Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-21

some time between and O'Clock. and came
! sweeping down from the western hills IN mag
nltcent array, watched hopefully by Lee and
Longstreet and thousands OF admirinS eyes on
| both sides TIE federal sclc:ers were not
shaken by the sight; they simply ncryed ;Lem-
selves 70 redeem Fredericksburg.
Soon the Union shot and shell and then
| Canister began 70 tear wide gaps IN the aG-
vanclnS hneS The fire came from every guar
| ter. front and flank. A battery on Little
Round Top enfladed them. When within a
| third OF mile of the federal front Pickett
halted under this frightful fire. readjusted his
lines and then changed direction obliquelv
toward the left. striking some OF hays al
vanced troops and then Gibbon. Wilcox and
| Perry did not change, but kept straight on.
| thus leaving a wide interval between them.
and uncoverIng Pickott's flank. against which
| Gen. STANDARDS Vermont brigade dashed
promptly, by changing front to the right He
was supported By Gates brigade Delivering
| "A hot musketry fire they soon crowded KEN
per's rebels out of line. huddling them in on
the center. and many surrendered. kemper
was wounded.
The weight OF federal fire had quickly caused
PettI-rew's men on the left to waver; they un-
consciously began TO lag behind and Pickett
was soon left alone. Armistead and GARRETT
torn by still deadlier fire both of musketry
and artillery, continued TO press forward
Driving back some OF Hays men at the foot OF
the ACTIVITY, they actually rushed up among
himself with his hat on his sword point, cheer
| lnS on his veterans. But there was very lit
tie chance for them now; there had really been
| none from the start. They were met by brave
Webb, Hall and Harrow with their brigades
| and other commands. Attacked all sides
by converging Union troops, Armistead and
Garnett killed. Kemper wounded, they were
driven back in rout with fearful slaughter. To
| avoid again passing over that fatal plain TO the
rear many surrendered. In this hours work
Picketts division alone lost :, sss men killed
wounded and prisoners.
Only portion of Pettigrews troops cot TO
the front on the left; they were easily repulsed
| by the fire of Hays wellposted lines and
hnally fled, losing nearly l.500 prisoners and
| many colors- Gen. Trimble was wounded
Wilcox on the right was met by CaldweI's d.
vision III front, and struck by the omnipresen.
| and energetic Stannard in flank and beaten
| easily, losing MANY prisoners. During the day
q cavalry battle had occurred between Stuart
and Gregg, guarding the Baltimore pike in
which the confederates were completely
| foiled
Thus. lis troops beaten at all points. Lees
hopes were shattered. lie ventured no more
attacks; he was alarmed lest Meade should
launch one IL return with his fresh sixth corps
and other troops. But Meade was satisfied to
rest awhile. That might Lee began to send
his trains across the South mountain by way of
Cashtown, holding fortified line along Semi
| nary Ridge throughout the 4th of July TO cover
| their removal. On that night he quietly re-
tired from the dangerous presence OF Meade
army toward Hagerstown by way Of the Fair
| field road.
Lees invasion had come TO an inglorious end
| II the federal government had acted with de-
clslve energy his army must have been de-
| stroyed. With Kelley's and Milrov's troops in
the valley as nucleus from Washington. Fort
Monroe and other points. everything should
have been stripped for such an object. another
army of 10000 excellent troops could have been
placed across Lees communications if neces-
sary for safety behind the Potomac to cut off
his retreat long before the elimination at Get
tysburg. certainly before he arrived back at
the river. He could not have crossed in face
OF such force or endangered it with Meade at
his heels.
On the 18th his shattered columns had
reached the vicinity of Williamsport. where be
fortified line behind which he waited for the
high waters of the Potomac to subside Meade
not deeming it advisable 20 attack him in his
intrenchments. Finally succeeding in laying a
bridge, Lee crossed back into Virginia on the
night of the 18th, marching ON Martinsburg.
The Union army, including 400 men Joined
during the battle, numbered 81, 40S infantry
and 1888 artillery; total, 1851 equipped Cor
battle. There is no return of Pleasonton's cav
| airy equipped for battle" and hence have
omitted that and also the rebel cavalry Its
losses are officially stated as follows: