The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-13
MISSISSIPPI
BRIGADE AT GETTYSBURG

The hftieth anniversary OF the battle
OF Gettysburg, and the interest mani
Tested In the celebration, appears to
the writer of this sketch to be fit
TING time for contamination of a pur-
pose OF many years. Of writing the
story OF Barksdalcs Brigade at Get
tysburg as he Witnessed and renem-
bers II: and under the enlightenment
OF record reports and authoritative de-
scr!ptions. 1t is only regretted that
one more gifted. has not told the tate
OF deeds worthy OF the pen of Walter
Scott or Hugo. In default OF bet
ter anual!st the self-imposed task is
taken up under the inspiration Of duty
TO the brigade organization and mem
borE. with a tincture OF natural pride
in having been n sharer, a member
of the Twenty hrst Mississippi. in what
waa far and away tho most thrilling
successful and altogether matchless
episode OF that greatest and perhaps
most momentous OF the battles OF the
war: largely eclipsed though 1t has
been IN historic narratives by the dire
consequences OF that terrible tragedy.
tho immortal and fatal forlorn hope
Confederate march on the next day.
into the yawn!ng Jaws OF slaughter
and defeat. Nevertheless. tho supc-la-
tives used upon Barksdalcs charge
Will be Qualified by quoted testimony of
competent witnesses OF other com
mands, Northern and Southern: de-
script!ve OF that grand and res!stless
rush OF 1900 M!ssissippians upon and
over Peach Orchard Hill
After a wearing march from near
Cna,nberBburg. the brigade a part o..
General Longstreet's Corps. went into
camp about midnight six miles from
Gettysburg. after the nrst days bat
tie. They reached the front the next
morning about . or 10 o'clock. on the
"a OF July. and moved TO the right OF
the line. In order OF battle as made
BY General Lee and entrusted TO Cen
eral Longstreet. the assault, was to
be opened by the extreme right bril-
gadc. the others OF the two divisions
OF Hood and McLaws 20 join In sue
ccssively. TO Barksdale. on the extreme
left vas allotted the taking OF Peach
Orchard HNl. "a piece or elevated
ground" wrote General Longstreet
that General Leo desired me to take
and hold for artillery"
The brigade was placed in battle
Uniformed with the Twenty-nrst
Colonel b. c. Humphreys. on the right:
then the Seventeenth. Colonel w D.
Holder: next the Thirteenth, Colonel
J ". Carter, with the Eighteenth
Colonel Thomas NJ. Griffin. on the lef:
i've six hundred yards distant from
tho position OF assault. open fields
fences and scattered farm houses lay
between. Parallel with our line, and
a the base or the Peach Orchard Hill.
ran the Emm.ttsburg Road. between
Two high rail fences. Farther 10 the
left q picket fence lay beyond the road
The noise of hard battle. where Hoods
Division opened the fight was heard
far 10 our right soon after o'clock.
The resistance was more obstinate. and
the wave OF attack was longer In
reaching us than calculated. The bril-
gad.s OF kershaw End Semmes. South
Carolina and Georgia. OF our division.
Molaws, went IN soon after 5 o'clock
ON our Immediate right but hidden
from view BY rolling ground.
While waiting their turn. Barks-
dale's men lay under fire OF artillery
and infantry II their front. which they
were not allie ed TO return for
hour or more. Being pretty well Gov
cred there were only a few casualties.
Never was body of soldiers fuller
of the spirit OF fight and the conf
dcnce of victory. This was betokened
by their conversation. in groups. under
such shade as they could find from
hot sun. Some strolled down to the
little stream IN their rear, where can
teens were filled. Others crossed over
and broke off great branches from the
numerous cherry trees, which were in
full bearing Relief and diversion came
when a dozen or more guns were un-
limbered in the depression behind us
and quietly rolled by hand to our In
fantry line AS soon they were
placed they opened up In concert and
with n din that was deafenng. AS
fast as the gunners could load they
concentrated a fire on the Peach Or
chard. which was both terribly de-
structive and demoralizing. This was
kept up for half hour though the
Union guns were silenced after the
first discharges. When the order was
given by the battery commanders to
firing, every man in tho brigade
knew instantly that "our turn" had
come The scenes and events as they
moved thereafter were charged with
intensely dramatic and never TO be for
gotten incidence General Barksdale's
appearance. riding rapidly along in rear
of the line. was the signal to the re-
spectivc regimental commanders to
get alert.
Noted for excelling in the soundful-
ness OF the word of command, never
before did Colonel Humphreys shout
attention with such imperative in
sistance. Like an electric shock 1t
brought every man OF his regiment up
standing. At the same time General
BarksdaIe turned the right of the line
and rode as rapidly down the front,
10 ldhc MS ppSltlOH Ill inc Hcdu OIL
his old regiment, the Thirteenth AS
he turned he called out to Colonel
Humphreys the words which dictated
the direction OF the attack-"swing
to the left"
Next came the ringing command
Double quick, charge" and at top
speed. yelling at the top voice, with
out firing a shot, the brigade sped
swiftly across the field and literally
rushed the goal. Our men began to
drop as soon as they came to atten-
ton. and were we'll peppered In cross
ing the distance to the enomy. The
Twenty first struck and fanked the
Peach Orchard angle. Our left regi-
ment. the Eighteenth, breasted hotl
fire from a large brick barn--convert-
cd into fortress by Zouave regI-
ment of Graham's Brigade--which
they captured and burned. The Thir-
teenth and Seventeenth swept the line
between these two salients. All met
with stiff resistance. But when the
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