Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-16
MILITARY COMPARISONS.


make them the text not only of just admiration
awarded to Gen. Meade but of injurious allusion
to all who have preceded him in the command OF
the Army of the Potomac. Especially have those
who are afflicted with what Gen. Cochrane has not
naptly called the Nc Clellanphobia eagerly seized
the opportunity afforded, as they assume, by TINS
"modern instance" to point wise saws In con-
demnation Of the aoyer. cautiousness or "imbe-
cility" which allowed the enemy to escape
from the battlefield of Antietam "without de-
struction" Gen. Meade, it has been said, was
not the man to fall into any such error, and much
affected pleasantly was essayed by one or two
journals immediately after the result of the late
battles was known, in the way of facetous raillery
warning Gen. Meade against the perils of imme-
diately pursuing the enemy, and suggesting the
expediency of allowing Gen. Lee sufficient time to
effect his retreat in safety from Gettysburg, as
formerly from Antietam.
So sodden with ignorance or prejudice are the
writer's that they did not seem to have been aware
that at the very time they were ndulging in these
genialities, the enemy had done at Gettysburg
precisely what he did at Antietam- escaped "un-
| der cover of night and that Gen. Meade, after
his success of Friday in handsomely repulsing
the attacks made on his position, did precisely
what Gen. Mcclellan is blamed for doing year
ago-allowed an interval Of thirty-six hours to
elapse without pressing the enemy for renewal
of the engagement. As this is simply question
of history, and does not need to be complicated
with questions of personal strife or military par
tisanship we cite the memoranda which constitute
the official record under this head
On Friday, July Sd, at thirty minutes past
the final repuse Of the enemy on that day, Gen.
Meade writes to Gen. Haleck as follows
'sAfter the repelng of the assault indications leading
to the belief that the enemy might be withdrawing
armed pushed forward from the left
| and The enemy found 10 be ia force"
At the close of the battle on Friday, then, the
enemy had not begun his retreat. On the next
day. the 4th Of July, in despatch written at
noon, Gen. Meade informs Gen Haeck that our
troops " now hold Gettysburg" which the enemy
" had abandoned, leaving large numbers of killed
and wounded on the field" At ten o'clock in the
night of the same day, during uhich time there
had been no fghtng, he writes "No change of
affairs since despatch Of twelve, noon" On the
following morning, Sunday, July 5th,) at twenty
minutes past eight o'clock, and therefore thirty
six hours after the repulse Of the enemy, he tee-
graphs to Gen. Halleck as follows
THE enemy retired under cOper Of The night and heavy
rain in the direction Of Fairfield and Cashown. My
airy are in pursuit
Now, let us compare these official reports with
those made from the battlefield of Antictam by
| Gen Mcclellan That battle was fought on the
18th of September, 1862, lasting until after dark
On the following morning, at eight o'clock, Gen.
Mcclellan wrote as follows to Gen. Haleck
1.-THE battle Of yesterday continued for fourteen hours
and until after dark. We held all gained except
portion Of the extreme left that obliged to abandon
part Of what it had gained Our losses very heavy
especially in general officers The battle will probably be
to-day Send all the troops you by the most
expeditions route"
After examination, and on reflection, Gen Nc
Clellan determined not to renew the fight that day
Both armies remained comparatively inactive, as
after the Gettysburg battle of July Sd. On the
morning of September 10Th, at thirty minutes past
eight o'clock, and therefore thirty-six hours after
the battle of the 18th, Gen Mcclellan telegraphed
as follows:
But little occurred yesterday except skrmishing be-
ing fully occupied in replenishng ammunition taking
Of wounded, &c. Last night the enemy abandoned his pO
sition, leaving his dead and wounded the field. We
are again in pursuit do not yet know whether he is
falling back to interior position crossing the river
We may safely claim complete victory"
Two hours later Gen. Mcclellan was able to re-
port that the enemy was not merely "falling
back to interior position, but actually cross
ing the river for it at thirty minutes after ten
o'clock of the same day that he telegraphed as
follows: ..
"Peasonon lie driving the enemy the river Our
victory was complete. The enemy is driven back into
Virginia. Maryland and Pennsylvania now safe"
The retreat Of the enemy from Gettysburg,
twentyfour hours after his defeat, was effected in
good order, without loss of munitions of war or
guns. Gen Lee fell back to an "interior position"
towards the Potomac, without being greatly ha-
raised by our cavalry, as the topography Of the
country rendered pursuit impracticable Whether
he will succeed in recrossing the Potomac, or whe-
ther he desires to do without again receiving or
giving battle, remains to be proved by subsequent
events
Gen. Meade has more than justified the highest
expectations Of the country by what he has already
done. The people owe him lasting honor, praise,
gratitude, and they not stinted in confessng it
But can ask no homage which falsifes history
or does injustice to brother officer who preceded