The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-12

Emmettsburg road While awaiting the expected order
Sickes made good OF his time In eveiiing AL Uni
fences and stone walls, TO facilitate the movements
his troops and TO favor the operations or the cavalry
What then was the surprise OF Sckes TO see OF sudden
a the cavalry withdrawn. leaving his hank entirely
exposed He sent an earnest remonstrancs 70 General
Meade whose reply was that he did not intend 70 with
draw the cavalry. and that part q this division
(Bufords) should be sent back. It never returned.
Under these sckles threw forward three
regiments Of light troops administers and for outpost
duty Tho critical moment had now arrived The
enemys indicated their purpose to seize the
Roundtop Hill; and this In their possession General
Longstreet would have had easy work cutting up
left wing. 10 prevent this disaster Sckes waited
longer for orders from General Meade but directed Gene
raj Hobart Wards brigade and Smiths battery ourth
New York; to that vital position. and at the
same time advancing his line Of battle about three hun
dred yards. hold the crest in his front, he extended
his left support Ward and the threatened rear
Of the army
These dispositions were made In the very face Of the
enemy, who were advancing In columns or attack,
Sckles dreaded tho conflict should open before
his dispositions completed At this juncture no
was summoned report In person at headquarters 70
attend council Of corps commanders His preparations
wero OF such moment and the attack that Gen.
Sickles delayed attending the council, while giving all
his attention to the carrying out Of his orders second
peremptcry summons came from General Meade, and !,
leaving his unfinished tho active supervision or
General Brney and General Humphreys, Sckles rode or
the headquarters Before he had reached there
tho sound Of cannon announced that the battle had begun
fastening rapidly met by General Meade at the
door Of his quarters, who said general, will not ask
you dsmount the enemy engaging your front; the
ment, a. IL proved, for q council OF war.
Sickles putting spurs to his horse, few back
TO his command, and, finding that Graham's brigade
not advanced far he desired. he pushing
that brigade and battery forward about hundred
yards, when General Meade length arrived on the
field The following colloquy ensued, which gathered
from several officers presen:-"Are you not too much
extended, GeneraP' said Meade. "Can You hold this
'front.'" 'Yes" replied sickles, "unt more troops arc
brought up the enemy attacking in force, and shall
need support" General Meade then let drop some re-
mark showing that his mind still wavering to the
extent Of ground covered by the Third corps Sckes
Piled General, have received no orders. Ihave made
these dsposons the best my judgment or course
shall be happy to modify them according to your vews'
"No" said Meade 81 win you the Fifth corps, and
you may send for support from the Second corps" III
shall need more artillery" added Sckes. sSend for all
you want" replied Meade ito the artillery reserve.
will direct General Hunt to send you all you ask for"
The conference then abruptly terminated by
heavy shower OF shells, probably directed at the
group and General Meade rode or Sickles received no
further orders that day. There is doubt, may
add that Sckcs line too much extended for
tho number Of troops under his command but his great
aim to prevent the enemy getting between his flank
and the Roundtop alluded TO- This worth the risk,
in his opinion, Of momenary weakening his lines The
contest going on was Of tho most fierce and san
culinary description The entire right wing Of the enemy
was concentrated the devoted Third corps the OBJ
ject Of Lee. he states, was to carry the ground
which Sces occupied, and which both generals evident
ly regarded OF the highest importance. While this
terrific combat raging our LEFT Lee ordered Ewen
to attack" our right wing and Hill "to threaten"
centre both with the object says in his report TO
divert reinforcements from reaching left, which,
we have seem Longstreet "directed to carry" Well
may General Meade in hts report say "the Third
sustained the shock most herocay" for they fought
like lions, against tremendous odds, for nearly an
hour before tho Fifth corps up under Sykes
who was Immediately put in position by General sckles
the eft or the Third corps and General Sykes was
desired to relieve Wards brigade and Smiths battery
the Roundtop, and hold the line from thence TO Bir
neys lett rst division, Third corps) Strange 70 say,
this movement promptly carried out, and there
was imminent danger OF losing the Roundop, for Long
street making desperate exertons to carry it." Fear
Ing this result Sckles sent orders TO General Crawford,
Of the Fifth corps to reinforce Wards brigade but be
declined TO move without orders from his own corps
commander Sykes but Captain Moore, OF Sickles sta.
at length overcame his scrupes and he reached the
disputed point just In time prevent its falling into the
enemys hands Considering our force unequal to the
exgeucy sckles called the heroic troops Of the Second
corps for support, and they gave II with WILL The
struggle now became deadly. The columns OF Long
street charged with reckless fury upon troops but
they were with vaor and stern fortitude that do
fed their utmost efforts An alarming incident, however
occurred. Barnes division, OF the Fifth corps, sud
denly gave way; and Sckes, seeing this, put
battery In position TO check the enemy II he
broke through this gap front, and General
Birney was sent order Barnes back into line. "No,
he said; 'impossible. II Is too hot My men cannot
stand It," Remonstrancs was uuavaling, and sickles
despatched his adso bring up any troops they met to
fill this blank. Major Tremaine, Of his sta fell In with
General Zook head OF his brigade Second corps)
and this gallant officer instantly volunteered 10 take
Barnes place. When they reached the ground Barnes
dsordered troops mpeded the advance Of the brigade
you can't get out Of the way cried zook, lie down
and will march over you" Barnes ordered his men 10
lie down. chvaric zook and his splendid brigade,
under the personal direction Of General Brnoy did march
over them and right into the breach Aasl poor Zook
FELL MORALLY wounded, and half Of his brigade per-
ished with him: II was about this time-nsar seven p.
M-that sicklcs struck by cannon ball that tore on
his right leg, and he was borne from the nsld
was now pretty clear that General Meade
had awakened TO the fact which he treated
with such indifference when pressed on him BY
sickes In the mornng-tbat lon was the assailabe
point IL not the key position; for he began 70
pour In renforcemens whose presence in the beginning
Of the action would have saved thousands Of lives
Percsviog great exertons ths part Of the enemy,
says Msades report "ths Sixth corps (Ssdgwick and
part Of the First corps ewtons ,Lockwoods Maryland
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