The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-12
GEN. O. 0. HOW4RD'S
Personal ReminiScenceS---The Battle
of Brandy Station.
En- Mejor-Gcneral O. o. Ho'rard, Q. S. A.
looryRsGurID.-A1L RIGHT aEsERvED.l
xxx.

Probably there was no gloomier period dur
inc our great war than the month which fol-
lowed the disasters of Charlottesville. AT
least SO il appeared TO me. Then for the sec
ond mc-Bull Run being the frst-l entered
with fuller understanding into the meaning OF
"the valley Of the shadow Of death The
26th Of BIay, 1862 an officer, high in rank and
claiming to be warm personal friend, wrote
me with great apparent frankaess and urged
me 10 leave the 18th corps. have has letter
before me, IN which occur these remarkable
words: The first thing they the men, Ger
mans and Americans VIII do when placed IN
position viii be to look behind them, and the
accidental Discharge OF a mUsNct IN the rear
will produce another panic, another disaster,
another disgrace 10 yourself TO The troops, 10
al OF rs, &c
would not believe it; / courted another
trial Tor the command other than that OF the
terrible Wilderness. ] was then obliged 10
raise my eyes above the criticisms and the
well-meant advice Of my companions in arms;
] then looked To the Great Shepherd for his
care and guidance The end-nay, the very
campaign SO soon to begin justified nay Judg-
mont
The feeling Of the country at that time
North and South, was far from satisfactory TO
the patriots WHO had struggled the hardest and
suffered the most.
The three months and two years men al the
end q May were going home TO be mustered
out, making the army Of Hooker some 25UOU
less than that Of Lee. The raid OF Stoneman
had been severe upon the cavalry horses; the
terms OF enlistment of many cavalrynlen had
expired; so that, VIXEN General Pleasonton,
succeeding Stonelnan, assumed command, our
cavalry had been depleted al least oae-tbird.
DISMAL OUTLOOK.
AS to the outlook for the cause itself. when
was il ever worse The Mississippi above
New Orleans was still sufficiently in the hands
Of the Confederates TO secure for them free
passage TO Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas tie
Northern peace at-any- price men were, owing
10 iegr of the draft the financial depression,
the increase of prices and hostile foreign iHfa-
ence, becoming too numerous TO be ignored.
Though the Queen remained friendly and firm,
still English influence from high places was
favorable TO our permanent division; and
though We had sympathy and help in the field
from the Conlte de Paris and other representa-
tive Frenchmen, still Louis Napoleon had put
into Mexico a reserve Of his troops and The
incipient monarchy of Macmillan TO favor
and take advantage Of our breach.
remember Well the feelings displayed and
the opinions entertained by our military men
at General Rockers council Of war just before
we returned from Charlottesville. General
Sicklcs. then the able commander OF the I'd
corps, was very frank. Though our army was
still so strong, much OF il as yet unhurt, and
though the other general officers thought il
wise 70 give the foe another trial before retir-
ing he salo, substantially, No. the last cleo
tion went against the Administration; the
copperheiids are gaining ia strength; the
enemies Of the Republic everywhere are jubi-
liant It VIII not do to risk here the loss o.
this army. We have gone lar enough. / d
not speak a 4 military man from 9 military
stanap oiBt,-yOu, gentlemen, are better fitted
for that,-bnt from nay view OF the political
arena" We returned. AS every body knows. Il
tie Old camps Then came the fever to q
home, tie terrible newspaper abuse OF us all
sometimes CT The officers and sometimes Of the
conduct Of the soldiers. With il all were the
old animosities, envies and jealousies and the
newly -aWakened ambitions There was a con-
slant rushing 10 Washington, for the purpose
OF interviewing Ha.leck, Stanton and Lincoln.
The C0sansittee OF Congress sitting TO look
after the conduct Of the war had hosts Of vol
untSry witnesses from the army, and the
foundations were than laid for unusual fame,
fOT extraordinary regulations. II Is refreshing
to-day - rcgiew that batch OF wise plans and
critical statements which were evolved being
made after the events which they deplore.
THE CONDITION or LIES Army
We couId gather little hope from the splendid
condition OF Lees army. il had been Te0rgan-
izee. lts numerous brigades were grouped
into divisions and tie divisions into four army
corps. SloneNs8 Jackson. Ii is true, was ne
more, but the three lieuteAants-G eneral Long
street a. l.. Hill, and Ewell-were not want
ing Ia ability or experience. They were trust
ed BY Lee and believed il by the troops and
people. Each Of these commanded corps.
>. J.. j.. Stuart was cut out for a cavalry
leader. In perfect health, but thirty 1.-TWO year,
OF age full Of vIgor and enterprise, with fh'
State supremacy. Christian in thought ant
temperate by h&bit-no man could ride taste
endure more hardship, make iiyeiier charge
OF be more hearty and cheerful while SO en-
gagged. A touch OF vanity, which invited TIA
smiles and applause OF the fair maidens Of kir
GINA bur added To the zesi and ardor OF Stu
ART parades and achievements. he command
60 Lees cavalry oorps-a well-organized body
OF which he was justly proud.
II took each army some time to get its artil
iery into practical shape. II was sometime
attached 20 divisions and distributed here an
there as il might be required, but finally Gen
era Lee gave to bis artillery form Of organ
lZatiOn; putting together, for enc battery, io0
guns instead Of six the usual number, ne cor
stituted battalion Of sixteen pieces u
placed fifteen such battaiions under the con
nand o. bendlet0n. who. IN his OBB arm, r
vailed stuart IA energy and experience. Habit
ually, as l understand it, one artillery batla
ion assigned 10 q division Of infantry
making three TO each corps This placed 81
batt2.i0ns in the reserve. Besides these guu
there were thirty Of light artillery OK horse al
tlllery attached 10 the cavalry. The tot:
number Of guns for Lees service with b
army IL the field were, then. go pieces.
] am inclined 10 believe that Lees effectig
force ia the outset reached the number Whic
General Hooker gave H. by comparing sever;
accurate counts viz, 10000 men OF all arm
] have not tie means at hand 10 verify II
figures, but giving the usual numbers TO divi
ions, we have for A. l.. Hills corps 5000
Heth 10000, Ponder 10000. Anderson I5.OGC
for LOngsIreets, 81 ,000-McIaws 1900. Hoo
12,0O0, Pickett 200; for EweII's 81 000-Ilod,
10.000. larry $500, I'd. Johnston 2,OO9. Th
makes a total Of ~, 600 men. leaving but II OK
for the cavalry, horse artillery, and artiilel
reserve.
We must guard ourselves against the FRI
use by Southern writers Of the word efec
i've" When the effective force counts on
the number Of rifles actually in hand, we c.
understand why the number Of our enemi
becomes 60 limited IN their reports. We
WAYS dealt more literally than they with Of
morning Forthcoming ~ far more thu
the rifles which could be mustered.
HooKER's ARMY.
Ia the midst Of our depressions it was n
deemed possible TO cut out and cut down o
reduced brigades and regiments. IL mig
have destroyed our existing morale. And
think General Hooker. like Mcclellan, enjoy