The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-08


Mr.. james Forbes Rhodes in The
American Historical Review describes
the charge OF Pickett at G~ettysourg,
and brings out some not-heretoIofe
we'll understood facts. he emphasizes
the whisper that has come down q
years, that General Longstreet did MOI
approve OF the charge He says tnas
when General Lee. on the morning OF
July 3rd directed Longstreet to be ready
when the bombardmsnt had done its
work TO make an attack with Plcketts
fresh division. reinforced by HITS
corps up to 15.ooo men. Longstreet de-
INJURED. declaring that the assault
could not succeed. Lee showed a little
impatience. and by silence insisted on
the execution OF the order. T~hereupon.
Longstreet took Pickett to the crest OF
Seminary ridge. pointed out what was
10 be done. and left him with a heavy
heart Alexander. chief Of artillery,
was ordered 10 note carefully the ef-
feet of his fire. and at the right mo-
ment TO order Pickett to charge. AS is
known that artillery duel lasted two
hours. and the chief artillery on the
union side ordered the batteries to fire
slower and slower, and finally cease.
Alexander asked for specific instruc-
tons, but Longstreet evaded giving
them. When the union batteries
ceased firing, Alexander watched
"a ou@A las S&dSS ASA y oAAA
observing no life at the points from
which the federal fire had proceeded.
he sent word to Pickett: For Gods
sake. come quick: Come quick. or my
ammunition won't let me support you
properly" Pickett went to Longstreet.
General. shall l ~advance?" he asked.
Longstreet could not speak. but bowed
in answer. Sir" said Pickett. wiz a
determined voice, II shall head my di-
vision forward" Longstreet rode to
Alexander and said: II don't "a TO
make this attack. / would stop Ii now.
but that Genera Lee ordered il. and
expects it TO go on. l don't see how il
can succeed" But as he spoke Pickett,
at the head OF his division, rode over
the crest OF Seminary ridge and began
his descent down the slope. AS ne
passed me-" writes Longstreet. h
rode gracefully, with his jaunty cap
racked well over his right ear, ana
his long auburn locks nicely dressed,
hanging almost to his shoulders. He
seemed a holiday soldier"
Then the union guns reopened. When
near enough canister shot was added,
1.-The slaughter was terrible" The con-
federate artillery reopened over the
heads of the charging column trying
to divert the fire of the union annon
but it did not change the aim of the
batteries from the charging column.
When near enough the federal inran-
try opened, but on swept the devoted
division. Near the federal lines Pick
EFT made a pause. ITO close ranks n
mass for a final plunge" Armistead
leaped the stone wall and cried, Give
them the cold steel, boys" laid his
hand or a federal gun and the next
moment was killed. At the same time
Garnett and Kemper, Pickett's other
brigadiers, were killed. Hilrs corps
wavered, broke ranks and fell back.
THE federals swarmed around Pick
ett," writes Longstreet, attacking on
all sides, enveloped and broke up his
command. They drove the fragments
back upon our lines. Pickett gave the
word to retreat"
The confederates, in charging, struck
the front of the Second corps. Han
cock, its commander, showed the same
reckless courage az Pickett, and seemed
to be everywhere directing and encour-
aging his troops. Struck by a ball, ne
fell from his horse, and lying on the
ground, he raised himself on his elbow
and gave the order: GO in, Colonel,
and give it to them on the fank!"
When the battle was owe he resigned
himself to the surgeons, and a little
later dictated this dispatch to Meade:
Il have never seen a more formidable
attack, and if the Fifth and Sixth corps
have pressed up the enemy will be de-
L ~ " ICdNe III t1Cld uIlllI
the victory was entirely secured, and
the enemy no longer in sight. i am
badly wounded, though / trust not seri-
ously. I had to break the line TO at
tack the enemy in flank on my right,
where the enemy was not persistent
after the front attack was repealed.
Not a rebel was in sight upright when
I left"
That was the climax of the greatest
battle ever fought in the New World;
the greatest of modern times save Wa
terloO, and the lesson that it ought to
impress upon Americans is, that, what
ever comes, the American people must
never again be arrayed against each
other in war. 1t may be necessary
sometimes to have a war with a foreign
power, but this conviction should be-
come fixed in the heart of every Ameri-
can that never again must there be
any home question too serious to be
settled nv the methods of paare