The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-08
Fen. 0. 0. H0#ARB'S "REMINISCENCES.
/ Continued from Isl page. ]

lcoafinusa from lsf pags.l
Shape to hold his position, the brigade, without
ITS commander, subjected 10 terrific fire, be-
gan to give back Meade says: " The attack
was Tor n time perfectly successful. The
enemy WAS driven from the railroad, has rlhe-
pits and brcastworks. for over half a mile.
He took more than three hundred prisoners
and many standards. Finding no support on
his right none on his left ana none yet very
near In his rear. his men were OVerpowered.
Jie declares that has retreat was executed
without confusion. When back as far as the
edge OF the woods, near the railroad, a brigade
OF Bifney's division. waiting there supporting
B:eades batteries, which ne had left behind,
gave him prompt relief Gibbon, who seems
to have been separated from Meade, in the
woods where he had a sharp encounter OF his
own 20 meet, was now in position to prevent
the utter destruction Of Meade's breaking aud
retiring lines
General Meade has high praise for all his
brigade commanders but speaks particularly
OF Colonel Sinclair as on the adyance-line the
whole time. lie was severely wounded. Colo
mel MclstndleSs, who succeeded 10 the LIST bri-
babe puts his loss al twenty-five officers and $50
men Magiltoa, Of the Cd brigade aggregates
a loss OF twenty-five officers and 7ls men.
GIBBONS ATTACK.
General Gibbon, who was wounded during
the day. appears to have done his utmost in
the way OF flank support. He faced strip
of woods strongly 0ccupied-pr0babiy by Pen
doris defioved lines. He endeavored TO rush
Tayl0r's brigade across the open field. They
got about halfway, when the artillery fire
from three directions became so severe that the
troops took cover by lying down behind a
slight rise Of the ground. Lyles brigade fol-
lowed Taylor's as a support while Roots was
kept Like Meades 81 brigade, not in fours, but
IN column OF companies. When Meade
made his last rapid advance, Gibbon sent
Taylor forward He says: a severe fire at
once opened upon IL by the enemy posted be-
hind the railroad embankment and in the
wood" The fighting became furious; Lyles
command came up to the left Of Taylor, but
was driven back, except Colonel Bates 18th
Massachusetts,, which did not finch. Finally,
the enemy being SO obstinate. Gibbon directed
a bayonat charge by Roots brigade the 18th
Massachusetts,, and some other fragments OF
regiments This was done with tremendous
energy aad spirit and the railway taken, with
$50 prisoners This shows what General Glib
bon was doing Just before he left the field he
saw Meade's repulse, and declared that with
cut the speedy arrival of Te-enforeements, the
position would have 10 be abandoned" Glib
bon left the field. General Taylor succeeded
10 his command. The attack of the enemy,
lust being initiated. following UP Meade's
brigade Of Birney's division was thrown into
action, and began a rapid fire on the left OF
Taylor. Franklin says they also were soon
driven out: but in turn the whole of Birney's
commend, by the aid of several batteries OF
artillery, steadily met the triumphant foe and
forced him 10 stop his advance and 10 keep TO
his cover.
DovbIedav to the left of Meade. had been
occupied ell day by the batteries of Walker
and Stuart with such supports as were given
them by the infantry brigade of Confederate
Field, this day commanded by Colonel Brock
enbroggh, and the cavalry division Of the en-.
envy.
After much artillery and infantry skirmish.
ing, with an occasional attempt TO advance on
the one side, and on the other. night, which
comes early in December, began to approach,
so that the troops were brought back in order
TO their position of the morning. The work
Of the day had been a failure.
On Smiths front there had been heavy Skin
mishing and much artillery firing. and some
important losses-amOng them the wounding Of
General NInton, young enterprslng, and en-
ergetic brigade commander The youthful
cavalry ofiicer-General Bayard-full of spirit
and enterprise. and OF great promise, had beer
killed near the position Of General Franklin
Bayard was much beloved, and his loss wa,
deeply felt.
WHERE THE FAULT lay.
II appears plain TO us now, that the only pos
E5blc chance Of success in Franklinis front wa
IN putting into action. not simply one sInal
division, but as General Franklin advised, bi
whole grand division, strengthened by sup
ports from Hooker, having the column Of at
tack itself at least 10000 strong. Even ther
il would have had 10 encounter St0newal
Jackson's entire wing, well massed and close al
hand, near the point TO be assailed. Burnside
accused Franklin Of choosing small division
instead Of a large one, and then of giving i
zoo little immediate aid. The truth is tha
Franklin was crippled by his first order, which
required him 10 keep his whole force IN readi
ness. not to make this attack Of Meade's but
20 move down the old Richmond or Bowling
Green road. True Burnside did. through al
aid-de-camp. advise Franklin 70 make an al
tack with his whole force, coupled with the
condition, according TO Franklin's testimony
TO do il If he could. This order or advice
brought by an aid, reached Franklin just be
fore 3 p m. ii was then too late 10 repeat al
assault where Meade had come so near succeed
ing The troops without an enemy befori
them. could hardly have organized and march
ed 70 that point before dark. and certainly ]
would have been dreadful waste OF life e
have pushed the 1st corps fSmiths against tn
prepared front Of IcIaws and Pickett: Hood
division being % hand as a free lance. Fur
tber, unless Stonewall Jackson's wing conl,
have been firmly held back, he would hav
thrown il upon amy force that attempted 4
penetrate between him and Longstreet alonl
the Deep Run. Burnside blamed Franklin Il
his testimony before committee Of Congress
but when asked if his orders were disobeye'
by any Of the officers. said: y do not thinl
there was any willful disobedience Of orders
or any wiIiful act Of bad faith, but there was
in my opinion, lack Of alaerity aud strict ad
hercnce 70 the spirit Of the plan, which st
riousiy affected the result"
10 BE- o0liinuedJ
The Delay in tie Pension Office.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE: