Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-08-04
READ AND REFLECT !

liANCOCh OWN STORY OF GETTYSBURG
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE
CONDUCT OF THE WAR,
WASHINGTON, MARCH
22d, 1864.
| soon received an order, dated 1.10
p. NJ, directing me to proceed TO the
front, and in the event Of the death of
General Reynolds, or his inability to
command, to assume the command of
all the troops there, consisting of the
1st, Sd, and llth Corps Order ap-
pended marked A. started little
before half past one, turning over the
command Of my corps to General Glib.
bons, under General Mcade's direc.
tions. General Gibbons was not the
next in rank in that corps but he
was the one General Meade directed
should assume the command, as he
considered him the most suitable per.
son for it.
Several such incidents occurred dur
ing that battle. General Meade prior
to the battle, showed me, or told me
Of letter he had received from the
Secretary Of war on this subject. The
Government recognizing the difficulty
of the situation, believing that a battle
was imminent and might occur in
one, two, or three days, and not
knowing the views of General Meade
in relation TO his commanders, the
Secretary of War wrote him note,
authorizing him to make any changes
in his army that he pleased, and that
he would be sustained by the Presi-
dent and himself That did not make
it legal, because it was contrary to
the law to place a junior officer over a
senior. At the same time it was one
of those emergencies in which General
Meade was authorized, as before stated,
TO exercise that power. Twas not the
senior OF either General Howard, of
the 1lth corps, or General Sickles, of
the Sd corps. My commission bore
date on the same day with theirs by
my prior COMMISSION they both ranked
me. OF course it was not very agree
able office for me to fill, to go and
take command of my seniors. How
ever, | did not feel much embarrass.
ment about it, because | was an older
soldier than either of them. But |
knew that legally it was not proper,
and that if they chose to resist, it
might become u very troublesome
matter to me for the time being.
Whether or not General Meade, when
he gave me the order, knew about
this relative rank, do not know. /
say this because | have since under.
stood that he did not. When l spoke
to him about it before departing, how.
ever, he remarked in substance that
he was obliged to use such persons as
he felt disposed TO use; thatin this case he
sent me because he had explained his
views to me, and had not explained
them TO the others that ] knew his
plans and ideas, and could accord bet.
ter with him in my operations than
anybody else, went to Gettysburg
arriving on the ground not later than
, half past three o'clock. | found that
practically, the fight was then over,
, The rear of our column, with the enc
my in pursuit, was then coming
through the town Of Gettysburg
General Howard was on Cemetery
: Hill, and there had evidently been an
. attempt on his part to stop and torn
some Of his troops there what troops
, be had formed there | do not know
, understood afterwards, and accepted
, il as the fact, that ho had formed one
, division there prior to this time, | tolc
! General Howard | had orders to take
} command in the front. | did no,
; show him orders, because he did not
/ demand it. lie acqLiesced.
exercised the command until even
ing, when General Slocum arrived
about G or Z o'clock. His troops were
in the neighborhood Tor they appar
} emily had been summoned up before
. | arrived, by General Howard posi-
: bly,, as well as the Sd corps. WheT
: General Slocum arrived, he being my
; senior, and not included in this order
= to me- | turned the command over tc
! him. In fact was instructed verbal
. " by General Butterfeld, Chief o.
= staff, before | lett for the front, that
I r..s 80 de
When / arrived and took command
I | extended the lines; / sent Genera
) Wadsworth to the right to take pos
= session of Culp's Hill with his division
| directed General Geary, whose di
vision belonged to the 18th corps { III
: commander, General Slocum, not thcr
! having arrived } to take possession o
the high ground towards Round Top
|, | made such disposition as | thought
! wise and proper, The enemy evidently
D believing that we were reinforced, OF
G our whole army was there, diseontin
, uod their great efforts, and the battle
for that day was virtually over
There was firing ofartllery and skirm
a shing all along the front, but tha
' was the end Of that days battle. By
verbal instructions, and in the orde
which had received from Genera
/ Meade, | was directed TO report, aftoi
having arrived on the ground, whether
7 il would be necessary or wise to con
/ tinue to fight the battle at Gettysburg
. or whether it was possible for th,
!. fight to be had on the ground Genera
d Meade had selected. About A o'olocl
2. NJ. | sent word by Major Mitchell
aid.de.oamp to General Meade, that
would hold the ground until dark
Q meaning TO allow him time TO decid,
+ tho matter for himself. As soon as
had gotten matters arranged 10 my
satisfaction, and saw that the troop
!, were being formed again, and fol
!. secure, | wrote o note TO Genera
Q Meade and informed him Of my view
# Of the ground at Gettysburg | tol,
o him that the only disadvantage which
T thoughtithad was that itcould be read
}. lily turned by way OF Emmettsburg, ant
!. that the road was clear for any move
! ment he might make. ] had ordere,
T all tho trains back, as came up, I,
r clear the roads.
:. General Meade had directed M