Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-07


GETTYSBURG would never have been
fought General Lee had selected Cash
town as his chosen ground. should n
battle occur. He had ordered the con-
'ccrtration Of his army at Cashtown
The location at Cashtown was equally
as formidable as those held by the
e:emy at Gettysburg. Orders had been
previously given General Ewell to re-
call his divisions and to concentrate
about CaShtown. While en- route for
that point on the morning of Judy
/, General l:well learned that Gem
ernl lIlrs corps was moving towards
Gettysburg. and on arriving ut MIDI
dletown he turned the head of his col
umn In that direction When within
few miles OF the town. General Rodes.
whose division was in advance, was
made aware. by the sharp cannonadinS.
of the presence of the Yankees in
force at Gettysburg and caused i'm
mediate preparations for battle to be
made. ON reaching the scene of con-
nict, General Ecdcs made his DISPOSE
tons to Hssail the force with which
General Hilrs troops were engaged
but no sooner ware his lines formed
Than he perceived fresh troops of the
enemy extending their right flank and
deployins in his immediate front: with
this force lie was soon actively en-
gagged.
earnest Neither side sought or OK
pccted n General engagement. and yet.
brought thus unexpectedly in the pres
cnce Of each other found a conflict
The battle continued
with VARYING success. until perhaps :;
=. NJ. when Geurral Early. of E:wcll's
corps reached the field with his di-
visions. moved in on General Rodes
left and attacked the enemy with his
accustomed visor aud inpetuosity,
This decided the contest. The enemy s
wight gave way under General Early's
assault. General Tenders division, 81
Hills corps. had meanwhile been ad-
vauccd TO relieve that of Generals
IIeth and Hodes. observing the effect
Of General EarlN'S attack. ordered ms
line forward. There resulted gem
oral and Irresistible advance of our
entire line The enemy gave Wy AT
al points and Mere driven in '.IS 'rnrr
through ard bcACuG the town - Gel
,yshury leaving about 800" prison
IN .sur hands.
It was AZ THE Junction that hrst
felt sorry for the Yankees they would
run out in tho opening III front or the
town and would Try the hardest TO re-
form. when our artillery and infantry
would NOV them down as fast rs
they tried TO reform in line. General
Lee witnessed the flight of the enemy
through Gettysburg and up the mus
to General ESvcll 10 say to him
that from the position he occupied lie
could see tho enemy rcireatihS over
those hills without Organization ana
in great confusion, that II WAS Oily
necessary to press those people III
order To secure possession OF thosc
heights. and that if possible, he wished
him to do SO. have II from tho best
the order was delivered TO
General E.wcll but General Lees ORDER
was not carried into execution. zen
cral Ewclrs troops were not moved
forward. and the enemy proceeded TO
occupy and fortify the position which
II Was designed that General Ewell
should seize.
uWEiI. Is SHIELDED
ny MANY WRITER'S
I, does seem very strange that some
writers are disposed 10 shield Generai
Ewell for disobeyinG General Lees
order or the first day, under the pre-
text that he had orders not 20 bring
on an engagement Then on the al
tcruoon OF JULY |. General E.well went
in Oh General Heth's left, while Gen
oral Ileth's troops were holly engaged
with the enemy, and General Ewe!!
troops. with those of General tieth
routed the enemy and drove them bach
through and beyond the town or Get,
-vzhurc Here will state, General
Gordon. on General Ewclrs left stated
that his brigade was at the same time
pressing the cncmy's right, ana ntd
the enemy Nccing i'll great "lSor"e'
When he received orders from feherai
Fairly TO halt his brigade. General t'ot
don states further that General Early
s"rt him the fourth order To halt ne
for. ha cbcvcd So anxious was ne
to carry those heights III his front
which. he t;urdom stated. could nave
been done in less than half an h"ur
u nj
brigade.
Our brigade CTield's), with the bal
ance Of Heth's division from Cash
town arrived on the scene of action
and took position on General heth
right and to the right Of the town OF
Gettysburg, IN fun view or the oattle
then raging. But We had orders not
to bring on an engagement. but TO
hold our line our line OF battle was
formed on a considerably high ridge
and behind a tall rail fence. Whii.
living there a regiment OF the ehe!h?
came out OF body OF woods up inns
i,icline and halted. We could count
The stars IN their hatuehaS. Ihere
we were with our guns on the SECOND
rail from the bottom of this fence. ana
myers on the trigger, waiting Tor the
command to fire; but. for some unac-
countnhle reason. the Yankees right
about and marched back into lhe
woods In about an hour Thereafter
our brigade was ordered forward anu
over this fence. down the incline and
Into these woods. and drove them cine
/ Yankecs) 81 considerable distance to
the right Of the Town. In that charge
I General Reynolds, of The fanNee
army. was killed presumably In front
az our brigade This ends the first
days battle.
oh. for Stonewail Jackson at the
lfrst days battle Of Gettysburg There
would never have been any battles on
the second and third days. victory
and independence would have oeen
n,Ire J a CRADDOCK.
company @, Twenty second Battalion
Virginia Volunteer Infantry, tteid's
Brigade a g. itiirs Division.
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