, 1881-07-31

lis artillery OF, the tfeld Of actton, which gavo
him exceptional opportunities for observation;
OF the buttle. Gen. Alc1Ander. now
Vice President OF the Louisville j. Nashville
railroad, was asked TO give the couricF-JonF't@
II cannot do better" said Gen. Alexander,
"than repeat in substance my answer to some
inquiries propounded ~ the Count de raris s. REL
This paper was written several years ago, when
the events were somewhat more fresh IN my
mind than now, and wilt give 1t with very few
alterations.
s.Defore daylight on the morning Of the I'd
received orders to post the artillery for IN as,
l was on to pG po led py PieKet division ind d.
rccted on Cemetery HILL Some OF the batteries
hud gone buck for ammunition and foruse- bur
they were I'LL brought up immediately ana by
daylight all then on the field were posted Dear,
ings battalion with pickett's divtsionl reported
some time during tho morning: Tho enemy
ally, doing uo great damage, and we scarcely
waiting for Peketts division and possibly ether fo
the attack I borrowed from Gen Fcndleton,
Gen. Lees Chief OF Artillery, seven twelve
pound h9w7ers beongng , to the 81 rhsa i r Gorps,
on selected spot, intending them to accompany
Picketts division in the chargr, as the men and
horses were fresh and the chests OF ammunition
'.About II L. m. the skir1nishers in 4. P. Hills
front got to fighting for a lane 1n between the
took part, until the whole Of Hills artillery Id
position, which l think was slxty-three guns
was heavily engaged with about an equal NUM-
bcr Of the enetnys guns for over half an hour;
but not one OF the seventy-tive guns WHICH
then had in line was allowed to fire q shot. as We
had at best put short supply OF Ammunition
.tAbout u IN. Gen. Lonpstreet told me when
Pickett was ready he himself would give the
signal for our guns TO open (Which signal WIS to
near the centre Of our line), and meanwhile he
desired me to select suitable position for Oh
seryation. and to take with me onc OF Sen
lcctIng the moment for Pickett to advance. |
selected the advance salient auglc OF the wood
IN Inst which ths hskft5s efs nsk of mo- ne
position, and in conversation with Con.
j. 5r,rade in fg9a y i as sorps @as had
there for IN observation Of the posi- ton, re-
ceIyed note from Gen. Lonsstrcet, which !
copy Hr%no1rniss. 1So@ 'ae pr,9ta july coIoxkl: If
the artillery fire does not have the effect to
drive OF the enemy or grently demora'1ze ,s,13 nm
prefer you should not advise Gcn- Pickett to
make the charge. 1 shall rely a great deal on
SodF sSe ona arnce1 yo, to let GEN Pickett Know
when the moment oilers. Respectfully,
"tJ. LoSt;sTKEET. Ltcutenant-General.
asTo Col. E. P. Alexander. Artillery. .----
II wrote him note, which think quote YER
o.lG n.GESEsAt.: n When our artillery fire is doing
its best shall advise Gen. Pickett to advance.
lit was a. IL. by my witch when the signal
guns were fired, the field ut that time befng en-
tlrely silent but for the light picket firing Pc
strikes up IN church the grand roar followed
from all the guns Of both armies The aucmy5
fire was heavy and seyere, anu their hccouats
represent ours as having been equally so, than.a
our rifle Fuus were comparatively few. anu had
very defective ammunition As an iilustra non,
1 remember TINT the casualties IN tny own pae,
liz horses in tho two days action. and about "
per cent Of the wounds were from artillery hre.
Cen \, s. Webb United States army, wno CON
after the War that d. Federal battery coming
into action on the itiil lost from our artillery
TIRE twenty-seven out Of thlrtyos'x h9rscs '5 "
suppose. were about l.4o0 yards We had some
casualties from canister.
II had fully intended to give Pickett Inc or,
der to advance us soon us 1 snw our guns nad
their ranges, sAY In teu Or fifteen minutes. PM
the enemy's fire was so severe that whcn tnal
time had elapsed could not make up my mind
10 order the snfnntry out into II tire which did
not believe they could face fot SO long cnhItc
ID SO NOT u sun, tired as they already were by the
Waited 10 nopcs our lire would produce sumo
visible effect, or something turn up to make Tho
situation brighter; but fifteen minutes more
fhn tirc on neither side slackening for Il mo-
mcut. Even then | could not 6rug myself 70
give u pere,rptory order u Pickett 70 advance,
=
coming at all you must come Immediately, OF
cannot give you proper SUPPORT; but mo
encmy's fire has not slackened materially.
ena enster, sa is issei Ths note which though given
from memory, can youch for as nearly yer
batim, sent OFT vt Icy P. m', consuming q! my
cefpt from members Ut the stahs Of both Gems
Pickett ana LongstreeE Pickett, on receiving
r saopedd Up TO Ge him 's note Gep
street read It and said nothing Gen. Pickett
then said: general, shall / adyancey Long
street turned around m nS sat nna o n
said: i am going to lead my division forward,
Str and g.lopeJ off TO put it IN motion; on
position. Meanwhile, five minutes after sent
the note to Pickett, the cncmy's fire suddenly
sluckened materially, and tho batteres In tho
cemetery were limbcred up and withdrawn. ~
the enemy nnd such abundance Of ammunition
and so much better guns than ours that they
were not compelled to .cserve their artillery for
DOL knew that they must have felt the punish.
mcnt good deal. and was good dea! elated
By the sight. But to make sure that 1t was a
change Of position or relieving II the
batteries BY fresh ones. I waited tive
minutes more, closely examining the
my courier to Pickett with note: For Gods
sake come quick; the eighteen guns are gone!
and going to the nearest guns sent Liealen- !t :
messages to the same effect A few minutes
after this. Pickett still not appearing, Gen.
Longstreet rode up alone. having seen Pickett ct
and left bis staN. us stated showed him tae
SITUATION. and sud only feared could not give
Pickett tho help wanted to, my ammunition ION
being low and the seven guns under hlcharusnn
having been taken OF. Con. LonRstteet spokc
IN promptly: Go and stop Pickett risht where
be Is, and replenish your ammunition n +.
swered that the ordnance trains han peen neaIy
before, and not over twenty rounde 70 gun
were lcfr,-too little TO accomplish mucn,-an,a1
that while this WIS being done me enems
him lila reply was: + do NOT want TO make
this charge. don't believe It WI succeed 90 ~
Enrot1 r. and other remarks showing that even
tnen he could easily hare been induced to oraeE
f'sku.' 81 thts hi T moment P1ckett's line appeared.