USA > Tennessee > The military annals of Tennessee. Confederate. First series: embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls, V.1 > Part 29
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The Seventh Tennessee Regiment here ended its career as an organized body, with only forty-seven left of the many hundreds who had at times shared the perils of war. To the Tennesseans who shall read these pages of heroism, it is with confidence we state that the annals of the Army of Northern Virginia will present an enviable comparison with those of any age or country. Regardless of the controversy as to the justness of the recent great conflict, there can be no doubt of this, that the enlightened and impartial historian of the near future
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will place the genius, devotion, and ability of Gen. Lee foremost of those of any commander of his day, and second to those of no one of ancient or modern times. With what to us seems a laudable pride, we unhesitatingly say that the military virtues, the heroism, the endurance of privations, and the personal bravery and devotion of those Confederates who grounded their arms at Appomattox will challenge the admiration of him who shall study the history of the actor- in en- lightened warfare, and will place in his estimation the vanquished Confederate the foremost soldier of his day and time.
Thus ends a brief history of the Seventh Tennessee Regiment, which is re- luctantly closed by the writer on account of its incompleteness. It is apparent to the members of that command that many events of individual daring. as well as brave and heroic exploits by companies, and by the regiment, have been omitted from this sketch. Yet I would assure those who have this been neglected that no one regrets this more than the writer, for in the limited space allottel in this book he could not do more than attempt to give a very general sketch of the leading events in the history of the whole command. To those of our state who have not been so fortunate, or unfortunate, as to have been under the com- mand of Lee, and especially to those who shall read these lines who escaped the perils, fatigues, and hardships of the Confederate army, the writer wishes to say that he hopes when they, or any others, seek to familiarize themselves with the heroic history of the sons of Tennessee, they will not, on account of the remote- ness of the scenes of action of the First Tennessee Brigade, forget this command: and though distant from home and loved ones, separated by the rugged mount- ains of the East, their history should be as dear to every one who cherishes the valor of his kindred as those who fought so bravely in defense of their friends.
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. From Weekly Philadelphia Times, Nov. 4, 1892.
I wish to state some facts that have never appeared, as I know, in any of the de- scriptions of the battle of Gettysburg, especially the facts connected with what may be termed the prominent exploit of the third day's fight. I have read with great interest many of the articles in the "Annals of the War." and particularly these on Gettysburg. I have seen descriptions of this battle from the pens of Felrals and Confederates, and they all in varying degrees fall into the same mistake in regard to the facts connected with what is known as Pickett's charge. That any material error could be made as to the participants in this heroic feat is quite singular, and that too when we recollect that, perhaps without an exception, no other corps or single act of heroism in the whole war has attracted the attention of so many writers. Was this Pickett's charge? If it was made by Pickett's division, it is proper to call it Pickett's charge; and, on the other hand, if the charge was made by the division of somebody else, surely no one ought to objec: if that somebody else should claim a share in the honor of that brave deed. I do not intend to insinuate that Gen. Pickett, or any one of his division, has ever claimed any honors they are not entitled to; for, as far as I know, neither he ner any of his command has contributed any article upon that famous matter.
Eve-witnesses have given their version, extolling the daring and the can bevur- age displayed on this occasion, and in unmeasured terms have praised the derc-
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tion of those who marched unwaveringly to almost certain death; yet the chief participants and those who have suffered most heavily are never mentioned. To show that this is the case, I address myself to the inquiry: Who made the charge commonly accredited to Pickett's division? Gen. Heth's division, formerly a part of A. P. Hill's division of the "Stonewall" corps, then of Hill's corps, was the division that bore the "burden and heat of the day," or as much of it as any other. I apprehend that no suspicion can arise as to the truth of this state- ment except from the lapse of time; still, I have no fears as to a statute of limit- ation so long as a single field officer of the Confederate army survives. Heth's division, composed of Archer's Tennessee brigade (consisting of the First, Sey- enth, and Fourteenth Tennessee regiments. the Thirteenth Alabama Regiment, and Fifth Alabama Battalion), Pettigrew's North Carolina, Davis's Mississippi, and Brockenborough's Virginia brigades -- about seven thousand men-crossed the Potomac all in excellent condition, both as to discipline and equipment, and fol- lowed the general march of Hill's corps.
On the night of the 20th of June we reached the village of Cashtown, about eight miles from Gettysburg, where we remained all of the 30th. We had no cavalry, and on the morning of the 30th were ordered to move to the right in the direction of Gettysburg, with about forty men, a distance of about three miles, to picket the road leading from Cashtown west. Here about midday I observed some Federal cavalry ride to the top of an eminence, and after reconnoitering they retired. This was the first appearance of an enemy as yet seen by any of Hill's corps. These appeared to be scouts, and not of any regular command-at least they did not come in any force. As they retired I sent a man back to report to Gen. Archer. I remained with my command the rest of the day and night. On the morning of July 1, shortly after day-break, I again observed the appearance of cavalry on the same eminence, but this time in force, and was about to report the same, when I received an order to rejoin my regiment, as the division was to proceed to Gettysburg. Our corps, as well as the whole of Lee's army, was with- out cavalry; and, as every soldier knows, we were liable unawares to encounter the enemy.
We were to proceed to Gettysburg-so said the order received by me-and how difficult the sequel was to the purpose intended, the following extract from Gen. Heth's contribution to the Southern Historical Society Papers will show: "On the 30th of June Gen. Pettigrew, with his brigade, went near Gettysburg, but did not enter the town, returning the same evening to Cashtown, reporting that he had not carried out my orders, as Gettysburg was occupied by the enemy's cavalry, and under the circumstances he did not deem it advisable to enter Gettysburg. About this time Gen. Hill rode up, and this information was given him. He remarked: 'The only force at Gettysburg is cavalry, probably a detachment for observation. I am just from Gen. Lee, and the information he has from his scouts corroborates what I have received from mine-that is, the enemy are still at Middleburg, and have not yet struck their tents.' I then said if there was no objection I would take my division the next morning and go to Gettysburg and get those shoes. Hill replied, 'None in the world.'"
When I rejoined my brigade I found Heth's division proceeding on its way to Gettysburg to get "those shoes." On this shoe expedition to Gettysburg Arch- er's brigade were in the advance, and nothing unusual occurred on our march un-
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til we got within about a mile and a half of the town. Then we were discovered by the Federal pickets, and the Fifth Alabama Battalion was deployed as skir- mishers on the right of the Emmittsburg turnpike. Archer's brigade formel in line of battle in their rear on the right of the road, and Davis's Mississippi bri- gade on the left of the road. In this order we advanced some half a mile, our skirmishers pressing the pickets back, when the enemy appeared in force. At this juncture we halted and our artillery came up, and shortly before 12 o'clock we reenforced the skirmishers, our artillery opened, and the battle of Gettysburg was begun by Archer's Tennessee brigade striking a part of Gen. Reynolds's ourp -. Our left was driving the enemy successfully, but in a few minutes we could plain- ly see that a division from Reynolds's corps was about to completely envelop our right, and our line was forced to retire with considerable loss, including our Brigadier Archer, who was taken prisoner .. This was the beginning of the Got- tysburg conflict; and the first man killed on the Confederate side was Henry Ri- son, of Co. B, Seventh Tennessee Regiment, who fell on the skirmish line as the advance began.
The enemy swung round to the right in force, and his flank movement was con- cealed by a strip of woods near our extreme right. Our right center was in an open field, and our left, near the road, was in a wood. Our brigade fell back hastily to a ravine upon ground rising in front and in rear; then we re-formed again, when Pettigrew's and Brockenborough's brigades came up and formed in position on the right of the road. Our division advanced, but shortly after we commenced to move forward the appearance of cavalry on our right caused an order to be made for Archer's brigade to move to the right, where we formed in line of battle, with our right retired nearly at right angles to the advancing col- unin, in the edge of a small wood, to protect our flank. As we stood there wait- ing the attack of cavalry we were in easy range of the enemy's artillery, and he improved the opportunity by causing us much annoyance. From this point the movements of the rest of the division couki be easily discovered. Our division drove the enemy back, and he being reenforced, awaited a second charge, which he was unable to resist. He was finally pushed through and beyond the town of Gettysburg. In this first attack Heth's division was supported by Pender's divis- ion, but in the second charge Pender rushed up with Heth's.
This briefly constituted the first day's fight at Gettysburg, as far as our corps was concerned, and, compared with the fearful destruction of life that occurred subsequently, was an insignificant affair, yet in reality it was a most desperate conflict. The two attacks were made with great sacrifice of life, and the approach to the town was stubbornly contested: neither party was aware of the strength of the other, and each underestimated the force of his opponent. Maj .- gen. Heth. writing in 1877 in the Southern Historical Society Papers in regard to the first day's fight, says: "Gen. Rhodes, commanding a division of Ewell's corps, en route to Cashtown, was following a roa ! running north of Gettysburg. Rhodes. hearing the firing at Gettysburg, faced by the left flank and approached the town. He soon became heavily engaged, and seeing this I sought for and found Gren. Lee, saying to the General: ' Rhodes is very heavily engaged; had I not better at- tack?' Gen. Lee replied: 'No, I am not prepared to bring on a general en- gagement to-day. Longstreet is not up.' Returning to my division I soon dis- covered that the enemy were moving troops from my front and pushing them
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against Rhodes. I reported this fact to Gen. Lee, and again requested to be per- mitted to attack. Permission was given. My division-some seven thousand muskets strong-advanced. I found in my front a heavy skirmish line and two lines of battle. My division swept over these without halting. My loss was se- vere. In twenty-five minutes I lost twenty-seven hundred men killed and wound- ed. The last I saw or remember of this day's fight was seeing the enemy in my front completely and utterly routed and my division in hot pursuit. I was then shot, and rendered insensible for some hours."
The report of the enemy in force at Gettysburg was the first intimation Lee had of the Federals striking their tents at Middleburg, distance about thirty miles. Be this as it may, the above quotations plainly show that the beginning of this battle was accidental, and also that the struggle of the first day even was a fierce affair. At least, from my point of observation, I was unable to see any one on our side who had the leisure or inclination to get "those shoes." Although we had driven the enemy from his position and pressed him through and beyond the town, for some cause not known by me we bivouacked near the ground we had occupied early in the day. The battle of the first day resulted in a victory for the Confederates, with the Federals driven from their position and beyond the town, having lost heavily in killed and wounded, as well as five thousand prison- ers. The struggle for victory was not confined to the center, for a part of Ewell's corps met the Federals north of Gettysburg, and after alternate success and re- pulse dislodged them from their position, capturing many prisoners. But the scene in this part of the field has been so often pictured that it would now be a tiresome repetition for me to again rehearse it.
The second day opened a serene and beautiful July morning. At day-break the smoldering camp-fires sent up here and there sluggishly ascending smoke; the peaceful-looking farm-houses, bespeaking thrift and industry, dotted the'sur- rounding country, whose occupants, as well as the vast armies surrounding them. were little aware of the impending destruction of life and property. As soon as dawn came Hill's corps, forming Lee's center, was in line of battle, with Heth's division in reserve posted on a slightly elevated point about two hundred yards from Willoughby Run, about the center of our army, a position that afforded an unobstructed view of the action of Longstreet's corps, and within hearing of Ewell. Here we remained all day, ready and expecting at any moment to be ordered to assault the enemy in our front or to advance to the support of Long- street or Ewell. We witnessed the magnificent fighting of Longstreet's corps, and gazed with amazement upon the destruction belched forth by the artillery on and around Little Round Top. It bristled with cannon and at times seemed to be ablaze. From where we were stationed we could hardly realize that so many field pieces could be placed and operated on so small a space.
Lee had now tested the strength of Meade on the right and left, with results familiar to all. The center yet remained to attack, to decide the fortunes of the invading campaign. On the morning of the 3d the contending armies were face to face, each occupying one of the two elevated and nearly parallel ridges. The space between was undulating, and consisted chiefly of fields in cultivation, in- closed with plank and rail fences. The Federals occupied the crest of the ridge, with their right eenter projecting to the Emmittsburg road, nearly if not quite a mile south of Gettysburg, on what is known as Cemetery Hill. Heth's division,
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now commanded by Gen. Pettigrew, was ordered to report to Gen. Longstreet, and about 10 A.M. we formed upon the left of Pickett's division, with orders to rest at ease in line of battle. These two divisions were selected to make the as- sault upon Cemetery Hill, and by brigades were formed in the following order: On the extreme right, Kemper; next on his left, Garnett-these two of Pickett's division; on the left of Garnett was formed Heth's division, in the following or- der: Archer's Tennessee brigade, commanded by Col. Frye; on the right and next, Pettigrew's North Carolina brigade, and then Davis's Mississippi brigade, and on the extreme left Brockenborough's Virginia brigade. Pickett's two bri- gades were supported by Armistead's brigade and Pickett's and Wilcox's brigades of Anderson's division. Heth's division was supported by Lane's and Scales's bri- gades, of Pender's division, commanded by Gen. Trimble.
A sentiment that is common to men, and even stronger in the soldier, justities the opinion that they who have periled their lives in praiseworthy and hazard- ous undertakings may with propriety insist upon a recognition of their services; and sharing in this opinion, we who on Cemetery Hill faced what plainly ap- peared to be almost certain death remember with pride and gratitude that in the most destructive shock of battle Heth's division acquitted itself in a worthy man- ner. With our four brigades in the front rank, and with a greater number en- gaged, and with a greater loss of those engaged than any other division, we do claim-it seems to me with reason-that the memorable charge can with more propriety be denominated Heth's or Pettigrew's, rather than Pickett's, who had but two brigades in front. True it is Gen. Pickett commanded, and his brigades acquitted themselves most gallantly; yet the fact remains that in the generally accepted narrations of that charge the history of that division, acting as conspic- uously as any other, and excelling all others in the numbers of its men, is either obscurely mentioned or totally ignored. These lines are not prompted by a spirit of fault-finding, but rather that, inasmuch as the writer and his associates have borne a part in a struggle that promises to become historical, he deems it a laudable desire which seeks to place in the story of that contest material facts that might otherwise be forgotten or overlooked.
Again, some who have written about Gettysburg have placed Heth's division in support of Pickett, and others have attributed the failure of that assault to the wavering of the supporting line. In view of these diverse descriptions, I shall feel amply repaid if I shall succeed in making clear the point that Heth's divis- ion no more supported Piekett than Pickett's supported Heth. It is my belief that Heth's division was not assigned to support any command. I have before me a map of the battle-field of the third day, prepared by Col. Bachelder. It places the assaulting troops precisely as I have indicated. By 11 o'clock, or per- haps a little earlier, those who were destined to attempt the capture of Cemetery Hill were in line, and were in full view of the Federal stronghold, ready toobey the command to advance. All seemed to appreciate the danger of the impend- ing carnage. We could distinctly see the formidable line of artillery, distant about one thousand yards. It was more than evident that all realized the danger of the perilous task set before us. Every spot. of the intervening ground was sur- veyed by private and officer in the hope that it might prove advantageous when the impending storm of battle should burst upon us. After we had been formed, Lee, Longstreet, and Pickett rode together up and down our line several times-
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at least three times, if not more-observing our aligument, but principally with field-glasses observing the position and movements of the Federals. Seeining to be as yet undetermined what to do, they rode to the rear and engaged in earnest conversation. Then they returned to our front and together rode up and down our line again. This was ominous, and showed plainly how hazardous those offi- cers regarded the undertaking.
Our suspense was intense, continuing from 10 A.M. to 1 p.r., when the signal- two guns of the Washington Artillery-was given. Our artillery, consisting-as reported by Col. E. P. Alexander, commanding the artillery -- of one hundred and forty pieces immediately in and about our center, and sixty pieces on our right and left, making in all two hundred pieces, then opened, and was promptly responded to by what seemed an equal nuniber from the Federals. It appeared as though the solid ground was being shaken to its foundations. The sultry air thick- ened with the rushing smoke from the cannon's mouth. Amid the incessant boom- ing of artillery the sharp sound of small arms could be distinguished occasionally. The barns and dwelling-houses between the two armies were made the targets of the sharp-shooters and the artillery of both, each side fearing lest the other should find shelter behind their walls; some were disfigured by the loss of chimneys, some were blazing, while others were pierced by shot and shell from cellar to garret.
"Grim-visaged war" had never before assumed a more hideous front. The skir- mishers and sharp-shooters were put in these fields, and some near the houses. It seemed as though the demons of demolition were turned loose, but no imagina- tion can adequately conceive of the magnitude of this artillery duel. It surpassed the ordinary battery fire as the earthquake or some convulsion of nature surpass- es the muttering of an ordinary thunder-storm. As if to heighten the scene of terror and dismay, out from the devoted farm-houses rushed old men, women, and children. It was unaccountable that they had been neglected by the contending armies, but that they had remained at all after the fighting of the two days pre- vious was still more singular. This is clear fact. I was a witness to the frenzied flight of some of them, and Capt. Harris, commander of the sharp-shooters of Heth's division, told me that he was forced to order some of the occupants to Hy for shelter; and in one house a little stranger was shortly to make its appearance, to be baptized in a storm of shot and shell, the like of which had never before been witnessed on this continent.
The artillery fire was kept up about an hour, when our batteries ceased, and there seemed to be, as if by mutual consent, a pretty general cessation, especially on the part of the Federals. In this interval of comparative quiet the order was given to advance, and the charging column promptly responded. In an instant we reached the crest of the ridge upon which we had formed, and we were then in full view and range of the batteries on Cemetery Hill. After a part of Heth's division emerged from a small woods no part of the column was protected, as from this point Cemetery Hill is entirely open. The ground over which we were marching was a little undulating, but nowhere sufficiently abrupt to afford the slightest shelter. Before we could reach the enemy we had to cross the Emmitts- burg road, which to me appeared to be a lane -- that is to say, we had to cross two fences, one on either side of the road. This road-bed was perhaps some two feet below the level of the ground, and afforded protection to one lying down.
From Capt. Moran's description in the "Annals of the War" (No. 9, Vol. VI.),
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I imagine he must have taken Heth's division for that of Piekett, for he very ac- curately describes our advance, and he says it looked more like a corps than a di- vision. As has been before stated, our front was about twice the extent of that of Pickett. With this exception, and his omission as to the recrossing of the Potomac by Lee's rear-guard, Capt. Moran's article, in my judgment, is highly commendable for its matter and impartiality. He refers to the Confederate " Yi! yi!" I do recollect that the "rebel yell" was started on our right, but what was very singular to me in this charge was that previous to this occasion ard after- ward we never before failed to increase our speed when the "yell" was starte.l. Moreover, as far as I remember, we never failed to drive the enemy when we raised a lusty "yell." I suppose the reason our speed was not increased in front of frowning Cemetery Hill was that the yell was started much farther from the enemy than usual. Generally we raised the. "yell" after infantry firing had be- gun and near the enemy. On this occasion we marched steadily on, and as soon as the line got closely under way the enemy's batteries opened upon us with a most furious cannonade. Many batteries hurled their missiles of death in our ranks from Cemetery Hill, Round Top, and Little Round Top. in our front ant on our right. The ridge we had left and the adjacent spurs belched forth their commingling smoke of battle that obscured the scene with a dreadful and dark- ened magnificence and a deepening roar that no exaggeration of language can heighten.
As the charging column neared the Emmittsburg road volley after volley of small arms aided with dreadful effect in thinning our ranks. We reached the first plank or slab fence, and the column clambered over with a speed as if in stampeded retreat. The time it took to climb to the top of the fence seemed to me an age of suspense. It was not a leaping over; it was rather an insensible tumbling to the ground in the nervous hope of escaping the thickening missiles that buried themselves in falling victims, in the ground, and in the fence, against which they rattled with the distinctness of large rain-drops pattering on a roof. Every man that reached the road, in my view, sunk to the ground-just for a moment, and only for a moment. Right there from our right came two mounted officers, riding at a great speed. One was covered with blood, the other held his lead bowed almost to his horse's neck. On they sped to the road at our left. I know not who they were. In an instant one rider, with his horse, tumbled to the ground, and as far as I know was one more victim added to the great number of the unknown slain. Our stay in the road could not be called a halt. In a moment the order to advance was given, and on we pressed across the next fence; but many of our comrades remained in the road and never crossed the second fence, many being wounded in crossing the first and in the road.
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