The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-12

or Hunters Division, to tho command
of which our General Trimbio was as
signed. Hill was also to help II neces
sary. Instead OF this. Longstreet sont
forward only about 1900 men to as
sail tho whole Federal Army. They
mado the assault-those virginians and
North Carolinans--with magnificent
gallantry. They pierced tho enemys
centre. hut where were their support
.erS? Where were the divisions OF Nc
Laws and Hood?
Looking on idly. rendering. no sup
port at all. not firing shot,
At the moment OF their success tho
men OF the assaulting column looked
back vainly for support.
Not single Confederate bayonet was
between them and the ridge from which
they had advanced. 1900 yards in the
rear. Their superb valor had been
thrown away. The criticism or the
French general when he witnessed the
charge ut Balaklava III is magnificent,
but 1t is not war" was doubly true or
this great charge OF the Confederate
infantry at Gettysburg.
Holds Longstrcet Mt Fault.
But who was responsible for this
useless sacrifice OF those brave men ?
The facts. RS we know them. make
1t clear that General Longstrcet was
responsible and not General Lee.
Had Lee really intended 10 assail the
Federal position with SO slender a
column lie would have been unworthy
the command OF great army. IT. on
the other hand. Pickctts assaulting
column had been supported by the d.
visions OF Hood and McLaws. there Is
little doubt that the Federal Army
would have been cut in two and the
battle won. Such. at least, was the
opinion of = gallant Federal officer
vino commanded q battery at the crest
where the Confederate charge was de-
livered. The battle Of Gettysburg
thus ended IN Confederate failure.
Yet il was rather = drawn battle than
q Federal victory. Tho night or July
2 General Meade held council OF
war. and IL developed that 1T was BY
no means clear in the Judgment OF
his corps commanders whether they
had won or not" His chief OF stan
General Butterheld. declared positive
Is that General Meade directed him
TO prepare the orders for retreat
General Pleasanton, the chief OF ar
tiliery. repeats the story. and Colonel
Freemantle. OF the English army. who
witnessed the battle. tells or an in
tercepted dispatch from Meade TO Hal
ieck to the following effect: The
noble but unfortunate Army OF the
Potomac has again been obliged 10 re-
treat before superior numbers"
1t Is only fair to add that General
Meade denied the truth OF General
Butterhcld's statements.
Famine. Not Fear.
However. it is certain that Lees re-
turn TO Virginia was made necessary
b. the exhaustion of his ammunition
army. lie offered battle to Meade on
Seminary Ridge-all the day OF July
4. Again, at HaGerstown. he awaited
attack for three days. but, n.spite OF
Mr.. Lincoln's urgent kilograms. Gen
eral Meade and his corps commanders
did not think il wise to accept the
gauge OF battle. The fatcful signih-
canoe of the Confederate failure az
Getty burg lay in the fact that a great
opportunity TO win decisive victory
and dictate terms OF peace was lost
II was for that reason that the crest
OF Cemetery Hin marks the high water
mark Of the great struggle FOR South
crn independence. The failure, let IL
be said. cannot he set down to faulty
strategy on the part of our own great
commander. but the errors of -four
splendid soldiers on whom he was &C.
customed to rely. L. Il, Stuart, y
l. Hill. Ewcil and Longstreet. ably
The general staff--and this last Is per
haps attributable to IL being less thar
half the size IT ought TO have been.
cannot close this sketch Of tha'
famous campaign without paying 2
tribute TO the splendid gallantry o.
the men and officers OF the Second
Maryland Infantry on the field OF Get
tysburr They formed part OF the
brigade OF that fine soldier, General
George II. Steuart, of Maryland. which
on the second and third days of the
battle, displayed fortitude and cour-
age and steadiness not surpassed BY
any troops in our army. Their losses
exceeded the proportion of loss in the
Light Brigade at Balaklava they cap
tured and held for fourteen hours ar
important section OF the Fedora
works on Culp's Hill, position which
Swinton declares would, if held. have
enabled Lee ito take aIeade's entire
line In reverse" Let this be ever q
proud memory for Maryland that hei
sons at Gettysburg, by their splendid
prowess. gained for the Confederate
Army such great opportunity Nc
other part of the Federal works along
the entire Ave mile front was captured
and held more than fftcen minutes
! Baltimore sun