Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-05
THE oHARGE ar q GETrYsBURG.
Mr.. Allen G. Hedwood's Description OF
the Confederate Point OF View.


| Mr.. Allen G. HcdwoOd's Description of
the Confederate Point OF View.
Mr.. Allen g. Redwood, the artist of
New York, delivered a lecture on the
battle of Gettysburg from the Confed-
crate point of view, recently in Balti-
more. Mr.. Redwood was private in
the First Maryland Cavalry. He said in
reference to Pickett's charge in conclud-
ing his remarks WThe force as it moved
to the attack consisted of Heath's divi-
| sion and two of Picketts brigades, one
of Pickett's brigades and Wilcox being
in the rear on the right, while General
Frimble with the brigades of Lane and
Scales acted as support to Heath's line
how under Pettigrew-which was
formed on PiclSetts left and not in sup
| port, as has been frequently asserted.
| These two hrigades being unable to
make line equal to Pettigrew's were
without support. To cover the advance
of this 115 guns had been in battery
upon the ridge extending from the
| peach orchard on the right to a point
opposite the cemetery overlooking the
town. At few minutes past O'Clock,
the Washington artillery fired two guns
i'll quick succession. This was the signal
foT the cannonade to open and from
right to left along the crest an angry
roar of commingled reports broke upon
the sultry air, Instantly the opposing
ridge becomes fringed with smoke Jets;
| from the cemetery to Round Top,
| wherever gun can be placed the
| spiteful flashes leap out AMI back and
| forth across the little valley speed the
racing bolts on their death errand. Flat
| upon their faces behind the guns, the
men of the column of attack wait for
| two long hours the order to breast the
storm now sweeping over them.
"lt comes at last, the artillery ceases
for moment as they begin to move out
from the timber and down the slope,
then above their heads its fire breaks
out anew, but feebly now, for the am
munition is running low In the timbers
and caissons, and must be husbanded.
A mile of open country must be crossed
to reach the Federal position, and 80
guns are covering it with lines of fire,
but the devoted colomn sweeps steadily
over the valley and up the long slope
beyond. As they cross the Emmitts-
burg road a crash of musketry grcets
them from low ridge in front, and
then, for the first time, the old charging
shout goes up, presaged victory on so
many hard fought fields. 1t was not to
be so here. Like some ocean wave,
which comes rolling into shore, tower
ing at first, seeming to gather forces as
ii advances, then breaking before it
reaches the shore, yet sending forward
still in everlasting serges, which finally
melt in a tiny ripple; SO was the force
of the attack, already spent before the
hn
thin line which escaped the artillery
fire and gained the ridge seemed to sink
into the earth as the bullets of the Fede-
raj enemy swept it down. Here and
there few men huddled about battle
flag endeavoring to hold the ground
regiment had won, but the hopelessness
of the effort became manifest. Even
these groups broke up and retired. The
of Gettysburg was over.
"The two armies confronted each
other all the next day, apparently mu-
tually satisfied to let each other alone.
1t has been said that the essential objects
for which the Pennsylvania campaign of
1868 was undertaken were severally ac-
complished, and that the repuIse at
Gettysburg resulting from a combina-
that undertaking of such brilliant con
tingent success as would have consisted
in the destruction of the army of the
Potomac. That General Lee was notion
the whole dissatisfied with the result is
clearly testified by his remark to Gen.
Heath in the spring OF 1864. If could
do so-unfortunately cannot-I would
again cross the Potomac and invade
Don ftrrn, IN + l,a1, 81 I.
true policy Notwithstanding the failure
of last year Had the conditions under
which the above declaration was made
been supplied the mistakes of Gettys-
burg, by whomsoever committed, would
not have been recorded in the history of
that campaign.
General Lee has been likened to be
father of family all recently bereft of
a mothers care. The right arm
stricken down at Charlottesville only
began to be felt as a real loss when its
accustomed offices were found to have
been left undone. Stuart out Of place
when most needed was not so essential
factor as jackson, whose place could
never be filled in the grand total of this
memorable campaign. The habit of de-
pendence was not to be overcome at
oilCe' Lee, tHe lutller, nau not YET
learned that the care Of the children
must deyolve upon him alone. How
well the bitter lesson of Gettysburg was
laid to heart the marvellous campaign of
1864 can best attest. The track Of blood
which marked Grants march from the
Rapidian to the James cancelled the debt
Of Cemetery Ridge, Among the few
devoted thousands who stacked arms at
AppomattoX there was none found to
question the great chieftain when he
said: 4 have done the best l could for
you.''