The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-06
"FARTHEST AT GETTYSBURG"

i|u!lOr our confederate COIumn:"
Sr,-I have read with great interest
your extract from North Carolina Re-
view, August g. 1911, regarding the
North Carolina claim TO having gone
"farthest ct Gettysburg" This claim
has been so often made, and so often
refuted and disproved. that it seems
strange 10 see 1t bobbing up again
But there ts one point about the ar
ticle you print that Is noticeable:
which is. that the article itself dis
proves the ciaim---it is hoist upon it's
own petard. The contention is that
terry Ridge was crescent shape, or
circular and as the object of the vir-
Sinians was the point of tho wall
nearest the Southern line. while the
object OF the North Carolina troops
was further around on the circle; con-
scquenuy. longer distance to get to
tho wall had to be traversed! Now
this seems puerilc! The wall was tho
obtecti The Yankees were behind the
WALL 1t makes no difference whether
North Carolina had TO come a half
mile or mile and a half to reach the
wall-the wall itself. with the Yankee
line behind it, was the goat. not a
measured distance on the ground ira
versed. II seems the North Carolina
troops reached this wnll-two or three
Of their men are named in this ex-
tract you publish. as being found at
the wall. dead. but no claim Is made
here or elsewhere. that any OF them
got over the wall or beyond tho wall
or penetrated the Yankee lines! The
Nirginians crossed the wall: went over
>. = drove tho Yankees out or the lines
behind 1t, and heiS' ~. Has1there on
top of the Cemetery Ridge. AMI held
}, alone. by themselves, for fifteen
minutes more, waiting for rein
iorcements to come and help them re-
tain the position The virginia ms
gained tie object achieved the pur-
pose OF tho charge which was 10
reach the rock wall-take it--and drive
the enemy from IL That they did It
IS history-that any other troops did &,
Is not even claimed by North Carolina
inside and beyond the rock wall Tin
front OF which this extract mentions
that three North Carolina rrcn were
found dead proving? the contention
that North Carolina was "farthest')
Arniistead was kilied--Colonel doc
tori Rawley Martin was shot down
and left for dead. and John Holmes
Smith, captain Of Company G.. Eleventh
Virginia Regiment, temporarily In
command of that regiment. and
oody OF his men penetrated the wall:
went beyond ii and stayed there long
enough for Captain Smith TO send back
two couriers. at separate times urg-
Ing that reinforccments he sent TO
the top OF the ridge. so that they could
hold it None coming. this body re-
person lead these Virglnians, the pre-
ponderance OF testimony seems to in
dicate that he did not No one who
was there has ever testified to seeing
him in the charge-many comment on
the curious fact OF not seeing him. and
certainly If he was there and lead
the charge or participated at all. he
Was awfuily lucky to escape unharm-
cd and endorsed, in charge where
every other general officer was killed
or wounded-where every colonel was
killed or wounded. where every mount
ed officer was killed or endorsed
The Virginians went to the rock
wall and over IT. drove away the
Yankee lines. and held these lines for
hfteen minutes. waiting for reinforce
ments that did not come. No other
troops went over the walI--no other
troops touched the Yankee lines. or
drove them a foot or held the lines
thus captured, and IT seems a curious