The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1917-02-02
MONTANAN BARES
MYSTERY OF WAR
ORDER OF PICKETTvS CHARGE
OPPOSED BY GENERAL
LONGSTREET.

OOAxOkONlO
From Officer; Noted Confederate
Strategist Warned Lee Onslaught
Would Be Futile.
Has this chapter Of the civil war
ever been written?
F. Van Orsd-l OF Collins, near
Great Falls, took part in the battle
of Gettysburg and heard there, from
confederate prisoners, the inside of
Pickett's charge and why it failed.
Mr.. Van Orsdel, who is a pioneer
Montanan and a brother of "Bro-
Their Van" Orsdel, the noted Meth
odist divine, served in the 184th
Pennsylvania infantry. He was liv-
ing in Gettysburg at the time the
war broke out. So was Brother
Van,' by the way, the latter being a
barefoot boy, who wandered through
both lines during the great battle
and saw much Of the confederate
side of the fight. But it is with F.
Van Orsdel that this story deals
and with Pickett's charge.
You all know something Of the
famous onset. Lee had risen to his
zenith. The confederacy had put
forth its utmost power. The north
vas being invaded for the first time.
Could he prevail at Gettysburg?
Lee hoped to hold Washington, and
even New York at his mercy, and end
the war in 30 days.
Desperate Stroke Decided On.
But the federal army had with
stood his utmost attempts and as
1t was being reinforced hourly, a
desperate stroke was decided on. Lee
determined to sent Pickett, with his
V%irginians, the flower of the confed-
eracy, against the Yankee lines.
Van Orsdel heard the details of
the plan described by a confederate
staff officer, who was captured at
the close of the charge, and who
wept bitterly as he told of the defeat.
Lee, as the story was told by this
officer to Mr.. Van Orsdel, decided on
the charge against his war counsel.
Longstreet was particularly opposed.
It could never succeed, he told Lee;
he would sacrifice his men in vain.
Nevertheless, I must have n more
try at them" Lee is said to have re-
piled, and he told Longstreet to 80
and order Pickett to get his men
ready and make the charge.
Rebels at Lees Order.
IT will never give the order!"
Longstreet said, in this staff officers
hearing. "You are sending these men
to their death, without the shadow
of a chance"
But Lee vas obdurate, and Long
street, whom history now regards as
the great strategist of the war, had
no course but to obey. He went to
Pickett and told him what had
been determined upon. The briga-
der made no comment but pre-
pared to assemble his men.
At the appointed hour they were
drawn up in line, and Pickett briefly
explained to the officers what was
to be done. Longstreet sat by on a
great white horse. The line officers
having returned to their posts, Pic
kett saluted Longstreet. General,
the men are ready" he said, quietly.
Longstreet made N reply.
He bowed his head, and Pickett
took this as his order.
Longstreet had kept his word, he
had not actually ordered the Virgin
ians to charge.
Van Orsdel Witnessed Charge.
Van Orsdel was in the federal
trenches and saw the charge.
"The popular notion of the bat
tle," he sadi the other day. sis a
misconception. People who have
never been in a battle, picture a
charge as men running with bayou
cts stretched before them. It is al
ways that way in the moving pic
lures, I believe.
"There was nothing like that in
Pickett's charge. The Virginians
had to pass over al open space, three
quarters of a mile, during all OF
which they were exposed from a fire
of 200 of u guns, and part of il
to a double cross-fire. We knew
they yer coming and saw them the
moment they came over the brow O.
the hill. The men were in solid regi
ment formation, in three lines, will
a front Of 900 yards-and they came
at a slow walk. Our artillery begal
to play on them at once, but from
the top of the hill. Even through thu
smoke, we could see them, at inter
walls, very plainly; and never one
did they break from the slow walk
Their guns were carried at RICH
shoulder-shift and they had order
to hold their fire.
Never Had a Chance.
"It was awful. Men in tn
trenches all about were weeping
They never had a chance. Our can
non tore great gaps in their lines
the moment they appeared, an
when they came under the cross-fire
entire platoons disappeared at once
But they closed their lines as thong
on parade and marched calmly or
Pickett riding up and down the from
on a black horse, evidently talking t
his men.
Half of them were down befor
thew had come within musket rang;
and, anyway, the FEDERAL infantr
had orders not to fire until the con
mand was given. A miserable rem
nant reached the top Of the hill; on
infantry fired, there was a br'e
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