The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-27
AN ACCOUNT OF THE
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

lcount for several things which were
behind time or not pushed forward as
they should have been the Sd Of July?
On leaving headquarters / rode along
the Confederate lines through Gettys-
burg and delighted TO ind my brother
Eugene, the late Colonel Eugene
Blackford. of Pikesvillc. who was
colonel Of the Fifth Alabama Regiment
Of sharpshootcrs. who. with his bat
talon OF skirnshers OF Rhodess Divi-
sion. was third
They held this range OF two and
three story brick houses on Main
street. on the Side next to Cemetery
Ridge. through the back windows OF
which We were keeping UP an incea-
"a mt firing into the enerny's lines near
by. II was the first time / had seen
warfare carried on IN this way. and.
wishing 10 ind my brother, l left my
horse in charge OF the courier VINO
accompa MED me at a place IN the street
somewhat protected from the shells
which at times came tearing through
houses. | assembled handsome stair
case 70 the second floor. This floor
along the whole block had been used
in each house for parlor. sitting room,
etc, tho ground floors occupied by
stores The sharpshooters had cut
passways through the partition walls
so they could walk through the houses
all the way from one cross street 10
the other. From the windows OF the
back rooms. against which were piled
heds and mattresses. and through holes
punched In the outside back wall there
MAS kept UP continuous rattle of
muske,Ty by men stripped TO the waist
and blackcncd with powder II was
L strange sight TO see these men Hght-
nE III these neat and sometimes ele-
Rantiy furnished rooms. while those not
on duty r.clined on elegant sofas or
stretched themselves on elegant car
pets. Was surprised TO see feathers
scattered everywhere in some OF the
rooms and found out IL had been done
by shells bursting in feather beds on
the upper floors. Pools OF blood in
many places marked the spot where
some one had been hit and laid on
the carpets. and here and there a dead
body not yet removed. and a great
many holes In the walls showed where
artillery had been brought 20 bear
upon this hornets nest when their
sting became too severe for endurance
inquired for Colonel Blackford. and
was directed to a room in the middle
OF the block. where / found him and
some Of his officers lolling on the sofa
in handsome par!or. On a marble
stand were set decanters OF wine.
around which were spread all sorts
Of delIcac!es. where they had been left
b. the inhabitants when they fed from
our advance the day before.
outside could be heard the cannon
ade and the roaring OF the musketry
around Cemetery Ridge. and echo!ng
through the houses the reports o: The
deadly rifles and the rooms pervaded
with the smoke OF powder From the
PACK windows, by kecpins duly out
OF sight OF the watchful enemy In he
Tile pits short distance from the
houses. could see all that part OF the
Federal lines OF the enemy with semi
circle or horseshoe shape OF the line
OF battle As an engineer-and my
experience in II was eXpensive-I was
enabled 10 form good idea OF the
great strength of the position given
them by luck. II General Lee had
been In his usually vigorous health
the day before, believe he would have
days action and have occupied this
ridge or could have Withdrawn by
nanoeuvre!nS for more favorable
Held. instead o! partial detached from
ia! attacks on an impreEnablc posi-
tion. which eliminated In tho last DAVIS
battle b. throwing in the elite d.
vision Of his army-Pickett's division
OF Nirginians % 5000 men-to attack
this formidable position. defended by
three lines Of battle and $50 guns over
Hn open level space in font OF three
quarters of mile. The attack was
doomed TO failure before launched:
5000 or 5000 men FELL or were taken
prisoners; only 1000 returned. II Lee
had been on this spot himself with
his experience in the art and theory
OF war. he would have seen all nj a
glance and the battle would never
have been lost. Such little things in
war. as in everything else. sometimes
lead to great results. General Lees
sickness may have been sufficient
cause for the loss OF the battle lie
took all blame OF defeat on himself.
Thus ended the battle OF Gettysburg
the highest point OF invasion and
zenith OF power reached by the Con-
federacy. whose cherished red nag
arose on the clouds of war in the re
NTH OF nations, and after four years
warfare again disappeared from the
earth's surface with career of vic
tory and glory seldom found in his
tory under one flag in such a brief
period OF time