The National tribune., 1885-05-07
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
GETTYSBURG AGAIN.
Camrade Reale Returns TO the Charge.


To THE EDITOR: On Feb. % i quoted, for
Che benefit of Mr. Barlow, sundry statements
made by Gen. Howard. In your issue of April
% Mr.. Barlow seems TO have a vague impress
sion that / said these things. If this obtuseDcss
on his part is feigned il is waste of time trying
to convince him if it is real, Goethes line,
"Tre;t fool like fool, and you give him his
due" is suggestive answer
rest the case on the statements of Gen.
Howard as quoted by me on Feb. 26 it Is for How
ard-not Ito explain them. Mr.. Barlow is not
complimentary 10 "our brave Howard !" when
he styles these quotations "vapory ground.
If he denies their fact, ne brands his Corps
General; if he accepts. the rest of his TRADE
falls to the ground for lack OF rational support.
He simply lodges the question when he quotes
Towards letter TO him. That letter is another
evasion for / made no attack on the 18th n.
Y. and quoted TO report. merely stated what
Gen Howard had said, and told Mr.. Barlow
where he could fiEd it. The question is not
what is in reports in possession of Howard
what needs reply or exl lation is his own
printed article Mr. Bal now admits the
episode relating to Sch hel," but tries to
compromise by termiug rrather funny"
Officers have been cashie for inst such
"rather funny" experiences. He brings
amounted infantry" on the scene AS the
Confederates on July had no cavalry engaged
lack OF horses being one of their complaints
ever since the battle-one can only wonder,
while Mr.. Barlow was at it, that he did not
bring on the entire battalion of horse marines
to exc out his story.
MIR. Barlow evidently has been studying
what is known as Bachelors Isometric
View" OF the battlefield, all entirely different
matter from the official maps. He makes sad
mess OF il, and finds six Confederate brigades
"on the flank and rear of Barlow on July l."
Unluekiiy for him he specifics these brigades.
Three OF them lJoness, Wiiliams'S and Stew
4 =
Corps. The official reports of Lee, Eweil and
johnson agree that Johnson's Division did not
reach the field until nearly dark, long after the
fighting had ceased.
OF Smiths Brigade, Early's Division, Gen.
Early says it was posted on the York road to
protect trains" and complains that lie
twice sent for il, but it did not come. So Mr..
Barow's six brigades" dwindle down to the
original two!
i have not been arguing on what did or did
not happen to Barlow's Division OF he Eleventh
Corps 1t is but evasion to try to divert atten-
tion by SO continually s.raying from the argu-
ment. i again insist that, on The authority of
Gen. o. O. Howard, Schimmeipfenngs Divis-
ion was the first to give way" and that Won
Amsberg's Brigade lied the retreat"
Ever since the battle Gen. Howard has been
busily engaged in manufacturing apologies He
has great difficulty in inventing q tale which
Will fully meet the emergency, aud so las been
constantly IN trouble Whenever ms HctlOnS
are demolished by appeal TO the actual record
the cry is promptly raised, Do not, | beg of
You attempt at this late day to corrupt history"
He commenced IL 1876 with his Atlaatic
ticle which Was merciessly torn TO pieces by
Gen. Hancock in the GGia1y. Howard receives
his c;stIgation in silence. In 1877 l carefully
dissccted Towards statements relative to the
first day, and quote one Of many letters received
on the subject:
NEwPoRT r. l. Nov. &C. 1877.
Mr. JAS BEALE Boston. Mass.
DEAR SIR: Col. II . :, of Philadelphia has
kindly SEM a copy of your article commenting
days battle at gettysburg A whom have talked
TO agree that you have completely upset his claims
and properly reLuked his arrogance. / think ii Is
q shame that such cDniemptiDie character as a
soldier should have received the thanks of Com
gres- for hat battle Certainly the fact that he did
receive n Is soothing thought when feel Inort
ned that some we de, M more worthy did not
No one, however. cgn desract from Gen. Rey
noids. If in spirit survive in the future
shall ali wish that last end had been like his.
Yours truly, q. X. WARREN.
In diSmissing Mr.. Barlow from further con-
sideratiOn III his matter most heartily exbort
hin 10 study his maps correctly and read
the histories carefully. After doing this-if he
is at all perviogs to TRUTH think he will
agree with me that when the hills at Get
tysburg have been lcveied by the hand of
time; when historical societies gravely debate
whether Grant or Sherman commanded; when
the very name is welluigh forgotten and Alto
gether m.sspelled, then will be a most oppoftune
time 10 publish the pleasant 6ctions wherein
his heart now SO deIighteth, and, with laurels
flched from some unknown soldiers grave
wreathe the crescent badge with garlands of
victory.-JAMEs BEALE, Philadelphia, Pa.