The National tribune., 1908-10-01

lowed. and those on Gen. Newton's line.
on Hancock's immediate left, where
they werer followed, were equal in heart
and courag for the fearful ordeal of
Longstreet's charge. The object of my
orders, however, was to spare them this
ordeal altogether by breaking up the
charge before it reached our lines. Had
my orders been fully carried out think
their whole line would have been, as
half of it was, driven back before reach
ing our position, and this would have
given US ourtonly chance for a success
full counter attack AS 1t was, the splen-
did valor of Pickett's Division alone en-
abled the Cohfederates. altho defeated,
to preserve their morale intact. Had
they been repulsed without coming into
immediate contact with our infantry
their morale would have been seriously
impaired and their sense of superiority
humbled."
After all, There came into this the
rivalry and the7 pride of the two arms
of the Gen. Hunt, enthusiastic
artillerist, believed in the all-conquer
ing power of cannon, while Gen. Han
cock, holding that artillery was very
good in its way, was an infantryman,
and believed that the musket was the
real winner of battles.
From the Confederate Point OF View.
q
Cen Alexander gives this account of
the opening of the cannonade and what
followed as he saw it,
1T was just D.. IN. by my watch
when the signal guns were fired and
the cannonade opened. The enemy re-
piled rather slowly at first, tho soon
with increasing fdpidity. Having deter
mined that Pickett should charge,
felt impatient to lanch him as soon as
I cnnI6 that
plishing anything. 1 guessed that a
half hour would elapse between my
sending him the order and his column
reaching close quarters. l dared not
presume on using more ammunition
than one hours firing would consume,
for we were far from supplies and had
already fought for two days. So I de-
termined to send Pickett the order at
the very first favorable sign and not
later than after 80 minutes firing.
'At the end of 20 minutes no favor
able development ha.i occurred. More
guns had been added to the Federal
line than at the beginning, and its whole
length, about two miles, was blazing
like a volcano. 1t seemed madness to
order column in the middle of hot
July day to undertake. an advance of
three-fourths e2 mile over open
ground against the center of that line.
But something had to be done. /
wrote the following note, and dispatched
it to Pickett at 1925:
General: If you are to advance at
all, you must come at once, or we will
not be able to support you as we ought.
But the enemy's fire has not slackened
materially, and there are still IS guns
firing from the Cemetery
Il had hardly sent this note when
there was decided falling off in the
enemys fire, and as L watched L saw
other guns limbered up and withdrawn.
We frequently withdrew from fighting
Federal guns in order to save our am
munition for their infantry The enemy
had never heretofore practiced such
economy. After waiting few minutes
and seeing that no fresh guns replaced
those withdrawn. ] felt sure that the
enemy was feeling the punishment, and
at LAO 1 sent a note to Pickett as fol-
lows:
." For Gods sake, come quick, The
Is guns haveggonei Come quick or my
ammunition viii not let me support you
properly
+. This was follower by two verbal mes-l
sages to the lsaInei effect by an officerl
and Sergeant from the nearest guns
The Is guns had occupied the point at
which our Charge twas to be directed
mad been Incorrectly told 1t was the
Cemetery. Seons;onl few scattered
Federal guns werei in action, and still
Picketts line had not come forward.
tho scarcely 800 yards behind my guns
Il afterward learned what had fol-
lowed the sending of my first note. Itl
reached Pickett in Longstreets pres
enee. He read it. and handed it tol
Longstreet. Lonsstreet read and stood
silent. Pickett said. General, shall ri
advance?' Lpngstreet knew that It'll
must be DONE. but was unwilling tol
speak the words. He turned in his sad
die and looked away. Pickett saluted
and said, I am going to move forward,
SIR and galloped Off
"Longstreet, leaving his staff, rode
out alone, and Joined me on the left
hank of the guns. 1t was doubtless 1:50I
or later, but did not look at my watch |
again. 1 had grown very impatient to
see Pickett, fearing ammunition would |
run short, when Longstreet Joined me. |
explained the situation He spoke |
sharply, Go and stop Pickett where he !
is, and replenish your ammunition II
answered, we can't do that, sir. The
train has but little. 1t would take an
hour to distribute 1t. and meanwhile the
enemy would improve the time