Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WAR STORIES. Some Personal [Recollection? of Oettysburg by One of General Longstreet'? Couriers. A (lauta Journal. of Tho Journal of ? bcrsburg, that is, on thc Virginia side. In going back 1 had to pass through thc column of Hood's and McLaws' Tn the issue March 30, 1001, Mr. Robert ll. Hemp hill, of Abbeville, S. C., flay?: "Pick ett's loss at Gettysburg baa been ! divisions greeting my loved comrades greatly exaggerated and for nearly 38 j of the glorious Tenth Georgia regi years tho fancy story of his 'sacrifice' j merit. Soon afterward I meta part of has been written up in glowing words Ewell's corps coming in from thc di until many persons believe that Pick- i rcction of Carlisle. Passing through ctt did all tho fighting at Gcttys- | theso troops greatly retarded my pro burg." j greBs, but I was well mounted, and af Mr. Hem phill also gives thc official ter getting olear of them, J. made fine losses of the various division* of Gen- ;;pccd, and roached General Pickett oral Lee's army, as shown io the ofli- j just at sundown. He appeared un cial records, and of course they must I easy, and was evidently expecting or be taken as correct. These official j ders. When I delivered my verbal figures show that Pickett's loss at message, he called for his own cour Gottysburg was less than thal uf any . ?ors immediately and sent them flying other division of thc army except liar- ! to his different brigades. lu less than ly's and R ll. Anderson's. ? an hour, his division was on the road Now I do not recall any "fancy j to Gettysburg. It was dark when I stories" of Pickett's famous charge j passed through Chanibcrsburg on my whuh intimate even by iufcreucc "that i return, and as I had been in thc sad Pjckett did all the fighting at Gettys burg." Neither do I believe Mr. Hemphill intended to detract oe iota from Pickett's brilliant and glorious charge at Gettysburg, in which he won undying fame, and the admiration and plaudits of the civilized world in the short space of an hour. Rut, if left to Btand as it is, without some expla nation as to how much fighting he did and thc conditions and circumstances surrounding it, or leading up to his magnificent charge, I believo it would certainly have that effect. I aui not criticising Mr. Ilcmphill's let ter adversely or writing from any standpoint or motive, whatever, other thau the "truth of history" and sim ple justice to all concerned. Now let us sec what thc conditions and circumstances were. I'p to Get tysburg General Pickett had done no fighting during that year except, per haps, some little skirmishing. When thc battle of Chancellorsville (inclua ing Salem Church and Fredcriok.sbu g) was fought Pickett's and Hood's di visions were with General Longstreet at Suffolk, Va. After that most de cisivo battle of thc war was fought and won General Longstreet was ordered back to Frcderioksburg and reunited with thc main army. Thc army rested and recruited there for some weeks and thon started for Pennsylvania. Pickett's division was composed en tirely of Virginians. They w*?e all near their own homes and the division was easily recruited and equipped. Consequently, when Genoral Lee en tered Pennsylvania Pickett had one of the largest and best equipped divis ions in the army. When General Leo had reached Chambersburg a halt was made for several days. General Longstreet re mained there; General Ewell moved further on toward Carlisle and General Hill moved up toward Gettysburg. This disposition of the army placed it in a sort of triangular shape, with each of the threo corps resting about twenty miles apart, on the base and side lines of the triangle. General J. E. B. Stuart, with the cavalry, was scouting somewhere in thc direction of Washington, and for several days was "lost," so far as his whereabouts was known to General Lee or the army was concerned. Gen eral Longstreet's corps was encamped around Chambersburg, I think, for a week or more, and Genoral Lee's headquarters were located but a few hundred yards from General Long street's, as they were nearly always close together. One evening late scout for General Longstreet, named Harrison, I think, galloped up to bis headquarters and reported that Gen eral Meade's army was coming rapidly from Washington. General Long street reported the matter to General Lee at once when he sent notice of th same to Ewell and Hill. General Longstreet moved up to Grcencastlc about half way between Chambers burg and Gettysburg tho next day an camped for thc night with Hood's nn McLaws' divisions. The next day be moved ou to Gettysburg. That was thc fir?t day of July. About 2:30 or 3 o' .ock in the afternoon General Longstreet waa riding along some dis tance in advance of the head of th column, and on reaching the summit of a Blight elevation, Gettysburg came in plain view, as we were not far from the Emmctsburg road, which came in at right angles to the pike wo were on from Chambersburg. A Blight halt was made, and after a brief conferonce with thc staff Col. G. M. Sorrell, thc adjutant general, turned to me and directed me to go back to Chambersburg and tell General Pick ett to move np his division to Gettys burg at once. Fighting was then in progress between portions of Ewell's nd A. P. Hill's corps, and the feder . advance. Thc rattle of musketry was nretty lively and was distinctly beam where we were. Th?\'. must have been about 3 o'ciook in the after noon nf July 1. General Pickett was etih .u camp two miles beyond Cham die siucc early in the morning, and my horse having had neither rest nor food, 1 stopped at a farm house and procured some corn for him and when I came to a strip of woods-, I turned into it, unsaddled my horse, and fed him on tho ground. I lay down on thc ground by him and rested until Pickett's tuen had passed. It has been sometimes said that General Longstreet was tardy in get ting on thc field and into position at Gettysburg, but I have never been able to understand what could have given rise to such an unjust and false harge as that. When I reached cadquartcrs on my return from Cham bersburg it was between 7 and 8 'clock on tho morning of July 2. encrai Longstreet was at thc front. As soou as I could feed my torso and got some breakfast I hurried to him at tho front. When I found him it waB probably'J o'clock. From that time on through thc day I was with him continuously and eau testify of my wn personal knowledge that he work d harder to get a good linc and get is men on it promptly than I ever new him to have done on any other attle?eld. Any delay can never be UBtly charged to General Longstreet. Ho was especially alert and activo at Gettysburg and grew impatient and angry at any slowness on tho part of his subordinates. When the lino was established Pickett's division had arrived in sup porting distance, but was held in re serve, and did not take part in the fighting on that (the second) day. When the line of battle was ready to move forward the men were lying down resting, and General Longstreet rode along in rear of the entire lino to seo if everything was in good shape and ready for the advance. Being satisfied with tho situation, ho rode down into a little ravine, dismounted, waiked up to the lino, ordered the men up, and placing himself at the head of thc Twenty-fourth Georgia regiment, gavo the ordor to advance. The lino being near the crust of the elevation, a moment's forward move ment brought tho men into plain viow of the enemy, in their strong position on the opposite ring, and tho two "Round Tops." AB soon as our linc becamo exposed to thc view of the enemy, it was met by a most furious and terrific storm of shot and shell and our men were swept down like grass before thc scythe. But tho line rushed forward across the open field, and the advance linc of tho enemy was swept hack, and melted away like snow in the warm sunshine. General Longstreet went in on foot, and fob lowed thc line of battle to tho red brick house, where a slight halt was made. When ho started in ho had loft thc staff for the moment behind thc crest of thc bill, but as soon as thc battlo opened, they knowing that he might bc killed in thc charge, or would need their services, with one accord, mounted their horses, and gal loped across tho field to him in the face of that terrific fire. When wo reached him, he was at thc corner of the peach orchard. Some ono had brought his horse to him, and as l.e mounted he directed mc to go back and tell General Pcndloton, who was in command of tho reserve artillery, to bring up at once overy pieco of ar tillery he had. As I hurried back, under that awful fire, I passed by one of our batteries which had been post ed on thc crest of thc bill wc had start ed from, saw that every man and horse bad been killed or wounded ozoept a lieutenant and ono private, and they wcro working heroically, trying to fire one gun. Hurrying on, I found Gen eral Pendleton, about one milo in the rear, sitting quietly on his horse at the head of an artillery battalion, awaiting orders. I delivered my mes sage quickly, and ho at onco moved forward io tho front. When I return ed to the front I found General Long street considerably in advanoe of tho briok house, where I had loft him. The firing had now coated, and our ?f??.? -... i t j .?CV !?.. &i 1 wsSt?w ?. vfii v part of thc lino was iu a dead quiet. Tho battlefield was strewn with thc killed and wounded, and everything had thc appearance of a cyclone hav ing passed over it. We had passed considerably beyond thc linc first oc cupied by thc federals, and many prisoners were taken. Just beyond the red brick house a regiment of Zouaves had been posted, and the ground was thickly strewn with their dead. I think their organization was entirely destroyed, as I never saw them after that. There was no more fighting that day, as both armies were badly crip pled, and had lost heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners. Next morning General Longstreet rode to the front carly and was met by General Lee and the other general of ficers of thc army. A consultation was held and the situation fully dis cussed. The question was as to what was best to be done, whether to renew thc fighting or not. I think they wero nearly or quito all opposed to thc renewal of the fight, except General Lee. He felt that he could not hon orably and consistently retire from tho field under the circumstances without a further effort to crush thc federal army. 1 am sure he was vcrj strongly opposed in that position bi his generals. Hut his wish and judg ment was the law of the army and h( insisted that thc battle must be renew cd and preparation for its renewal wai ordered commerced once. Genera Lee graciously and generously assum ing all the responsibility of tho possi ble result. All the artillery of thc I army was then ordered massed in at I secure positions as possible along tin frout und the ammunition inspected and made ready. It was evident thc enemy was preparing to meet whatcve movement was made by General Lee When everything was in readiness i signal gun was to be fired, which wa to open the greatest artillery duel eve fought on this continent, or pcrhap iu the world. When tho artiller; duel was over, then an infantry assaul was to bo rushed upon the center o tho enemy's line. General Pickett' division, which had not fired a gun u to that time, was selected to load thu assault in conjunction with Ile th' division, supported by Lane's an Scale's brigades, of Pender's division and Wilcox's brigade, of Andersen' division. Pickett's men were in fin condition for the terrible work befor them. The ranks were full, and th men well equipped. In fact, it wa perhaps the f'meut division in the ai my. When they were drawn up i line of battle, under cover beforo th signal gun was fired to open thc grec artillery conflict, they certainly pr< sented a grand appearance. Genen Piokett, as he proudly rode up an down in front of his men, mounted o his fino black horse with his own loni blaok hair flowing baok upon h: shoulders, appeared a veritable cai alier at the head of his invinoibl clans. But all this was soon to t changed, and shorn of its marti grandeur. At last the boom of tl signal gun sounded along the line, ac then th? 150 pieoes belohed forth the dreadful thunder and the air wi quiokly filled with exploding Bhel and shrieking solid shot. The enou was ready and replied promptly ai vigorously. The earth fairly trci bled under the recoil, and the greate artillery battle of modern times w on. It is impossible, at this late da to describe it, though tho memory it still lingers vividly in thc min and will cvor remain fresh so long life shall last. Tho terrific fire of t 250 pieces of artillery was grandly a ful, and the roar is said to have be heard at Staunton, Va., 130 mil away. When it was over, whioh * probably two hours from the sta General Piokett was ordered to mo forward with a rush. His line mov out from eover and was soon in ph view of the enemy. Their whole ? was now concentrated upon him, 1 his men moved steadily and rapii forward. They had to cross an oj space of three-quarters of a milo, x der the most galling fire of tho cnt federal army in range of them. T onward they swept invineiblo wita i petuosity and the steadiness of a dr parado. As tho men fell dead wounded thc ranks wcro closed up : still pressed onward with wondei preoision and gallantry. I was on elevation where I could sec tho cm line as it swept across the open, i I am sure I nover saw it surpassed bravery upon any battlefield of war. There was noithor lagging hesitation, but tho brigades moved ward steadily and rapidly. At tho federal position was reached, w there was a sudden mixing of tho . lines. Tho federals were pr?t back, many of the Confederates y killed some distance inside the fed lines. Reinforcements wcro rushe by tho enemy from every direot All of General Pickett's supports not roach the line in time to om him to withstand tho onslaught i was made upon him, and having heavily ic theoharge upon thoenei position the Confederates \ compelled to retire, being badly ot pieces. It will thus be Been that Gee Piokett fought scarcely an hom Gettysburg, while some of the o divisions of thc anny were engaged in thc throe days' lighting, and all of them ou the second and third days. Tho fighting everyday was heavy, and 1 think this will fully explain why General Pickett's loss in killed and wounded was not as large as that of some of the other divisions. While it is true General Pickett was only en gaged in the fight for a few minutes on the last day of thc fighting, yet in those few minutes he won not only immortal fame and glory, but the ad miration of the world for his gallan try. Now I have written no "fancy words" io describing General Pickett'* part in tho battle of Gettysburg, but have simply endeavored to do him and General Longstreet and their bravo men even justice. The battle of Gettysburg was the greatest battle of the war, and I am sure will be so reeognized by the im partial historian of the future, and Pickett's gallant and brave charge waB perhaps the acme of the crowning glory to thc Confederate arms on that great battlefield. J. W. ANDERSON. Jefferson Davis in History. There is perhaps nothing so note worthy, and to Americans of the Southern States there is n>thing so gratifying, in thc recent historical and semi-historical criticism of leaders in the war between tho States as is the manner in which the life and charac ter of Jefferson Davis yearly wins fair er and fuller recognition from writers at the North. That Mr. Davis is at length receiving justice from persons who opposed him in Congress and fought his Government on the battle field is illustrated by an article print ed in tho Times-Democrat of last Sun day and written by Col. Alexander S. McClure, who was an intimate friend of President Lincoln's and for years the close personal and politisai advis er of leaders successful not only in Pennsylvania, but also in the Nation. In criticising Mr. Davis's character, manner and abilities Col. McClure writes : "Mr. Davis was a man of forceful intellect, a great student and one of tho ablest debaters in the National councils. He had thc courage of his convictions and was scrupulously hon est alike in public and private life. He believed in the right of secession and maintained it on all suitable occa sions. He always disavowed disunion until after thc election of Lincoln, when he took position in the front rank of those who advocated the dis membership of the Republic. He was respected by all his [associates in pub lic life because of the sincerity that guided him in his expressions and ac tions. He was grave and dignified to a degree approaching austerity, but was always one of the most courteous of gentlemen." It is almost impossible for anyone who has ever lived at the North to read these words of Col. McCluro's and not understand what a tremend ous revolution in publio sentiment has swept over the Northern States in the last score of years regarding the plaoe whioh Southern leaders, and especial ly Jefferson Davis, should be given in history. Time, the wisest of all his torians, is at length drawing the pic ture of our civil war in clear and per j feet perspective, and in thc grouping < of the great men who played parts in ' the awful tragedy the figure of Jeffer son Davis is showing in the foreground with distinct and commanding dignity. -Arew Orleans Democrat. Prophetic Punishment. A man is more likely to remember what he sees than what he hears. The Magazine of Amorioan History tells how General Scott taught temperance to his soldiers by an impressive objeot lesson. When thc cholera broke out in his camp, at Rock Island, he gave various orders of a preventive nature and then continued: In addition to the foregoing, the senior surgeon present recommends the uso of flannol underclothing and wool en stockings; but the commanding general, who has seen much of the disease, knows that it is intemper ance which, in the present state of the atmosphere, generates and spreads the calamity, and that, when onco spread, good and temperate men aro likely to take infection. "Uo therefore peremptorily com mands- that every soldier or ranger who sh .11 be found drunk or sensibly intoxicated after tho publication of this orde* be compelled, as soon as his strength will permit, to dig a grave at a suitable b irying plaoe, large enough for his own reception, as such grave canot fail soon to be wanted for the drunken man himself, or some drunk en companion. Tho order is given as well to serve for the punishment of drunkenness as to spare good and temperate men the labor of digging graves for their worthless compan ions." . _ _ 7 ? - A political patriot is a man who loves his country for what he oan make out of it. - An old baohelor says the average woman exaggerates except when she's talking about her own age. In a Frontier Saloon. A stripling of efiiminate rosiness and neat attire sat in the corner of a frontier saloon, modest, silent, and an far out of the "xzy ss he cov?d set. He had stepped from the ?cain and was waiting for the stage. It was starohed linen that he wore; the city showed quite plainly in his hat and it is still in dispute whether any down was visible upon his lip. But he wat old enough to be smoking a cigar with all the appearance of habit. The oigar, also, was not a native o?- tho town. In fact, the youog man made nu purohase upon entering.the saloon, nevertheless the proprietor could scarcely complain of him. The stranger had asked if he might wait there for the stage and thanked the proprietor for his permission. Then ho had sought his quiet cor ner and lighted his oigar. ? citizen walked out of the baok room and up to the bar. He had left a faro game and tho proprietor was friendly with him, but respectful, that sort of respect which is Savored del icately with just enough familiarity to bring it out. It is probable that the citizen had had more drinks than the ono he now took. It is also likely that faro had not gone as well with him this morning as he considered his due. His dissatisfied eye fell upon the rosy youth and his cigar, and he took the glass from his lips and held it, considering the stranger. At length, without removing his eyes, he inquired: "What Christin,.? tree did that drop off?" _ The proprietor hastened to take this view. ''Its express tag has fluttered away, I guess," ho whispered, jocose ly. The citizen remembered his whis key, swallowed it, set the glass gently down, gently drew his six-shooter and shot the cigar to smash out of the young man's mouth. Now, I do not at all know what I should havo done in the youog man's place. Something sensible, I hope. What the youth did I know I should not have done. You will see that his behavior was out of the common. He stooped down, picked up his cigar, found it ruined, put it in the spit toon, got a fresh one out of his pock et, found a match in his waistcoat, slid it along the seat of his nice breeches, lighted the new oigar, and settled himself once more in his chair, without a word of protest or an at tempt at resentment. The proprietor saw him do it all and told about it afterward. The citizen took the second oigar, smash! like the first. Perhaps he went a trifle nearer the youth's lip. What were the oard players in the back room doing at all this noise? They all lay flat on the floor, like the well-trained indigenous people that they were, minding their own busi ness. For there was no rear exit'. The youth felt in his waistcoat pocket, but brought no matoh from it. So ho rose with still another fi < lh cigar in his hand and walked to tho bar. "I'll have to ask you for a matoh," he said to the proprietor, who at once accommodated him. Once again he slid the match be neath his coat tails, .and, bringing out his own six-shooter, shot the citizen as instantly dead as that can be done. - Owen Witter, in Everybody s Maga zine. . - ? >? m - - A Missouri girl was thunderstruck when she learned of her beau's mar riage to another girl, but recovered shortly after and eloped with a light ning-rod peddler. - A man wants everything he can get and a woman wants everything she can't get. - The best thing to do in a hurry ; is nothing. Recently there have been several cases of prominent men suddenly falling in collapse just after eating a hearty meal. These men have all been under treat ment for gastric "trouble," and yet the result shows that the treatment they had received had smothered the symptoms but had sot retarded the progress of the disease. There is a real danger in the use of palliatives when there is-disease of the stomach and its. allied organs of diges tion and nutrition. The diseass in such cases gees on, while the distressing symptoms alone are stopped. Presently, like a smothered fire, the disease I breaks out in new places, in-, volving heart, lungs, liver, kid I neys, or- some other organ. The use of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discov ery remits in a radical cure of diseases of. the stomach and oth er organs of di gestion and nutrition. It cures diseases of heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc., when the di-case of these organs has its origin in the diseased condition of the stomach and digestive and nutritive system. ?X will tell you what myself and f?trily think of your medicine," write? Mr. M. M. Ward well, of renwood, leavenworth Co., Kansas. "It will do all you say, and more. I was taken sick nine years ago: I sot so weak X couldn't lie down, nor hardly wt up; was that way two or three months. I picked up one of Dr. Pierce's Memorandum Dooks one day and saw your de scription of catarrh of the atotsuurH. i ttwMwtii lt hit my tase. We had a botUe of Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery in the houee that was got fer my mother. You recommend lt for catarrh of the stomach, so I went to toking lt. The one bottle nearly cured me. I ?jot two bottles n.**-? time and took one and one-half and waa well. Yoar medicine cost me three dollars and the doctor coat me fourteen dollars." Dr. Pierce's Common Sense Medical Adviser, ia paper covr.rs, ia sent free cn receipt of 21 one- cent stamps, to pay expense of mailing only. Address Dr. R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y. m M A ? S ' ( HI I. UKI. N Promotes DigpstionJCheerful nessandltestContains neithsr Oyium,Mofp??ii\e nor?texal; Wov NARC OTIC . 7?*V* of '/CJAYSSM/XL PtTCfiKR &**?u\ Semi- v . j?ScSmVm*-* 1 RcrkclUSz?j- ? Aperfecl Remedy forConsupa Ron,Sour Stomach,Diarrhoca Worms.Convuls?ons.Feverish ness and Loss OF SLEEP. Fae Simile Signature or lof. NEW YORK. A I-1> 11 ?fi ii I ii s . <i ) (I I) ?" 55C (S! s UASTDHIA For Infants ?nd Children. Tbs Kind You Have Always Bought Boars the Jr ? ?_/Vil? jVV A .T\? In ryr Use VA For Over Thirty Years EXACT copy or WRAPPED THE oirrTAVN esnnflT, new TOAK CITY. CELEBRATED Ac me Paint and Cement Cure Specially used on Tin Roofs and Iron Work of any kind. For sale by- - ACME PAINT & CEMENT CO. Reference : F. B. GR.AYTON & CO., Druggists? Anderson, S. C. Riding on Air ! ill . Is what you feel like when you roll along with such an easy, delightful motion in a Ball Bearing Pneum atic Runabout, Such as we are showing in such rich and handsome designs. You don't know what a speedy drive is unless you have one of these gems of speeders. . Look at oui FINE STOCK OF CARRIAGES. JOS. J. FRETWELL. 33 Car Loads Corn, Ear and Shelled. 10 Car Loads Oats. 10 Car Loads Molasses. 1 Car Load Green Coffee. 300 Barrels Sugar. Come along and see for yourself. MOON & LEDBETTER, . WHOLESALE DEALERS, A LONG LOOK AHEAD A man thinks it is when the matter of life insurance suggests itself-bet circumstan ces of late have shown how life hangs by a thread when war, flood, hurricane and ore suddenly overtakes yon, and the only way to bo sure that your family is protected in CHM of calamity overtaking you is to in sure in a solid Company like The Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co. '- Drop in and See us about ii. Bd. WU MATTI8ON. V, STATE AGENT, Pe iplea* Bank Building, ANDERSON, f. C