Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-06
GEN. MEADE'S CONGRATULATIONS
ORDER

HDQRs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, March 81, 1865.
The General Commanding has issued the
following Order in which the merits of the
action on the 25th are fairly stated,
HDQRs. ARMY OF THE Potomac, March, 26 1865.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. l3-The Major-Gen.
Commanding announces to the Army the
success of the operations Of yesterday.
The enemy, with a temerity Tor which he
has paid dearly, massed his forces, and sue
ceeded, through the reprehensible want of
vigilance of the Third Brigade First Divis-
ion, Ninth Corps, in breaking through our
lines, capturing Fort Steadman, and Bat
teries g. 10 and H.
The prompt measures taken by MajorGen.
Parke, the firm bearing of the troops of the
Ninth Corps in the adjacent portions of the
line held by the enemy, and the conspicuous
gallantry Of the Third Division of this Corps,
for the first time under fire, together with
the energy and skill displayed by Brighten.
Hartranft, its leader, quickly repaired this
disaster; and the enemy were driven from
Fort Steadman and our lines, with heavy
losses in killed and wounded, leaving in our
hands eight battle-flags and over 1900
prisoners.
The enemy being driven from the front
of the Ninth Corps, The offensive was as
sumed by the Sixth and Second Corps the
enemy by night was driven from his in
trenched picket line and all his efforts to
recover the same, which were particularly
determined and persistent on the Second
Corps's front, were resisted and repulsed
with heavy losses, leaving with the Sixth
Corps over 400 prisoners, and with the
Second Corps two battle-fags and over 800
prisoners.
The troops of the Sixth Corps, repor ted
by Major-Gen. Wright as engaged in these
operations, were Getty's Division, Keifers
Brigade of Seymour's Division, and Ham
Inns and Edwards Brigade of Wheaton, S
Division.
Of the Second Corps ofMajor-Gen. Hum
phreys mentions Miles and Motifs Divisions,
Smythe's Brigade of Hays's Division, sup
ported by Griffins Division, Fifth Corps.
The result of the day was the thorough
defeat of the enemy's plans, the capture of
his strongly intrenched picket-line under
the artillery fire of his main works, and the
capture of ten battle-fags and about $500
prisoners--a result on which the Major
General commanding heartily congratu-
lates the Army
Two lessons can be learned from these op-
erations: One, that no fortified line, how
ever strong, will protect an army from an
intrepid and audacious enemy, unless vigi-
lantly guarded the other, that no disaster
or misfortune is irreparable, where energy
and bravery are displayed in the determin-
alton to recover what is lost and to prompt
ly assume the offensive.
The Major-General commanding trusts
these lessons will not be lost on this Army
In conclusion, the Maior-General Com
manding desires to return his thanks to
those commands of the Army not specially
mentioned in this order, for the prompt
tude displayed by all in their movements
to different parts of the lines, under the ex-
igencies of the hour In connection with
this subject, the promptitudc of Major-Gen.
Warren, and of Brevet Major. Gen. Hunt,
Chief of Artillery, in the early part of the
operations, during the accidental absence
of the Major-General Commanding, deserve
cOmmendation and thanks.
GEO G. MEADE,
Maior-Gen Commanding.