El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-03

to the division in general orders ana
received with appreciative satisfaction
The soldiers, one and all, love ana
nOnOr Lee. and his sympathy and praise
are always very dear to them. just
after the order was published L nearu
one Of the men rather rough and IN
couth and not, as are most of the men,
10 the manor born, say as ne WlPeu
away the tears with the back OF ms
hand, "Dag-gone him. dag-gOne him,
Cag-gOne his old soul, I'm blamed eI
wouldn't be dag-Sone willln TO 90
right through il all and be killed again
with them others to hear Marse Robert
dag-gOne him, say over again as now
he Srieved boutn we-alls losses ana
nonored US for wears 6raVery-
Darned eff I wouldn't" Isn't that rev
erential alteration. my darling, to be
willing to be killed again for a wOru
Of praise2
Unnecessary Sacrifice.
1t seems selfish and inhuman to
speak Of lOve-haunted as L am with
the unnecessary sacrifice OF the lives
Of so many Of my brave boys. L can
think of anything but the desolate
homes in Virginia and the unknown
dead IN Pennsylvania. At the begin
ming of the fight I was so sanguine, so
sure of success! Early in the morning
had been assured by Alexander that
Cen Lee had ordered that every
brigade in his command was to charge
Cemetery hill. so L had no fear Of not
being supported. Alexander also a3-
sured me of the support of his artillery
which would move ahead OF my divis-
he had borrowed seven 12-pOund how
ltzers from PendletOn, Lees chief OF
artillery which he had put in reserve
10 accompany me
Across Field OF Death.
in the morning I rode with him while
he, by LOngstreets orders, selected the
salient angle Of the wood in which my
line was formed, which line was just
on the left of his 70 guns. At about a
quarter to o'clock, when his written
order to make the charge was handed
to me, and dear old Peter. after read
ing it in sorrow and fear, reluctantly
bowed his head in assent, Obeyed,
leading my three brigades straight on
the enemy's front. You never saw any
thing like il. They moved across that
field of death as a battalion marches
forward in line of battle upon drill,
each commander in front of his COM
mand leading and cheering on his men
Two lines Of the enemy's infantry
were driven back; two lines of guns
were taken-and no support came
PendletOn, without AleXander's knOwl-
edge. had sent four Of the guns which
he had loaned him to some other part
Of the field and the other three guns
could not be found. The two brigadcs
which were to have followed ME had.
poor fellows, been seriously engaged in
the fights Of the two previous days
Both Of their commanding officers had
been killed. and while they had been
replaced by gallant, competent officers.
these new leaders were unknown TO
the men
Too Late to Retreat.
All, If I had only had my other two
brigades a different story would have
been flashed to the world. 1t was too
late TO retreat. and to go on was
death or capture. Poor old Dick
Garrett did not dismOunt as did
the others of US. and he was killed in
stantly, falling from his horse. Eenpc:
was desperately wounded. was brought
from the field and subsequently, taken
prisoner Poor old Lewis Armistea1,
Sod bless him, was mOrtally wounded
at the head of his command after
planting the flag of Virginia within the
aDemys lines. Seven of my colonies
were killed and one was mortaIlv
Nine of my lieutenant col
)nels were wounded and three lieuten-
ant colonies were killed. Only one
-leld officer of my whole command
Col Cabell, was unhurt. and the loss
u my company officers was in proper
ton.
/ wonder. my dear, if in the light OF
the great Eternity we shall any Of us
feel this was for the best and shall
nave learned TO say, Thy will be done"
No castles today, sweetheart. No,
The bricks Of happiness and the mortar
pr love must lie untouched in this low I
7ring gloom. Pray. dear. for the sor-
rowing ones" Faithful and forever
Your Soldier.