Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-07-31

"CARIrroS, the Boston Journals army
correspondent, writes as follows on the battle
of Gettysburgh. The writer has been on
most of the great battle6elds of the war, and
is exceeded by no one in carefulness OF obser-
walton and fairness of statement.
BosroS, July "a
To the Editor of the Boston Journal;
TEE BATTLE OF GETTrsBuRGH.
ava. it really victoryi" Since my return
from the army the question has been asked many
TINS by friends, who are at loss to know
whether or not the battle of Gettysburgh was a
victory for the Union army. Frankly ana
bluntiy, cannot appreciate such stupidity:
Why not as well ask if the sun rose this morning.
That battle was the greatest Of modern tunes
II was a repulse which became disastrous de-
feat to Gen. Lee.
The people Of the North do not understand
how great contest it was, under what clreum-
stances it was fought, and how momentous 1t Is
in its results. The rapid marching-tWenty,
twenty-five, thirty, hirfy-fre miles in twenty
four hours-continuous marching-the heat, the
mud, the bad roads, the sore feet, the dropping
out Of brave faithful well-tried soldiers, through
sheer exhaustion-this on our part. But not 50
with Lees army. His advance up the Shenan-
doah was deliberate He made no hurried
marches, and his troops, after good feed ana
rest in Pennsylvania, came fresh, hearty, strong
and confident upon the field.
There was great disparity Of troops IN that
battle Enough for a corps of Meade's men had
dropped out of the ranks on the march. some
were stragglers, who make it business to strag-
gle, but there were thousands Of as true men as
ever shouldered a musket, who were unable 10
keep pace with the rapidly advancing columns.
The ambulances were overloaded with the eA-
hausted. Knapsacks were piled in baggage
wagons. Many soldiers tossed their knapsicks
into the bitches that they might keep their places
| in the ranks speak from personal observation
The endurance Of the men-their cheeriuIness-
their constant, unremitting efforts to get on
their MUCK. courage, determination, manifesting
itself In the patient suffering, steady marching
| and endurance on the battle field, VIII be
/ theme of praise for the future historian. They
endured the hard marching and won great VIC
| tory over superior numbers. Meade's forces
| engaged numbered not far from $4,000 whit
Lees could not have been short Of $4,000 ol
10000, He had, according to the best evidence
almost l04 900, not including Stuart's cavalry
when he crossed the Potomac. He left brigade
at williamsport. He had other brigades to pro
tect his fianks and rear. | think fair estimate
would make his forces engaged at Gettysburg
| 10000. They were fresh. They were the cholc'
/ troops Of the southern army.
On the other hand, Meade had the old army o
the Potomac, which had been at the Chlckahom
inv, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville-which hai
had hard fighting-terrible fghting-and littl'
praise.
have heard many men thoughtlessly say tina
the army of the Potomac was Of no account
that il never would do anything, and other re
marks quite as disparaging.
The officers and soldiers know that they ar
thus looked upon. They feel keenly the asper
sions. They also feel, with reason, that th'
public do not now give them the honor which
| justly theirs.
| have no patience with hundreds Of m,
friends who are querying whether or not tn
battle was a victory-who are criticising tn
armv-who are finding fault because Meade ha
not bagged Lee, cut him up, utterly routed him
Instead of staying at home to weaken the arm.
by finding fault. why don't they step into tn
ranks and help do the bagging, the cutting u
and routing? They blame Meade for not attack
ing at Williamsport, but they are ignorant c
the reasons for delay which, if they were known
would be satisfactory to every fiir-minded man
The time has not come for making them public
haye written in this strain because, comm
from the army, knowing the feeling there, an
seeing the estimate Of the people about the Get
ty.burg battle, and hearing their criticisms,
could not keep silent.