The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-04
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
VETERANS AND THEIR FRIENDS
LISTEN TO AN ABLE ADDRESS.

LISTEN TO AN ABLE ADDRESS.
An Interesting Review by Mai. Louis
G. Young of the Great Three Days
Battle of the Civil War. Based
Upon Personal Experience and OBJ
serNntion of the Events Discussed.
The Failure of the Confederate
Generals to Act in Concert with
Their Chief and 80 Seize the OPP
pOrtunitics Presented to Them Re
spOnsfbIe for Their Lack of Sue
cess-NFagniiicient work OF Petit
CREWS Brigade and the Charge on
Cemetery Hin.
The feature of the meeting of the Con-
federate Veterans Association last night
was the very interesting address by Maj.
Louis G. Young upon THE Battle Of Get
tysburg" From his position upon the
staff of one of the generals who partici-
pated most prominently in that epoch
making battle throughout the entire three
days fighting, beginning with the first
clash between the contending forces on
the opening day and closing with the
charge on Cemetery Hill by Pickett's and
Heth's divisions, in both OF which events
he was a participant.
Maj. Young enjoyed opportunities
for observation, together with an in
sight into the movements behind
the scenes such as were permitted
to few. His address was a calm and
scholarly review, as well as soldierly re-
view of those momentous events, giving
4 \
based upon his actual knowledge Of events
and his association with some of the lead
ing actors in that great drama.
An invitation 90 be present had been
extended to the Daughters OF the Con
federacy and to the Sons of Veterans
and the number present just comfortably
filled the veterans hail.
Mai Young, throughout his narrative,
confined himself in large part to the part
taken by Pettigrew's North Carolina
Brigade, he being at that time a lieuten-
ant on the staff of Gen. Pettigrew. This
was with the double purpose of iilustrat-
ing his connection with the events of
which he spoke and of calling attention
to the very creditable part played by Pet
tigrew's brigade, and also of Heth's dtvis-
ion, which Gen. Pettigrew commanded in
the final charge, both of which commands
have received considerably less than jus
tice from the historians.
Mai Young's address showed very
plainly that the i'll success which attended
the Confederates at this most important
period of the war was due I'm large part
If not entirely, to the lack of harmony
and understanding among the Confederate
corps and division commanders and their
failure to seize points of vantage at favor
able moments, coupled with delay when
prompt action would have carried the
day. The leaders who had distinguished
haNa col Nv hri fa at On
hard fought fields, seemed utterly out of
touch with each other on this most i'm
poFtant occasion of the war. and were
either unable or unwilling to carry out the
instructions of their great chieftain. To
Gen. Longstreet in partielar Maj. Young
imputed especial dilatoriness and lack of
sympathy with the plans of his COM
mander and apparent unwilhngness to act
In concert with them.
A number Of the veterans present partic-
ipated in the battle of Gettysburg some
of them under Gen. Longstreet, and It is
needless to say that these did not agree
with Mai Young in his conclusions as TO
that leader. but the general merit of the
address was such that they did not with
hold their approval
1t was Pettigrew's brigade which was
sent forward to seize stores in the town of
Gettysburg, with orders not to enter into
any conflict with the enemy, and which
met Buford cavalry making a reconnois-
ance in force before reaching the town.
Falling back according to orders. with this
information it was found impossible to
convince the Confederate division aud
corps commanders that the Federal forces
had as yet had the opportunity Of gather
ing in any considera BILE force at Getty5-
burg. The original plan of pushing on to-
wards Gettysburg was carried out and
the result was that Archers and Davis
brigades were taken by surprise routed
and "a nj her If no rr1eF1 on
These were the two leading brigades of
Heths division. The result was that an
engagement was brought on contrary TO
Gen. Lees wishes; before his forces were
ready, and one of the greatest battles Of
modern times was preciptated.
The struggle between Pettigrew's brig
ade and the "Iron Brigade generally
considered the finest brigade in the Army
of the Potomac, and which boosted of new
er having been defeated. was graphically
described by Maj. Young, including the
complete route of the Iron Brigade. This
complete rout OF the Iron Brig
ede. This was not accomplished with
out severe loss to Pettigrews brigade
Although 1t did not lose a single prisoner,
its loss in killed and wounded in less than
thirty minutes fighting was more than L.
900. In the Twenty-siXth North Carolina
thirteen standard bearers were shot down.
This was the hottest of the first days
fighting, the speaker said, and more of the
enemy were killed and wounded in front
of this brigade than on any other part
CT the fed. The Twenty-sixth North Car
DINA lost $40 out of 500 men, and the
Eleventh North Carolina some 250 out of
about $50.
in the many so called histories of the
battle of Gettysburg" said the speaker,
u have found no record of these facts
The brilliant achievement of Pettigrew's
brigade on this day, it's persistent cour-
age and its great sacrifice, have never
met with merited acknowledgement"
Gen. Heth was wounded in the engage
ment and Gen. Pettigrew was placed in
command of the division
Il vividly recall my impression after the
attack" said Mai Young. THE brilliant
success of Rodes and Early on our left
ours in driving the enemy from our front
into position on Seminary ridge from
which he was driven with scarcely an
effort by Fender, left us with troops
enough TO follow up our success, and
wondered that we did not do so and take