The National tribune., 1902-10-02

but it demonstrated only one fact. which
is, that Lee was not So weak in men and
material. and the Corffedetacy was not
so destitute Of the sinews of war as
many people, both North and South,
would have us belieye. a Lee was
strength of artillery in this cannonade
that surprised Meade. If Lee was putting
up a bluff for Meade's benetit or consider
alton, it should have ended there. 1t can
not be claimed for an army that it is in
ferior in numbers and war material to its
adversary when it is able to concentrate
on a given point from 100 to $50 pieces
that adversary is only able. to reply with
so guns. and that was the situation at
Gettysburg on the Sd of, July.
OF course there was immense damage done
on both sides during the great military
duel; which lasted about two hours, or un
til 3 o'clock CaissOns we're blown up,
guns dismounted and disabled, batteries
horses and men killed and wounded, and
all that: but it had no effect whatever on
the general result of the charge in con-
temptation.
If Lee expected to retreat-as he after
ward did, and was burdened with an over
weight of ammunition that he was anxious
to get rid of, which is not likely-then
wisdom on his part, for the only possible
advantage he could have gained was that
by eXpending more ammunition than
Meade did. his limber-chests, caissOns and
ammunition wagons We're lighter for the
retreat.
On the other hand, if Lee expected to
have any use for ammunition on the re-
treat, or ever after, OF if it was fact
that the Confederate Government was
nrpSSnG ctnrpc
that he so lavishly t,Is&,w away, then it
was another of the great blunders of q
great General. For my own part, l can
not help believing. that not only in the
Gettysburg campaign, but in the whole
war, we were on Gods side and Lee was
not. 20.
While Lee had the advantage in the
number of guns engaged, and possibly in
their positions, as it was his funeral, so
to speak, and if it were possible to find
any advantageous positions, he would not
scruple to avail himself of them: Meade
had the advantage in reserves with which
to replace his crippled and exhausted bat
teries. and decided advantage in the
fact that his Chief of Artillery. Gen.
Hunt, foresaw that his cannonade was
the prelude to some act that was being
prepared behind the scenes. Very natural
ly he mistrusted charge on the point
designated by the concentration of Lees
artillery fire, and knowing that the can
nOnade could not continue much longer,
he ordered the Union guns all along the
line to cease firing and then Immediately
put the artillery in the best shape possi-
bic for the next demonstration. That Lee
was deceived by this timely precaution
on the part of Hunt there is grave doubt.
Lee might have hoped that the grand artil-
lery effort of his life had accomplished
more than it really did, but he was not the
fool to suppose for moment that Meade
was out of ammunition, or all the guns
along his line disabled.
Shortly after the Confederate artillery
also ceased firing The short-range guns
brass 12-pounders, Nape]eons and howitz-
ers-were quickly gotten into position
with the PARROTS and Rodmans. The
Union line was intact; the, infantry had
not been shaken; the artillery was in
readiness for the last uact fOf the great
drama. o. 3.
pIcKETT's CHARGE.
Pickett's Division of LOngstreet's Corps
6,114 present for duty equipped,
on June 20, 1863, the last return of which
we have record made by Pickett previous
to the battle of Gettysburgg and it could
not have fallen far short of 1000 when it
started ON that immortal charge on the
afternoon of July 3. The division com-
prised three brigades, known as Garnett's,
and Kemper's; each brigade
about 1000 men. 4 This was the
force that Lee had selected to strike the
Army of the Potomac in the center and
cut it in two. Was there ever an act more
foolhardy, more unworthy the genius Of
a great General? Lee had ordered that
Pickett should be strongly supported, but
it was impossible to find in his army sup
ports who had not been there before, many
+In,. thav h, En11
or nearby, and it was not strange that
their enthusiasm was not at the white
heat that seemed to burn in the hearts
of Pickett's men.
Picketts Division was formed in the
woods on the western slope of Seminary
Ridge in column Of brigades, three bri-
gades deep, Garnett's, Armistead's and
Kemper's, about 100 yards space between
each brigade, the front or width of the
column being the length Of a brigade, or
about a quarter Of a mile, supported on
the left by two brigades Of Heth's Divi-
sion, on the right by Wilcox's and Perry's
Briga. IS, and in the rear by Wright's,
Mahone's and Posey's Brigades of Ander-
sons Division of Hills Corps; but these
supports really did nothing more than to
come cut Of the woods far enough to show
that they were there, and retired to cover
again very soon after Meade's artillery
opened upon them. Pickett's Division
charged the Army Of the Potomac, and
history must chronicle the decree that sent
it to its doom as the act Of n madman.
From the edge Of the woods on Semin-
ary Ridge to the umbrella-shaped cOpse
on the ridge beyond the valley is little
short of a mile. The course crosses the
valley and the Emmitsburg Road north
Of the Codori House, where the ridge at
the Emmitsburg Road is only a gentle
elevation. Cemetery Hill presented one
continuous front Of artillery, and the ridge
southwark and every knoll behind it was
studded with cannon, while several lines
of cleaning steel alo z the tawny earth
works told where patiently the infantry
bided its time.
When Longstreet, who foresaw the
slaughter and opposed the charge, looked
out over the wide field and beheld the far
side thereof with its frOwning ridges and
glimmering labyrinths where death and
destruction watched and waited, what
wonder that his voice failed him, and as
one struck dumb with sorrow for the use
less sacrifice of his brave soldiers answer
ed only with a nod OF assent when Pickett
saluted him and asked: "Shall l lead my
command forward?'
Twenty minutes after the artillery
ceased firing Pickett's brave Virginians
marched out of the woods with their guns
and measured tread, as if on parade,
ary Ridge and straight for the Jaws of
DEATH" When the rear line Of Pickett's
column was well out of the woods, pre-
senting a splendid mark thus silhOuetted
against the face of the ridge Cemetery
Hill and all the ridge Eouthward blaZed