assault in the afternoon Of the third
days battle at Gettysburg, was duly re-
ceived, but absence from the city pre-
vented my giving an immediate answer.
This now do most cheerfully, and with all
the more pleasure as it will allow me to sub.
NIT most Important chapter of unpublish-
ed history to the examination and criticism
Of the survivors of that gallant movement
before its final incorporation into the histor-
ical work now in the course of preparation.
And here may be permitted to add that /
have no pet opinions Of my own that l will
not gladly surrender il shown to be wrong.
have no personal acquaintance with the
troops whose movements describe, but my
statement is the result Of careful investi-
CATION from every source attainable, inclnd-
ing the wounded found at Gettysburg im-
mediately after the battle, prominent among
whom may be mentioned Lieutenant Colo
mel Martin, of the Fifty-third Virginia, Ma
jor Crudup, Of the Forty-seventh North
Carolina, and Colonel Frye, commading
Archer's Brigade, and many others. The
gentlemen named occupied different posi-
lions in the column, were wounded in the
assault, and attach great credit to their
statements and last, though not least, the
location OF the dead as l found them on the
field. As the column Of attack was COM
posed of troops from five different States,
and OF three divisions, brought upon the
field under different circumstances, moving
from different directions, over different sur
faces to one common centre, it is important
to clear understanding Of the whole that
the circumstances connected with the move
ments Of each be carefully considered.
MEADE AWAITING THE ASSAULT.
1t will be understood that this charge fol-
lowed Immediately the great cannonade Of
the third day, cannonade in which at least
two hundred and fifty pieces of artillery
were engaged, by which it was hoped, and
at the time believed by tine Confederate
commanders, that the guns Of the Northern
army would be silenced and its infantry de-
moralized. And it was under the delusive
impression that this result had been accom-
pIished, that General Alexander, to whom
LieutnanG General Longstreet had assigned
the responsible duty Of determining the de-
sired moment for the assault, notified Cen
eral Pickett that the time had arrived,
which was silently acquiesced in by General
Longstreet. The fire of General Meade's
guns had slackeled all along the line, but
from a cause not understood by the Confed-
crate commanders then, or generally known
by the public now. During this cannonade
General Warren, Chief Engineer OF the
Army of the Potomac, remained upon Lit.
tie Round Top. from whose commanding
summit an unobstructed view of the whole
field was had. Toward the close Of the can
nonade, after studying the results carefully,
he signalled to General Meade that 'swe
were doing the enemy very little harm, MOI
was he injuring us,' and in his opinion, ''he
was only filling the valley with smoke, and
would advance column Of infantry under
its cover,'' and advised ''that the firing
cease" Il give the telegram from memory
not having any notes at hand.) The ordel
was Immediately issued to ''cease firing
In the meantime General Hunt, Chief Of
Artillery of the Army Of the Potomac, had
ridden during the cannonade along the en-
tire line, cautioning his battery command
ers to husband their ammunition, and alst
to prepare for the infantry charge which
would undoubtedly be made. Fresh bate
ries were brought up to replace those dis
abled, and others were supplied with short
range ammunition. The infantry crouche'
behind such slight covers as it could find
and the destruction OF life was far less tiy.l
might naturally have been expected iron
such q fearful bombardment. Later, Gen
eral Warren telegraphed General Mead
that the commencement of the charge woul