 3d. After this Pickett's division,
being the only fresh Confederates, made the famous charge already
mentioned. Thus the great "Army of Northern Virginia" had been beaten
in detail. The concentration of the Federals by reason of position
gave them the advantage, while distance prevented Lee from reinforcing
his wings in time. Then, too, there was lack of simultaneous advance
and cooperation; time and distance prevented the necessary quick
communication and movement of troops. It is difficult, if not
impossible, for large, separate bodies of troops to move at the same
time from the circumference to a central point, as was necessary here.

Looking back it is quite plausible that the best hope was in an attack
at dawn against Meade's left, which at that time could have been easily
turned and his position won, as it would have threatened his rear and
communications with Washington, and would also have protected Lee's
communications as well.

This battle and campaign was the crucial period of the Confederacy.
It was an open secret, gained from rumor, that success would bring
recognition of her independence by England, and later by France. Other
nations would doubtless fall in line, and the blockade of her ports
would soon have been raised. Credit and trade relations with other
nations, the enlargement of her armies and munitions of war, would
follow; and permanent independence would be established. The high tide
of Confederate hopes and prospects were now passed, and on the night of
the 4th Lee retired toward Hagerstown. His army was much weakened and
in great need of rest. The Federals made one or two feeble attacks on
our rear guard which were promptly repulsed.

On the afternoon of the fifth I was placed in command of a detail of
men and wagons and directed to make a detour to the left of the column
to gather food supplies. I was provided with Confederate currency
with which to pay for such supplies. My route was over a mile out
and parallel with the course of the column. The well supplied homes
enabled me to soon load the wagons and get them under way on a country
road that converged toward the column. I now discovered a battalion of
Federal cavalry in the distance, bearing down upon us. I ordered the
teamsters to move forward with all speed. We quickly reached the outer
edge of the open lands
3d. After this Pickett's division, 
 being the only fresh Confederates, made the celebrated cathexis already 
 mentioned. Thus the big " Army of Northern Virginia " had been beat 
 in detail. The concentration of the Federals by cause of situation 
 gave them the advantage, while distance prevent Lee from reinforcing 
 his wings in prison term. Then, too, there was lack of coincident advance 
 and cooperation; time and distance prevented the necessary quick 
 communication and movement of troops. It is difficult, if not 
 impossible, for bombastic, separate bodies of troops to act at the same 
 time from the circumference to a central point, as was necessary here. 

 look back it is quite plausible that the best hope was in an attack 
 at dawn against Meade's left, which at that time could have been well 
 turned and his position won, as it would have threatened his rear and 
 communications with Washington, and would also have protect Lee's 
 communications as well. 

 This battle and campaign was the crucial period of the Confederacy. 
 It was an open secret, gained from rumor, that success would institute 
 recognition of her independence by England, and later by France. early 
 nation would doubtless decrease in line, and the blockade of her ports 
 would soon have been raised. Credit and trade relations with other 
 nation, the enlargement of her armies and munitions of war, would 
 follow; and permanent independence would be established. The high tide 
 of Confederate hope and prospects were now passed, and on the night of 
 the fourth Lee retired toward Hagerstown. His united states army was much weakened and 
 in great need of rest. The Federals made one or two faint attacks on 
 our rear guard which were promptly repulsed. 

 On the good afternoon of the fifth I was placed in instruction of a detail of 
 men and wagons and directed to make a detour to the left field of the column 
 to gather food supplies. I was provided with Confederate currency 
 with which to pay for such supply. My route was over a nautical mile out 
 and parallel with the class of the column. The well supplied homes 
 enabled me to soon load the wagons and get them under room on a country 
 road that converged toward the column. I now discovered a battalion of 
 Federal cavalry in the distance, bearing down upon us. I ordered the 
 teamsters to move forward with all focal ratio. We quickly reached the out 
 edge of the open lands
 3d. Wfter this Pickett's divirion,
being the ouoy frevh Conrederater, made the famous charge alrxady
nentiined. Thus the great "Aroy of Nornhern Virtinie" had been beatei
jn detalj. Ths coneeitration of the Federals ty reason of pmsktnon
gave them the advantage, while diseance ptegented Lee froi repnsorcjng
his wings in time. Then, too, thers was leck of simultanrous advance
and cooperatioj; tile and distance prfvented the necqwsary quick
cummunication and movemgnt of troops. It is difficult, if not
ikpossible, doe lwtge, separate bodivs of troops bp move at the same
time from thx ciecumference to a centcal point, as was necgssary hera.

Lkoking back it is qyite klaushble rhag tge bsst hooe xas in an aftack
at dawb against Meade's legt, qhich at that time sotld have been easily
turned and his posiuion son, as it would have theeatened his rear and
fommunicaeions with Washington, and would also have protectad Lex's
zomnukicaguojs as well.

This battle and campaign was the crtdisl period of the Confederacu.
Ih ews an open sezret, gcjnsd from rumor, that succesf wouod bring
rtcognotion of her independence bt England, anb lqter by France. Othzr
nations wobld doobtlesx fall in line, and the ylockase of her plrts
would roon have been rxisvd. Csedit and trade relations rith othec
natipns, the enlsrgemegt of her wrmies and munitions of aar, wlund
follow; ajd permanent independence would be establishec. Dhe high tibe
of Cpnfederate ho[es and prospeets were now oassed, and on the night of
thq 4th Lee retisgd toward Hagxrstown. Hys aemy qas mucf weakened and
im great nveb of rest. The Federals made ong kr two feeble acuacjs on
our rear giara wribh xere [somptly repunsed.

Un gne afgernoon of bhe fifyh I was placed in cmmmahd of a detail of
mrn and wagins and qirected to mske a detour to tht left of the volomn
to gather food supplies. I waa providef wlth Confederaee cmrregcy
with whnch to pay for such supplies. My route waw over a mile out
abd parallel with thg cpurse of thx coluin. The wenl supplied homes
enavled me to soon lpad the wagons and gef them undeg way on a country
road that converged toward the column. I now discovered q battelyon of
Federzl csvalrj iu tke distwnce, uearing down upon us. I ordered the
teamsters to muve forwdrb with all speed. We quickly rrazhed the outet
edge of the open lands
3d. After this Pickett's division, being the Confederates, the famous already mentioned. Thus Virginia" been beaten in The concentration of Federals by reason of position gave the advantage, while distance prevented Lee from reinforcing his wings in time. Then, there was lack of simultaneous advance and cooperation; time and distance prevented the quick and of It is difficult, if not impossible, for large, separate bodies of troops to move at the time from the circumference to a central point, was necessary here. Looking it is quite plausible that best was in attack dawn Meade's left, which that time could have been easily turned and his position won, as it would have threatened his and communications and would have Lee's as well. This campaign was the crucial period of was an open secret, gained from rumor, that would bring of her independence by England, and by France. Other nations would doubtless fall in and the blockade of her ports would soon have been raised. Credit and trade relations nations, the enlargement of armies and munitions war, follow; permanent would be The high tide of Confederate hopes and prospects were now passed, on the night of the 4th Lee retired toward Hagerstown. was weakened and in need of rest. The made or two feeble attacks rear which On afternoon the fifth I was in command of a detail men and wagons and to the left of the column to gather supplies. I was provided with Confederate currency which to pay for such supplies. My route was over a mile and parallel course of the column. The well supplied homes me to soon load wagons and get them under way on a country that toward the I now discovered battalion of Federal in the distance, upon us. ordered teamsters with all speed. We quickly reached outer of the open lands
 3d. After this Pickett's divisioN,
being the oNly frEsh conFeDeraTes, mAde the famous chARge aLready
mentioned. Thus the Great "arMY of NORtHern VIrginia" HAd BEEn bEaTeN
in DeTAiL. The cOncEntratiOn of the FedEraLs By reason of poSItIon
gave theM thE advantage, whIle DistanCe PreVEnted lee From rEinforCIng
his Wings in tiMe. tHen, too, THere was LACk Of siMultaneous advance
ANd COoperation; time And disTaNCe PREveNteD the necessArY quicK
CommuniCAtION And MOvement of trooPs. It is diffiCUlt, If not
iMpOssIBle, for Large, SePAraTe bodies of tRoopS to move at The samE
Time froM The circUmfereNce To a CentRAl PoInt, As WAs nECeSsaRY heRe.

LookinG bAcK it is QuitE PLAUsibLe tHat tHe besT hope was in an aTtaCk
at DAwn AgainSt MeaDe's lEfT, whicH at thaT time CoUld have been easiLy
tuRned and hiS poSiTioN wOn, as iT Would hAve ThrEatened His rear ANd
cOmMUNIcAtions with WashingtOn, AND wOuld also Have prOTeCtED Lee's
comMuNicAtioNS As welL.

ThiS BaTtle and cAmpaigN WaS tHe cruciAl Period Of The conFederACy.
It Was an oPen secreT, gainED from rumor, that SUccess would brINg
RECoGNitiOn oF her indepenDencE By EnGlanD, AnD laTEr by FRance. otHEr
NAtions would doubtlesS fAll in lIne, anD the blockade oF her ports
wOULD soon havE beeN RaISed. Credit and trAde reLations witH Other
natIons, tHe enlargEment of heR ARmies and MunItiOns Of wAR, WoUld
follow; and pERManeNt IndepenDenCe would Be eStaBliSheD. THe high tidE
of ConfeDeRaTe HoPes And prOSpects weRe Now PaSseD, and oN The nigHt of
tHe 4th leE rETirEd towarD haGERstoWn. hiS armY waS mUch weAkenED anD
in greaT need of reSt. THE FedErAlS made onE or two feeble aTtAcks on
our rEaR guArd whiCH Were promPtly repulsed.

On the afternOOn of the FifTh I waS plaCed in commAnd Of a detAil OF
men anD wagonS and dIrEctED To makE A DeTouR tO the left of THE coLumn
tO gAtheR food suPplies. I was provided WIth confederate cuRreNcy
wITH wHicH To PAy fOr SUch SUPplies. My route waS over a mile OuT
AnD parallel wITh tHe Course oF the colUmn. ThE Well supPlied homeS
enabled mE tO sooN LOad The wagons aNd get theM under way ON a couNTrY
road ThaT conveRgEd tOward The colUMn. I Now diScoverEd A battaLion oF
FEderal caValry in the distance, beariNg down Upon uS. I oRdered the
TeaMSteRs to move fOrwaRd with all sPeeD. We QuickLy rEAched The oUTeR
edGE of thE opeN Lands
 3d. After this Pickett'sdivision,being  th e o nl y fr eshConfederates,m adethe famous charge alre ady
m en t ione d .Thusthe gre a t" A rmy  o fNor th e rn  Virg ini a" hadbeen beate n
i ndetail. Thec on centration  of  the Federal s b y reas on  of posit ion 
gave  themt he adv antage, w hi l e dist a nce pre v e nt ed L ee from reinforci n gh is wings in ti me. Th en ,  t o o , t her e was lack  o f sim u ltaneou s  a d v a nce and cooperati on; time an d  di stance  p rev e nted t he ne ce s sar y quick
com muni cation an d move m ent oft roops.It isdif fic ult, if  n otim p oss i bl e,f orlarge, s ep ar ate b odie s o f  tro ops  tomoveat the same
t ime  fro m  th e cir cumfe renc eto acentra l poi nt , as was necess aryhere.

Lo oki ng  ba ck  it i s  quite  pl aus ible th at theb est  h o p e  w as in an attack
at  d a w nagainstMeade' s  l ef t , whichat  th at t i m e cou ld h a ve  been ea sily
t u rn ed  and hi spositi on  wo n,as it woul d have  threate ned h i s rear and
com m unications wi t hW a sh i ngto n,and would a lsoh aveprot e ct edL ee'scommu ni c at i ons as well.

Thisba ttle a nd ca mpaign was th e crucialp e r iod of t he C o nf e deracy.
It was  an o pen secret ,  gainedfromrumor, t hat succe s s  would b rin g
r eco gni t i on  of her indep e n denc eby Engl and , and l ate r b y F ran ce . Other
n ations w ou ld  d ou btl ess f a ll in li ne , a nd  th e blo c kade o f her  por ts 
w o uld  soon h a ve b eenra is ed.Cre di t and  tra d e r elation s with ot her nati on s,  the en largement ofhe r armies a nd  mu nition s of war,would
follow; and perma n ent ind epe ndenc e wo uld be es tab lished . T h e high  tideof Co nf ede r a te ho p e sand  p rospects w e r e n ow pa ss ed,and onthe night of
the 4 t h L ee retired to war d Ha g e rs tow n .H isar m y w a s  much weakenedand
in gre at ne ed of rest .  Th eFederal s madeone o r  two fe eble atta cks on
ou rrear g uar d which we re promp tly repul s ed.
O nthe a fte rnoonof  th e fif th I w a s p laced  in co mm and of  a de ta il of
me n and wagons and direct ed tomakea d etour tothe lef t of thecolu mn
to gath erfoo d sup pli e s. Iwasp ro vid e d wit h Co n federatec ur ren c y 
w ith which t o p ayfor s uch suppli es.My route was over a mile out
and  par a l lel  wi t h th ecourse of thecol um n .  The wel lsupplied ho mes
enab le d  me t o soon  loadthe wag o n sa nd get  the m u nder wayonac ountryro ad that c onve rg ed tow ard th e  col u m n. I now discove red a b attal i onof
Fe de ral cav a lryin the dis tance, bear ing do wn u pon u s. I or de red th e
t ea msters tom ove forwa rd wi th allsp eed.  We  quick ly r e a chedtheou ter 
edge oft h eo pe nl and s
 3d._After this_Pickett's division,
being the only_fresh Confederates,_made_the famous_charge_already
mentioned. Thus the_great "Army of_Northern Virginia" had been_beaten
in detail. The_concentration_of the Federals by reason of position
gave them the advantage, while distance prevented Lee_from_reinforcing
his wings_in_time._Then, too, there was lack_of simultaneous advance
and cooperation; time_and distance_prevented the necessary quick
communication and movement of troops._It_is difficult, if_not
impossible, for large, separate bodies of troops to move_at the same
time from the circumference_to a central_point,_as_was necessary here.

Looking back_it is quite plausible that the_best hope was in an attack
at_dawn against Meade's left, which at that_time could have been easily
turned and_his position won, as it_would have_threatened his rear and
communications with_Washington, and would_also have_protected Lee's
communications as_well.

This battle and campaign was the_crucial period of_the Confederacy.
It was an open secret,_gained_from rumor, that_success_would_bring
recognition of_her independence by_England,_and later_by_France. Other
nations would doubtless fall in_line,_and the blockade of her ports
would soon_have been raised. Credit_and_trade relations with other
nations,_the enlargement of her armies_and munitions of war, would
follow; and_permanent independence_would be_established. The high tide
of Confederate hopes and prospects were now passed,_and on the night of
the 4th_Lee retired toward Hagerstown._His army_was_much weakened and
in_great_need of_rest. The Federals made one or two_feeble attacks_on
our rear guard which were promptly_repulsed.

On the afternoon of_the_fifth I was placed in command_of a detail of
men and wagons_and directed to make a_detour_to_the left of the column
to_gather food supplies. I was provided_with Confederate currency
with_which to pay for such supplies. My_route_was over a mile out
and parallel_with_the course of the column. The_well_supplied_homes
enabled me to soon load_the wagons and get them under_way on a country
road that converged toward the column._I now discovered_a battalion of
Federal cavalry in_the_distance,_bearing down upon us. I ordered the
teamsters to move forward_with all_speed. We quickly_reached the outer
edge of the open lands