The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-30
TN of hempels Arn.

Lynchburg, Va, Sept. = 1885,
Editor Iimes.-A great deal has been
Of the latter in your valuable paper,
about the support or supports 10 Pick
ett's division IN its charge at GeJtys-
burg. II Is not the wish of the writer.
nor is It his intention 10 20 into the
question. as To what COmmdnus supported
the charge, what positions they occu-
pied, or what they accomplished. lie
WoGldH.t detract one iotd from the eoH--
age and glory Of that man or That COM
mand. that faced death through the rain
Of shot, shell, canister, ana musketry.
IN the attempt % carry the works AT
Cemetery I'm and achieve victory fer
the Confederate cause. lie simply
claims, as one who bore an humble part
tn that charge, 10 state his impressions
and recollecuons thcrot, untu he was re-
moved. WOUNDED from the field. Dis
cardtug any account Of what happened
during the advance Of the army into
division, or the command OF the writer
belonging thereto. If correctly romom-
hrred, about eight miles from the battle
field II Gettysburg late In the evening
the distance could be distinctly heard
Indicating Enthusiastically that a battle
was In progress, which proved % h- the
second days fight. We. KeWper's bri-
glde, biyouced al that point with orders
Ia he ready 20 move At a moments no
uce, and by daylight on the 81 our com
maud WAS on the move The ordnance
wagons had preceded the brigade for the
purpose OF distributing ammunition. I'm Il
very unusual manner, the boxes bein-
opened and placed on each side o. the
line Of march, VIA instructions for the
men to supply themselves as they passed
along the road without delaying the
column. This bad never occurred before
and indicated some great ems rgeucy at
hand, that a crisis had arrived demand
ing prompt and decisive action.
We arrived in the field between 10 and
il O'clock We're immediately assigned
position in line Of battle behind the
crest of Seminary Ridge. out of view OF
the enemy. whore We remained until the
order came for the advance on Gene
terry Hill
The rumor and general impression Pre-
vailed that Pickett's division was to make
the charge on the cnemys works and
nothing was reported or heard. "a to
what other commands were To participate
theteln' eitheT IN tae main line or sup
porting the attack. Our orders were
tkcmper's brigade when m line moved
10 keep closed on and aligned 10 the left
on tarnetts brigade.
Responding - the command 10 adj
vance. the division moved ar once over
the crest ~ the ridge. Komper on the
right Of the line. next GIruett then
Armstead, the latter being slightly i'm
ecH1l Ion, never hating or WJy"riuE until
II reached the hroStWorks Of the enemy.
OF what occurred there. what was ac-
coWplished. the writer can only speak
from lcrcSay, being wounded iu the charge
whom about onc-thiri Of the distance hal
been covered i'm IT," advance OF the
division He had 10 remain for n while
whore he fell until carried u the rear.
long enough 10 witness the farther al
vance OF the line. until r. struck the
cucmv's works The advance was over
an open. cleared field. nothing 10 OBJ.
struct or interfere with the view from
the spot where he tel TO the position of
the Federal forces he did not see any
organized body or force. rot SO much
as a company supporting Picketts di-
vision. II there had been, either division
brigade, regiment. or what else as is
claimed, and the writer doesn't say there
wasn't. 1t would seem that it must have
come within his range Of view before
he saw the line repulsed and our men
falling back. There may have been sun
port to the right or left. or both. Of Pick
etts division, but certainly and beyond
question. not In rear Of ksmuer or Car
nett. Armistead being on the extreme
left and somewhat iH echeloH, couldn't
be so plainly seen. Again. If the sup
port was on either flank or both. Of the
division. 1t IS unlikely from such nos.-
ton that prompt ana efficient aid could
have been rendered the main line. winch
bore the brunt of the charge. and the
men must have been nearly exhausted
when they reached the works.
IL has been cOnundrum. the wonder
Of the writer, since the failure Of mat
charge and he turned his back on that
battlefield. why was there no support
to the asSaUlting force. or. why was lt
not made in two lines of battle. or "a
echelon? His answer has invariably been.
General Lee planned and ordered il and
whatever he aid was right whether
successful or not. X; OTEN,
Eleventh Va. Regiment