Daily national Republican., 1863-12-12
Second Edition
BATTLE OF aETTYsBURa.-HO
To WHOM 1T Il DUE.
FOUR O'CLOCK. r. u.

BATTLE OF eETTYsBURe.-HONo
TO WHOM 1T II DUE.
General Halleck In his report Of the opers-
tions Of our armies in the field during the past
year, In commenting upon the Battle Of Gettys-
burg, says. "7o General Meade belongs the honor
Of ,osu earned victory IN one cffhe 0rediea and
best fought battles ofne wdr."
As public journalist, we cannot allow such
q record to be made In face Of the we'll known
history of the battle of Gettysburg, now made
classic by the eloqueuce of Everett, and In view
Of the important part the gallant Hooker and
his chief Of staff performed preliminary TO and
during the battle, without entering our solemn
protest against 1t. And in doing this, we do
not mean to detract in the slightest degree from
the reputation and honor of Gen. Meade.
1t is a matter of history that the army of the
Potomac was never in finer drill, or better dis.
cipline, or more thoroughly in "nghting trim -
than II was when 1t fought at Gettysburg. 80
much to the credit of Gen. Hooker.
1t is matter of history that when the ad-
vance column of the rebel army was within a
days march OF the capital of Pennsylvania,
and the main body Of the rebel army was in
Maryland, following the advance, Lee, sup
posing that he had out-gcneraled Hooker, and
made sure Of Baltimore and Washington, was
startled to find Hooker across the Potomac, and
right on his flank So much 10 tho credit OF
the latter.
1t is matter of history that when General
Hooker was about to direct some Of the troops
In the field Con Maryland Helghts) under his
command to prepare for blow upon Lees
flank, before the latter could contract his lines,
which would have resulted In cutting the ebel
army IN t'ro, Hookcr's plans were interrupted
by the general-in.chief, and at his (Hooker's)
own request, feeling justly indignant at the
treatment he had received, he was relieved.
General Lee, In his report to jeff. Davis, ac.
knowledges that lie was outhanked and out
generated by Hooker. So much to the credit
Of the latter.
1t is matter Of history that when General
Butteraeld made out his line of marches in
Maryland, he was directed by Hooker to keep
well TO the right In order to cover Baltimore,
intending thereby to force Lee to fight at Get
tysburg or thereabouts. So much to the credit
Of Hooker.
1t is a matter of history that Hooker had
formed a general plan of battles that his Chief.
staff had that plan; that Gen. Meade knew
1T that Hooker recommended Meade as his
successor; and, as IIooker's successor, Meade
had not only the benefit of Hooker's plans and
necessarily acted upon hGm, hut he also had
Hooker's Chief.ofstaT (Gcn. Butterield) by
his side constantly, and If Gen. Halleck dis.
likes to acknowledge the facts briefly cited above
In his report, ii does not detract any the less
from the gcntlemanly and soldierlike conduct
Of Gen. Meade, who, Immediately after the bat
tie Of Gettysburg, In a personal letter to Gen.
Butterhed ,dckn> >riedged hisgredt indebtedness to
that officer for his rdludble aid, which,
he stated, he could not hare succeeded. Gen,
Butterfeld knew all of Hooker's plans, and
was instructed by the latter to communicate
them freely to Gen. Meade, and we happen Ia
know that Gen. Meade received them, acted
upon them, and, after the battle, like true
gentleman, acknowledged his gratitude. Sc
much to the credit of Gen. Hooker.
| 1t is not n matter of history, but It is mat
ter of the planea common sense, that neither
Gen. Meade or any other military chleftsir
living could have taken the Army of the Poto
mac, and in so short time have II well enpugl
In hand" to hurl 1t successfully against sucl
willy, well organized, and well led host, oith
out aid from his immediate predecessor.
Gen. Meade can ask for no higher honor il
this world, than that which he acquired b,
winning such victory over the best disciplined
army the rebels have in the field, In series o
battles which commenced only about forty
eight hours after he assumed command of tn
army of the Potomac, e0em "pom the plans o
ao'isr!
Mr.. Everett, in his oration at Gettysburg
did not fail to do Gen. Hooker justice; nor di,
Gen. Lee, the leader of the crest fallen and de
feated rebel army. We regret the more, there
fore, that the Gcneral-in-Chief of the army o
the United States, in making up an ofllcia
report which Is now a part of the history o
the present war, and to whom the countr,
looks for faithful chronicer of passing mill
tary events, should have omitted to do 80
especially In view of the signal service Gen
Hooker has recently rendered by his dashlnl
and daring exploits in the mountain fastnesse
of the West, astonishing even the peerless
Grant, who promptly awards to "Fightlnl
doe" and his brave troops the credit SO justl.
due him and them. Honor to whom 1t is due
.Aooker, finding that the Potomac liver wa
iordsble above and below hsrpeI's Ferry, an
learning that the whole OF Lees army was Il
Mary land, ordered the evacuation of Marylan
| Heights, to employ the troops garrisoned there a
other points. Gen. Halleck said Mary land Height
must be held at all hazards asserting It to he tn
"key to the position :" to which Hooker replied
"What In h-ll Is the use Of the key when tn
door has been smashed inW
FORD's THEA Il Ell Q X E T 7
CONNIE.