The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-02-19
.F||R51TDAY0ON.LE |.
At GEI7'Y'S':|I.B||u|!|RG
Major James Mcdowell Caring
I. ton Tells a Thrilling Story
Of Thrilling Deeds.
GENERAL EAR I. =! ADVICE 'lI'\|l'l'E:
An Oft-Repeated Incident Cor
roboratcd BY Witness #
WHO Mas There.
I edited by John N. Danie:l..)5

edited by John w. Daniel.)
q The article below is from the excellent
pen OF Major James Mcdowell Darlington,
who III the battle OF Gettysburg was cap
tain of the Charlottesville Artillery, and
q Is now distinguished lawyer of Wash
8ington city The Majors stat Elements con-
& firm, the close presence of. Generals Early
aud Ewel on the field the first day at
gettysburg, and gives evidence as to one
&of the occasions nnon which General
* Early advised an assault on CeInete~r.
831Iill that afternoon. Colonel Harry Gil-
4 more. OF Maryland, III his book, -Four
q Years initlie Saddle" tells almost identl-
callrs the same story as Major Darlington
b N John G. Williams. ESD, a respected
lawyer or high standing at Orange Court
II house, writes to the same effect OH this
topic, and i myself, was a personal.
witness Of the fact. which I recall rs if
INT it9were yesterday. OF the@messase sent
5in$lny presence by General EARLY to Gem
Ell crs,l *. p. Hill before he met General
q lSwell. telling him that in his opinion
Is assault should not he delayed. and that
"A General Hill would put in his corps
@ lie.S EARLY, would take the responsibility
sit8 al Joining tho assault without waiting.
THE witnesses on this subject ale SO nu-
lnerous and so N reliable and General
~ lsarly's own repeated Testimony found in
his book and in his historical papers
II Which have been published. mako the
2 fact as plain rs any. fact about the war
THAT Early was close upon \ the field in
81. troops aud both advisedand urged an i'm
@ troops nd both advised and urged an i'm
#1nediate assault Tho account given BY
General Gordon III his book Of this days
operations is erroneous when It refers I Q
General Early, and 1T contains many er-
a q rorss which ] propose later to SHOW with
i the proofs thereof. The time at which
rs General Gordon speaks in his book Of be-
4 ing commanded to halt was just at that
4 time when Hays and Hokes Brigade
(Indert Colonel Avery. and Captain Car
rim gton 8 Artillery was being brought
forward By Early on Gordon's left TO cap
AZ ture Hecknan's battery and to repulse
81 the troops OF General Costar, who We're
K very troublesome at that tuncture. The
gallant Lousianans and North Caro-
& linians did capture the guns and hurled
back Costarsa troops but are not given
even a seapt recerente by General Gordon
II III his book, although they were the-nd-
jccent troops OF the division to which
<4 Tho belonged; nor does he give his divi-
H sion commanded any credit for the rapid
land vigorous movement by which he nc
" B}con1plisshed this result. While Major
as General Roles his conlrade on many
fields and Brigadier-General Hayes, OF
Louisiana. likewise his coniadc on many
Yields, fought galanty and effectively on
81 that day, the one to the right and the
one to the left of him, SO far as General
d, Gordon's book is concerned, nne would
tS not know that these men ever existed
u General Gordon had at that time, ac-
5B cording to Ills report which is in the wa,
records, only about 800 men present witt
X him on Sheffield after his charge was
II " over Yet no speaks OF my command "as
If It were all army corps II he aloNt
43F could have captured the Federal works
and driven away the Federal ARMY from
y the summit of Cemetery Hill as his book
III $Ejntlnates, he would have done with this
handful of soldiers, had he not beer
Il. halted, he and his brigade had better
have been detailed to fight the war ou
by themselves for the rest OF the Con
fnderslte army would have been n surpll,!
4, quantity, ! DO not suppose that any
XIV general ever thought Of assigning tha
~ Job TO one brigade. The truth is no one eve
had an idea that Goidons brigade coulf
n have accomplished It,, and AT the 1im'
II hc was halted there was War-llke busi
83 ness enough on hand Immediately to nj!
s,S left (tl,ough probably not IN mis- sight be
cause OF The, undrk.ing ground) tha
"a rave abundant occupation 10 two bri
gadss OF Eary's division in their sue
ja cessful assault to which he makes m
reference whatever. if-
III Major carrngton does moi refer 10 Til
w Intervening facts which induced Geneis,
HI. Ewell 10 advance his corps on the after
sss noon OF the first against Cemetery Hill
4g That fact was the message that cam
s8 from our, left that the enemy were ther
appearing. and " This in All probnbiiit
Major Darlington was not anprlsed at tn
time Of tire battle, circumstances Of IN
IVA incident have often been related an
IN ii is needless to repeat them here, Majo
iii Car,ington's article presents ccrtai
;sS phases Of The first days fight accurately
and ably; and with ugh spirit OF con
+ b Iadeship and good grace which az
worthy of that officers brave and hono'
n PHI able CAREER
81 AT. The time of the battle " Gnttysbul
vas captain or what Was known /
g i.1he charlottesville Artillery" ana cor
n manded ii Ia that molnentplS sftugsl
81 THIS battery was one of tpin witch con
81 posed Jones's Battalion. the oihst tisf