Gilpin observer., 1917-10-18


turning point of the American Civil
war. The war did indeed continue
for two years more, but it was Gettys-
burg which broke the military power
Of the South; which decided that the
United States of America should en-
dure. the united country Of a free
people. Gettysburg was "the high
tide Of the Confederacy."
Gettysburg lies in Pennsylvania,
about thirty-fve miles southwest of
Harrisburg. A sleepy. unimportant
Pennsylvania village, it possessed no
strategic Importance and but for ac-
cident probably never would have
served as the theater Of the greatest
battle of our Civil conflict. Lee, d.
recting his great invasion Of the North.
planned concentration Of his forces
there. The ragged men Of A. P. Hills
advance Confederate corps-inspired
it is said by the hope of obtaining
shoes-pushed hurriedly into the ham,
let and thereupon became involved in
a spirited battle with Buford's Fed
eral cavalry division. Reynolds, COM
ing up with an infantry corps to sup
port Buford, met his death on the
field. but nightfall of the first found
the Union forces holding the line on
the Cemetery Hill position. They had
been pushed back by superior numbers
and cut up severely, particularly in a
fierce attack led by the redoubtable
Jubal Early. with Ewells corps. Still
they maintained formidable position
upon which Meade, the newly appoint
ed Federal commander, decided to
make his stand. Three more corps
were moved up during the night, while
Lee got his whole army into position.
Thanks to misunderstanding be-
tween Lee and Longstreet, who was
to attack the Federal left, the attack
on the morning Of the second, like Ma
poleon's attack at Waterloo, was long
delayed. This gave the Northern army
time to get into position on horse
shoe ridge, having its right on Culp's
hill. Longstreet's assault when 1t did
come, however, came with a desper-
ate fury productive Of some terrific
fighting. Frightful was the slaugh-
ter in the Peach Orchard, where
Gen. Dan Sickles holding an ad-
vanced Federal position. misunderstood
or disobeyed an order to withdraw and
saw his men go down like ten pins,
while he himself lost leg.
In the meantime the commanding
positions of Round Top and Little
Round Top remained by some strange
oversight unoccupied. Their posses
sion might have been obtained by the
Confederates and might have spelled
for them victory had not the error
been discovered by Gen. G. X. War
rem. Meade's engineer officer. Per-
ceiving these crests to be occupied
only by signalers and realizing their
tremendous possibilities Warren hast
lily diverted some Maine regiments
who scrambled to the tops and there
found themselves almost instantly en-
gagged with eagerly advancing Southern
columns. The struggle here was des-
perate. but In the end the Maine men
prevailed.
However Longstreet and Hill actual
ly broke through the main line of the
Third Federal corps, though because
they were not properly supported the
brigades which achieved this feat were
soon driven out again. Ewell swept
over Culp's hill, where the defending
force had been much reduced, but
Early's attempt to storm Cemetery
hill was repulsed.
With the coming Of night Meade
found that with his line no longer u
horseshoe. but prolonged to the left,
he stood in danger of having both his
fanks turned. In council with his corps
commanders he encountered serious
discussion Of retreat, but since Lee
had gained no commanding success
and since the necessities OF the hour
were most serious. he decided in fa-
vor Of continuing the fighting. He had
the advantage Of Lee In numbers and
he had confidence in the steadiness of
his men. Upon this superiority in
force is based the amusing story of
the Confederate scout, related at the
reunion In 1913. He declared that
creeping to the Federal camp In the
darkness. he discovered that "the
Yanks had all creation" since he dis
tnctly heard the commando:
"Universe attention. Continents
fall inl By nations. right wheelw
Also In the night Lee changed his
plan. Deciding that Longstreet should
not press his attack over the broken
ground. he directed that Ewell should
resume his hammering of Meade's ex-
treme right while the overwhelming
blow should be delivered by an at
tack on the center, comparable with
the charge of the Guard at Waterloo.
For this duty there were assigned the
troops Of Pickett's fresh and splendid
Virginia division, which constituted |
part Of Longstreet's corps. Long
street himself never believed this |
charge could have a chance Of sue
cess. Between him and Lee there was |
ever afterward bitterness. But as for |