The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-24

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divisions greeting my loved comrades
of the glorious Tenth Georgia regi
mcnt. Suon afterward met part Of
Ewell corps coming in from :hc di
rcction of Carlisle. Passing through
these troops greatly retarded my pro-
gress, but was we'll mounted, and af-
ter getting clear Of them, made fine
speed, aud rcuched General Pickett
just at sundown. lie appeared un-
easy. and was evidently expecting or
ders. When | delivered my verbal
message, he called for his own cour-
iers Immediately and sent them flying
to his different brigadcs. IN less than
an hour, his division was on the road
to Gettysburg. 1t was dark when I
passed through Chambersburg on my
return, and as / had been in the sad.
die since early in the morning, and my
horse having had neither rest nor
food, | stopped at farm house and
procured some corn for him and when
l came to strip Of woods; l turned
into it, uusaddlcd my horse, and fed
him on the ground. l lay down on
the ground by him and rested until
Pickett's men had passed.
1t has been sometimes said that
General Longstrcct was tardy in get
ting on the field and into position at
Gettysburg, but 1 have never been
able to understand what could have
given rise to such an unjust and false
charge as that. When I reached
headquarters on my return from Cham
bersburg it was between Z and 8
o'clock on the morning of July 2.
General Longstreet was at the front.
AS soon as conld feed my horse and
got some breakfast hurried to him at
the front. When I found him it was
probably . o'clock. From that time
on through the day was with him
continuously and can testify of my
own personal knowledge that he work
cd harder to get good line and get
his men on it promptly than ever
knew him to have done on any other
battlefield. Any delay can never be
justly charged to General Longstreet.
lie was especially alert and active at
Gettysburg and grew impatient and
angry at any slowncss on tho part
of his subordinates.
When the line was established
Pickett's division had arrived in SUP.
porting distance, but wes held in re.
serve, and did not take part in the
fighting on that Che second) day.
When the line of battle was ready to
move forward the men were lying
down resting, and General Longstreet
rode along in rear of the entire line to
see If everything was in good shape
and ready for the advance. Being
satisfied with the situation, he rode
down into little ravine, dismounted,
walked up to the line, ordered the
men up, and placing himself at the
head of the Twentysfourth Georgia
regiment, gave the order to advance.
The line being near the crest of the
elevation, moments forward move
mcnt brought tho men into plain view
OF the enemy, in their strong position
on the opposite ring, and tho two
Round Tops. AS soon as our line
became exposed to the view of the
enemy, it was met by q most furious
and terrific storm of shot and shell
and our men were swept down like
grass before the scythe. But tho line
rushed forward across the open field,
and the advance line Of the enemy was
swept back, and melted away like
snow in the warm sunshine. General
Longstreet went in on foot, and fol.
lowed the line Of battle to the red
brick house, where slight halt was
made. When he started in he had
left the staff for tie moment behind
the crest of the hill, but as soon as
the battle opened, they knowing that
he might be killed in the charge, or
would need their services, Will one
accord, mounted their horses, and gal
ioped across the field to him in the
face of that terrific fire. When We
reached him, he was at the corner of
the peach orchard. Some one had
brought his horse to him, and as lie
mounted he directed me to 60 back
and tell General Pendlcton, who was
in command Of the reserve artillery,
to bring up ut once every piece of ar
tillery he had. AS I hurried back,
under that awful fire, passed by one
of our batteries which had been post
ed on the crest Of the hill we had start
ed from, saw that every man and horse