The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-12-16
Order to Longstreet.

liam IL. Royall tonight delivered his
lecture on Gettysburg. It was an
nounced that Mr.. Royal was to dcliv-
er this lecture during the Confederate
reunion last June. His friends, how
ever, induced him to defer it to some
other time. What was particularly
objected to was Mr.. Royals criticisms
of Gen. Longstreet action at the bat
tie of Gettysburg. This is what Mr..
Royal said on this subject tonight:
I now produce testimony of the
very highest order that Gen. Lee told
Longstreet early in the afternoon of
the lst of July to get his command up
at the earliest possible moment.
"The Rev. DR.. James p. Smith,
editor Of the Central Presbyterian, of
Richmond, served on the staff Of
Stonewall Jackson, with the rank of
Captain. After Gen. Jackson death
he was invited by Gen. Ewell to take
place on his staff, and he reached
him at Gettysburgh just as the battle
Of the 1st Of July was being conclud-
ed. He has written an account of the
interview which he had that afternoon
with Gems. Ewell, Early and Rhodes,
and then with Gen. Lee, which he
permits me to use. His interview
with Ewell, Rhodes and Early was il
Gettysburg after the enemy had been
driven through the town. Early and
Rhodes rode up to Ewell, reported
their advance beyond the town, and
up the slopes Of Cemetery Hill, and
they urged Ewell to communicate with
Gen. Lee at once and inform him of
their earnest desire to advance on
Cemetery Hill if they could be sup
ported on the right DR.. Smith con-
tinues thus:
Turning, Gen. Ewell called me,
and said: Captain, you have lately
left Gen. Lee; perhaps you can find
him again. Please tell him what
Gems. Early and Rhodes wish to say.
Capt. Smith rode in quest of Gen.
Lee, and found him and Gen. Long
street about 5 p. M, dismounted in a
field to the Confederate right Of Get
tysburg. He continues
"sI repeated to Gen. Bee what Gen.
Ewell had wished me to convey as to
the wishes of Gems. Early and Rhodes,
to the effect that if Gen. Lee would
send troops to support them on the
right they would at once advance to
occupy Cemetery Hill in front Of the
town and that it would be we'll for
Gen. Lee to occupy at once the higher
ground in front of our light, which
seemed to command Cemetery Hill
Gen. Lee, pointing to the front, said,
L suppose, Captain, this is the higher
ground to which these gentlemen
refer? He handed me his field glasses
to observe the position, remarking,
You will see that some of those peo-
pie are there now [ saw number
Of mounted Federals riding over the
elevated ground as if reconnoitering.
This was the elevated South of the
cemetery, and Gen. Early had been
commanding it.
"Gen. Lee then said: Our peo-
pic are not at all UP yet, and I have
no troops with which to occupy this
higher ground Turning to Gen.
Longstreet he asked how far Long
street divisions were away and how
soon could he bring them to the front.
Gen. Lee seemed disappointed with
the reply, which was not definite, and
conveyed no decision or purpose to
bring the troops promptly to the front.
"'Gen Lee expressed his urgent
wish that Longstreet's troops should
be moved forward with the utmost
diligence. He said to me: Captain,
say to Gen. Ewell that l will support
him by an advance on his right as
soon as I can. I wish him to use
whatever opportunity he has to ad-
vance and to hold the ground in his
front.
''Now here is most positive possible
testimony from a witness of the high
est possible character that Gen. Lee
communicated to Gen. Longstreet at 5
.. m. July l his wish that Longstreet
should get his command up at the
earliest moment and support Ewell's
right with it-that is, assault, as soon
as he could get there, whatever was in
front of our right.
"If the statements of Gen. Early
and DR.. Smith are believed it is prov
ed to certainty that at o'clock
Gen. Lee ordered Gen. Longstreet to
get his command up for action at the
earliest possible moment; that after
debating the matter with Ewell, Early
and Rhodes he determined to order
Longstreet to attack Meades left at
daylight; that he told Ewell, Early and
Rhodes that he had resolved on this
course and that they were to conform
their conduct to it, and that he never
thereafter changed his instructions to
these officers, for Early SO states the
case. And this also is to be consid-
cred and borne in mind. "-NoJoh
Landmark.