The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-26
GEN. LORGSYRRHr REPLIES.
Gen. Lee Did Not Order Him to AdIance
The Artillery at Gettysburg.
HE MEYER REPORTED SUCH An ORDER.
Twelve or Fifteen Batteries Thrown In
Advance Of the Infantry Would Have
Perished In So Many Minutes aud
Encountered Instead OF Aiding
tho Field Says Gen.
Longstreet.


To the Editor of The Times:
Sir-I notice in the Atlanta Consu'u-
ton, reporting from The Times. as ioi-
lows: "But there Is a criticism when mas
not yet been made, but can be made upon
his part I'M the battle OF the thru, ana
It IS one of the most serious ana daihabl"s
character. lie was ordered by Geherai
Lee to advance tho artillery with the IN
fantry and to keep up its fire, ana no
did not do II, and allowed us nre 10 sus-
pend during the assault. lie can never
answer this, and 1t lost the day
Thia is claimed as new matter, anu
seems 10 have been brought 10 the light
OF the mind OF the writer after thirty
three years of incubation; but It IS better
late. than TO leave any part or the great
eliminating battle of the war In doubt,
or open to mi reconstruction; especially OF
that 3rd days work; work That covers
field of valor, that stands without
parallel in the annals OF war, ana makes
a monument for the American soldiers,
not likely TO be found in the future or
wars honored fields.
Rut 10 illustrate the force OF the charge
we must 90 back. IN mind at least, to the
rugged field Of Gettysburg-the Held that
has become familiar from the rcnown or
soidieriy deeds. and the soldiers sacrl-
feed.
on that day there were one hundred
guns-in round numbers-Of the First corps
including nine guns. fresh Of men ana
horses. that were sent us from the gen
oral reserve artillery. The corps artillery
was posted in battery along Seminary
Ridge. by General T.. =. Alexander VINO
had been assigned. by me for especial ser
vice as director Of artillery.
On the left Of his batteries were sixty
five Of the best guns OF the Third corps.
The artillery Of the Second corps failed
to take the part assigned for it IN the gem
crnI combat the battery Of nine guns
Alexander hid away, as he thought IN
a hollow at the bottom Of a ravine, near
at hand, under cover from fire OF the
enemys guns, but convenient TO dash for
ward. at the critical moment as flying
artillery, leading the assaultlng columns
OF infantry.
NEVER GAVE THE ORDER.
Recurring now TO this last charge.
The first impression upon the nina OF
one familiar with the records Is or sur
prise that General Lee could have been
So careless of his records a. 10 ran 20
mention an order. the execution OF when
would have gained his battle.
He made two official reports OF the
battle. al six months interval, was IN
daily and confidential correspondence Win
the President, but in none Of these does
he even refer 10 the alleged order Ihere
was some method shown IA this apparent
| carclessness. as I propose 90 show
He did not refer 10 thi matter because
| he never gave the order. lie prooaply
would have 50 ordered had he not Know
that Alexander had anticipated anu
! hid away his nine fresh guns for that
service He probably failed TO refer 10
the nOn-use OF the battery as proposed
| because ne knew that his Chief Of Artil-
| lerv. General PendlctOn, had spirited
| away the hidden battery, or part OF IL,
without giving us notice, ana the other
part followed the move. 10 change or
position. 50 that when the battery was
called it was not 20 be found, nor any
part OF IT,: that I'm the emergency Alex
| ander drew in dozen or more or ms
batteries Of position that had ammuil-
ton enough for the service, ana usel
them in covering the TANKS ana intervals
81 the marching infantry. So when lit
tie light Is let In the carelesshess appd ,
rent at nrst sight seems methOdiLed ana
| judgment sound appears.
In his account of the days or work IN
| the BATTLES and Leaders OF the war
General Alexander quotes "A note from me
written 10 him on the field when the as
| saulting march was impending, VIZ.
"COiOnel-The intention t. 20 advance
| the Infantry If the artillery has the de-
sired effect Of driving the enemy of on
| having other effect such as TO warrant
rs I'm making the attack When the mo-
! ment arrives advise General Pickett, and,
| can use in siding the attack
THE GRANDEST TEST.
Then he refers to The Withdrawal OF a
| number Of the enemy batteries, the
! siackening OF his nre, me urgency OK tne
moment for action, the advance, his col
| Letting some fifteen or more or his bat
| teries Of position 10 follow I'm support OF
the infantry But General Meade HAD
| ordered the fire TO slacktn, knowing tna'
! we We're waiting for that As warrant lol
| the advance, and sent or some or his
batteries for fresh men, horses and muh1-
! tiCns. -.
That writer, so bold to make this last
| charge seems to COncrQe tnat others
| preceding his, are baselcss, ana 10 claim
| that his goes beyond contention, but the
records show that he must take MS place
! with the others. -
| of that memorable day nineteen teel-
| monts of virginia. fifteen or Norm tAto'
| lima, three of Mississippi, three OF rem
/ nessee and two of Alabama troops, "Hoay
/ names should be preserved ~ ever
! household as the grandest test of Ameil'
can manhood. L.. ,,orge
| is the claim, at this late day thal tilese
| fifteen thousand, supported by arulely'
! could have marched a mile under con-
| centrated fire of the most approved loh5
| range guns and muskets, dislodsed az
army of seventy thousand American WIZ M.
| Grams strongly posted behind stone walls
| and improved defences. defending their
! homes. and claimed a victory.
| Twelve or fifteen batteries thrown ~
| ad,-onoe Of the infantry columns would
have perishod in as many fi minutes ,sd de, ana
! encumbered instead OF AIDING tng ne'u u.
| irhe nine guns selected for lying ser
vice were all that could be used as as.
! diversion of the enemys hre uhu 5nics
! were knocked TO pieces. no morse Ii"ueN
mon that field lived 10 return.
| The officers OF my STAN sent uhqef
| AVN, orders. after ride Of eight min-
| ui.s returned with their saddles and
| brides IN their arms, Latrooe's morse
| receiving two balls; .... t..o,,
1t is said that history repeats i Us u
| Sic and claims that the last charge goes
with rs predecessors into re o waste ste, p Sg,
! - trrn the basket over and start anew
| with the old charge got up some eight
wears after the war on sunrise ba,ue
| ior the "a and started by General Pendle-
| ION In occurs 20 me, however, upon
| second thought. that the inventive mino
| Of some n0n-combatant may make
| new discovery.
Respectfully, -,
TONGSTREET.