The morning times., 1896-06-14
WHY lee LOST THE BATTLE
L0ngstreet Late in Reaching
the Field at Gettysburg.
GENERALS PLAN FAILED
Major J. c. Anderson, Who Conveyed
the Order Starting the Engage
ments, Tells Inside Facts.
GENERALS PLAN FAILED

| manded more spnce in the leading period
Gals of the country, than that one episode
| at Gettysburg, which, by common consent,
| presaged the downfall of the Southern
Confcderacy.
The ccommandcr-in- chicfof the Southland's
army, leading general OF his command
| and subordinate, whose rank was that
| of captain, but who filled the most
imIprtan position OF Iielu aiac, were tBs
only persons present.
| y Pages have Leeu uUso rbed in magazines
| aud newspapers Win various versions Ol
| uisputeu proposiaon, but ut no time In
\ his Subsequent career uld Gen. Lee ever
make, or authorize to be made, state
menu of the occurrence, which, to his
| sensitive nature, must have been the source
| OF deep aud iasung regret. Possibly
| the South hau never Il chance to succeed
| the logic, as well as the philosophy oil the
situation, Iroin the very inception Of the
struggle TO the event that practically ended
it AT Appomattox, was asains, southern
| triumph
| The Onion, then, as now, 'one and in.
| scparablc,'' was never stronger than when
| il closed the stnTe beneath the histOnc
| apple tree. Its power was beyond per
adventure superior, and though The war
| might have covered ten years, instead OF
| four, the success OF the United States could
| scarcely have been prevented.
The turning point was reached in the
vicinity of Cemetery Ridge, and from thencer
| forth the Southern hosts were obliged to
| ISaintain to the end n struggle that was
hopeless aud without u CLEAN of light or
moment of cheer.
The recital of the succeeding facts an an
incident-it was mere incident in ter
rible tragedy-w made to The times by
the only disinterested witness, who, by
circumstances, was made personally cog
infant of them. He was the third party
present; the only one near enough to near
the conversation Whatever may have been
printed anywhere which, in any degree
conflicts with this version, may DE set
down as erroneous.
The authority for the story is Major j c.
Anderson OF West Virginia, whose memory
of the circumstances is quite clear, whose
devotion to the cause was as constant as
was his admiration for its chief defender.
BADLY IN NEED OF SUPPLIES.
Gen. Lee started with his command from
Spottsylvania Court House. 1t was his
design to cross the Potomac and make de-
tour through Pennsylvania as a means Of
self-preservation. His army was starving,
aud he knew it. The Virginia agriculturists
were in the midst of their harvests, and al
though loyal to the cause and willing 10
make still further sacrifices, Gen. Lee
knew their substance had been exhausted,
and it was his hope that he could subssL for
awhile upon the enemy and give tine South
eru farmers time TO harvest their grain and
convert it INTO breadstuffs.
The invading army crossed the Pot MAJ C
10 three columns, making the passage at
Failing Waters and WilIiamsport. The
commander r. In chief had no cavalry, ex-
ceptiug about 1000 men under Gen. Jen-
kins.
Gen Lees estimate of the cavalry arm Of
the service was an exalted one, for he on
| more than one occasion denomnated his
fighters on horseback as the 'eyes and
ears of the army" On this occasion he was,
unfortunately for his interest, minus his
"eyes and ears to- a very large degree.
1t was necessity that drove him to Is,
however. Every available empty wagon
was brought into requisitiou, and to dra W
these into the eneny's domain, horses were
necessary. 1t was the belief that the
empty wagontrain would, in the end. be-
come the supply depot of a vast army,
1.-THE flower of the Confederacy," which
was reduced to straits more pressing than
human nature could longer resist. The folks
at home were destitute; his army must be
fed Gen. Lee took the risks.
In the early dawn of that fatefui first
day OF July the Southern commander thre W
out his skirnish line at a point three miles
north of Gettysburg. He had with him,
available for Immediate service, two corps.
numbering about 35, 900 men. in command
of Gems. Ewell and Hill-determned men
from actual necessity, brave men by nature.
To these were opposed an equal number
OF Federals, the Second aud Eleventh Corps.
MAI. J.ALDERsoNCA CARRIED THE ORDER
History has recorded the leading events
OF the first days dcperate conflict, but
history does rot record that MajOr Alder
son carried the order, direct from Gen.
Lee, that inauguTated the engagement on
that most eventful day.
1t was the deciding battle of the war,
and that first days enga cement in all prob
ability determined the issue of the battle.
The Confederacy may never have succeeded.
Expert testimony on both sides is agreed
that the odds were on the side of the Fed :.
erals. 1t is nevertheless firmly believed by
many of. the participants that the particu-
lar engagement in question turned upon
the failure of division commander to,
meet the expectations of his chief.
The order promulgated by Gen. Lee the
signal for the beginning OF actual hostilities
was given by him personally to Major
Anderson, then the commander of a COM
pany, but for the occasion an aide to the
commander of the armies. For the clear
understanding OF the existing situation, it
suOuiu bc etdteu tQe UWO uTIllleS Idy
opposed to each other, with the natural
advantages in favor OF the Federals. The
line of battle. if 1t may be so designated,
was In the form OF q horse shoe.
The Union forces commanded the space
described by the shoe, with the advantage
of being enabled to make quick connection
between the lateral e xtremes. The Coufe.i-
crates were on the outside and had to de-
scribe the circle, and any attempt upon the
a pf hair h,x r,r,<tx
1t was observed that the Confederates
were approaching the enemy with an ir-
regular advance, bearing too much to the
left.
HIS PLANS MIsCARRIED.
Quick to notice this DETECTION, Gen. Lee
sent Major Anderson with verbal instruc-
tions to the corps commanders to advance
by right flank, as the troops were bearing
too much to the left, and were in danger
of eventually exposing themselves to an
enfilade. When Major Anderson reacheS
Gen. Hill the noise Of the musketry was SO
great that he was obliged to shout the COM
mand as lie leaned over in his saddle.
In the evening of the first day Gen. Lee
was standing on a slight knoll looking out
over the field where he had been obliged
to defend himself for the first time on
hostile soil. 1t was the original edict OF
President Davis that, being a war OF de-
fense, there was to be no invasion of the
enemy's country, and this was the first de-
parture from the rule.
1t was not an inviting field upon which
the generals eyes rested. His support had
not been what he had reason to expect
from faithful execution OF his plans
His own column with which he crossed tile
Potomac was unsupported. Gen. Rhodes of
his command had been killed, and the com.
mandiug officer next in rank was wounded
The C0nfederates had, however, more than