The Blue and the Gray United. 345
battlefield of Gettysburg, is meeting with general favor with nume- rous prominent Union and ex -Con federate officers. The following are among the letters of commendation received by General Boynton: Senator Walthall, of Mississippi, commanded a brigade in Lid- dell's division of Walker's corps, and fought brilliantly with the forces which opened the battle on the Union left on Saturday, and with those who were engaged to the last on the Union left on Sunday. He writes as follows :
LETTER FROM GENERAL WALTHALL.
General H. V. BOYNTON:
U. S. SENATE, WASHINGTON, D. C, December jp, 1888.
MY DEAR SIR, I have received your note, inclosing the out- line of an organization proposed for the purpose of acquiring and preserving the battlefield of Chickamauga, and asking some expres- sion from me on the subject. I agree with you that it is most desi- rable to preserve and mark this historic field, and approve the general features of the plan proposed. If I can contribute in any way to the success of the project I will be glad to do so. There were twenty - one Mississippi regiments engaged at Chickamauga, five of them under my command, and I am anxious that all these troops, as indeed all others, should occupy their proper place in the history of this great battle.
Very truly yours,
E. C. WALTHALL.
LETTER FROM SENATOR GIBSON.
Senator Randall Gibson was first in command of two regiments of Louisiana troops, but after the wounding of General Adams, com- manded the latter's brigade of Breckinridge's division in the brilliant charge around the Union left on Sunday, which, for a time, until met by Van DerVeer, seriously threatened the overthrow of that wing of the Union army. General Gibson says :
UNITED STATES SENATE, WASHINGTON, D. C., December 75, 1888.
MY DEAR GENERAL I am in receipt of your favor of the loth instant, inclosing a printed letter proposing the organization of an
