Willmar tribune., 1903-07-11
copyright, 1903, by G. l. Kilmer.]

GOOD general should know
~ when he is whipped. Lee was
a good general. On the morn.
ing Of July 2, 1863, he climb.
ga into the belfry of the seminary on
x&he outskirts of Gettysburg to study
a4he enemy's position and plan the next
move. Around him and away to the
north was the battle field where the
day before his troops under Hill and
GEwell had driven the Federal divisions
.zof Reynolds and Howard from ridge
ITO ridge and from knoll to knoll-a
s6erce struggle, with glory in it for both
s8ides, but victory for his own banners.
1The blue had been whipped, not the
9seray. But an army may be whipped
sand yet not conquered. From the bel
ary Lee saw Cemetery hill looming in
s4ront Of him, packed with Federal
;atroops and bristling with Federal can
mon. To his mind the enemy had
1been driven to that height as refuge
S1rom pursuing foes. That was true.
The Federals had mounted the nearest
rock at hand in order to escape the
5T3sing food, because they had no boats.
let the boats come and they would
shasten aboard for fear the waters
zmight rise and engulf the rock and
2them with it. Lee determined to keep
the boats away and cause the waters
10 mount higher.
This description is of course fgura-
s31ve. The threatening waves were Lees
a1rmed battalions and the boats open
roads for re-enforcements and supplies
:or safe retreat Cemetery hill forms
part of long ridge shaped like let
ster J. The hill is at the curve and Is
2overtopped by Culp's hill, the point of
the curve, and that again by Little
Round Top, the head of the long staff.
Ewelrs corps had fought its way to
*ahe base Of Culp's hill on July I, and
Hllrs corps to the base of Cemetery
hill. Longstreet came to the front
during the night with two divisions Of
his corps that had missed the battle
OF the first day. 1t looked easy for Lee
to destroy the Federals upon Cemetery
hill by rushing his battalions to the
crests Of Culps hill and Little Round
Top and from there hurl death upon
all the ridge between.
The Federals had planted a weak
aine upon Culp's hill, but had overlook
nd {ff1o Round Ton claimant nf
danger. Lee gave to Longstreet the
task Of seizing Round Top and to Ew-
ell that of fighting his way to the crest
:of Culps hill, while Hills corps stood
facing Cemetery hill ready for the final
spring. This story has been thrashed
over in print countless times since
1863, but there are countless readers
on this forteth anniversary Of the
great battle who still wonder why Lee
fought at all on July and g. when
military writer's make it clear that he
was whipped before he fred shot.
The merest beginner in war quickly
learns that the fighter on the highest
ground has the advantage, the same az
the duelist who has his back to the
sun. The soldiers below must waste
breath and energy in climbing to get
at the foe. Longstreet stealthily de-
.pioyed his troops parallel with the
ridge lying between Cemetery hill and
Round Top until Lees line of battle
extended from the foot Of Culp's hill
almost to the base Of Round Top on its
south and west faces.
"h}l1 rnhna hio
long detour the Federal corps Of Sic
kles projected itself like blunt wedge
Into the plain west and northwest Of
Round Top. 1t got in Longstreet's
way. Longstreet wanted to keep his
troops together and mass them for the
grand rush on Round Top. He fell
upon Sickles, and Sickles stood his
ground for hours until the results Of
the sudden battle had changed the
whole face Of things, as Lee saw 1t
that morning from the belfry.
The opening gun of Longstreet was a
sagnal for Ewell to get to work at the
bther end of the field. His troops
dashed half way up the slope Of Gene
ibery hill on the north face, and while
part of the Federal occupants Of Culp's
hill left their places to help Sickles
out of his plight, also to help defend
Cemetery hill, one of his divisions
broke through the line and planted it's
Tags there. The tide was rising. Only
n single road led from the heights by
which the Federals could escape if de-
sfeated in their attempt to defend
them. Should Ewell succeed In cap
turing a few cannon on Culp's hill and
Sturn them against their former owners
he could rake that road with shells on
Sone side, and Longstreet, if he carried
bis guns up Round Top, could rake II
On the other.
Meanwhile Federal troops began to
move southwark along the connecting
ridge to help sickles in his fight and
save Round Top from Longstreets
grasp. Lee must help his old wal
horse in that uphill fight. He threw
out q division from Hills idle CORDS