The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-13

III only lacks one ytdl VI Gil
ty, or d half century, since our re-
turn from that visit to Gettysburg,
pa. 1t is said Of the fly, that when
he lighted on the hot stove, he SAID,
"Short visits are best So we con-
Guided tina a short stay in Pennsyl-
was best for us as visitors. 1t is gen
orally conceded now, that had our for
mer corps commander, Jackson, been
with US on that great occasion, or had
General HOke, or General Gordon
been in command Of our corps, our
visit would have been longer and
much more satisfactory TO the south
ern visitors. Our part OF the com
mand had been within twenty miles
Of the capital of Pennsylvania. We
spent Sunday in the own Of Carlisle,
in the United States barracks, where
our the Brigadier General Iverson
had been encamped. So, as we were
marching into town, a few days be-
fore, the women and children were
gathered on their porches, saying,
There Is Lieutenant 1~verson! He
was formerly a lieutenant in the
United States army stationed here"
we don't see any horns. They look
just like our folks You could hear
this all along the streets; SO it is evil
dent the people had mi~srepresented
their unlimited guests. While in Car
Isle, l asked an old gentleman II my
nephew and | could get some cherries.
Certainly, certainly; help yourselves,
gentlemen he said. and then gave
me to understand that he thought
soldiers generally took whatever they
wanted. l replied, just as I did to an
old countryman from whom I pur-
chased butter on our way over there,
and who a accepted my money as a
curo: that if any of Lees army took
any persons property, it was done
contrary to orders, and if caught at
il, he would be punished. OF urs
many of the soldiers diSobeyed Lees
orders, n robbed orchards, hem
roosts, ct. Get, but let 1t be known
that it was a violation of General
Lees orders.
On the first day at Gettysburg, on
the hill just beyond the town. our
portion Of the command STRUCK that
part Of the Union army under Gener-
al Reynolds. A portion Of his troops
were behind a stone fence, and, con-
were shot down. But General Rey-
nOlds was killed also, and his men
fed In great confusion, while many
had to surrender. We pressed on
into Gettysburg. M it looked as il
all the people-men, women and
children-were fleeing in great con-
fusion. Many Of our soldiers were
in stores, asking their companions,
What will you have?' and so fourth,
while many wen accepted something
to eat n drink. We were COM
handed to halt here. The men gust
begged to go on, for the enemy was
fleeing; but the orders came from
General Ewell to halt, and we did so.
That night General Hancock's com
nan was coming in all through the
night. and the next morning the
mountain, Dr. hillside, was covered
with troops. Here, we lost our VIC
tory. Gen. J. b.. Gordon, in his book,
tells how "he persisted In going on
until Ewell, sent the third order tc
halt" Had General Gordon, General
Grimes, or our beloved General r. F
Hoke, or others we could name, have
been in command, how different
would have been the result.
This blunder of Ewell cost us thou.
sands of soldiers. and forced us te
retreat. And that great man. Lee
took the blame upon his own broat
shoulders.
We remained right in Gettysburg
and witnessed that awful slaughtel
on u right for the next two days
We had orders to move forward a.
soOn as the troops on our right reach