Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-13
m HE death of Captain William
E. Miller. at Carlisle, this

week, recalls the story of his
achievement at Gettysburg where
he won undying fame and a Con-
gressional medal by disobeying or
ders. Opportunity came his way, he
seized 1t and became famous. Many
less decisive man would have
stuck to his orders and remained
blameless and obscure. Captain Mil
Ter risked his life and q court
martial and came out q hero. He
lived to be a member of the fiftieth
anniversary committee to arrange
for the celebration of the victory
he did so much to win. Indeed he
is said to have been responsible for
the Union triumph at Gettysburg.
This fact has been recognized by
Congress, but few historians have
apparently remembered it. The Ma
tional House of Representatives pre-
sented Captain Miller with a medal
for exceeding his ORDERS" as the
certificate states. This is the first
time in American history that q
soldier has been rewarded for dis
obedience, and the tactics Captain
Miller pursued on that critical third
day of the battle have been compli-
mented by Wagner, the famous tao
tician. He contrasts it with Cardi-
gan's policy at Balaklava, during
the charge of the Light Brigade
and Captain Miller's action changed
rules in European textbooks on tac-
tics.
In the battle of Gettysburg. the
task of defending the right of
Meade's army fell to General d.
Mem. Gregg, who had about 1000
men. Among these was the Third
Pennsylvania Cavalry, who were de-
ployed along the barb of the fish
hook and ordered to hold their po-
sitions in the woods at all hazards.
In command of one of these
squadrons was Captain William e.
Miller, then n boyish cavalry officer.
His command consisted of four
nominal companies, but did not
number more than eighty effective
men. Captain Miller's orders, like
those of other officers on that barb,
were not to leave his position, for
it was highly important thai no
part of the Confederate cavalry be
permitted to break through and get
at the wagon trains and the rear Of
the center, which was defending
Cemetery Ridge.
Opposite to General Gregg was
General ]. e. B. Stuart, who, after
shelling Carlisle, had hurried to join
the main body of Lees army about
Gettysburg. A happy chance
brought Custer from the extreme
left of the line to the extreme right,
and he was placed by Gregg on the
battle front.
The great artillery duel with
which the third days battle opened
on the center and left had it's echo
on the right
Ammunition of some of the regi-
ments giving out, the whole line
was driven back to some extent.
Fitzhugh Lee, seeing his oppor-
tunity, ordered a charge by his
cavalry. The Seventh Michigan,
which had been somewhat out of
the fight, moved forward to meet
the attack of Lees Virginians. The
regiments met face to face, only q
fence separating them.
The usefulness of the squadrons
deployed in the woods now became
evident. They opened a flank fire
on the Virginians. These were
halted for a time. but the First
North Carolina Cavalry and the Jeff
Davis Legion coming up they swept
the Seventh Michigan back.
However, the enfilading fire from
the woods, in which Miller's men
were very active, was too much for
the gallant Virginians, and, after q
desperate effort to hold their
ground, they were driven back on
their original position.
And now it was that the supreme
moment came to Gettysburg, the
crisis which balanced not only the
issue of that battle, but the fate of
the Nation.
The grand charge of Pickett's di-
vision on the center of the Union
line was but part of the plan to cut
Meade's army in two and annihilate
it in sections The spectacular as
sault on Cemetery Ridge has al
ways engaged the ina gination.
The charge of Pickett was launch
ed at a preconcerted signal. which
was also an order for Stuart to
charge on the extreme Union right.
the point of the fish hook.
BY breaking through or turning
the Union right. Stuart would have
had the ammunition trains at hia
mercy, and would have been di-
rectly in the rear of the defenders
of Cemetery Ridge.
Miller's squadron was still de-
ployed in the woods, with orders NOT
to move out of the position. Can
tain Miller had n full view of the
advancing enemy.
Stuart's men outnumbered any
force that Gregg could bring to op-