he path for our northern march.
Zzzpennsylvania and Gettysburg.
Early commanded the vanguard of the Army of Northern Virginia that now penetrated Pennsylvania.
It was his division that made the decisive charge in the first day's battle at Gettysburg when the scales were trembling in the balance; it was he, who, when that charge had so largely contributed to win us the victory with 5,000 prisoners of war, urged that our forces should pursue the attack; it was his division that took Cemetery Hill in the second day's assault with the batteries that defended it, and had to give back because others failed.
This division was the rear-guard that covered Lee's retreat, and I have never seen it present a sterner front than that 4th of July morning, 1864, when it stood ready to meet Meade on Seminary Ridge.
In this campaign a part of Early's infantry, under Gordon, but Early himself being present, went farther north than any troops of the South during the conflict, and at Wrightsville,
my's left centre.
His batteries reopened as soon as they appeared.
Our own having nearly exhausted their ammunition in the protracted cannonade that preceded the infantry, were unable to reply, or render the necessary support to the attacking party.
Owing to this fact, which was unknown to me when the assault took place, the enemy was enabled to throw a strong force of infantry against our left, already wavering under a concentrated fire of artillery from the ridge in front, and from Cemetery Hill on the left.
It finally gave way, and the right, after penetrating the enemy's lines, entering his advance works, and capturing some of his artillery, was attacked simultaneously in front and on both flanks, and driven back with heavy loss.
There is no obscurity in the language of General Lee.
The artillery did not render the necessary support, and, in consequence of this fact, the assault was a disastrous failure.
This must be regarded as a complete vindication of the infantry.
N
of an elevation to command the country for miles each way, and overlooking Cemetery Hill above the town.
Returning to see General Ewell, who was still under much e dispersed, except Steinwehr's Division of 3 or 4000 men, a reserve left on Cemetery Hill.
General Hancock reached Cemetery Hill in person about 4:30, and at once aCemetery Hill in person about 4:30, and at once advised General Meade to bring his whole army there.
Slocum's 12th Corps arrived about 4:30 P. M. and was posted on the right (Federal right). Sickles with only Birn Alms House near by, to which we ascended.
From this we had a good view of Cemetery Hill, Round Top, Culp's Hill and adjacent country.
General Lee said: the enemessful at an early hour of the day, and prevented the enemy from halting on Cemetery Hill.
3rd.
Our success the first day not having been followed up by vigorousp's Hill on 1st, without opposition, which would have driven the enemy from Cemetery Hill.
9th.
A great error in attacking the third day on a line six miles long
sses, to abandon the enterprise of carrying the impregnable position of the enemy, and retrace its steps to the point from whence it had started.
Had the attack been made simultaneously along the whole line at the time Longstreet engaged the enemy, or, even, when the three brigades went in, the historian might have been called on to record a different result.
On the 3d, Wright was not engaged, but Wilcox and Lang were ordered to co-operate with Pickett and Pettigrew in the assault on Cemetery Hill.
The Floridians and Alabamians fought with distinguished courage, as on the previous day, and again forced the enemy to yield to their desperate charges; but, for the second time, the assault was not made simultaneously, and when position after position had been carried, it was found that three others still, which, with their weary and wasted forces, it was impossible to storm.
First, Pickett retired, and then Wilcox and Lang—each having suffered frightful losses, and leaving their dea
umn in Mexico.
He entered the Confederate service as Colonel of the Seventh Virginia Infantry, but early in 1862 was given command of the brigade formerly A. P. Hill's, and was commended for gallantry and efficiency at Seven Pines, in the seven days campaign around Richmond, at Second Manassas, at Sharpsburg.
In 1863 his brigade was assigned to the division of Pickett, and was in the front line of the memorable assault at Gettysburg.
Leading his men against the belching batteries on Cemetery Hill, he shared the glory of that brilliant charge with Armistead, Garnett and Hunton.
Felled by a shot on the crest of that wave of heroism which has been called The High Tide of the Confederacy, his life was long despaired of, and he was never able to take the field again.
His career subsequent to the war was honorable and useful.
His positive character and robust intellect earned speedy recognition of his capacity for leadership in the civic arena.
In the consolidation of the conse
irely unsupported.
Yet the gallant Virginians marched steadily forward, through the storm of shot and shell that burst upon their devoted ranks, with a gallantry that has never been surpassed.
As they approached the ridge their lines were torn by incessant volleys of musketry as by a deadly hail.
Yet with unfaltering courage the brave fellows broke into the double-quick, and with an irresistible charge burst into the Federal lines and drove everything before them toward the crest of Cemetery Hill, leaping the breastworks and planting their standards on the captured guns with shouts of victory.
Whilst nearly all of the Federal reports which refer to this charge do so in almost as enthusiastic terms as the Confederate, yet only two or three of them designate, by name, the troops who were in advance and who actually entered their works.
These few, however, leave no doubt on this point.
General Hancock says:
When the enemy's line had nearly reached the stone wall, led by Ge
uctions I proceeded immediately to Genl. Ewell and delivered the order of Genl. Lee.
Genl. Ewell did not obey this order.
Those heights were what is known as Cemetery Hill, which was the key to the Federal position.
The enemy afterward, that night, with great diligence fortified those heights; and subsequently the lives of thousrd of July the enemy had six army corps in line of battle, with the Sixth corps held in reserve.
Their right rested on Culp Hill and curved around westerly to Cemetery Hill, and thence extended southerly in a straight line along what is known as Cemetery Ridge to Round Top. This line was well protected along its whole length with s calmly and orderly as if they were on parade.
No sooner than our lines came in full view, the enemy's batteries in front, on the right and on the left, from Cemetery Hill to Round Top, opened on them with a concentrated, accurate and fearful fire of shell and solid shot.
These plowed through or exploded in our ranks, making gre
ired to find refuge with the reserve division on Cemetery Hill.
They left 5,000 prisoners behind, with three gs' men went out of the town and on the slopes of Cemetery Hill, undaunted and in high spirits.
But just then, be informed that they could go forward and take Cemetery hill if they were supported on their right; that to t glasses inspecting the position to the south of Cemetery hill.
When I delivered my message, General Lee gave burg, they would have driven him over and beyond Cemetery Hill.
After I had arrived upon the field, assumed there is no question but what a combined attack on Cemetery hill made within an hour, would have been successful.her's division, with not a battery in reserve on Cemetery hill. “The best chance for a successful attack was wiown, and attack them before they could reform on Cemetery hill.
It was no fault of Early and Rodes and their df the Federal army, says: The whole space behind Cemetery hill was in a moment rendered uninhabitable.
Caisson
drive the Yankees out of Martinsburg, and taking his division of Battle's Alabama, Cook's Georgia, Cox's North Carolina, and Lewis' North Carolina brigades, started on his errand.
Battle's brigade was in front and was shelled severely.
General Rodes seems to think his old brigade of Alabamians entitled to the post of honor, and usually sends them to the front in time of danger.
About two miles out of town, the brigade was deployed and ordered forward.
We marched in this way, through Cemetery Hill, into town, running out the Yankee cavalry and artillery under Averill.
At night we returned to our old camp, having made twenty-two miles during the day. These reconnoissances may be very important, and very interesting to general and field officers who ride, but those of the line and fighting privates wish they were less frequent, or less tiresome this sultry weather.
We have walked this pike road so often that we know not only every house, fence, spring and shade tree, but very ma
, those few words may not mean much.
To Andrew Venable's surviving comrades, they are pregnant with martial meaning.
But the hero of Gettysburg had no desire to try conclusions with his fierce and wary adversary, and slipped away from the crucial test, counting its avoidance a clever manoeuvre.
What a complete answer to latter-day military sciolists, who blame Meade for not pursuing Lee after Gettysburg, blatantly assuming the demoralization of that veteran soldiery that had stormed Cemetery Hill.
The story of Venable's services during the winter of ‘63-64, when Stuart, despite his being compelled to scatter his command because of lack of forage, was yet continually beating up the enemy's quarters (as his Cavalier prototype was wont to express it), must be sought in official dispatches.
Then, in the spring of ‘64, began the greatest of Lee's campaigns—a grim wrestle of eleven months, with the guns going night and day—in which the Confederate commander, from the Wilderness
