Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/240

 -'54 {southern Historical Society Papers.

Archer's, and Scales's Brigades, every regiment in Archer's having lost their colors. The devotion and gallantry of the troops forming the left wing of Pickett's charge cannot justly be questioned.

ORDERS THROUGH THREE COURIERS.

The rear and flank of Pickett's Division was to have been sup- ported by Wilcox and Perry, but there is good reason for supposing that they did not advance until after the attack had been repulsed. From General Wilcox' s report we learn that about twenty or thirty minutes after Pickett's advance three different couriers came with orders to advance one of them from Major-General Anderson, probably a mile distant, to the left. General Wilcox adds: " Not a man of the division that I was ordered to support could I see."

Colonel Lang, commanding Perry's Brigade, says: "Soon after General Pickett's troops retired behind our position General Wilcox began to advance, and, in accordance with previous orders to con- form to his movements, I moved forward also."

Colonel Alexander, in an article published since the war, says: " Wilcox' s Brigade passed by us, moving to Pickett's support. There was no longer anything to support, and, with the keenest pity at the useless waste of life, I saw them advance. The men as they passed us looked bewildered, as if they wondered what they were expected to do, or why they were there. However, they were soon halted and moved back."

General Anderson, with the remaining brigades of his division Wright, Posey, and Mahone was expected to support the left wing of the column of attack. General A. P. Hill, his corps commander, says: "Anderson had been directed to hold his division ready to take advantage of any success which might be gained by the assault- ing column, or to support it, if necessary."

General Anderson says: "I received orders to hold my division in readiness to move up in support, if it should become necessary."

General Longstreet says: "Major-General Anderson's Division was ordered forward to support and assist the wavering columns of Pettigrew and Trimble."

Anderson did not advance for the reason assigned by himself: ' ' At what I supposed to be the proper time I was about to move forward Wright's and Posey 's brigades, when Lieutenant-General Longstreet directed me to stop the movement, adding that it was