Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-07-03
CRISIS OF THE WAR.

CRISIS OF THE WAR.
Talking last night to the correspon-
dent of the PUBLIC LEDGER about Get
tysburg, Major Hunter said:
"A great Confederate victory at Get
| tysburg would have led to Southern
independence. France was ready to
accord not only recognition, but active
intervention. Throughout England
there was powerful sentiment in fav
or of the Confederacy. Gladstone and
many other of its eminent statesmen
and citizens were in full sympathy
with our cause, and there was only
needed decisive triumph of Confed-
crate arms on Northern soil to make
this sentiment dominant and crystalize
it into Parliamentary action, which
would have opened southern ports to
the commerce of the world and COM
PEELED the North to desist from the
prosecution of its war.
''Swinton. the historian of the Army
of the Potomac, was entirely right
when he said that Gettysburg was the
crisis of the war and the salvation of
the North as he was accurately de-
scriptive when he observed!
# we consider the tremendous issue
involved, it calls forth sentiments
akin to the trembling joy with
which Cromwell returned thanks to
Heaven for the GROWING mercy of
Worcester.
Much has been written, volumes
have been published about the fighting
at Gettysburg and explanations have
been made of the failure of General
Lees lieutenants to follow his plans.
One of the best accounts of General
Lee at Gettysburg was given by Cap
tain James Power Smith, Stonewall
Jackson's chaplain, in paper read be-
fore the Military Historical Society of
Massachusetts eight years ago. There
were three corps commanders upon
whom General Lee relied-James Long
street commanded the First Corps,
/
Richard S. Ewell the Second Corpssand
A. P. Hill the Third Corps. They were
all trained at West Point. Longstreet
was 43 years old, Ewell 46 and Hill 49,.
At Gettysburg, said Captain Smith,
in his address, Longstreet was unwill-
ing and recalcitrant to say the least,
and many think he was seriously dis
obedient to the wishes of his command
er. But there, as before and after, he
fought with a vigor and determination
that made him always lion in the way.
tOf Fwell, the same well-informed
reviewer, said: with loyalty unques-
toned and supreme confidence in his
commander, at Gettysburg he lacked
Initiative, aud at critical moment
waited fer ORDERS, and of A. P. Hill,
Captain Smith declared: Under 40,
he still had enough of initiative to act
for himself at Gettysburg. and to bring
on the first days action, contrary to
General Lees wishes and with serious
consequences. These were the ele-
ments that had very large influence
on the result of the fighting, which
lasted for three days, and harder fight
ing the world has rarely, or never,
known. z.
On the first day Ewell waited for
ord -, when every moment of the
time could be balanced with gold. On
| the second day, as General Lee said,
'Longstreet was so slow but, as Capt
ain Smith pointed out. slow and re,
calcitrant as he was, Longstreet's bat
tie of the second day was in itself a
great success. Late as it was, he ac-
complished Lees purpose and rolled
back the Federal left toward Gettys-
burg, overwhelming Sickles with his
tremendous attack. But if he had heed
ed Hood and Law, he would also have
taken Round Top, and probably have
occupied the Tarrytown road, in the
rear of Meade's army. And the OPP
portunity of the second day was lost to
L Lie TSOAAS0CA cS6Cos
THIRD DAYS STRUGGLE.
..on the third day Lee ordered Long
l'street to attack the Federal left centre
and assault from the south, while ,Ew-
ell should attack from the north at
Culp's Hill At 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing Alexander opened with Is guns and
R L Walker with s. guns from Semi
nary Hill. Again LoDgstreet was re-
fuctant. Three hours passed away in
unnecessary delay, and in this time
Ewell's attack on Culp's Hill was
wasted opportunity Not until o'clock
did the artillery duel begin. More than
two hundred guns were engaged and,
with their crash ard roar shook the
solid enrth, Cemetery Ridge was
swept by the Confederate fire. Gener-
ii Walker, # the Federal Army. has
sid;