The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-03-06
PEOPLE HND THINGS.
Survivor of Gettysburg.

Survivor OF OcttysooAS'
Mr.. W. r. Elan, who is visiting
MS many friends in Columbia, Is one
of the few survivors of the famous
charge of the Pickett division at the
hattie of Gettysburg. Mr.. Elan leu
his Company in that battle, being flrst
lieutenant of Company Fl, of the
Eighteenth Virginia Infantry. de
was one OF the very few men who got
across the deadline. which was the
famous stone fence just at the bottom
of Little Round Top hill. He was
injured at this place, being snot
through the right leg by a minnie
ball Mr.. Elan says that the charge
of the Pickett men did not last over
fifteen or eighteen minutes, from tne
time the division left the clump OF
woods until the remnant rode Dack
from that carnage of death. de says
that he has never been satisfied as &c
the exact number of men that fell In
that immortal charge, but that 10
the best of his knowledge the loss
was between ~, 600 and 10. 600. Inc
charge, he says, occurred at 2o'clock,
when Gen. Lees instructions were
for it to begin at daylight. He Is
one of the many who believe tnat
Gen. Longstreet was the cause or the
loss of that battle. Like every man
who was in that charge. Mr. Elan
taxes pardonable pride in describing
it; as who wouldn't For never
drawer soldiers marched with Drawer
steps against foe than that Pickett
division, composed as IL was OF the
very flower of Virginia chivalry. In
all the mighty tide OF war fare there
has never been chapter more RADIANT
with desperate daring, more lustrous
with the white light of unparalleled
endurance, and more pregnant with
pure human courage, than was written
on that memorable 3rd of July, 1864,
by Pickett's division at gettysburg.
The charge of the Light Brigade, the
achievements of the Roman Legions.
ana the Macedonian phalanx, and
Napoleon "Olo Guard at Waterloo,
hardly equals it. And yet. it was the
most cruel sacrifice of human valor
in all history, because OF dlsobe-
dience of orders by one man. Had Long
street attacked at daybreak instead
of waiting until the afternoon
there is no doubt in Southern minds
that there would have been different
story to tell. All day long the men
had lain In the hot broiliug July sun,
waiting for the order to charge. 1t
was fearfully taxing on the men g
nerves, not on their courage.
That was beyond intimidation. But
living there in the hot sun for nine or
ten hours, expecting every minute the
fateful summons, with the air full OF
bursting shells over them, and the
greatest artillery duel in the history
of warfare going on all about them,
they became In sense demoralized.
Finally, however, the supreme mo-
ment arrived. The bugle sounded.
and the advance began. Out of that
clump of trees moved Picketts' men,
every man to his place, moving with
the precision of a clocks tick. Across
the open field, about mile in width,
they went. The trees stopped swaying
their branches. and the very sun
seemed to hold his breath in admira-
ton. For a moment everything was
silent. The federals were aghast in
The attempt to drive
the enemy from their stronghold,
which for two days the whole South
ern army had failed to do. with one
division, stunned the federais into
In minute they realized
what was BEING attempted. Then a
roar of artillery belched forth. Ten
thousand cannon shot forth with shot |
and shell, every gun turned upon that
gl1ttering line of gray. Great gaps
were torn into its ranks, but they
were as quickly closed up. Not soul
wavered in ali that line OF heroes.
On they went, until the order to fire
was given. Then the battle was on.
1t was the most glorious exhibition OF
human valor ever seen on battlefield.
The attempt failed. Out OF the 20, 600
brave spirits who charged into that
very mouth Of hell, only little over
one half rode back. The knightly
the intrepid Garnett, the gal
liant Armistead, and other immortal
officers Of the immortal division were
left dead Oh the field. But the
Of that day crowned for
ell time to come the Confederate SOL
der in halo of imperishable glory. |
So thick were the dead where the
of the Virginians took place
that Mr.. Elan says he was not picked
up until Monday morning, though he
fell about 2 80 on Friday afternoon.