The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-13
A Visit to Gettysburg, July, 1863
Ry MILES @.

cd a certain point. ooI
they never reached it. On the night
after the three days fighting, we
were, in a whispered command, or
dered to retreat, and we took up u
line Of march for Virginia. When
we reached HagerstOwn, Maryland.
we were confronted with troops Of
the Union army. Here, l had the
honor and pleasure Of meeting and
having a conversation with the great
cavalry leader, Gen. j. E. b. Stuart.
He came riding up to me, lifted his
hat, and said: Have you charge OF
this sQuad?"
Yes, sir l replied.
We'll, can you take that little rise
over there?"
II think so, General l said; we
are moving right in that direction
well, do SO; and [ will hiring a
piece Of artillery n move those TEL
lows from the Finktown road"
BY the time we reached the point
designated, he came without any
escort or body uard-just one lone
soldier driving the horses, with the
piece Of artillery. The soldier turned
il around in the direction Of the
enemy, and unhitched his horses.
General Stuart dismountod, sighted
the sun and fired it, the shell falling
right in the midst Of a SQUAD OF
mounted Federal soldiers. And Of all
the scattering-I never have seen It
surpassed. The General just laughed.
His sides were shaking with laugh
ter. The one shot had demolished
the crowd. The great man disap-
| peared, and I dc not recall whether /
! ever saw him again.
We had some men as brave as eve
carried a gun or sword. But it i'm
pressed me that they were not always
as prudent as brave. Sergeant, George
S.. Smyre, Of our county, was consid-
cred one of the bravest men we had.
He was in my squad of men, and
Just persisted in being a few yards
ahead of the line. I called to him,
and on this occasion I armed him
of the danger. And the last time
called him, just then, from a base
ment door a few yards away, q sol
| der fired and killed him.. We sur
rounded the house and searched it
from cellar to garret-an unpleasant
duty. But he must have fired and
fled, for we failed to find him. Had
we done so, he would have paid the
penalty. After the skirmishing was
over, l hunted up his brother. Logan
n told him where he could find his
brothers body. In Hagertown, Mary
land, George was buried by his
brothers-Logan and Silas-both
splendid soldiers. Now they, too, have
passed over the river.
Father A.. D. Belts, who was a
faithful chaplain in the Confederate
army, has issued a call for all men
and women who pray, to be sure and
pray for the old Confederate sol
diers." We hope this request will be
ratified by compliance. The Confed-
crate soldier can be aided while he Is
here with us, with much better re
suits than high compliments after his
death. Excuse me for wandering.
r Well, we came on back, and the
Potomac river was past fording. Sc
we lined up and were ready for the
enemy, where we remained until tht
river fell enough for us to cross.
Some northern papers censurec
General Thomas for not attacking
Lee when thus shut in. I give it, a.
my opinion, that it was the wises1
thing Thomas did while in the ser
vice. For I believe our troops woult
have ruined his army. We were il
a fighting humor. Judge w. A
Montgomery, Of Raleigh, who com
manded a company in our regiment
agrees with me as to the failure a
Gettysburg. He says poor Ewel
was to be pitied, for he had lost
leg, and, at that time, looked ik
: deaths playmate or a corpse" w
could have gone on the Heights tina
5 first day and saved the slaughter o
troops the two succeeding days.