The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-25
ofthe Rebels ostensible line-but did not

a BUkLlNGlON W
of the Rebels ostensible line-bnt did not
attack. ~. '-f
On Sunday night council of corps COM
manders and chief of departments was held
at headquarters. The question to be deci-
ded was "Shall the position Of the enemy
ba assaulted Tomorrow" There were
twelve officers present, of whom five gave
their opinions in the affirmative and seven
in the negative. The former were: Gen.
Meade, Gen. Howard, commanding 18th
Corps; Gen. g. X. Warren, Chief OF Engi-
neersi Gen. Wadsworth, commanding LIST
Corps. and Gen. Pleasanton, commanding
Cavalry Corps. Of these Gen. Howard
was apparently the most thoroughly con-
WINGED of the necessity of immediate at
tack; at least he was the most strenuous
IN debate. Those opposed we're the oldest
corps commanders, and their weight car
rled decision in the negative. 1t was
conceded by all that if an attack were
ventured upon it should be upon the Rebel
left. Now it happens that Generals How
ard and Wadsworth must have led the adj
vance, had it been permitted. Hence their
votes were request to be allowed to fight.
Moreover, from their position we must
suppose them best acquainted with the
probabilities of success. Besides, Gen.
Fitzpatrick, who had recently fought all
have been, who himself had the extreme
right at Hagerstown, was confident that,
his cavalry assisting, and assisted by one
good corps, he could force the Rebel flank.
So urgent were he and Gen. Howard that
on Monday morning they telegraphed for
permission TO make q reconnaissance in
force in that direction. Permission was
not granted, and the sole operation of the
day was a small reconnaissance, just at
night, by two brigades, one of cavalry and
, one of militia, which was pushed out half a
mile or so, but was unable to determine
the vital question whether the force in front
was an army, or q rear-guard making be-
| lieve an army. The event has shown that
| this day, Monday, was our golden Oppor-
tunity. Had the attack been made we
should have caught the Rebels in the midst
of a general breaking up, with only thin
| line to oppose us, with the roads full of
| trains, with thousand wagons yet quietly
| parked at Williamsport; their army, its ar
| tillery, its trains, its vast spoils, would
have been our prey.
| That no attack was made can be account
| ed for only on the ground of imperfect in
| formation, or of no knowledge whatever
in relation to the enemy. 1t may have
been known that up to Sunday night the
enemy had no means of crossing, and have
been thought impossible that he could OBJ
tain means so soon, and to such an extent
| army may have been ordered in no case to
uncover Washington, while the generals
may have thought that the only practical
bic advance was from the position of the
right with our whole force, thus forming
our army between Lee and Pittsburg.-
There is color to this view, in the fact that
the ridges between the Shearns run paral-
lei with our line, while advancing from
the other direction, they would be perpen-
dicular to it, thus affording better ground
for offensive operations.
This nick of time for an attack com
prised not more than ten practicable hours;
it is not wonderful, therefore, that it was
not seized-not an Impeachment Of gener-
alship that it was not seizeH 1t would
have been surprising had it been hit upon.
The effective force was probably not far
from 60, 900 out of 1000 600 Lee led into Ma
ryland. 1t goes back not so demoralized
as some have fondly believed, but certainly
acknowledging a terrible whipping, I
judge, from the testimony of citizens and
prisoners. A certain Herald correspon-
dent who reports himself as having been
three days n prisoner with Stewards cav
airy, and as having been treated with the
most distinguished consideration" tells
another story, AYERS that they are in splen-
did condition, and do not consider them
selves beaten at Gettysburg, but prefer to
take the evidence of the greatest number
OF witnessess-and the least unquestiona-
bic. One of the prisoners I have convers-
ed with this morning is nephew of U. S.
District Attorney Price of Baltimore, a cit
izen of Hagerstown, and for two years a
Sergeant in the LIST Maryland Cavalry Con
federate.) He was "convinced that Secesh
was played out. For nearly a year the
Yankee cavalry had been to much fon
theirs, and now our infantry had begun to
Outright theirs. He was sick of the bust
ness, and remained behind for the purpose
| of getting out it. Half their army shared
his feelings All this from young man
| of good education, who enlisted in the
Rebel army for the sake Of the principle"
AS I close my letter at / p. M, but two
cavalrymen of all the Rebel ''Army OF
| Northern Virginia are visible across the
Potomac. kilpatrick's guns occasionally
drop she'll into the woods beyond, but
elicit no response. The different corps of
the army OF the Potomac will, tonight:
line the banks of the river of it's name
CHAs. A. PAGE.