The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-30

ried, and the great BATTLE of Gettysburg never
have been fought. But Gen. Ewell did not
feel strong. enough with the forces he had on
the ground to make the attack, and cireum-
stances combining to delay the arrival OF one
of his divisions, the golden opportunity was
lost forever. Here the irreparable loss OF
StOnewall Jackson was most severely felt.
Had he been in command, he would have
given his usual order under like citcum-
stances" push on the infantry !" and time
would not have been afforded the enemy to
make his position impregnabe.
July 2.-Before daylight Hays brigade was
moved 10 position in front and a little to the
left of the town, some live hundred yards
from
CEMETERY RIDGE.
All night long the Federals were heard
chopping away and working like beavers, and
when day dawned the ridge was found to be
crowned with strOngly-built Notifications and
bristling with formidable batteries. It was
said that our brigade was placed in its adj
vanced and isolated position for the purpose
of forming upon 1t a new line of battle; but
when daylight came this was found to be i'm
practicable 1t could not be withdrawn, with
out great loss, in face Of the powerful bat
teries on the hill which could sweep at short
range the open field, which 1t would have to
traverse in retiring SO our boys had to re-
main where they were, five hundred yards in
front OF the main line, hugging the ground be-
behind low ridge which only partially cover
ed them from the enemys fire. It was almost
certain death for man to stand upright, and
the brigade lost in this position thirty-tiye
men, killed and wounded, from the fire of the
enemy's sharpshooters armed with long
range rifles.
THE FEDERAL LINE
Of battle now extended along the crest of a
! range of hills in the form of a crescent; in
tie e fHP HRd Inc On os a. RSr9E gangs the
on the right ,Early's Division formed the
centre OF EwelPs Corps; Johnson's was on
our left, and consequently on the extreme left
of Gen. Lees army.
At 4 p. IN. one Of our battaIiOns of artillery
appeared on hill in rear Of the left wing Of
our division, and boldly opened on the power
full batteries Of the enemy in our front. The
contest was an unequal one, the Federals
| bringing at least thirty guns to bear upon
the COnfederates' eighteen; their guns were
protected by earthworks, while ours were
placed on the bald top of the hill, with no
covering to guns or men. But the gallant
young com mander Of the Confederate bate
| ries,
MAJOR LATIMER,
maintained the fight for fully one hour, though
suffering severely in men and horses. From
our position we could distinctly see the OPP
posing parties to this artillery duel, and
most exciting and thrilling spectacle 1t was
| The roar OF theguns was continuous and deaf
eniDg; the shot and shell could be seen tearing
through the hostile batteries, dismounting
guns, killing and wounding men and horses,
while ever and anon an ammunition chest
would explode sending bright column of
smoke far up toward the heavens. We could see
the brave little Latmer The was only twenty
years Of agel sitting quietly on his horse amid
this tempest of shot and shell, calmly direct
ing the fire Of his guns; but, alas she'll
| presently explOdes over him, and down go
! horse and rider, the first dead and the other
badly wounded. The Majors leg being caught
under the PROSTATE horse and pinned to the
II
leave their pieces to extricate him, but cody
| lay there giving his orders, until seeing the
futility Of prolOnging the unequal fight, he
commanded his batteries to retire. He was
then taken off the field, and few days after
yielded up his noble spirit to the God who
gave it. A more modest, unassuming Chris
tian gentleman never lived; more gallant,
fearless soldier never died on the battlefield
than young Latimer.
Soon after the subsistence of this artillery
contest, the sharp rattle of musketry on our
extreme left showed that Johnson had COM
menced work, and our boys knew that the
time was near at hand when they would be
called upon to storm the steep hill and frowning
batteries in their front. The quiet, solemn
mein of the men showed plainly that they
fully appreciated the desperate character of
the undertaking; but on every face was legi-
bly, written the determination to do or die.
just before dark
THE SOLITARY FIGURE
Ii.
riding slowly across the field In the direction
of our position; the little puffs of dust that
arise from around his horses feet show that
the Federal sharpsho0ters are paying ''Old
Jubap' the compliment of their special atten-
tions. Presently the General reaches the
brigade, and inquiring If we were ready. gives
the order to charge. At the word up spring
our men; away they rush over the little ridge
behind ID which they had laid 50 long and down w
Cemetery Hill. The Feds have anticipated
this movement and now thirty pieces Of can
non vomit forth perfect storm OF shells,
grape and canister, while their infantry pour
in close fire with their rifles. But our boys
are too quick for them, and are across the
field in trice, while the Federal missiles are
hurting over their heads, doing but little ex-
ecutiOn.
Skirting the base of the hill is a stone wall,
from behind which heavy line Of infantry
greets us with q obstructive volley, and many
of our noble fellows go down before it; but
the little command is not delayed by this i'm
pediment more than minute: the enemy
are easily driven away, and up the hill we go,
and after a short struggle the coveted crest
and it's now silent batteries are ours.
Gen. Hays quickly reformed his line, and
anxiously waited to hear Rodes' and Hills
guns cooperating with him on the right but
no firing was heard in that direction, and no
| assistance came. In short time the heavy
tramp of approaching columns was heard,
both in front and on our TANKS, threatening to
SURROUND anu capture our IJLlG brigade anu
Hoke's brigade that charged with it. Gen
Hays, perceiving the imminent danger he
was in, and abandoning all hope of q support
| ing force coming to his assistance, was
obliged to give up his hard-earned captures.
Marching by the right flank the brigade de-
sCended the hill and marched into Gettys-
burg. Had it not been for the darkness which
concealed this movement the enemy would
no doubt have cut up the brigade terribly
with their ,recaptured guns as it fell back
| from the hill
By this evenings fighting Hays brigade
lost 1872 men killed and wounded. Among the
killed were Col. Lewis and Capt. st. Martin,
OF the, Eighth Regiment; Major Williams
and Adiutant Crawford, OF the Ninth Capt
Richardson, Of the Fifth; Capt. Cormier, of
the Sixth, and Lieut.. Talbot, of the Seventh
the last two dying on the next day. Major
| DeBlanc, of the Eighth NOW on the Supreme
Bench of louisiana, was wounded in the
wrist.
This, believe was the only instance dur
ing the battle"of Gettysburg Of any body of
Confederate troops reaching the summit of
DOrarilV. the pnemV'S guns mounted thereon