The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-27
FATAL DELAY
At GETTYSBURG
Arkansas Veteran Who Was in the Great Fight
Tells of the Battle

Times In Its review Of Thomas Nelson
Pages book. "Rober, Z. Lee. Man and
Soldier.")
The placing Of such blame" is I'M
: doubtediy far too sweeping. Nhiie
partially true. II does the grossest IN
justice to some who were in the minor
ity, whose voice and urgent appeals
for q Jacksonian stroke on the nigh;
OF the first days battle was disregarded
and the army slept. while the Feoerais
whipped. disorganized ana running
eastward, ran into the arms of the
Yankee armies. the trained regulars
cream OF the Yankee armies,
the trained rezularS-the entire
stripping Of Washington city.
All night long the distant rum
Bile Of gun carriages. caiSsons, the
noise of tramping feet. the sounds OF
movement, came borne on the air. while
our poor fellows slept.
The turning point Of the battle was
Just here. Rest here. while commence
at the beginning and come to this point
the afternoon Of the FIRST day.
/ was ordered by the Secretary OF
War to quit my post as captain OF the
engineerfe on the stan OF General
BeaureGard and report to Major-Gen-
eral Robert Z. Rodes- The Army VI
Northern Virginia was moving north
ward, and l caught up with the rear
guard under command Of General
Pickett at Chambersburg. Pa. The
garrison was Texan regiment under
command OF Colonel william d. Stuart.
a graduate ana former assistant pre-
lessor OF the Virginia Military Insti-
tute. many OF whom were seuntsrins
upon the streets, unaFmcd. and follow
ing the Yankee girls. who paEaded the
streets In numbers. WoartnH little ma
tional flags upon their tosoms. One
long Texan upon the sidewalk remark
ed to one wearing the flag that they
never failed to capture the breast
works floating that banner.
This night (june 80. lsS4) I slept
In a haylo!t with . gallant major OF
artillery. and early next morning was
rafting over a splendid road to Gettys-
burg. When we got 20 Cashtown- Gen.
eral Rodess division had already de-
bouched from the road they had
travelled from Carlisle. crossed the road
over which ! had come. formed in line
OF battle facing east and toward Get
tysburg, and were fighting. 1 alight-
ed from our vehicle among our own
headquarters teams. and from this posi-
ton could see the fighting. ! looked
ar il for some little time. and I saw
plainly the FederaIs running-all the
time running-and our men shooting
them like 30 many rabbits on the run.
They had q mile or more start or me
Hhen l arrived. and when l reached
Seminary Ridge. We were lighting In
and through the town We had chased
that Eleventh Corps for over two
miles Just as We had chased the same
bucks at Charlottesville. and after
dark our scouts and spies came to
headquarters and said they were still
running. troops and teamsters.
Thes the Fatal SleeD.
Now, here is where we take up where
We left on to sleep What ] write /
had from good authority. and it was
corroborated by IN incident which
happened on the 9Th day Of July during
q heavy rain
General RoAes and star were en-
sconeed under . tent fly. spread over
an apals OF what had once been a rail
fence: IL YES pouring down = heavy
shower Of BIG drops. 1 had my back
turned toward 0ettysburg. our line OF
battle occupyinG the entire length Of
Seminary Ridge. when voice (which
ono heard could never afterward be
untdentined) caused me quickly to turn
ana see General Jubal A. Early APP
preaching E,odesS shelter On horse
hack. Rodes advanced to meet him
saving with a tauating smile and caus-
tic manner and words: "Oh. OF course
we didn't know anything. We wee
All wrong. We did not happen to
come from West Point. You found II
out. didn't your
The blow was felt. and the whining
voice Of General Early soon subsidized
Now. after a few days In camp. and by
contact with brother officers, I got SUI
acient data to put two and two to
Gethss.
corpa drove the Yankees over Sernin-
A. Ridge. into and through Gettvs-
hurr. his soldier eye took In the grand
ssrstee1cal ridge on the east side OF
~ valley, with Big Round Top loom.
sne NM high and Little Round TOP BY
~ s,6a. the Seminary Ridge uo.thward
An deal military position for offensive
mr. defensive energies. AZ council
csneral Tkdes advocated night attack.
We were to 20 In our shirts and to at
saek desperately an army beaten and
H~moraIixed: for our scouts had been
vIth them and brought indisputabie
sxsAenee Of a thorough rous- Had we
g. ~reunA sIot Roses wanted and
west Point lld net Went. Xr. Han
ccek aaA his regulars would not have
cberkeI the roul and the battle might
Ave boen nserer Warrington
o~ve Feeusass TSDe - pssSsse.
ma Yauksse haA al night ana more
e.. half 81 the next DAY 60 Ok % suit
sSe1selvss to Secesve our attack. The
SafsIe Of the next Day tshc Sad o. July,
- ordered at n o'clock A. ~. 9
oegusag service forscosh. bot which
5000 . matinee. - Il began at BAD
-. thus gsviuG Meade's forces near
~ evenly four hours 20 prepsre TOT
cur reception. Loagstreet claimed
vscsery. saA - Ear - TIVE nghsine wss
s~oesr1<6 q wss . victory. ans wwa'
Wes gained thereby? no resuN wnss
GSsree(s guas ss0vvea ~ might
GvcU wv&e - % she exsse@e nsM'
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