New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-30
THE ARTILLERY At GE7rKSBURG.
is FFFEcrWENEsS CnRTAILED.


CENTRAL HUNT CHARGES THAT MISTAKEN ORDER
BY GENERAL HANCOCK NEARLY CAUsED Dr.
FEAT.
| WASHINGTON. July 29.-Whea General Burnside,
at the head of his JOINT Committee of the XLYth
Congress. was collecting material for his scheme for
the reorganization of the Army, the opinions Of
prominent military men were freely sought upon
various features OF the proposed reorganization and
suggestions were asked and received from all quar-
ters. General Hancock took the occasion express
some views with regard to the proper
method Of handling. rather Of commanding. the
artillery of an army, and in this regard he was
strongly antagonz,d by General Horny J. Hunt
who for a time was Chef of Artillery Of the Army
Of the Potomac, and who is now Colonel Of the 9Th
| Artillery. General Hancock advocated the at
achment of the artillery to the several corps and
divisions. to be under the immediate command Of
the commanding officers of those organizations.
General Hunt the other hand. maintained that
the artillery of an army should be handled as SIN
| gle machine b general Officer who should be
! subordinate only to the army commander.
During the controversy, which carried on by
means OF letters addressed to General Sherman and
| 10 General Burnside some references were made to
events which occurred ut Gettysburg. illustrating
the point at ssue and which are Of great historic
interest at this time General Hancock in letter
| to General sherman, wrote:
A an instance In point when tna system was inter
fcrrd wli may state l"re tnat at q t} sDlrg curing
ast day or the batIle when cominanded the left
centre OF army Of three cor0s there was
ana while The enemys great cannonlde was in progress
just previous to their grand assault rode 20 that
/ point and found thar the guns al uartery posed
there were 81 cut although other batteries on tie line
were ing slowly. I sent orders by chief Of art
lcry 90 the cOmmlnIer OF tne DaGt.ry, happened
~ belong The artillery OF the army, and mad
been s,nt up To strengthen that part OF the liae
/ the enemy tlat that point was strongly
defended being very und sirabe account - there
Deng no infantry there that the enemy should select
that point for heir at aek THIS order was not obey
ana Vas informed tn,t tne battery commander Gad
orders not To IRE rom me Chei OF Ar..ey OF the
Army OF The Potomac then rode To the battery my sell
ard was actually compelled 10 threaten force on my
own line OF battle before could cause NE battery 20
hre upon toe enemy Woui nave Deen he'G responsl-
| in that event
GENERAL HUNTS REPLY 10 HANCOCK.
General Hunt replied TO General Hancock, in a let
fer addressed to General Burnside He quoted the
above extracts from General Hancock's letter, and
continued:
General Hancock prefers this singular charge. VIII ch.
/ 40 made NAV impIy euher stupidity treachery
/ "n nav part more tuan ten years after the
| event, in a paper addressed TO General suer-
| Inan. and concealed" from me until brought
/ ~ NV notice by friends as adopted by the Mil
tar, Committee the House Of Representatives,. puD-
li-ned congressional report ana copied INTO news
pan.rs. Under such circums. iuces IL demands on my
part public reply. giving The facts IN the e9e and
| exposing the pa pane instantaneous Ol near
| liz every circumstance he adduces 10 give
color to his Gn[Se ororant g rlIsvn,
buf viii b. as Will ne seen, necessary IA proper I'M
dcrstanlm OF The whole matter aud 10 show tlat 40
the battle OF Gettysburg commanded the artillery In
pursuance " ul authority TO DO So specially vested IN
nc general ~ raj Meade reached the. battlefield Of
Gettysburg about a. NJ OF July :, ana
himself and General Howard in inspection Or the
in,s IA see that the arcery was properly posted.
.f,,ts and al -
1 day / would again examine the whole ground under
more flvorabie CIRCUMSTANCES He directed TO do
| 80 ~ see that the artillery OF the corps
properly placed, and 10 make the pest dIspos-
These orders recognized In iact necessarily vested ia
me, al the powers 81 " CoInlanleI ln-C.ieI Oh ne
Aruuery in their plenitude az as2hed 10 m spech
caliy by General Mcclellan on tue pa nea az Anetan
order August p. 1868 already quoted soon aIter
giving me these .Ons on me ned, ana Just as DAY
Genera Meade aud reported hat, OWING I'd me absence
AZ division Of infantry. there was gap between the
l lsit OF near R9 owe Cemetery H and that he
Appreciated an i9mediate nttaeE IA az s,,d sh2b
me in General Socums presence. as nearly as can re-
no rrOylde against attack and make me line safe
" ~ az gna line o, he Third CORPS was resumed
AZ sunset Major McGnvray in c0arge Of ali the
artillery reserve. nearly Iorty guns on the crest
in rei1ng ana replacing disabled batteries, and on the
Of July 3 q 4n me me H heen On IT
| from Ewe's corps, which had got possession
them tne w neo pa's s1d fong
t6at the enemy was POSING large masses OF artillery o
nose our centre and left from near Gettysburg TO
/ boslte Round Top, a distance OF over Two miles.
| PREPARING TO MEET A SPECIAL CASE
While II was possible that this only TO replace
fantry sent TO Ewers assistance or perhaps SIMPLY TO
strengthen line against counter attack from US,
pnsared TO me certain that IL indicated an assault
that front TO De preceded heavy cannonade with In
| tent 70 weaken line at tnat point Of attack but
ab,ve ALL a common ruse, induce 10 throw away
onr ammunition In reply, previous to his assault,
mat his infantry might pass without serious IN
! irrv or disorder over the half milo or
! ,srteetly open ground that beyond
biecr # was that the eneIny's cannonade would
he yioient ,0ng conuuued and followed immediately on
hed 10 readiness to follow up success; thSt IL would
be a supreme effort on wnich MS a'e would DC stated
! ana tuat we must be prepared 10 meet TINS SPECIAL
case ot the first Importance to have our line in the
host nossIhle condOn the assault when the
canuouade would De "A mere subordinate preliminary,
win mat view to sgoIees mls troops irOl 'pe
| bey ond musketry range, to heavy concentrated
crossre artillery. IN order 10 break tAelr formation
cnrck tne,r IND Use bring them In as dlsordered
condition aud with mucn loss a. possible 10 ne point
| AZ Attack and my ord r. we're giyeu spechcay WIN
| this view and to etecC this purpose
'Nibere was neither tim. necessity for my seeking
General Meade special orders HIS instructions had
sitesav gwen me fn powers. and as the enemy might
omen AT any moment, ana Win uudDie tue nuinoeL q
| guns that could use, tle proper course
! ceeded 10 give the necessary orders To tue aruefy
be,nnng WITH those Cemetery H tn the rlght ana
,r ri m, second Corps pUiut OF attack whose duSy
n WA made sweep The ground 10 The 'front.' ana rlgnt
40 leave tue Second Corps Artillery
'ner Major HAZARD free his TIRE the wnoe
| ron of me second Corps, with that Of McGhvray
70 xynom gave yOudng Oruers. All were IN
ormed OF ts probable intent OF tue enemy, and warned
| agoust being led INTO a basty reply To ms
| @snuonade which they told would be fu-
| mona and long cOudnued. They were specially
instructed TO withhold tire at least TOR fifteen
| twenty minutes after the enemy opened watching
co.ey meanwhile effect OF ms tte, a. 10 aseer.
| taIn winch Of HIS batteries did most harm. and
| wien they did open, 10 concentrate their nre
upou those batteries until they were slenced, out 10
fire deliberately and slowly as al target practice anu
wos farmer explained that while slow nre would De
wos efeciye ma main object that OF the delay IN
onrnDg was that mIghC have ut least hall our am
niin On hand ~ meet the assault which would fol-
| - tie uau.uou OF that OF the enemy.