The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-26
SOMETHING NEW ABOUT GETTYs
BURG.


Owing to the generally received opinion
that the battle of Gettysburg was the decisive
action Of our late civil war, the turning point
in the great contest between the North and
, South, 1t has evoked far more comment and
criticism than has any other battle during that
long and bloody struggle While the acct
dental. unprecedented collision which
brought on the fight, the unfortunate absence
: of Stuart's cavalry. the failure Of Ewell to
attack Cemetery Heights after having
whipped Reynolds and Towards corps and
captured the town. the alleged sluggishness
displayed by Longstreet in bringing his
troops on the field, the want of prompt and
, harmonious cooperation between the corps
and division commanders of the Confederate
army In attacking the enemy. the compare
tive numbers engaged on either side all
these have been the themes of elaborate dis
cusson and somewhat acrimonious criticism ,
but there is u circumstance connected with
the battle and with Lees invasion of Pennsyl-
vania to which scarcely any allusion has been
made. and which is involved in maze of
mystery. .......
1t will be remembered that at the close of
the second days fighting. Meade's army had
been forced back on both TANKS by Longstreet
driving Sickles from the Peach Orchard on the
left, and by Ewel obtaining foothold with
in the exterior entertainments of the Federal
army on the extreme right. Notwithstanding
these advantages gained by the Confederates,
the enemy's main line along the heights had
received no material injury, and his numerous
batteries in unbroken front. still frowned
menacingly upon Lees gallant "boys in
gray" Such being Imposition at the close of
that bloody day, it was with surprise and in
credulity that reports were received about
midnight from the pickets in advance of
Ewells line that the enemy were retiring
This, on investigation. was found to be seem
ingly true the rumbling of heavy wheels be-
tokening. by the receding sounds, the with
drawal of Meade's artillery from our front.
There are men now in this city who will bear
testimony to the correctness Of this state
ment. For some unexplained reason this re-
trogade movement was checked. the guns
were returned to their former positions. and
the dawn of the third of July disclosed
Meade's army in full array, presenting the
| same bold, defiant and formidable front that
1t had done on the previous evening.
The writer had circumstance related to
him few months after the war which posi-
bly, may throw some light on these mystic
rious movements In Meades army. He is
induced to recall it at this time on account o.
having recently come in possession of certain
official documents of the Confederate govern
ment which have bearing on the subject.
Ulrich Dahlgren-the same who as the
leader of one Of the raidng parties which had
for their object the sacking and burning of
Richmond-was killed In the vicinity of
that city-was badly wounded in the leg in
III our memory serves us right a cavalry |
skirmish a few days after the battle of Get
tysburg, and carried to Washington, where !
his limb was amputated. During his confne-
ment In his fathers the Admiralty house,
our informant a man who was prominent in
social and professional circles In that city
paid daily visits to the wounded officer He
was surprised to see that young Dahlgren
was the recipient of special and extraordinary
eourtesies and attentions from the highest
magnates of the land President Lincoln
Secretary Stanton. the most prominent lead
ers In Congress. high officials of the army
and navy, frequently visited him and
showed an interest in his welfare which his
rank-that of lieutenant and the nature
and extent OF his military services did not
seem to justify. One day when Dahlgren had
reached an advanced stage OF convaescence,
our friend found him in an abnormal condi-
ton of elation and excitement and on ask ing
the cause, was shown a document signed by
President Lincoln. appointing Lieut.. Ulrich
Dahlgren to be colonel of cavalry in the
United States army, and authorizing him to
raise regiment in that arm of the service,
and to appoint his own subordinate officers.
Our friend expressed his surprise at this sud
den and remarkable elevation In rank, and
the bestowal by the President on mere
youth of twenty years of such unusual honors
and privileges. who though he had lost leg
In battling Tor the preservation of the Union,
had not seemingly performed any great or
signal services, incidentally abiding to the
marked and frequent attentions paid him by
the most distinguished officials of the gov
eminent. To this Dahlgren replied that, ac-
cdentally he had been an humble contribu-
tor to the success of Meade at Gettysburg;
that on the evening of the second Of July.
while returning with ten men from a scouting
expedition, he had captured on the Emmetts-
burg road a Confederate scout and taken
from him, after much trouble, dispatch
from Adiutant General Cooper to Gen. Lee,
informing the latter that President Davis,
owing to the exposed position of Richmond
and the landing Of Federal troops at City
Point, could not send forward any
more reinforcements, and that the
assemblage Of an auxiliary army at
Culpepper Courthouse to attack
Washington, so soon as Gen. Lee had drawn
Hooker's (Meades) army sufficiently far
north into Pennsylvania to be out Of support
ing distance, was impossible of accomplish
ment. Dahgren stated that on discovering
the purport of the dispatch and approaching
its Importance he rode as fast as his horse
could carry him to Gen. Meades headquarters