Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/335

 Picket? s Charge at Gettysburg. 327

From the Times- Dispatch, May 6, 1906.

PICKETT'S CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG.

Graphic Story Told by Late Colonel Joseph C. Mayo, Third Virginia Regiment.

Why Don't They Support Us Why the "Unknown Private Beyond" Had to Be Killed That Day.

Richmond, Va., April 24, 1906.

Editor of The Times-Dispatch: ,

Sir, I send you an account of Gettysburg by the late Col. Joseph Mayo, of the Third Virginia Infantry, Kemper's bri- gade. This gallant officer was a Virginia Military Institute man, and like every other field officer of Pickett's division, with- out a single exception, he was stricken in the dreadful assault. It has sometimes been said that all of Pickett's field officers were wounded except Major Joseph C. Cabell, of Danville. This is a mistake. He also was shot in the charge, though not severely.

It was stated that Col. Eppa Hunton, of the Eighth Virginia Infantry, Garnett's brigade, rode his horse throughout the action until both he and his horse were shot. Having his painful wound attended, he turned to ride forward again when his horse fell dead.

The account is a graphic one and bears the impress of truth.

Col. J. B. Bachelder, in his account of Gettysburg, states that Pickett's men chased the enemy beyond the point where Arm- istead fell.

Col Mayo's account tells the story of a private who fell twenty paces beyond that point. Col. Mayo some years since passed over the river. His surviving comrades will read with interest the story of their deeds from his pen.

Very truly yours,

JNO. W. DANIEL.