Evening star., 1938-07-01
GUNS Of SOUTH
0PENGETTYSBURG
Widow of Gen. Longstreet
Describes First Days
Fighting.
BY HELEN DoRTCH LONGsTREET,
Widow Of the Confederate General.


Widow Of the Confederate General.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA, GETTYS-
BURG BATTLEFTELD, July 1.-The
tides Of time have turned backward
to July /, 1863. when the hopes and
fears Of an embattled nation centered
about the hills of little Pennsylvania
town. The hitherto invincible Army
Of Northern Virginia had arrived at
Gettysburg to test on Union soil the
strength to endure, Of . nation con-
ceived in liberty" and dedicated to
the cause of men.
In his tent the evening before, Gen
Buford, who commanded the Federal
cavalry on the field of Gettysburg.
said to Gen. Devin, who had expressed
doubts about q Confederate attack
the next day:
REST assured that the enemy will
attack us in the morning. Their skir-
mishers will come laundering along,
several lines deep, and we shall have
to fight like devils to maintain our
selves until the arrival of the infantry"
True to Buford's prediction, at day
light. the next morning. Confederate
Ndettes, approaching on the road be-
yond Willoughby Run, fired on Corpl.
Hodges of the 9th New York Cavalry,
holding picket line on Chambersburg
pike. The fire was promptly returned,
the first shots of this momentous
battle. At 8 o'clock the real fighting
began. when Confederate cannon,
posted on ridge west of Willoughby
Run. sent the opening volley. which
was answered from q Federal battery
attached to Bufords Division, posted
near Chambersburg pike.
Heth Saved by Newspaper.
Archers and Davis brigades Of
Heth's division led the Confederate
advance. As Gen. Heth ordered his
division into battle, a minnie ball
struck him on the head, rendering him
unconscious for 80 hours. But for a
folded newspaper inside the band of
his too-large hat, the wound would
have been fatal.
Buford's cavalry fought furiously,
killing and wounding 2.700 of Heth's
men in less than Is minutes.
Candles small brigade of / 800 men
fought the Confederates dismounted
When 1t seemed that the Federals
had reached the limit of human en-
dprance after an hour Of fierce battle
against odds, they caught sight of
the corps nag of Gen. Reynolds, COM
manding the right wing of the Union
Army. approaching on the Emmitts-
burg road. Galloping to the field with
his staff, Reynolds shouted to Buford:
What's the matter, John?"
The DEVILS to pay" was the grim
response
Seeing the need for reinforcements
Reynolds galloped back to hurry for
ward the lst Corps and send word to
Gen. Howard to bring up the 18th
Corps to Buford's relief
Reynolds Is Killed.
At 10 O'Clock, marching in double
quick. led by Gen. Reynolds, the lst
Corps arrived to relieve Butord. While
CALAMITY leading the 10th Indiana,
Reynolds fell, dying instantly.
At q crisis in the battle at the rail-
road cut. when it was going against
the Federals, who had already suf-
fered heavy losses, the brilliant charge
OF the 9Th Wisconsin Regiment, SUP
ported by the 147th New York and
the 14th Brooklyn Regiments, drove
the Confederates from the cut.
Gen. Abner Doubleday assumed
command after the death Of Gen.
Reynolds and shortly thereafter the
skirmish ceased
Three hours later Heth's and Pen
der's divisions of Hills corps advanced
to attack the Union line on the left,
and Gen. Howard, with the 11th Corps,
on the right, who by right Of seniority
assumed command of the battle.
Ewells corps moved from the north
to the support of Hills two divisions,
Rcdes' on the Carlisle and Early's on
the Heidelersburg roads.
The Confederate I'd and Sd Corps
moved to close in on the Federals.
Gen. Sickles, commanding the Sd
Corps Of the Federal Army, and Gen.
slocum the 18th. responded in double
quick to Howard's call for aid.
From Oak Hill, Confederate guns
opened fire. enfilading the entire line
Of both Federal corps.
Gen. Barlow Wounded.
Gen. Barlow, who seized the Hillocx
on Rock Creek, from which he was
dislodged, in an obstinate battle with
Early's infantry and Jones' artillery
was desperately wounded.
Gen. Longstreet. with his staff
Joined Lee and Hill late in the after
noon, in time to witness the complete
rout of the Federals.
From their elevation on Seminary
Ridge. the three Confederate generals
could see the Federals retreatine
across the opposite ridge The Con-
federates in close pursuit, filled the al,
with rebel yells.
News Of the desperate fighting
reached Meade's headquarters al
Taneytown. Gen. Winfield s. Han.
cock was rushed to Gettysburgh tc
lake COIuIIlallO, anu McdQe gave OTOerS
for all the absent corps of the Army
Of the Potomac to proceed by forced
marches to concentrate the entire
Army at Gettysburg
Veterans RekindIe Memories.
Confederate and Union veterans
pouring in to this historic little Penn.
sylvania town for re-enactment oi
the battle scenes of IS years ago, have
stirred increased devotion to our fret
institutions in rekindling memories o.
great days when Americans paid &
great price for the Nation that sur.
vived the decree Of Appomattox.
Gen. O. r. Gillette. a 92-year -olt
Conferedate from Shreveport, La, wa,
among the earliest arrivals.
Il was with Longstreet at Bull Run,
he proudly announced. I'VE gave tn.
Yankees hell there and we alway'
gave them hell when Longstreet wa.
along. The old war horse drov,