New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-22


More than hundred pages of the book are
occupied with this attempt to defy soldier
who should have been content with an honest
statement of brilliant record. The master
piece in all this Misrepresentation Is the
following bathOs
With the occupation OF Philadelphia and Washington
CITY the capital OF the National Government would
have become tie Confederate capital, Pennsyvania u
Confederate State, Baltimore Confederate seaport,
New-York a Confederate metropolis; slavery "ou'u
have been certainly restored the National debt repud
ated and the Confederate Constitution adopted Inc
recognition of the Confederacy by all the foreign
would have been the downfall OF free INSTITUTIONS All
over the world, etc., etc DOVE ever tnink "o"
near We came to lose these greatest OF human bessnRs
Had Hancock fallen the Sd as Reynolds fell on INC
LIST OF July, 1868 that fate might have been ours.
In the words of General Webb, this is
exceedingly ridiculous" General Hancock
did fall on the Sd of July, so badly wounded
that it was six months before he resumed
duty. and the vital encounter OF the day was
fought and won while he was PROSTATE. NO
one denies that General Hancock did brilliant
service at Gettysburg, which has always been
gratefully recognized by the country. But the
authentic Histories of the war will be searched
in vain for facts justiiying Mr. Forney's ex-
travagant assertions. put forward, 1t seems,
with General IIancOck's approval. We do not
intend to fight the battle over again, but
few citations will show the falsity OF these
claims. Washington dispatch III yesterdays
TRIBUNE showed that the attempt to give
General Hancock the credit OF planning the
battle is defeated by the official records ana
by his own report. Concerning his share III
the decisive fight, General Webb stated the
facts compactIy in his letter:
Al GettysDurg. where he tHancOck) was In command
left centre occupying line quite mic In eA
tent Picketrs and Armistead's assault on his right
found HIM his left because 1t was there he eXpecteu
and was ready to meet the enemy. or course lie
nastenod to the scene OF conflict but only arrived on
its outskirts severely wounded and was carried
from the field but not until he assured OF the de-
feat OF the assaants. In the meantime those VINO had
received and in IA hand to hand conflict rcpulsed ana
captured leaders Of Longstreets $4,000 picked Con
federaes won the this desperate strug
GLE terminated of ne greatest battles OF the
war and virtually crushed the Rebellion.
This is an exact statement of the facts,
which does not IN the least detract from the
honor Justly due to General Hancock. Cita-
tons could be made from any number OF OIL
cial reports and historical accounts to show
that General Webb Is right, and that Mr..
Forney is wrong and knew he was wrong.
Adiutant- G eneral Barnes, i'll his report OF the
battle, says:
Here came the grip Of the fight Gallant Hancock is
Town: Giboon severely wounded is led TO the rear
Generals Kcmper and Armsiead, o. the rebel force as
quickly fan and officers and both sides arc ~
rapdly stricken For few moments. the antagonists
survey each other Armis,ead. the rebel leader Du'
few PAGES General Webb Of the Philadelphia br 2
ace filso wounde J. literally ookn. eacn other IN
The eyes. Then the final struggle. Etc., etc
Mr. Greeley, IN his American C0nillcr'
takes his description of the crisis OF the bat
tie, ending III the Rebel defeat, from the cor
responience of Agate" in The Cincinnati
Gazette. 4 few sentences will snow how en-
tirely It agrees with the foregoing accounts:
The great, desperate. dnal charge came At l. Tae
Rebels seemed to have gathered ali their strength ana
operation fl rec. convul'iye ehor That should
swerp over and WASH ont obstinate resistance.
Teey ewept up a. before the flower OF their alhy 90
the 'front.' victory stake upon the issue. Han
cock was wounded GibbOn succeeded ~ the command
approved soldier and ready for The crisis. Etc, etc.
If. then, General Hancock "drove the Con-
federate invader from the soil OF Pennsyl-
vania" neither the " invader " nor our own
officials nor the historians seem to have dis
covered II. dozen quotations would only
be repctitiOns of these. General Meade died
in the belief that the glory OF Gettysburg
woud keep lis memory green. Why did not
General Hancock keep in mind his own words
q ioted cOnspcuously III thi. very book
" The historian If the future who essays to
" tell the tale of Gettysburg undertakes an
" onerous task. a high responsibility, "A sacred
" trust. Above all things, Justice and truth
" should dwell i'll his heart"