The National tribune., 1881-10-15
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
AN ACCOUNT OF THE LAST DAYS FIGHT.


Gen E P Alexander late s. A in Louisville Courier
Journal
This paper was written several years ago, when
the events were somewhat more fresh in my
mind than now, and 1 will give it with very few
alterations.
My command, with the greater portion of
LongStreet's corps was in camp at Chambers
burg, from Saturday, June -, to Tuesday, June
80 and on the latter date we moved in the direc-
ton OF Gettysburg about ten miles, and about two
p NJ encamped at small village called Green
wood General Lee was in camp very near US
during the same afternoon. On Wednesday, July
1, we the reserved artillery remained in camp
all day, and heard nothing of the battle which
was begun at Gettysburg until about dark when
orders were received to MARCH at two a. m. on
the ID for Gettysburg. Pickett's division of in
fantry had been left behind at Chambersburg
Hoods and McLaws divisions had been marched
before u.s. and when we took the road at two a.
IN. my battalion, twenty-siX guns and the
Washington artillery, ten guns, l think, forming
the reserve) we had clear road and bright
moonlight, and saw nothing of the infantry
Abo irI - - -. .'.'..''.
of Ii halted H. ....
I re -. f.E.r... E..r.
ST. - .v-,.4IuI II Il mn IA rear OI our
lines. 1 was told we were to attack the enemy's
left flank, and was directed to take command ofmy
own battalion, Cabell's battalion, with McLaw's
division,) eighteen guns; Henrys battalion with
Hoods, eighteen guns, leaving the Washington
artillery in reserve and to reconnOtre the grounds
and cooperate with the infantry in an attack ]
was especially cautioned in moving to avoid ex-
posing them to the view of the signal station
of the enemy, on Round Top Mountain. / do
not remember seeing or hearing anything at this
time OF LOngstreets army, nor did | get the i'm
preston that General Lee thought that there was
any unnecessary delay. | had just arrived,
and knew nothing of the situation, and my
instructions were to reconneitre the flank to be
attacked, and choose my own position and means
OF reaching them. This duty occupied me- ac-
when l rode back and conducted my battalion in
person to the schOol-house Oh Willoughbv run. /
At one point the direct road leading to this place
came in sight Of the enemy's signal station, but
I turned out of the road before reaching the ex-
posed part, and, passing through some meadows /
a few hundred yards regained the road without |
coming in sight. | then went about hunting up /
the other battalions which were attached to the /
infantry, in order to give them all their positions
for opening the attack.
While thus engaged | came upon the head of .
an infantry column, which / think was Hoods |
division, standing halted in the road where it |
WAS III sight OF Round Top. They had been in
structed to avoid being seen, and finding the
road on which they had been sent came at this
point IN full view of the signal station thew had
halted and sent back to General Lee or Lone,
street for orders. For some reason which I can
not recall, they would not turn back and follow
the tracks Of my guns and I remember a long
and tiresome waiting At length there came an
order to turn back and take another road round
by "Black Horse Tavern" and have never for
gotten that name since. My general recollection
is that nearly three hours lost in that DELAY
and countermarch, and that it was about four D.
M when Hood became engaged heavily on our
extreme right flank with Henrys battalion aid
ING him. while with eighteen guns of my own
and CabeIl's eighteen | attacked Hook
er's corps at Peach Orchard. McLaw's division
was during this in the woods in our rear, our
batteries firing from the edge nearest Peach
Orchard, my own probably 800 yards, and Ca
bells 200 yards distant. We were so engaged
Tor probably an hour, when McLaw's charged
ana carried Peach Orchard, my batteries follow
ing MN closely, and going into action in and
around the Orchard. The firing was continued
until dark
before daylight on the morning of the third
received orders to post the artillery for an assault
on the enemy's position, and later / learned it
was to be led by Piclletts division and directed
on Cemetery Hill. Seine of the batteries had
gone back for ammunition and forage, but they