The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-04
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
MIR. w. r.. ROYILL DELICLEs HfS
THRfLLTNG LECTURE.
A Graphic Description OF the Famous
Charge and Some New and STARTLING
Deductions Made from Facts.

Charge and Some New and startling
Deductions Made from Facts.
Considering the very bad state OF the
weather under foot. there was a good
audience at the Academy OF Music last
night assembled to listen to the lecture
on the battle Of Gettysburg by Mr. VIII
liam l.. Royal. II was a representative
gathering. and Mr.. Royal was given the
close attention Of all present for an hour
and a half. while the stirring ana dra-
matte story Of what many think TO be
tho worlds greatest battle Was being
told as only Mr.. Royal can tell it. In
one OF the boxes were Governor Charles
Il. O'Ferran and party and Mr.. and Mrs.
CasNie Cabell and party were ia another.
As the lecture progressed and the story
OF Picketts charge was given IN graphic
and vivid detail the audience appauded
heartily. Mr. Royals Gettysburg
shows the work of careful and exhaustive
study and research, and will be listened
10 with absorbing interest by all who
desire to become acquainted with this
battle Of battles.
SYNOPSIS or THE LECTURE.
AIr Royal spoke first OF the numbers
in each army al Gettysburg. lie said
that General Lee had less than $1,000 men,
while General Meade had. under his i'm
mediate command. 10000 and 10000 moro
near him at Harpers Ferry under Cen
oral French. with large force on MS
right flank under General Couch, not less
than 1000. He SAID the official records
proved these statements beyond question.
He next sketched briefly the principal
events Of the nrst days battle (July lsD
that came OF through the accident OF
General Ieth moving towards Gettys-
burg to supply his division with shoes.
This battle was very brilliantly Fought
upon both sides, and resulted in a signal
victory for the Confederatcs. He then
graphically described the situation Of the
two armies az d ar k July lst. and at light
OF July "a and showed that General Meade
had IN line an light Of July "a only 1850
men. with 5000 more near at hand In their
camps. while General Lee had in line,
hugglng Meade close all Of Eweils and
Hilrs corps lie also showed that Lee
ordered Longstreet at two divisions OF
Hood and McIaws. and have them ready
for attack az the earliest possible moment.
Hood and McLaws were at the iattle-
field al light on July ID. but Longstreet
was shown TO have been pulling back from
an attack.
THE CASE AT POINT.
The most powerful part Of Mr.. Po, all 5
lecture was his discussion OF the case at
this point. lie showed 20 a moral Ger
tainty that Leo ordered LonSs'root 10
attack Needles left flank at DAYLIGHT OF
the "a. and he also demonstrated tNat
II Longstreet had attacked them there
was nothing 10 oppose him except the
part OF the Third Corps. then up, which
was tn camp. not expecting any attack.
and which could have not resisted Long
street for n moment. Meade's nearest
force, not there was four miles NV ~,
and n Longstreot had moved forward at
sunrise he would have pushed the part
Of the Third Corps mp. ready In moment
and would have then been In rear or
the First. Eleventh. and Twelfth Corps
which Ewoll and Hill would have been
attacking I'm front and all their corps
must have been cut no and destroyed.
Mr. Royal made 10 perfectly clear That
General LOngstrcets failure TO execute
General Lees orders 10 him. prevented
General Lee from destroying Meade on
the morning OF July 2d. He quoted In
this connection from an Grafton delivered
hy the Hon. Edward Everett. feN
months after the battle. at the dedication
40 Gettysburg of the cemetery for soldiers
killed in the battle. I'm the presence OF
Mr.. Lincoln. several members OF his Cabt
net many officials OF The army and mem.
/ beers Of Congress and "A great crowd OF
people. in which Mr.. Everett said that If
/ the Confederatcs had followed up their
/ victory ON July lst by am attack early
| in the morning Of July 2d. General
; Meadc's army was necessarily lost.
TRIBUTE TO LONGSTREEr.
/ Lonsstrcet was criticised closely and
/ inte.ueently, but not unkindly, and Mr
/ Royal said that when battle WAS once
/ Joined. Longstrcet was one Of the mo-,
! brilliant soldiers that ever commando
! mon. But that his defect was cons ti-
/ tutional. and consisted of slOwness and
! disposition 10 prO.rastiuate.
The battle of July "a, which was not
/ fought until T.. NJ. when 10 should have
/ been fought at ABB \. NJ, re- ultei, upon
! the whole. in favor Of the Confederates
/ and The lecturer described the council
/ OF war which Meade called during tn,
/ night OF July 2l TO consider the question
! whether the Union army should not re-
/ treat. This brings on one OF the most
/ interesting parts of the address. In Whicl
/ 70 is shown that Meade would nave re-
! treated. leaving the COutederates the
! prestige of "A great victory upon iennsyl
/ yania soil. but for the un,ucky capture OF
] ~ 7.
/ Dahlgren. I'm which Mr. Davis told GEN
/ cral Lee that De would not be able ID
| form the army at Culpeper Courthouse
| under Boaurcsard 10 threaten Washing
! ton. that Lee had wanted from there
! This letter reached Meade I'm the midst
OF the council OF war. and determined
! him 10 remain and fight the third day
! battle. when Pickctts Division made thei
| immortal charge and were sacrificed.
GRAPHIC PICTURE.
II IS impossible TO give an adequate
/ idea 81 Mr. Royals description of tba
charge n was graphic and vivid TO The
/ highest degree. But he showed Yer
/ plainly that the charge failed. and Meade
/ army WAS again saved from rout and Dis
| aster by General Longstreet falling q
obey General Lees advice 10 advance th
! artillery with the infantry. His eXpllna
/ ton ~ this was new and startling.
The j. j. 70 Stuart Monument Associa
! ton have made am arrangement with Mr
! Rovau TO give this lecture during th