Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-24
THE OTHER SIDE GIVEN
STRUGGLE OF GETTYSBURG DE-
sCRIBED BY A CONFEDERATE

A remarkable scene was presented IN
Confederate Veterans Hail. 18th and e
streets northwest, last night 1t was a
scene possible, perhaps, in no other coun-
try. A survivor of the greatest insur-
rection of modern times related in the capt.
tai city Of the government from which ne
had fought to secede the story Of the great
est battle of the war. Looking down upon
him from the walls We're the portraits or
the great commanders of the army of Sc
cessiCn. while listening to him were many
faithful adherents OF the government who
applauded his eloquence and gave EN-
phatic signs of approval when he Iauded
the gailantry OF his associates. Nay, more
The widow of the daring commander who
made the most daShing cha ~ge of the war
and under whom he served, was present
The gallant generals son. now d ma tor III
the army against which his father fought
was also there, listening TO the story OF
that daring dash against Cemetery Ridge
which has made Pickett's charge as I'M
mortal as that of the Light Brigade.
AS Seen by Confederate.
Prof. Robert w. Douthatt of the Uni
versity of West Virginia, clad in the gray
uniform of the confederate service tod the
story OF the battle OF Gettysburg as seen
by a solder ON the other side" Senator
Daniel OF Virginia. a regimental associate
In a glowing culogy OF the deeds of the
confederate soldier introduced the lee
turer. the senator having been previously
presented by President Callaghan, who
was also present at the Gettysburg battle
in the confederate army.
Many have written of that great three
days struggle, but no one has painted a
more graphic and ineligible description
than that given last night by Capt Douth-
att In describing the movements of the
armies OF Meade and Lee tor the most part
he dealt with them with large way, avoid
ing detailed and WearSome lists of reg1-
mentS and brigades with their command
ers. He gave his hearers a general view
of the whole battle, referring at times to
particular commands to Illustrate a point
rather than to I'LL out the narrative
Capt. Douthatt regarded the battle as the
most desperate of the war, and he showed
clearly why it was. Tremendous issues
we're involved. Success meant much to the
victor. To the south 1t meant French and
possibly English recognition. To the north
1t meant safety of Washington, Baltimore
Philadelphia and possibly New York. For
these reasons the battle surpassed in fierce
ness and slaughter Shiloh, Chickamauga
and the Wilderness
Mistakes of the Confederates.
Naturally the lecturer dwelt at some
length upon the mistakes Of the confeder-
ates. The first was in not following up
promptly their success on the first day of
the battle when the 1st and 18th Corps of
the Union army retreated through the vii
lage to Cemetery Hlii. ''9n, II jackson
had only been therer' exclaimed the lee
turer. and the hall resounded with cheers
lie was convinced that a determined as
sault would have swept the federals from
the hill. for at that time the confederates
were largely In the majorty. The second
mistake ne said, was made on the next
day. Longstreet with about fifty regiments
was engaged on the Union right with over
hundred regiments. the Union line having
been weakened at many plares to send help
to Sickles, who was confronting Longstreet
Taking advantage of the weakness of the
line Wrights Georgia brigade charged the
Union center and pierced it-not only
pierced, but attained the summit of the
ridge. so that Gen. Wright waas able to
look down the eastern slope But Wright
waas given no support. Wright captured
and had temporary possession of eighteen
cannon and had to leave them, In danger
OF being surrounded the Georgians turned
their faces TO the rear and fought their
way back to the Emmitsburg road.
had Jackson been there" the lecturer
cried, nm would have been sent to
Wrights support Can one doubt the re-
suit? With the left wing Of the federal
army engaged with Longstreet and having
all 1t could attend to, the federal army
would have been cut in two
Failure to Cooperate.
Another mistake. the lecturer said. was
in Gen. Johnson's failure to follow up his
success in his attac on Culp's HILL the fed
eral right, which was held by a meager
force, Siocums 18th Corps having been
weakened TO aid Siekles Johnson, 1t was
claimed. could have gone forward and
Joined Wright when the latter pierced the
Union center. Another mistake, 1t was as
serted, was In Rodes' failure to support
Early In his attack on East Cemetery Hid
with the Louisiana Tigers. 1t was claimed
that in connection with Johnson's attack
the federal right would have been over
wbelmed.
Capt, Douthatt's description of Picketts
charge. of whieh he was one of the few
surviving officers who were not wounded.
was circumstantiai and decidedly interest
ing OF the I0D0a who started on that
charge not over !. GOO remained when the
line was within 100 yards Of the Union de-
fen S<,s