The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-10
Captain John Holmes Smith.

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Another Good Account.
LYNCHBURG, VA, Feb. 4th and 9Th
John Holmes Smith. formerly captain OF
Company G 0he Home asGuard). OF
Lynchburg. Va. and part Of the Eleventh
Virginia Infantry. Kemper's Brigade.
Picketts Division, First Corps (Long-
pany. and then the regiment for a time
In the battle Of Gettysburg. He says as
follows concerning that battle:
The Eleventh Virginia Infantry arrived
near Gettysburg, marching from Cham
bersburg on the afternoon Of July 20,
1861 We halted In sight Of shells
bursting in the front.
Very early on the morning Of tho Sd
July we formed In rear Of the Confeder-
ate artillery near spurgeon's woods.
where we lay for many hours. I noticed
on the early morning as we were taking
positions the long shadows cast by the
figures Of the men. their legs appearing
to lengthen Immediately as the sha-
dows fell.
The Eleventh Virginia was the right
regiment Of Kemper's Brigade and OF
Pickett's Division. No notable event oc-
CURED in the morning, nor was there
any firing Of note near us that specially
attracted my attention.
SIGNAL GUNS.
About 1 O'Clock there was the fire OF
signal guns, and there were outburts of
artillery on both sides. Our artillery on
the immediate front OF the regiment, was
on the crest OF tho ridge. and our In
fantry line was from one to $50 yards on
rear Of 1t.
We suffered considerable loss before
we moved. had twenty-nlne men in
So. =,
Edward Valentine and two Jennings
brothers Civilian Jennings) of my COM
Ipany were killed; De Witt Guy, SER
|geant, was wounded and some of the
men---a man now and a man then---were'
also struck and sent to the rear before
we moved forward-I think about ten
killed and wounded in that position.
Company F. on my right, lost more Sc
!riously than Company G, and was larger
In numbers.
LONC'sTREET's PRESENCE.
Just before the artillery fire ceased
General Longstreet rode IN walk be-
tween the artillery and the infantry, in
front OF the regiment toward tho Lett
and disappeared down the line. Flo was ms
quict as an old farmer riding over his
plantation on a Sunday morning, and
looked neither to tho right or left
t had been known for hours that we
were to assall the enemy's lines In front.
We fully expected to take them.
Presently tho artillery ceased firing
Attention! was the command. Our Skin
mislers were thrown to tho front and
forward. quick time, march," was the
word given. We were ordered not to fire
until so commanded, Lieutenant-Colone
kirkwood Otey was thus In command of
tho regiment when we passed over the
crest of the ridge. through our guns there
planted. and had advanced some dis
lance down the slope III our front. ! was
surprised before that our skirmishers had
been brought to a stand by those OF the
enemy; and the latter only gave ground
when our line of battle HAD closed I'D
we'll inside Of a hundred yards OF our
own skirmishcrs, The enemy's skirmlsll-
ers then retreatcd in perfect order firing
as they fell hack.
The enenly's artillery, front and flank,
fired upon US and many OF the regiment
We're struck.
UP THE HILL.
Having descended the slope and COM
menced to ascend the opposite slope that
rises toward the enemys work. the
Federal skrmlshers kept up their fire
until we were some four hundred yards
from the works, They thus being be,
tween two flrcs--for infantry fire broke
out from the works-threw down their
"''''',' $500" .''' WI 'h'SH' dIu tHell |
sought refuge In tho depression, water
way or gully between tho slopes
There was no distinct change OF front. |
hut CLOSE, and dress to the left" was
the command, and this gave us an oblloue
movement to the left as we pressed
ranks In that direction
Our coors were knocked down several
times as we descended the slope on our
Side. Twice saw he color bearer stag
ger and the reXt man seize the staff and |
go ahead; the third time the colors
struck the ground AS we were still on the
down slope The artillery had opened
us with canister, Lisutenunt-Colonel llar-
ris. adtutant OF the regiment. rushed to
them and seized them, and. ! think,
carried them to the ensnlY's works
AT THE WORKS.
When the enemg's Gfantry opened fire
on ,ls--and we were several hundred
49, ,a;rt,,t Ason, ftan, al vaf-u,a+