Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-14
tOr
,.aigIis
,shtng OF this letter |
ross the reader with these

allure To push the advantage
led oil the first day at Gettysburg
j&o secure possession OF the heights
Eid the town as a lost opportunity.
ptuting one oc tho pivotal points
gid which tho fortunes Of the Con-
Tracy seemed to turn when hope
HucceSs was highest, feel that II
In be unjust To General Ewcll TO
III tho reader to draw from my
OF that incident an unfavorable
lknce as to the estimation in which
What gallant soldier and gentle
Ills record Is glorious one. He
ia ant service in all OF the bat
iiN<he Army OF Northern Virginia.
fhSSoops bivoCackcd in the posi-
iV IMPLIED AT the close OF the
ne frst day. and. the enemy
Nrcatcd - the range OF hills
Gettysburg, proceeded to pro-
nselves with hastily construct
tworks. extending their line
alouE Cemetery hin. Such
%. >ondition Of affairs at the
the evening OF the FIRST day.
.vailing idea with General
% press forward without de-
olow up promptly and Wig
ne advantage already gained.
iiicd to reap the full fruit OF
ry before night, his mind was
with the idea Of rene wing the
Don the enemy with the da ~ n
in tho sccond.
visions OF Generals Early and
Of General Ewclrs Corps. aud
Heth and Pendcr. of Cen
IS Corps, had been heavily en-
id had sustained serious loss,
still in excellent condition
ic fun enjoyment OF the pres
success ana a consequent ella
Ipirit IN having so Eallantly
lie enemy from their front
*. the town of Gettysburg and
.icd him 10 seek refuge behind
iieirhts beyond.
Q division Of Major General Ed
Johnson. OF General Ewells Corps.
perfectly fresh not having been
aged AatnrGcneral Henderson's
lsion Of General a. p. Hits Corps
also now up With this force
neral Lee thought that the enemy's
aition could be assailcd with every
aspect OF success, hut after a con
ence during the night with the
ps and division commanders. who
resented that In their Judgment. II
Id be hazardous to attempt to storm
strong position occupied by the
ny with troops somewhat tagged by
marching and lighting OF that day.
the ground III this immediate
1T furnished greater obstacles TO Il
cccEsful assault than would be en-
untcred on tho enemy's left flank
I'd That II could be reasona bly, CON
led. since they had so severely
He'd tho enemy is their front: that
would concentrate and fortify with
ecial reference TO resisting fur
er advance just there he Welded to
CIR views and determined 10 make
main attack on tho cnemy's left,
IlginS the hope that General Long
cts Corps would be up in time to
n the movement at an early hour
he second day.
ERtL ENE:I.I TOLD no HE
READY TO COOPERATE:
General Lee instructed General EwclI
be prepared TO cooperate by a Sim
taneous advance By his corps
sh TO call attention OF the reader
the manner in which General Lees
rps and division commanders shifted
"ork they should have done them
yes on ~ carly morning Of the
iond on General Longstreet and his
rps. when General Longstrce, and his
rps were four miles distant from
ettysburg
General McLaws Division reached
Fsh creek. four miles from Gettys-
f!s' niue after dark Of July !
fherai Hoods Division got within
arly the same distance Of III. town
tout IL o'clock at night
mere IN a great conflict Of testimony
RardinS the time when General
lhsstreets troops reached the SCENE
action on July .. Now, dear reader
mere again there was ATajor-Gen,
~ Edward Johnson's Division OF Ccn.
~ r'welis corps perfectly fresh, also
HJor -,'cnera AndeTson's Division of
cneral HIS Corps was up. and fresh
fneral Ewell and A. p. Hill, enr
evening before. Again note. He
ere Genera Longstreet's two divisions
a'chihs' presume. ali day July I. and
not go INTO camp until after darl,
al IL o'clock the night of the 1s,
we're expected TO march al an
riE hour' so as TO be on the frbtinr
q. sunrise Now. dear reader. vo,,
ny July which OF the troops were
90. "Shtins trim on the morn
OF July at sunrise. EwcII.e ga
us already on the fighting linz on"
herai Longstrcet's. which =,
H'eheu -FOUR miles that morpipr -,
VI" INC lEhtinE line AT sunrisn
am hrmly of the opinion tb,t 90
Lonsstreet was fully ACQUAINTED
vi tne condition OF affairs at Gettvs
l,e me evening OF July I..knowin,.
~, MI "eiI mat those heights beyond the
nave been falan
enerai Lee had witnessed Tho 1i.sr -.
me enemy through Gettysbure snI
I've mis- beyond the evening he
're. He directed one OF his trns, -
as 10 SO to General Ewell and ssr
HIM that. from the position wb;c,
occupied. he could see the cram
'ating over those hills. witho,,t
1zation and in great confusion.
was only necessary to nress
70
ie height. and that, II nos
shed him to do this.
Union the hardness OF Cen
eet OH the morning of
on General EweIi NOT
General Lees order :re
7 ], and because he did
sacrifice the lives of
the greater po1t ton Of
be spectators
fte that our command,
s Division. was on the
Evn of Gettysburg on
July 2. and had orders
tght before that n
tR would be made on the
,orks in our front
g. laid there in line of bat
moon in great suspense.
s minute to be called on
the enemy's works and
or brigade was not
take any mart i'm the