The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-20
GOING TO GETTYSBURG.
Recollections of Member OF
General Pickett's Staff.

In the summer Of 1868 Piciett's dlvi-
sion Of Virginia brigudes was formed or
Armlstcnd's, Garnett's and kemper's-
ono other brigade, commanded by CEN
eral Montgomery Corse, Of Alexandria,
had been left III Virginia to guard the
North Anna and South Anna bridges, ana
the city of Richmond
We crossed the Potomac River before
sunset of Il beautiful June day; and on
getting over, I observed firing squad
about to shoot q soldier. On asking about
IL, found that the poor fellow had been
condemned by cuurt-mnrtlal, some une
be fore, and had marched all across Vir-
sinia, carrying his ball and chain, the
hour of his death arriving as he reached
the enemy's country. Ills name was
Riley, think. The next morning General
Pickett directed me to ride forward, ana
find General r. i. Lee and ask him what
command we should follow In tho march.
| will mention here that, although PICK
ct,'s Division belonged TO Longstreets
Corps, we had been detached for some
months and when not reporting directly
to the War Department, were reporting
and receiving our orders from General
Lee.
GENERAL LEE.
With n courier, i rode forward ana
found General Lee on the edge of Hagers.
members Of his staff and in his hand
he held his sword. shcathed and
unlocked from his belt. At his
feet lay map, on which some
one had placed three stones. as thousands
4nv around | wondered why the person
who placed them did not put any more.
/ 2ismounted and saluting, asked MN the
question. He answered, Say to General
pickett to follow General l1eaths com
= T,a Not,
co you know anything about my cavalry!
can YOU tell me wlsare General Stuart
ts?" | answered that l could give him
no Information on that subject. Then,
as turned away, General Lee said,
"Captaln. you have Il courier with you,
send the message by him and allow mo
to Introduce you to these nice ladies', who
are reaching" | observed party
of ladies' very near us, coming out OF
Hagerstown. / understood nj once that
was expected to draw their fire to pro-
tect the general. So tire" my horse.s
bride over my arm and soon walked
away with the beautiful Miss Ncttie
schsey daughter OF Dr.. Schl.ay. and
cousin OF the hero OF Santiago, | think.
took dinner and supper at her house
and caught up with General Pickett
about midnight and explained to him
how, having been put on duty by General
r, e. Lee, | was determined to carry out
his orders fully at any cost The general
observed that he believed | was not an
officer who would fail General Lee at
such time and under such c!rcun-
stances like to tell these splendid
commitments that | received now and
then.
LEES PROPERTY. ORDER.
The same evening General Lees order
about private property was read to the
army, and It was not his Gettysburg
order" as some call 1t, but promulgated
rs soon as we crossed the Potomac. !
heard Of II as soon as l reached camp
that night, and not many days after
wards, came near being killed by some
Confederate soldiers, who | found near
the pike, taking un old womnn's chickens.
There were eight of them, and was
alone. rode into the yard and ordered
them to turn the chickens loose. and
trcy refused and raised their guns, one
asking how many men led. ltaFihs
rande the issue, although just then, ]
wished hadn't drew my revolver and
my watch, and gave them three min
utcs to obey. Two minutes passed, and
at that moment, they, and !, heard tho
music of II band; In a moment, the chick
ems fell to ihe ground and they made
for the woods, and In few moments Gen-
erul Posey's Brigade, think they were
some OF his men, came around curve
| In the pike, and | felt better
| General Pickett ana his command were
| left at ChambersburS, about tWenty-slS
miles from Gettysburg, and our men dld
not reach the battlefield at Gettysburg
| ugtil the morning of the third day. The
order to move to Gettysburg and report
| II General Longstrect came 10 MS IRON
| General Lees headquarters before day
| break OF the "a day Of July and In thirty
| minutes we were on the march, because
| the order said our comrades were en-
saging the enemy, When we were In
4 about five miles of the fight General
| Pickett ordered me 10 ride forward and
| report the division to General l.ongstreet
and ask for orders
LONGSTREET's ORDER.
] found General Lee and General Long
street standing together on the edge OF
lie battle. and delivered General Picketts
message to General Longstreet, He
tarned 10 General Lee and sald pickett
Is almost up" General Leo only bowed
MS head hut said nothing. General
I.ongstrcat then asked me In what CON
dition would our men be when they
reached that point. ! told him the men
would be ready for a three hours fight,
but not for an eight hours one, as they
! would have marched according TO ON
map, twentyslS miles and the day was
hot just at this moment some bushes
parted about forty yards from us and
cut came n wounded officer, who ! saw
was General Hood lie was leaning bach
against the shoulders OF two oqcers ant
walking somewhat on his heels,
. General Longstreet said To General
/. zee: "Thnt Is Hood" and both OF then
: left mo and walked TO the wounded gen
eral remained where was. | coult
, no; near, but saw ono 81 the officers whc
, was supporting Hood placa his finger h
Q hoods wrist and then Al his elbow
y The bail must have entered AT one o
these spots and come out at the other
i HOOD passed on and Generals Lee anc
. I.ongstreat came back 10 me, talitinl
e very earnestly as they walked Then Cen
d ciAl Longsircet asked mo II remembered
i bridge had Crossed short distanc,
back and ] answered Yes" IT wa
OF brick arches and stone copeine an
s about two miles back, He said that wa
II enc, and ne told me 10 meet Genera
l. Pickett at tina, bridge and lell bt,, No.,