The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-14

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tary fame. and as "A means OF relief to
General Pickett. lac preferred TO say:
Come. General Pickett. this is my
fight. and on my shoulders rests the
blame"
No greater commentator could have
come from the greatest OF all chiertains
TO his brave and faithful lieutenant
1t reaches the very acme of military
splcndor. and makes hut tho brighter
Nirginias escutcheon. bearing aloft her
own Sic Sempcr. For. as 1t has hecu
shown above. General Lee stood on
Seminary Ridge with his glasses to his
eye and followed every movement OF
Pickett from the moment iro was
opened until the shattered AMI bleed
ing survivors fell back TO their own
ranks" thus showing, as 4 matter Of
fact, that General Pickett was present
ana in actual and active command OF
his troops IN this. the greatest of all
military charges known to history. and
thereby obtained the lasting COM
mcndation OF his gencr.,l-in chief
which VIII ever hang over the hills
of Gettysburg. and eclipse Wagram
and McDonougl, and cause tho bright
est cpaulets 10 adorn the lapels and
shoulders of Lee. Pickett and their
Virg mia heroes
But now your committee will present
only Il few cvidentiary facts coming
display OF Virginia courage and devo-
ton To duty.
Where evidence IS sufficient to pro-
duce conviction Of the truth OF the
facts to be established, il amounts to
proof."-Starke Law OF Evidence"
Although, as to some st has long
ago been said OF truth but neither
viii they be persuaded though ono
rose from the dead Lukc xvi. 80, 30.
''Ncrbun sat sapicnti' ca word TO
the wise is sufficient
But for tho sake OF history and the
perpctuation OF truth. your committee
Will now add statements OF facts from
veterans who were present and actually
participated in that memorable charge,
tho same TO this report and as II part
OF il, the answers to questions or facts
solicited from them By your commit
toe. in order that the truth may be
known. and that the sons and daugh-
tcrs OF Virginia may know that their
own blood, bone and bravery decorated
and crowned the heights of Gettysburg
with that undying heroism which
caused General Lee to say To General
movements with his glasses TO his eyes
from Seminary Ridge: General Pick
EFT. the men and officers Of your com
Inand have written the name of Viz
GINA as high to-day as 1T was ever
written before
IN addition TO the foregoing historic
facts and truths. your committee calls
attention TO the following letters as
evidence from living witnesses and
participants:
No. i. Thomas Il. Friend, Company ..
Ninth Virginia Infantry Armistcad's
Brigade, III his letter to the Richmond
Dispatch Of october 20. 1909, and pub
l!shed November ., 1903 denying tho
statement OF one S. y. Ashe, concerning
the conduct of General Pickett at the
battle of gettysburg, says that he ,said
:. y. Ashe) states: THAT the Richmond
papers, cropping in tho dark, attribute
the hcartrendinG disaster to the failure
- plHtl troops cNC1Etl 10 support
Picketts Division, viz rcttiGrew : hi =
vision and that General Pickett and
his STAFF were in the rear, to the right
OF the column composed OF his own
Givlsion.' etc.
Having been at that time by the side
OF General Pickett, and knowing this
statement to be incorrect, as we'll as
an unjust reflection OH General Pickett
feel ii dut.' owe TO his illustrious
name and leadership. as well as to the
history OF our Southern cause. to re-
flute the same, and give the facts OF
that intrepid charge, which / can also
prove by many eyewitncsscs and par
Elephants i'm that fight
'lt is true that General picketts stan
was not with him in the charge, but l.
as his courier, WAS with hlm through
out. His star was NJ some other point
but General Pickett was with his mcn
few feet in the rear OF the adVanc.n.
column, during the night. lie gave Iii
last command given on the Held i'm ne