The National tribune., 1882-12-14


likely to be that of General Sam Jones, bent
upon foraging excursion.
The headquarters of General Hooker and
MiIroy were connected by telegraph, and
i've minutes would have sufiiced to notify
The latter that General Lee had commenced
a movement towards the north No warning
was given, no re-enforcements sent to the
little garrison, and no orders either to hold
the position at all hazards or evaCuate it
without battle, were communicated to the
commanding officer.
General MiIroy seems to have acted as
well as possible with the lights before him.
When it became apparent that he was con-
fronted by an overwhelming force, he called
i council of ar and his brigade-cOmmanders
had no hesitation in advising retreat. The
road to Harper's Ferry was believed to be
open, and after spiking the cannon the COM
mand moved noiselessly out into the dark
ness. General Ewell, having resolved to
capture the entire force, had moved JOhnson's
division around to the rear of Winchester,
and the retreating garrison came suddenly
upon it. General Elliott, with characteristic
gallantry, charged the enemy, and General
Milroy displayed the utmost daring, but in
vain. Every charge was repulsed, and there
was no alternative presented but flight
General Milroy in his official report esti-
mates the loss in mis- command at 5000, or
about three-sevenths of the effective strength,
equal to one third of his entire command.
That he should have been suffered by
General HalIeck to remain at an isolated
post uninformed Of themovement going on
in Hoollers front is one of the inexplicable
blunders that Napoleon characterized as
worse than q crime.
Grand Army Re cruiting Offices.
Every po8t-office to which THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE goes should be a recruiting office
for the Grand Army, for wherever THE Ma
TIONAL TRIBUNE is taken there you will
find an ex-sOldier. 1t is not necessary to
Isg out a sign or beat drum. A copy
of THE TRIBUNE is all that you will need
to induce your comrades to enlist in the
ranks of the Grand Army. The steps neces-
sary to be taken preliminary to the estab-
lishment of Post where none has yet been
chartered are of the simplest character All
that you have got to do is to get at least ten
honOrably discharged soldiers or sailors of the
late war to sign an application, and forward
the same to the editor of THE TRIBUNE, who
will at once communicate with the proper
authorities and see that the organization is
completed.
Many of our readers and subscribers have
already acted upon this suggestion, and in
this way The TRIBUNE has been instru-
mental in adding very materially to the
membership of the Grand Army 1t is in
response to their requests that we publish
the following form Of application, for which
we are indebted to Comrade MaglllIcuddy,
of Akron, Ohio, and we trust many such
will be filled up and mailed to US before
the winter is over:
The undersigned honorably discharged soldiers
land saiOrs) of the United States Army land
Navy,) having served during the late rebellion,
and now desiring to aid III the accomplishment of
the objects of the Grand Army of the Republic viz:
I" To preserve and strengthen those kind and fra
ternai feelings which bind together the soldiers,
sailors and marines, who united to suppress the
late rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory and
history of the dead TO assist such former comrades
in arms need help and protection, and to extend
needful aid to the widows and orphans OF hose
who have fallen" hereby make application for a
charter as "A Post of the Grand Army of the Re
public of your Department, to be located in the
the County of...........
and State of................ and we hereby solemnly
pledge ourselves to be governed by and strictly
observe the Rules and Regulations of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
-. ....... rs.