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Rh teams near the Potomac, the enemy got three of our disabled pieces, of which two were left on the field as worthless, and one sent to the rear, was captured by his cavalry, with a few wagons from the train.

We wrested from him on the battle-field at Gettysburg, three 10-pound Parrott's, one 3-inch rifle, and three Napoleon's, all ready for use against himself.

In the operations thus imperfectly reported, officers and men, almost without exception, evinced in high degree the important virtues of courage, fortitude, and patience; shrinking from no danger at the call of duty, they accepted with equal fidelity the hardships incident to just forbearance and stern service in an enemy's country; alternately heat and protracted storm aggravated other trials. The arid hills of Gettysburg afford no springs, and wells are there speedily exhausted; many, therefore, were the sufferers from thirst in this long mid-summer conflict. Subsequently on the march scarcely less was endurance taxed by pouring rain day and night; yet all this and whatever else occurred, was borne with ready acquiescence and steady resolution. When great merit is so prevalent, individual instances can scarcely be distinguished without danger of injustice to others; certain cases of special heroism are however mentioned by several commanders, whose reports present the facts. On all such details and all the minutiæ of operations, more exact information is contained in the several reports of the corps chiefs of artillery and battalion commanders, herewith submitted, than can be presented in a general statement.

Regretting that no more could be achieved in the campaign, yet grateful for what has been accomplished, and for the still increasing strength with which we are enabled to wield this great arm of defence,

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Artillery. General, Commanding.

, February 23, 1878.

Rev., Secretary:


 * The letter of Colonel J. B. Walton, in the February No. of the Southern Historical Society Papers, compels me, very reluctantly, to intrude upon your readers with a brief personal explanation. It might not be necessary were your readers confined to those who have any personal knowledge of the subject, but I trust that even these will excuse me when they remember that your pages have a very wide circulation, and will be referred to for many years to come. I cannot, therefore, consent to be represented in them as having falsely claimed for myself a position which I did not occupy—to wit: that of having commanded in the action at Gettysburg all of the artillery of Longstreet's corps on the field. But I will endeavor to be as brief and as courteous as possible. The facts, which are notorious to every surviving officer and private of every battery concerned in them, are as follows:

I arrived with my battalion, not at the head of the column, but at the very tail of it, having marched in that honorable but unappreciated position from Culpeper to Gettysburg without once having the usual privilege of alternating in the lead on the march. Soon after our arrival Colonel Walton himself brought me an order to report in person to General Longstreet. On doing so,