The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-04
THAT GLORIOUS REPORT.


We look on it as a most fortunate event
that circumstances led us TO unearth anu
publish Major Charles ). Ieytoh report
of the operations OF Garnetts pilsdue
an tho famous charge OF Picketts division
at Gettysburg, which we printed on sun
day So far as we know, that report mas
never been published before. but IL is
document that sheds imperishable glory
on the name Virginian. That 1t Is ab-
soIutely truthful In every detail Is per-
fectly certain IL was written on the
sixth day after the charge was mace.
when the events were wildly before the
minds Of Major Peyton and his COM
rades. in whose presence II was pre-
pared. Ii was sent TO division head
quarters General Pickett) where IL
would of course, have been disapproved
of at once If IT made any Incorrect
statements II went from there to corps
headquarters Nongstreet's) where IT had
again TO pass the scrutiny OF eyes In
tended TO see that the truth was told.
Ii went from there to the headquarters
Of General II. Il. Lee. where it would
likewise have been condemned If there
had been any reason 10 suspect its ac-
curacy. and was finally sent from his
headquarters to the War Department.
II passed through all these ordeals with
out one criticism.
But II bears on its own face the evil
dence OF its sincerity and truth. 1t is
the plain, unaffected statement of Incl
dents by a modest soldier who did his
duty in the most terrific conflict that ever
took place in war. but who does not in
an, way indicate that he thinks that
ne has done anything at all remarkable
or more than what IL was his duty to do.
The perfect simplicity in, and absence OF
egotism from. this document makes IL one
of the greatest pieces of composition I'm
the English language. VINO. without be-
Ing absolutely astounded. can contemplate
Garrett, after having dispersed the enc
my's skrmishers. routed one line of bat
tie. and being within seventy-fve yards
of the fatal wall, from which fire and
, destruction were being belched out every
second. quietly sitting on his horse and
sending an aide TO General Kemper TO
tell him that his (kemper's) line over
Tapped his (Garnetts) and that ne wish
ed ne would side-step a little to the
right 30 Keep the alignment perfect.
Talk OF the Confederate army wanting
discipline! Was there ever q ase IN the
history OF the world when such dlscip-
line and self-control was showl? There
may not have been so much = that dis
cipline that comes from drill in lie Con-
federate ranks as in some C;htrs. but
they had. as no other soldiers ever had.
that God-given discipline that comes from
each soldier being a seif-resps ctng. God
Hou
10 stand In lire, and how 20 rarch 10
the front. and their own intelli gsnce as
men told them that when they obeyed
their officers implicitly IN doing tSese two
things they were accomplishing all that
drill, can make soldiers do.
one OF these days, no doubt. poet
Who Is worthy of dealing with this theme
will arise in our dear Southland. When
he does. and when he puts this unaf-
fected soldiers simple narrative into
fitting verse, we shall have a poem that
will carry the memory OF that heroic
struggle to the remotest limits Of time.
Improvements In methods OF destroying
human life are going, most probably,
10 end war amongst civilized peoples.
But admiration for the feats OF the
heroes OF war while war lasted will never
depart from the minds OF men, and while
memories OF these last. the record of
the charge Of Pickett's division of Vir-
giniens at Gettysburg will always
quicken the pulse and stimulate the heart
beats OF men and women
Islk OF the charge OF the six hundred
II was mere child's play compared with
this charge. We have said IL is fortu-
nate that this soldiers account of that
charge has been unearthed. and we re-
peat the statement with all the emphasis
we can give TO IT, Virginians viii be
better Virginians for the reading OF that
report. 1t Is lesson which we can
every day teach 10 our children. who
must grow up with aspirations raised
and determination 10 lead worthy lives
increased when they read how Garnett.
kenper. and Armistead rode with their
men into the jaws Of death without one