The Republican journal., 1882-03-23

Potomac, the above named General was the
most successful. And of that small group of
men who stand forth as the pre-eminent leaders
| of the Union armies, no one deserves warmer
place in the affections of the American people
than George g. Meade. His bravery and ability
have been universally acknowledged andappre-
ciated. 1t has remained for General Double
day, nearly twenty wears after the war has
closed, and ten years after the death of his old
commander. to win the uncoveted notoriety of
making grave charges of incompetency against
him, which. if true, should have been made
years ago, when the accused could be heard in
his own defense. The only correct method to
measure any mans ability is to place yourself
in his position, surrounded with like circum-
stances and possessing the same means of pro-
curing information that he possessed. In the
| long years that have passed since the battle of
! Gettysburg was fought we have learned all
about the strength, resources, and position of
General Lees army. Consequently there is
scarcely school boy in New England but what
may actually know more about the condition of
| General Lees army, on the night of the second
of July. 1868, than it was possible for General
| Meade to know at that time And it certainly
is not an indication of superiority ON the part of
General Doubleday, with all these details in his
possession 10 crticse the ,rported opinion of his
commander who could not possess this great
mass of information. 1t isalse very unmanly
thing to wait until man is dead before We
| strike him, because we do not dare 10 strike
| him when he is alive. Fortunately for the
memory of General Meade and unfortunately
for General Doubleday, the selfish, egOtistc
| stands forth 50 prominently in the book just
issued from the press of ScribnerS Sons, that
| it will not endanger the reputation of Meade or
| add to that of the latter.
| We remember General Meade as a tall, spare
man, with broad. STOPPING shoulders. high fore
head, and prominent features. He had not tile
| da>hing appt arnce of many other Generals,
but when we saw that tall, bowed form. enyel-
| oped in a great brown oycrcoat. riding to the
| front, we always felt safe. He was ronserya-
! tive and moderate. cool and saga ious. patient
and brave. On the Peninsula, at Antetam,
| Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville he dis
| played such qualities that the Government was
justified in giving him command of its principal
army in the most critical hour of the civil war
|
not largely due to him, the country will never
believe. And the fact that he retained the COM
mand of that army through the succeeding CAM
paigns. possessing to the fullest extent the con-
tidence of General Grant is proof enough Of
his ability commanding officer
o. o. HOWARD.
No officer in the United States army has been
more severely cen>ured than General Howard.
His courage, ability, and character have all
been repeatedly assaiIcd. Investigation after
investigation has been held to investigate the
charges made against him. And thus far the
only fact that has been proved against him is,
THAT he is Il Christian" And the readers of
the last volume on the "Campaigns of the Civil
| War" written by General Doubleday, and just
| issued from the press of ScribuerS Sons, will not
be surprised to find the religious element in
General Howard'S character >neered at where
ever it can be done. 1t is not for me to say
| whether all this abuse arises because the United
States army is not the proper place for Chris
tiun gentleman, or whether the moral tastes Of
his accusers render them incapable of appreciat-
ING the virtues of Christian character. AS to
the first do not believe that the English army
was ever disgraccd by the praycrfu devotion Of
the sanity Hayelock, and do not think the
United States army will he by the Christian
character Of General Howard. But leaving him
to reply TO his own critics, must only speak of
him a. he was seen by private soldier.
quiet, >umng, and yet anoble and digniticd
officer. A genial countcnance, pale, but very
| expressive an eye that could flash AS brightly
| IL. .-..l. Al
derne>s of woman. The cmpt! sleeve pinned
to his shoulder told of devotion and >utlrrngs
for the country's life. When we looked at him
it always reminded Us of friends at nome. A.
al individual he WAS kind, generous. and SYM
pathetic. -\> an officer he was beloved by his
men, and WAS cool, skillfu. and successful.
Aside from some OF the German troops in the
| Eleventh corps his skill and ability WAS never
doubted. He was a man among men. | once
sat on the picket line 1T the Rappahannock with
4 large squad of soldiers who We're members Of
different regiments and hailed from different
| States. General Howard was being discussed.
Some of the soldiers. with much profanity were
abusing him. After many remarks had been
| made, one man. a tall. muscular fellow hang
from Ohio. spoke. Boys will tell YOU what
| | know of General Howard. just before Chan
cellorsvillr my only brother, mere boy wa,
sick and dying We We're together in 4 little
tent. Jimmy knew that he must soon bc mus
tered out, and one dark, stormy night l sat
down by hi, side and took hold of his thin
hands. He talked of home. He sent little mes
SageS of love to the old folks and the girls, gave
me some good advice, but saw he was uneasy
like. Something seemed to trouble him. After
| 4 while he told me he WAS sort of uneasy about
the future He kind of thought there was to be
| Il general inspection over there. and he was not
| ready for it, lie wanted some one to pray for
| him | never took much stock i'll those things,
but he looked SO pitifuI like | made up my mind
that would find some one to help the poor fc-
low prepare for the future. SO through the rain
and mud ran. 1t was awful dark, but | soon
found the chaplain'> tent, but the chaplain was
sick and not able to 90 out. What to do didn't
| know. l never could 90 back to the poor boy
alone. | happened to think of Howard. | had
heard the officers laugh about his prayers, and
without stopping to think what was doing, |
ran across the field half a mile to his hradquar-
terS. The guard had been removed, and
| knocked at the door of the Generals tent.
| When he came | blurted out my errand. He
caught up his hat and hurried with me to my
| tent. Poor Jimmy was very low and breathing
! hard. but he knew nc. and when told him
who the General was his pale checks flushed
with joy Howard got down by the poor boys
side. and how he prayed. My own eyes were
SO dim that could not see much for few mo-
mcnts. When | did look Jimmy had passed
away. He had one hand on the Generals
shoulder, and there was a sweet smile ON his
face. Howard spoke lots of encouraging words
to me before he left, and when Jimmy was
buried General Howard came down to the
grave, spoke few words of sympathy and
| kindly shook my hand. Now, BOYS, You had
hntt .h.lnar Il