The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-06-14
LEE,s EArAL nEcIsloN.

Councils were held that night in the Con-
federate camps also, but there does not seem
to have been a conservative principle present
strong enough to control; for in face of Long
streets renewed opposition, Lee made prepar-
ations for assaulting Meade's main line on
Cemetery Ridge the next day. The decision
was in accordance with the spirit Of the hour
about Confederate headquarters It was said
there that the Union line was made up Of
militia, and that the defeats it had sustained
on the Emmitsburg road and at Culp's Hill
that second day, as well as the disaster to the
First and Eleventh corps on the first day,
showed that the army on the heights was q
despicable rabble. Longstreet says he told
Lee that his scouts reported that there was
still opportunity to move around to the right
Of Meade's army, and maneuver him into
attacking. Lee, pointing to Cemetery
Hill with his "fist." replied: ''The enemy is
there. and am going to strike him" Againss
this Longstreet urged his great experience
with soldiers in attack, and said; ''It Is my
opinion that no Is, 900 men ever arrayed for
battle can take that position" But Long
street was immediately ordered to prepare
Pickett's column for the famous attack
When the the hour came to send the columns
forward, he Uongstreetl failed TO give the
order in positive terms, and IL has been
asserted that his indifference was 30 con-
spicuous that IL affected the men His own
version, borne out by number Of witnesses,
is this: pickett said to me: General, shall
advanceF Ny feelings had so overcome me
that would not speak for fear Of betTaying
my want Of confidence to him bowed
affirmation and turned to mount my horse.
Pickett immediately said: 4 shall lead my
division forward, SIR"
Longstreet put in his last reserves, every
thing not already in line Of battle, before the
enemy. Longstreet says: "When this charge
Pickett's had failed expected that Of course
the enemy would throw himself against Qul
shattered ranks and try to crush usn Gen.
Alfred Pleasonton writes about this critical
moment a. follows: "From the suddenness
Of the repulse OF the last charge on July It
became necessary for Gen Meade to decide at
once what to do. rode up to him, and after
congratulating him on the splendid conduct
Of the army, Isaid: General, I win give you
q half hour to show yourself . great general.
Order the army to advance, while take the
cavalry, get in Lees rear, and we'll finish
this campaign IN week. Gen. John C.
| Robinson, who commanded . division IN the
| First corps, and knew the situation well, told
Meade that Lee should not Be allowed to re-
| cross the Potomac. On July 5, when it wal
| evident that Lee was preparing to retreat
| Meade called another council, and submitted
| the question Of attacking Lee on Seminary
| Ridge The vote was opposed to attack, and
| so the sblest soldiers In tha army sustained
| Meade in holding TO the a<Finciple laid down
the year before, under like circumstances, a
/ Antietam by McClsllans When urged by
/ Franklin and Slocum asDAntietam to orde1
| an assault Mcclellan used the same languagI
attributed to Meade at Gettysburg, Eve hav'
done well Is Il Is.
The controversies relating TO the genera
campaign Of Lee's invasion are too importAn
| to be treated In the liKnitsof this paper, ant
do not properly belong to the story Of tn
battle. The most important one Of these ne
Iates to the movements Of Gen. J. 3. B
Stuart, leader of the Confederate cavalry
He has been charged with diSobedience o
orders, and with going OF On q wild rail-
around the Union army, and causing grea
embarrassment to Lea by his absence. Stuar
was killed In 1854, and never explained hi
conduct beyond what was given in his oflcis
report. By this it appears that he used hi
customary discretion, and according to hi
champion, Col John 8. Mosby, he left NOR
| cavalry with the main column than he too
with him on his raid toward Baltimore. Fc
some reason the Army a the Potomac GO
between Stuart and Lee, and Kilpatricl
with the Union cavalry, kept forcing Stual
further and further from his chief, &
that he did not Join the army until the morI
ing Of the I'd, and then with his men an
| horses in Q faded condition It was can
paign of n1ishaps al around, and explanation
! that do not explain have been in order eve
since the battle took place. The investigl
tions made by co1grezE and the awards b
: slowed by that body drew the attention (
| men who, but for that, would have allowe
] / their own private views and grievances
! remain in obscuity.