The New York herald., 1864-04-04
THF BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
HistOrieus In Reply to General Barnes
aEa the Stan Officers Of the Second nd
Fifth Ccrps-The Evide nee Before the
Committee ON the Conduct OF the
War, sc.
TO TnE ErlrOR or Pie HERALp.

War, sc.
70 THE Er,TOR OF rHE HERALD.
In your Journal OF The 18th ullimo gave an impartial
and conscientious sketch OF the battle or Gettysburg.
Regarding II as the battle Of the war; thought
il wise 10 put lis features record while the
familiar and tho principal actors ai hand. chal-
ienged criticism; and throe replies have appeared,
accusing mo- not only Of Eaccrracy, but downright. mis-
statement This induced redoubie my researches,
as my oDy motive was 10 aid the future historian of this
great event
To my satisfaction more than 20 my surprise, nnd
that not only the outline Of picture correct but
nearly every detail and incident stated It may
be remembered, that the left wing of army under
the command Of Genera sckes selected by General
Lee his report shows for the point OF his attack
stated Also thai whilst tins formidable attack was
preparing, all the morning Of thursday, July General
sckes was left without orders in spite OF his urgent
treaties TO the Commander inChief General Meade.
stated, likewise that during this fearful interval instead
Of being occupied with the steady advance Of the enemy
General Meade entirely enerossed with The plans for
retreat tina. General lutered his Chief OF STAFF,
employed in drawing up. and that just at the the
general order for retreat prepared the Of Long
street opened left wing, under Sckics stated
further that retreat hopeless Gen Meade ga
lopcd up TO lett rank inspected the dispositions
TO rereI the enemy, whom tho following cooquy essued
which repeat cpitomc yoor lines not too ex.
tended General Sickes2 said the Commander in. hef.
"Can you hold his ront?" 'sYes.n replied Sickies .tll
more troops are sent mp ~ win send you the Fifth
corps and division os the Second corps and yon
have all the artillery ynn need.n stated, finally that
the Third corps constituting our left wing at the begin
ming OF the battle whstood herocally, 10 General
Meades expression, the furious onset OF Longsreet for
nearly hour before the reinorcements promised 10
Sickles by the Commander in Chief arrived and took
their part IN the dreadful ray. Now, appeal to your
readers when ask what Of these statements describ
ing the beginning Of the action any other portrayng
the contest OF Friday July 3, as well tho mgiorous
failure OF General Meade 10 profit by his victory pur
suing and destroying the enemy, has beea disproved
or controverted by The anonymous communications
Published IN repIy9 Not Allow me briefly
TO notice them.
The nrst evidently emana;es from . champion Of the
Second corps, whose task gratuols for il was far
from my intention TO disparage, by single word the val
liant troops Of the Second corps their gallant command
The writer in question is deeply offended that Gene
raj Sickes 6gured conspicuousy in the fight OF July
but that is fault or NINE The blame II any TO be
trbuted 70 the eagerness and activity of General Sces
The said writer, however, makes charge grave
that IL demands refuation He declares that Sickes
right and left, the lives Of three thousand men
to extricate him. He calls this "a sad and
accountable ouc. Ycs, it would have been for
which General Sickles would have been Immediately
cashered II he had committed it. The asper.
sion is preposterous. What General Sckles did
do was to make simple mannuvrc which the
movements OF the enemy required He changed bis front
to the left by wheeling forward the centre and right wing
of his corps to confront the flank attack OF Long
street. No military critic would call this advance II
he had rot done this he would been cut to pieces by
enlading fire. and the safety of the army might hav
been compromised. Furthermore, it would have been
difficult for General Sickles, at the moment IN question,
TO abandon the support his left the obvious
that ne bad none for the Fifth corps, which afterwards
took up position on his left, no. there when he
changed front. So much Tor "Another Eyewitness"
The second reply which appeared in your columns
is signed by a "Staf Onicer OF tho Fifth Corps
and be INDUCES in series OF such reckless as-
sertions 10 show that neither bis temper any
than his memory, IL he at thes' battle,
qualified him for the task Of rectifcation. He first
denies that General sykes reported TO General sckos
the field Then General Sykes failed in his duty for
he ordered by General Meade to do Let me
viDdcate Sykes however for he did report and Sckes
uested him to take position his left and also to
eneral Wards brigade and Smiths battery, the
.a.ns r9gudtop Mountain. Again, the "staf oGcer''
.',.s the Third corps never had soldier on the
.ns 49,. true enough for Wards brigade. and
na,,o,, aa,,,,,nr corps) was posted on the Little
,aa Roundiop Mountain This is
1e.e the gravity of the subject.
berore be Eh corns reached after the battle began
required all this time to march the d.. aa r.. A..
perats vsIor Of the troops of this corps des - ,
position not only covers them with honor, bus -n.,.
glory the army and the country. Three accomplish,
Vincent, Weed and Hazett OF the Fifth corps
consecrated the spot by their heroic deaths With a
view TO mslcad the public, the "Staf oaicerr cooly
asserts that Barnes division. OF the Fifth corps,
posted 10 front of portion OF Sickles' corps;
but, forgetting this. he afterwards states
that the left OF the Third corps (scklcs far in
advance OF the Roundtop, occupied by tho Fifth corps
This is udicrous contradiction win not dwell on;
is necessary to waste time bunders OF the "staf
Onicer.n
third letter, and long one, has appeared IN your
columns ,signcd James Barnes, Brgadcr General United
states Volunteers, commanding First division, Fifth
corps, at the battle Of Gettysburg" which denies in OBJ
strcperous language the unpleasant charge felt myself
obliged to make in my first letter. narr ated that
Barnes division suddenly fell back and left gap in the
lue OF battle and that Gen Bsney, by desire OF Gen.
Sickcs demonstrated at his conduct bu. that Barnes
fused 10 return TO bis position further declared thai
7ock's brigade, which oamo up CALAMITY to sup.
ply tue detection Of Barnes marched his troops
who ordered 10 lie down for this pur
pose ss General Barnes denies all this roundy, under
his signature il is proper should give the
Of those who checrfuy forward to corroborate
every Point tho facts stated I refer General Barnes
FIRST to the letter Of General do Trobriand in the HERALD
Of March 70, where he states that portion Of Barnes d
vision fell back and took position in his rear, and that
spite OF his remonsrances they finally withdrew alto
gether, without being engaged. This confirms wha
alleged but have moro positive testimony in private
from General Birney, which he will not object,
am sure, 70 my using. When he saw Barnes withdraw
inc his troops before they mad received shot, he
sr,ed At Barnes leaving dangerous gap in hts line,
well a. abandoning good position. II Of no avail;
Tor Barnes retired. copy the following from General
eysle tter:--
He (Barnesl moved TO the rear from three 10 four
hundred yards, and formed In OF the road which