The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-08

- X Is SIdt1IyiuS TO
I-- read the remarks of
Hon. Joseph NJ. Dixon, Senator from
Montana, a native Of North Carolina,
in the Congressional Record Of July
18 and 20. 1t is regretted that Sen
ator Dixon did not have at hand a
fuller record of the part taken by
North Carolina troops in the battle
of Gettysburg. AS soon as the news
papers announced the c%olloquy be-
sween Senator's Martin and Dixon
about Gettysburg, the Hon. B. R.
Lacy and Judge Walter Clark for
warded to Senator Dixon Five Points
in the Record Of North Carolina in
the Great War Of 1S61-1S65," pub
Ijshed by the North Carolina His
torical Commission, and Mr.. Lacy also
sent him Pickett or ~Pettigrew,' by
Capt. W. R. Bond. Senator DiXOn
says he received all these booklets
by the same mail but too late to in
corporate the Information in his
speech of the 20. 1t is to be hoped
he will be able to revise his remarks
in time to print them in the per-
manent bound record.
For nearly half a century, ever
since the Inflated invasion Of Penn
syIvania by General Lee, a storm of
controversy has ragged about the battle
OF Gettysburg. North Carolinians
have been mostly concerned about
the reflections on the troops from
our State made by the Virginia papers
just after the battle, and the world
trumpeted false statement that Petit
grew 'faltered." This State has suf-
fered from supposed inuendoeS or re-
Elections in the report Of the battle
by General Pickett, which report was
amended at General Lees suggestion.
General PettigreW was killed on the
retreat from Gettysburg n made no
report.
The invasion IF Pennsylvania was
ill-starred from the beginning. Gen
eral Lees army was at the height
of its efficiency, and believed itself
equal to any undertaking. Stuart, in
stead Of being between the Confed-
crate army and the Federals, was on
a useless and fatal raid. Lee being
without the eyes Of his army" could
not learn of the movements Of Meade,
who Con June 2S) had superseded
Hooker in command of the Union
army.
II may be said that the C~onfederates
stumbled into the battle of Gettysburg
unaWares. Lees army, composed OF
three corps, was scattered. Hill and
LOngstreet were in the direction Of
Hhambersburg and Ewell in the d.
C0lAo1 VI SdIlIS1c III VI N, -
on the 30th of Jun Pettigrew's bril-
gade Of Heth's division, Hills corps,
unexpectedly discovered BufOrds di-
VISION of cavalry at Gettysburg. Lee
immediately began to concentrate his
army. On July 1st, Heth engaged the
Federals at Gettysburg. and was soon
Joined by Ewell. A little after mid
day the Federals were beaten.
About ? o'clock q. m, General Lee
arrived on Seminary Ridge and saw
the Federals defeated and ~retreatinG
in confusion to Cemetery Hill. He
immediately ordered General EWell,
Who had stopped pursuit, to press
tne enemy and take Cemetery Hill
If possible american Campaigns,
Steele, p. $3.50 The qualifying words
were fatal to the C~onfederacy. Ewel1,
Who had never recovered his health
ana Vigor after the amputation Of his
1tS, did not think it possible show
ei no aggressiveness n decided to
want General Ramt5eur's North
'arolina brigade had taken more pris-
rhers that afternoon than it num-
tefed men, and he was sure he could
axe the heights, out was recalled
WHlle advancing upon them. Genera
lee IS quoted as saying that night to
Generals Longstree and A. P. Hill
mat we will attack the enemy in
the morning as early as practicable
and directed them to make the neces-
Safy preparation and be ready for
prompt action Long.) His pur-
pose was to attack early in the morn
ing Second day. before the rest OF
me Union troops could reach the
field.
It has been frequently charged that
Lon8street did not give his chief the
NiIiing and ready support that he
should have done. Longstreet did
HOt approve Lees D1an IF hattie anC
neither his head nor heart was in thu
H8ht. Longstreet especially after the
second day) considered Meade's Pc.
T1.ion lmpregnable to Lees army.
HIS plan was for Lee TO Swing his
army around, Meade's left, and throw