Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-08
1863. was no more the result OF cnance
or accident than the original INVASION
DISTRIBIJTION OF TROOPS.

DISTRIBUTION OF lhOOfo'
In the FIRST place, the distribution OF
The various divisions OF the Confederate
ayrv nreyious to the battle Is totaiiy
Inconsistent with this theory OF accI-
dent In the concentration at tet'ysou's'
ON the 2Sth Of June General FAIRY ~,
vision of Ewell's Corps was IN the va
cinity of York. some thirty miies e
OF Gettysburg; the divisions OF uen.' ~
Edward Johnson and Rodes were a. =.
near carlisle. about 30 miles Directly
north of that town, while Heth's anu
pender's and the other divisions or 'ne
army were in and about ChambersDuis
nearly 20 miles to the westward. lhus
Early and Heth were fully GO miles apart
on an almost direct liDes east anu Wa.
with Gettysburg midway between ous
somewhat to The southwark. a stuoy VI
,ha situation Will make IL clear TO tne
,nerest tyro in logistics that II 'heit
march was the result OF mere cnahoe
was a most singular circumstance,
deed. that the four conyerging uiVis,ons
Ueth and Pender. from the west ha."
rom the east. and Rodes from the iioi ~,
.hn,,,d oil arrive opportunely on the heid
~ gettysburg between the hours OF
A NJ and H. noon In time to successiuiiy
s,,rno,, each other In a contest with the
Irnion First and Eleventh Corps. Iheio
can be no other conclusion thsn that
49, and the rest of the Confederate
army had been moving toward one coiii
mon centre under The Impulse Vi d si"sie
mind previously given. A.
put n Is hardly necessary to argue the
noiuY 10 dispose OF this question. lnsie
can be no dispute about II; IL Is se.uea
bv General Lee himself beyond all con-
troyersy, and 1t is surprising INA. MS
statemenTs have been 50 long oVeriooheu
In the last days Of June scout oi
General Longstreets, VINO had passSu
through Washington. ana supsequ1nu'
the Union army, arrived at Seheraa -
headouarsers, In Chamberspurg, Win inc
incarnation that Hookers entire force
bad crossed the Potomac and was NOV
ing por,nward, imperilling the Conieue-
rass communications with the Sou'n. ms
made necessary the immediate craving ia
~ the widely-sundered Confederate ul-
visions. 800. ,u.,D
I, l. evident. on receiving this disturb
ing information, that General Lee mrs.
,mnplse was TO bring Ewell back ana
concentrate at Chambersburg, west Oh the
mountains. but, after studying the situa-
tIon twelve hours, and, perhaps, upon pet
ter information. he changed his hinu,
and concluded to cross TO the east sue
of the South mountain range anu '~A0
position at Gettysburg strategic posi-
ton of great Importance because oil the
many excellent turnpike roads Whlch
raIiate therefrom. AT Gettysburg no
would not only occupy an eNceheht posi-
ton from which to fall back toward 'he
Potomac, II found necessary 10 ueiVer
or receive battle; one saieiy coNViine
his line of communications. out one
threatening both Washington ana bai.'-
more. as well. He thereupoh sem "
General Ewell, at Carlisle. the following
order. found on page w, Part o. 'oiu''s
xvii, Of the War-Records:
TDo'TRS ARMY NORTHERN VA.
CHAMBERSBURG, June 2S, 1876.
Northumberland X. >. E"eii' Yum
handing Corps: 1T.
General.-I wrote you last night
stating that General Hooker was re-
ported to have crossed the Potomac ana
l. advancing by way Of Middletown. the
head Of his column being at that point
I'm Frederick county. 1 directeu you III
that letter TO move your forces 10 lniS
point. II you have not already pio-
crossed on the road, and If you have no
good reason against II. desire you "
move in the direction OF Gettysburg VIA
Heidlersburg, where you Will have turn
pike most Of the way. and you can
thus Join your divisions to Early's. when
is east of the mountains. l think IL
preferable to keep Oh the east side OF
the mountains - r. Il. LEE
General.
I do not think this feature-the first
order mentioned in the above for Ewell
10 retire from Carlisle on Chambersburg-
has ever been noticed by historians.
General Ewell. Having no good reason
against IT," on receipt Of this order al
once headed the divisions OF Rodes ana
Johnson towards Gettysburg. General
EARLY at page 4s7, Part 2. Volume XVII,
War-Records, notes the receipt at York
through General Ewell. of copy OF
the foregoing order OF General Lee, with
verbal instructions to move back, and
began his march toward Heidhrsburg, 10
ioin the other divisions at daylight on
the Goth. On the 18th HIS Corps. from
the vicinity of Chambersburg, had
stretched out on the road TO Gettysburg
and that evening was encamped near
the town OF Fayetteville. about eight
miles east OF Chambersburg. General Hi
reports that he was directed to co-ope-
rate with Ewell, and. accordingly, on
the Doth. moved General Heths Division
to Cashtown, some eight miles from Get
tysburg, following on the morning OF the
Goth with the division Of General Pen
der" General Longstreet reports that
he received orders at @hambersburg or
the 29th to follow Hill and encamp al
Greenwood.
Meanwhile, the advancing Federals
moving northward more rapidly under
their new comm ander. General Meade
than anticipated by the Confederate
chieftain, had occupied the town Of Get
tysburg, and thus interposed-though un
aware of the fact-to prevent the con
centration ,of his army at that point with
out a battle. And to accomplish his orr.
ginal design, and finding the enemy be
fore him, General Lee elected to fight
his remaining divisions were hurried for
ward as rapidly as possible; the Federals
perceiving that the crisis was at hand
rushed forward to the conflict, and the
great battle OF Gettysburg followed. a:
naturally and certainly as powder vii
explode when the match Is applied. II
was in no wise the result or chance, al
least in respect of the Confederate pre-
| liminary movements.
Finally, In his various letters and re
ports concerning the Gettysburg cam
paign. General Lee several times allude,
| TO his conclusion, and the reason. a,
| well rs the order, for this concentration
| at Gettysburg. l make the following
| extract from bis official report. found a
| page 3O5. Part 2. Volume XVII. War
| Records:
HDQ'TRs ARMY NORTHERN VA.
July 81. 1868.
General s. Cooper. Adjutant- and In
spector- Genera. Richmond. Va:
General 80 . Preparations were nov
made to advance upon Harrisburg; but
upon the night Of the 18th information
was received from q scout that the Fede
| raj army. having crossed the Potomac
was advancing northward. and that th'
| head OF the column had reached thu
| South mountain. As our communication
..,t.h tha pofomac uere thus rneuaced 4