, 1881-07-31

sweeping out of the wood Garnett'B brigade
passing over us. l left Gen. Longstrcet and rodo
short distance With Cen Garrett, an time
been sick, but, buttoned up In an old blue over
coat, fu spite Of the heat OF the day. WAS riding
in the front OF his fiuc. and for the last time:
then salioped along my line OF guns. ordering
those that had over twenty rounds OF ammuui-
uon to timber up aud follow Pickett, and those
who had less to maintain their hro from where
and parts Ut batteries IN this way. when Picketts
division appeared On the slope OF Cemetery Hill,
and considerable force oi the enemy were
flank. MEANWHILE too. several batteries which
had been withdrawn were run OUT again, aiu
troops and batteries IS flercety US wo were able.
and appeared to 40 them considerable DAMAGE
bur meanwhile Pickett'5 division seemed to
now covered tho hill. Nothing bur strnsglers
culne back As soon as It was clear Pickett's
division was destroyed I ceased firing, saving
advance by tho enemy. About this time Gen.
Lee came up TO our guns Mone- ana remaineu
there half nn hour or more, speaking 10 rick
ctts men rs they came Struggling back. and ell
couraging thom to form again IN the nrst cover
"a little before this wilcox's division had
been advanced also, but I cannot recall the mo-
ulent OF the place s1w them. but only the i'm
preston on my mind as the mca passed that the
charge must surely be some 1nlsapprehension OF
nude it utterly impossible that it should accom-
piish anythtns, and thought what pity it was
so lnanr of them were to be Sacrihced ~ fain;
It was intended, believe, that Wilcox should
support Picketts right tank. but the distance
thar had to be travessed In the Charge got sheh
nn interval between the two that picketts force
was spent and his division disintegratcd pe1ore
Wilcox got under close fire.
TIE GOLDEN CfIAScE-AEADE's TIMIDrrY-
~ have always believed that tho enemy here
lost the greatest opportunity they ever had OF
routing Lees army by 1'rUnpt 0fe1.siut- Thoy
a linz ShHna1 somewhat lOSSt~
shoe suppose tho greatest diameter OF tni3
horseshoe was not more than one mile, and me
observation and fire. with communications by
signals all over 1t, and they could concentrate
their whole force ar. any point ana in very
short time without our knowledge. Our line
was an enyelOplng semi-circle. over four
miles in Development and communicating from
think to flank even by courier was difficult, the
country being well cleared And exposed to tho
enemy's view and IRE. tho roads all running ut
right angles TO our lines. and. some Of them at
least. broad turnpikes where tho enemy guns
add nny statement us to tho superiority OF tho
Federal force, or the exhausted and shattered
condition OF tho confederates for space
show that great opportunity was thrown away2
think Geu. Lee himself was quite apprehen-
that apprehension which brought him alone out
to my guns, where he could observe all the ILL.,
dioations.
IN attack, hut we were nor tnoIested- The ene-
my ubout dark sent out II skirmish line. and oc-
casionatly sent Il random shot In the direction
Of our batteries. but nc effort was made to capt
ure us or drive us away. We were supported
only by small body or skirmishcrs. and prepar-
ntion for q retreat went on. About O'Clock
orders were given for us to withdraw, and In q
short time all the Confoder1tes had abandoned
tho Ill futed tleid of Gettysburg: tho invasion
was at an end Battle was offered next day md
anxiousy expected. but the three days conflcI
around Cemetery Hill seemed to have satisfied
the appetite for blood, and the Conteder ates
crossed the Potomac without an action bel
urged by the Federal army"