South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-06-28
Early on Gettysburg.

The ioilcwing Letter from General yubal
A. Ear!y, which appeared in the Lynehburg
letter Of the previous day which was intcn.
ded rs deten &c OF Gen. Longstreet's action
az Gettysburg, aud reply to the intima.
ton that Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was not pres.
cnt 9
There lie very remarkable communities.
ton in ycur paper tnis morning, over the
signature Of Confederate which Il Ia pre-.
sumed was intended as vindication OF
Gen. ongstreets conduct at Gettysburg.
but which when critically examined has a
very different effect BY some extracts from
an article published ia the Century Mags-
zine by Brigadier Gener al Z. 2. Alexander.
who Was chief Of artillery of Longstreet's
corps. the writer seeks to show that the
general supervision of Pickett's charge
at Gettysburg was entrusted TO Gener.
al Alexander. instead of Longstreet Ifthis
be true, aud Gen. Alexander did conduct
the movement, it shows that Gen. Lee
had lost oil confidence in Long
street, the corps commander, or that the lat.
ter had shirked the duty intrusted to him
and imposed IL upon subordinate. Here
is what Gen. Lee says in his offl cial report.
which is found 10 the second volume OF the
Southern Historical Papers, pages 33 to 40.
On page 43, in speaking Of the operations of
the second day. he says /:
The result of this day 3 operations induo.
ed the belief that with proper conce TT Of &C.
ton, and with the increased support that
the positions gained on the right would en-.
able the artillery to render the assauiting
columns, We should ultimately succeed, and
II was accordingly determined TO continue
the attack.
The general plan was unchanged. Long.
| street, reinforced by Pickett's three brig.
AIDES. which arrived near the battlefield d1-
ring the afternoon of the I'd, was ordered to
! attack THE NEXT MORNING, and Gen. Ewell
was directed 10 assail the enemy/s right at
| the same time. The latter during the night
reinforco Gen Johnson with two brigades
from Rodes' and one from Early's division.
Gen. Longetreets dispositions were not
completed as early as was expected but be-
fore notice could b5 sent to Gen. Ewell
Johnson had become engaged, and It was
too late to recall him. The enemy attemp ted
TO recover the works taken the preceding
evening. but was -eprlsed, and Gen. John.
| son attacked in turn. After a gallant and
prolonged struggle, in which the enemy was
forced TO abandon part of his entrenchs
ments, Gen. johnson found himself unable
to carry the strongly fortified crest of the
bill. The projected attack on the enemy's
left not having been made, he was enabled
| to hold his right with force largely supo-
| riof to that Of Gen. johnson, and finally to
threaten his flank ard rear, rendering IL
necessary for him to retire to his original
position about l P NJ
1t will be seen that Longstreet was order.
cd TO attack on THE MORNING OF the Bird,
with his command reinforced by Picketfs
three brigades yet the artillery fire which
was to precede the attack did not open until
l p m, and the attack was made two hours
later By Picketts division and part Of A.
p. HilPs corps. Longstreet, Il seems from
the extracts given by Confederate instead
OF carrying out Gen. Lees orders, delegated
his authority to his subordinate, Alexander,
and threw all the encouragement he could
on the movement, as shown by the follow.
ing extracts
Pickett took ii (AleIsnder's letter. TO
Longstreet. Longsireet read II and said
nothing. Picket. said General, shall |
Advance2 Longstreet knowing II had to
be. bat unwilling to give the word. turned
bis face away. Pickett saIuted and said: Il
am going 70 move forward. cit. gslloped
off and im medihteiy pul u a motion.
Again, Alexander says, Longstreet said:
rStop Pickett Immediately and replenish
your ammunitiou.' ! explained that Il
would take too long, and the ebeEy would
recover from the effect our fire was then
hsvingJ and we had, moreover, very little
to repleuish with. Longslreet said: RI do
not want to make this attack. would stop
IL now but that Gen. Lee ordered it, and
eApcVtS " W ~ oh' uon sco NOW IL can
succeed
He did net support the movement with
any part Of Hoods or Mcfsws division,
and can any one doubt that he was not on.
ly dilatory in carrying out Gen. Lees or,
dcrs, bot that he was acting as a wet blanks
ct to the whole movement by his conduct
and conversation
General Lee had ordered him 70 attack
the enemy in the morning Of the day before,
but he did not make the attack until D.
m, and to one familiar with the history Of
the battle OF Gettysburg can doubt that our
chances of success there were considerably
dim inished II not destroyed by Lougstreet's
conduct onsthat occasion.
As 10 the insinuation that Fitzhugh Lee
was rot at the battle, imagine there can
be no doubt Of bic presence, as Stuart's caVs
alryJ to which no belonged, arrived before
the close Of the battle, believe, on the Sec
ond day j. A. EARLY.