The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-27

cisive ana crushing blow" that has
been dealt Lee and his army. and such
scenes OF iubilotion as have been wit
messed among them were never seen
before.
|. for one. ain panied that the Army
or Northern Virginia should ever have
fought Il battle in regard TO which
there could be possibility OF dts
pute as to which side gained tho VIC
tory. Hence, the result of the Gcttys-
burg battle rather depressed me than
otherwise. thought VIC ought to
have crushed and ovcrwhe lined tho
Federal army--a glorious result which
] felt TO be within our easy grasp. and
then to have pushed our victorious
columns on to relieve baltimore and
capture Washington But ere the
turning point came in tho battle-at
time when our arms had triuniphed
at every contested point. before the
hercest conflict came, i felt uneasy.
uncertain. that is. 1 lacked that con-
fdence OF victory ana enthusiasm that
] usually feel when n great battle com
nencc3.
could not account for my feelings,
because every soldier with a muskct
Ito such. you know, we look for vic
tory) was in tho finest spirits ana
seemingly would be happiest when or
dered TO give the foe the bnyonet sly
weak and exhausted condition, with
tho knowledge possessed OF the total
inability OF our cavalry to successful
L. maintain a long fight. created the
depression OF spirits which ] felt,
and which I construed into a PRESENT.
mont or the failure of our army TO
achieve on that occasion tho SUCCESS
with which God has heretofore SO
graciously rewarded its struggles.
The result Of tho battle did not
greatly surprise me, Of course, yet l
was deeply panied at It. chiefly be
Cause il became soon cvidcut TO US ALL
that the day Was lost BY bad man
azement Tho most unhappy page in
the history Of our campaign in Mary
land and Pennsylvania will be that
which chronicles how that when
sr'all par, of Our troops had driven
the enemy from their stronghold in
dismay. they were induced 10 abandon
their prize In n haste that resembled
a panic. by the unnecessary, unuc-
countable and unhappy flight OF their
powerful support which was 200 yards
In their rear and hadn't fred q gun
in the fight. Officers who participated
In the struggle and witnessed 1t all,
and who. I have no doubt. know what
they affirm 10 be true, assert that II
vas an easy task COR a single brigade
Of our Immense unenEaged reserve, or
support. b. rushing to the front on
two occasions during Fridays fight to
have secured FOR us az glorious a VIC
tory as ever pcrched upon an armys
banners. ana one as decisive and com
plete as ever destroyed an enemy.
Fully convinced that II was the same
unerr:ns providence ordering and or
da!n!ng the Issue Of the great battle
that has on other occasions and other
SOIL vouchsafed 10 in the blessings OF
victory. was consoled; and when 1
witnessed the still undauN.ed spirit Of
most OF our mon: saw in their man
ners and countenances the signs Of
the !rv!ncibIe determination of their
minds. their zeal and readiness, yet 10
wiring victory from the foe whom the
result o. that battle had not altered
in their estimation. thanked God IL
was no worse. and prayed that our
failure TO have q sufficient supply Of
ammunition. our mismanagement IN
other res poets, and the consequent de-
feat OF our noble generals plans might
yet rebound 10 our good
Ard now when cast retrospe ctive