Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-03-29
THE FIRST VIRGINIA
CAVALRY AT GETTYSBURG.


war, recalls All article he wrote for
the Philadelphia Times in 1888 on
the part his regiment took i'm the bat
tie of Gettysburg. The article WIS
written at the request of Col. John
Is. Batcheldrr, government historian.
and the following extracts will he
read with much interest. particular
~ 10y the survivors of the First Nir
glnia. After making comparison
ot the Union and Confederate caval
ry, telling of the march from Vir-
GINA to Gettysburg, the writer saws:
We were allowed To 20 INTO camp
early on the evening of the 2nd in
position somewhat protected 10y our
infantry, which had pr, ceded our
march into Pennsylvania by another
aud more westerly route. and had
| penetrated that State as far IA York.
Being much exhausted We were at
lowed a good nights rest. The next
day, the evrnlful 3rd. We remained
IN camp replenishing our ammuni
ton and grooming horses until about
one o'clock. This half DAYS mae
uvity seemed 10 be participated in by
the entire army. as far as | could
learn-a most fatal mistake hat cost
Ts the fearful and immense loss We
sustained IN th,. afternoon. the disas
trous termination of the Prnmsylya
mia campaign and the returu of dis
plrlted army to Virginia. Has the
cavalry been IN their saddle at day
light, striking for the rear of the EN-
emy'S position. had the immortal
Pickett led his brave division up that
fatal slope early in the morning and
before the enemy bad had time to
concentrate and fortify their strong
position, the result might have been
different. We of the South consider
Lee the greatest military genius since
Wellington. | say this IN disparage
ment To none. But results prove
that great geueralS can and do err.
MoVinS out and forming hv rcgi
ments, our brigade WAS preceded by
the brigades of jenkins aud Cham
bliss, which mo,ed over toward the
left of the infantry line Ewell's
Corps held the left of that line, con
fronting the then entrenchrd posi-
ton of the enemy ON Seminary
Ridge. The Second Virginia InfAn
try, of the Stouewall Brigade. held
his extreme left. The hrlgadeS of
Jenkins aud Chambliss took position
to the left and the prolongaIion of
the infantry line. Up to this time
all was quiet. There was not AN en-
envy in sight on the left flank. but
this ominOus lull preceded Il fearful
crash.
Dismounted sharpShOoters from
the brigades of Jenkins aud Cham
bliss were at once formed and sent
forward, connecting on the right with
the Infantry. The brigade of Fltz
Lee was halted in the rear of the left
of Chambliss's Brigade. SharpShoot
ers were at once detailed, and, receiv
ing an order from General Lee to
lake command of the Skirmishers and
advance in certain direction indi-
Gated by his staff officer, | at once
formed aud advanced, having about
one hundred and thirty men in line
| struck out, leaving both flanks tx
posed. AT this time there was not
III enemy 10 he seen in my front. The
plain was nearly level and open, with
an occasional fence extending nearly
IL mile in sight. then terminating.
we udU dONdnCcu dDOui JuICt quar-
iers of mile in this direction with
ont firing shot when we were CON
frOnted 10y line of dismounted Fed
eral cavalrymen equal to NY own in ex
tent, who opened ON us with II voIley
at close range from behind rail
fence My men instantly returned
their fire, when ordered an ad vance
on their position at double quick, do
ing good execution with our carblneS
We continued TO advance, skirmish
ing with them some three or four
hundred yards. On approaching the
woods OH my right saw Federal
battery wheeling into position. 1t
soon opened on us with grape and
canister. at once ordered the men
to charge the guns and shoot the
horses of the limbers The men