New-York tribune., 1922-07-04

GETTYSBURG, Pa. July 81 stood
to day in the observation tower on Get
tysburg field and saw Longstreets
thin gray lines stretched mile long
across summer wheat fields for the at
tack on Cemetery Hill.
The Confcderates moved across q
level field as on that other great day
marched against the heights where
was massed the Army Of the Potomac.
The battle was staged to-day with
marvellous accuracy IN every detail,
exactly as | have heard General Long
street describe it hundreds Of times.
AS tho Confederates moved to the
thunder of artillery, so realistic was
it, the tides of time rolled backward
and I stood in the living presence of
the South's audacious hope.
The hosts of the North and South
were struggling again in mortal COM
bat. Longstreet, Lees old war horse.
was in the saddle. felt the thrill Of
battle and heard the clash of steel.
| saw a dusty, footsore courier ap-
proach General Longstreet's head
quarters with a message from General
Alexander. in charge of the artillery
that was to support Pickett's charge.
"If you are coming at all, you must
come at once" the message reads, "or
| cannot give you proper support. The
enemy's fire has not slackened at all"
Too overcome for speech at prospect
of the useless slaughter of his men,
I "; To 10 n
who is waiting for orders.
81 Shall Move Forward Sir"
81 shall move my men forward, sir" y"
said Pickett. and drawing a letter from
his breast pocket addressed to young
girl who was waiting for him in the
distant Virginia valleys, he wrote
across the envelope: "lf Longstreet's
nod means death, sweetheart, goodby
and God bless YOU"
Thirty minutes later two-thlrds Of
Pickett's men lay dead in front of
Cemetery Hill. The battle of Gettys-
burg was lost and with it the Southern
cause.
But to-day Longstreets phantom
hosts again face the Army of the Po-
tomac on the heights beyond the Peach
Orchard field. Across the turbulent
years again is heard Longstreet's pas
sionatc protest against the hopeless
charge: General Lee. | have been n
soldier all my life. ! have been with
soldiers engaged in fights by couples,
by squads. companies, regiments, diNl-
sions and armies and should know as
we'll as any one what soldiers can do.
1t is my opinion that no $4,000 men
ever arrayed for battle can take Gene
terry HILL"
In reply General Lee orders Pickett's S
charge, saying, as he points to Gene
terry Hill: "The enemy is there and l
am going to strike him."
Pickett's glorious command marched
again to-day jauntily over the summer
fields of Pennsylvania toward heights
where waited the Army Of the Potomac
ard behind it the moral force of the
civilized world They marched in soft
rain as on that other July day when
the fate of the Southern republic
( hung in the balance. The very hcav-
ems wept, for heroes who must die for
a cause that had to be lost. Pickett's
boys moved joyously as if on festal
parade, their immorrai leader riding
at their head in gallant style.
Men Moved Down Like Grass
Past Longstreet's headquarters they
marched with lifted heads and SHINING
eyes. Many Of them had served with
him in Mexico and on the Western
plains. Through tear blurred eyes he
looked upon them for the last time in
life. They marched steadily and COM
pactly down the slope. AS they stub
bornly climbed the ridge, one hundred
cannon from the Federal brcastworks s
on the crest of the hill hurled down
upon the advancing gray columns
rain of canister, grape and shell, leaV-
ing a summer land drenched with the
blood of the nations strong men who
travelled that freedom might live.
grass, smilingly closed the columns to
Show the world how Southern men
could fight and die for principles for
which they were willing to pay the su-
preme price.
Falling like leaves under the thunder
of Federal cannon that swept Pennsyl-
vania's wheat fields, again and again
the ranks of Pickett's division were
closed by men determined to bear Dix
les battle flags to victory or die under
their sacred folds.
Pickett's men swept on as if the fires
of hell could not stop them, until half
way up the slope, when the crest Of
Cemetery Hill was lit by a solid sheet
of fame. as if the infantry ire of the
world blazed forth: "You shall not
pass!"
Saw Dixie's Colors Go Down
When the smoke cleared away Pick
cit s division was gone and the Con-
federate flag dropped toward its
furling on the Virginia hills.
Within the smoke of belching cannon
my pulses thrilled to the huzzas of the
victor and my heart wrestled with the
anguish of the vanquished as l saw
Dixie's colors go down at Confederate
highwater mark.
While men read history the tactics
of the Gettysburg campaign will be
discussed. Impartial critics have al
ready vindicated General Longstreet's
clearer vision in opposing the wreck
ing Of the Confederate cause on the
rocks Of Cemetery Hill.
With the vision that delighted the
soul of the sweet singer of Israel rest
ing like bcnediction over all our
country's fighting grounds, the decisive
battle of Americas Civil War was to-
day staged by the sons and grandsons
of the men who fought and won and
those who fought and lost on this field
Their sacrifice and valor is the common
heritage of the new and stronger Amer
l~A