Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-23
sTAUNTON SPECTATOR GENERAL ADVERTISER.

imous heart of Lee. Why General Lee or
dered the attack in the evening of the second
day is given in his own words: ut had not
been intended to fight general battle at such
distance from our base unless attacked by
the enemy, but, finding ourselves unexpected
ly confronted by the Federal army, it became
matter of great difficulty to withdraw
through the mountains with our large trains
= = battle thus became in a
measure unavoidable" This is what had
happened to Frederick the Great, to Early at
Fishers Hill and to Gordon at Fl Stedman.
CHARGE OF PIoKETT's DIVISION.
On the third day Lees plan was for Long
street to assault the left centre, and Ewell the
extreme right, and Pickett the centre. 1t was
Z o'clock that morning that Picketts division
marched to the position from which it was to
be launched upon the enemy. AT l o'clock
in the afternoon Lee opened on the Federal
centre with fire of a hundred and forty
guns, and the Federals returned the fire with
eighty guns. 1t was the most terrific artillery
duel on the Western hemisphere. The roar
of two hundred guns shook the earth. 1t was
one continuous sound and the report of no
single gun could be distinguished. Little
damage was done to the Confederate side, but
the Federal troops suffered severely. Horses
were disemboweled and thrown in every di-
rection, gun carriages shivered caissons blown
up, men mangled and blown clean out of ex-
lstence. After two hours of tremendous roar
ing the firing slackened. and Pickett's division
moved to the assault. down declivity, up a
rise, down a declivity again, and then up to
the Federal lines. As the tremendous firing
ceased the heavy cloud of smoke lifted, and
not in pomp and circumstance of war, nor at
double quick, as has been said, but with
measured tread and determined step, Pickett
division, supported by Heth's division of
Hills corps, moved grandly forward. With
their dull grey uniform there was nothing
bright about them but their battle flags and
the sheen of their bayonets. AS they moved
forward the Federal guns opened on them
and tore gaps in their ranks. Unfortunately
"a fact not known by General Lee-the am
munition of the Confederate artillery had
given out and the Federal artillery had full
play. When half the distance had been
traversed, Pickett's division halted and dress
ed by their colors and then moved Obliquely
onward to gain the highest point When
within range the cannon opened on them
with grape and canister and every form of
iron destruction invented by man, and still
later concentrated fire of musketry from
both TANKS was poured into them. Onward
they kept while all the world wondered"
until the remnant that were left pierced the
Federal lines and held them for full twenty
minutes. But the expected support never
came. and when the great cloud of smoke
lifted, the remnant of that gallant band were
seen slowly and reluctantly falling back. Old
Virginia had the post of honor that day. Out
of fifteen regimental commanders and three
brigade commanders, three brigadiers and ff-
teen regimental commanders shed their blood.
With the spirit of Cesar or Napoleon, Lee
had boldly thrown the die and nobly stood by
the cast. 1T is all my fault" he said.
1t had been said that Gettysburg was one of
the decisive battles of the world. If that is so
there is one thing in which it differs in gen
eral from decisive battles. No rout followed
II and the Army of Northern Virginia was as
determined and sullen following the third
days battle as at any time, There was no
picture like that after Waterloo, with an En-
peror on horseback in fight to Paris and the
remnant of the Old Guard flying after with
the cry "Save himself who can" And at
Willamsport few days later the Army of
Northern Virginia faced about with its back
to the river and bristled up like quilts upon
the fretful porcupine.
Major Daniel closed his address in brilliant
peroration in which he again touched upon
Lees grand remark, Its all my fault" but
declared it will not be the verdict hereafter,
and Gkened him, standing on Seminary
Ridge, as if on the mount of TRANSPORTATION,
where his nobility shone forth with godlike
radiance.