The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-12
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
Gen. Hoods Explanation of the Loss o
the Fight.
From "4adrance and Retreat" by Gen. j. /

, UcD. llOOuS Is&pidiiltioh VI VIC 1>oeo ~
the Fight.
From "Adrance and Retreat" by Gen. J. B
Hood.
Soon after the 1st of June, (1S63) the
: Confederate forces crossed the Rapidan
and advanced again in the direction ot
Maryland. About the middle of the
month we forded the Potomac, which
was so swollen by recent rain that the
men were forced to uplift their car.
fridge boxes, in order to keep dry their
ammunition. Nevertheless, they march
ed in regular order to the northern bank
of that beautiful stream, and as they
moved through the deep water the in
spiriting strains of "Dixie" burst forth
from bands of music. Never before, nor
since, have I witnessed such intense en-
thusiasm as that which prevailed
throughout the entire Confederate Army.
Shortly afterwards we crossed into
Pennsylvania, amid extravagant cheers
which re-echoed all along the line. Our
forces marched undisturbed, and were
massed in the vicinity of Chambersburg,
where intelligence was received of Gen
GIdl MCdOc w sAS SNAA'Ss'"N
of the Federal Army.
My headquarters were again in close
proximity to those of General Lee, and,
after few days devoted to rest and
quiet, +, as usual, rode to pay him my
respects. Ifound him in the same buoy
ant spirits which pervaded his magnifi'
cent army. After the ordinary saluta-
ton, he exclaimed, "Ah General, the
enemy is long time finding us; if he
does not succeed soon, we must go in
search of him." 1 assured him l was
never so we'll prepared or more willing.
A few days thereafter we were or
dered to Gettysburg, and to march with
all possible speed.
The following letter which addressed
General Longstrect in 1875, gives, up to
the hour I was wounded and borne from
the field, on account of the part taken
by my command in the great battle
which ensued:
"NEw ORLEANS, La, June %, 1875.
"Gcn. James Longstreet:
General: have not responded earlier
10 your letter of April 5th, by reason of
pressure of business, which rendered it
difficult for me to give due attention to
the subject in regard to which you have
desired information.
"You are correct in your assumption
that I failed to make q report OF the
operations of my division around Suf-
folk, Va, aud Of action in the battle OF
Gettysburg, in consequence of a wound
which Ireceived in this engagement. In
Justice to the brave troops under my
command at this period, l should here
mention another cause for this apparent
neglect of duty on my part. Before l
had recovered from the severe wound re-
ceived at Gettysburg, your corps lex
cepting Pickett's DiVision) was ordered
to Join Gen. Bragg, in the West, for battle
against RosecranS my old troops-with
whom / had served so long-were thus
to be sent forth to another army-quasi,
1 may say, among strangers-to take
part in q great struggle; and upon
an appeal from q number of the brigade
and regimental officers of my division, I
consented to accompany them, although l
had but the use of one arm. This move
ment to the West soon resulted in the
battle of Chickamauga, where l was
again so seriously wounded as to cause
the loss of limb. These severe wounds
in close succession, in addition 10 the
all-absorbing duties and anxieties at
tending the last year of the war, pre-
vented me from submitting subsequently,
a report, rs likewise one after the battle
of Chickamauga, in which engagement
whilst you led the left wing-I had the
honor of commanding your corps to-
gether with three divisions of the Army
of Tennessee, respectively under A. z.
Stewart, Bushrod Johnson and Hindman.
Thus the gallantry of these troops, as we'll
as the admirable conduct of my division
at Gettysburg, have left unrecorded.
"With this apology for seeming neg
lect, will proceed to give briefsketch,
from memory, of the events forming the
subject of your letter:
"My recollection of the circumstances
connected with the attempt, whilst we
were lying in front of Suffolk, to reach
Gen. Lee. in time to participate in the
battle of Charlottesville, is very clear.
The order directing your corps to move
to the support Of Gen. Lee was received
about the time Hooker passed the Rap
pahannock. Unfortunately we had been
compelled by scarcity of forage to send
of our wagons into North Carolina to
gather supply from that State. A
short delay necessarily ensued, as cou-
riers had to be dispatched for requisite
transportation before the troops could
move. Every effort, however, was made
to get to Lee at the earliest moment. If
my memory betrays me not, you repaired
in advance Of your corps to Petersburg
or Richmond, having issued orders for
us to march with all possible speed to
Lee, on the Rappahannock. l was most
anxious to get to the support of my old
chief and made strenuous efforts to do
so but, whilst on forced march to ac-
complish this object, ] received intelli-
gence of our victory at Charlottesville,
and of Jackson's mortal wound. We,
nevertheless, continued our march, and
eventually went into bivouac upon the
Rapidau, near Gordonsyille.
"After the battle of Chancellorsville
preparations were made for an offensive
campaign.
Accordingly, my troops moved out OF
camp, crossed the Rapidan about 9th
June, 1868, and Joined in tie general
move in the direction of the Potomac.
We crossed the river about the middle
of the same month and marched into
, Pennsylvania. Hill's and Ewell's Corps
f we're in advance, and were reported to
be in the vicinity of Carlisle. Whilst
lying in camp, not far distant from
Chambersburg, information was received
that Ewell and Hill were about to
. come in contact with the enemy near
Gettysburg. My troops, together with
/ McLaw's Division, were put in motion
upon the most direct road to that point
which, after hard march, we reached
before or at sunrise on the I'd of July
So imperative had been the orders to