The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-03-12
GEN. HOWARD CRITICIZED.
Adjutant Lyman. 145th \. Y, Has Something TO
Say of Gettysburg.

say of Gettysburg.
To THE EDITOR: Nv attention having been
called to an erroneous statement made by Gen.
Howard i'll his article upon Gettysburg, pub
lished in THE of TRIBUNE Nov. y, 1884, |
desire the privilege through your columns OF
correcting the same.
Under the head of SHARP Fighting" Gen.
Howard says the l47th \. Y, near the rail
way cut, was badly handled, and lost some
ground" From this it is to be understood that
from bad management of its officers the regi-
ment did not hold its ground, and thereby pre-
cipitated, at least caused the retreat of
Cutters Brigade. The officers who commanded
the regiment during the engagement were
Lieut. Col. Miller and Maj Geo. Harvey, both
OF whom arc dead, but there are many yet liv-
ing who i'll common with the writer, witnessed
this action and will as ! believe sustain me
in respectfully denying the correctness of the
eminent Generals statement, either as to the
Z" bad handling" of the regiment or as to its
losing ground at the particular time mentioned
by him.
After il was evident that the rebels were in
superior force, Wadsworth ordered Cutters
Brigade back to Seminary Ridge. The o6th
Pa. and 10th \. Y, on the right Of the 141th,
fell back iii good shape. Lieut.-Col. Miller,
commanding the 14.th, was wounded i'll the
head at or about the time of receiving the
order He did not inform Maj. Harvey of his
ground against a front and flank fire for nearly
half an hour. and until Gen. Wadsworth sent
an aid Il second time to order il back. Up to
the time of receiving this order the regiment
lost no ground, but on the left were actually
crOwding upon the enemy, who were not over
- rods distant in the open field the right com
pany having been disposed so rs to face TO the
north, the better TO cover that exposed flank.
Now, as to question of bad handling. l
assume that Gems. Cutler. Wadsworth and
Doubleday, in whose commands we were, and
ali of whom were upon the field anXlouS!y
watching us at this critical period, will be fully
as well qualified to give the facts rs one who at
that particular time was - over the hill and
great way off" Gen. Abner Doubleday, in his
report to Adi't-Gen. Williams, says that he fully
concurs with Gen. WadswOrth in indorsing the
following statements made by Gen, Cutler in
his report. viz: THE 147th did not receive the
order to retire. Lieut.Col. Miller, its COM
mander having been wounded and unable to
communicate his instructions to Maj. Harvey;
the latter bravely held the regiment TO its po
stiOn. - Col. Hoffman (56th Pa. Maj.
Harvey Oath Y. y. and Capt. Cook goth n
y deserve special mention for gallantry and
coolness." And again: Maj. Harvey, of the
141th \. Y, aud Maj. Pye, of the 95th \. Y, on
assuming command did all that brave men
and good soldiers could do and deserved well
for their services" l will quote from one
other witness whose testimony. or whose
competency to give intelligent and impartial
Judgment in the case no man of WadswOrths
old division will doubt. / mean the gallant
Col. J. w. Hoffman, of Philadelphia, we'll
known as the model soldier of the division,
who, true TO the chivalrous spirit which ami
mated him during the times OF war, now
kindly volunteers TO protect the honor of his
old comrades from that ruthless destroyer, the
prGc0cious, laundering, historian, who writes
L /
IN an article published in THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE Of June >, 1854, which article every
survivor of the 147th n. Y. should read being
the first correct detailed statement of our part
in opening the battle of Gettysburg which has
ever been put in print, Col. Hoffman says:
"It was the heroism displayed by the officers
and men of the 1t1th \. Y, III holding on TO the
ground while suffering such terrible losses, that
gave time for the regiments under Fowler (14th
brooklyn, 95th \. Y, and 9th Wis., to arrive
and make the capture" Referring again to
Gen Howard "reminiscences, in the same arti-
Gle and same paragraph he says the l4th Brook
lyn aud 95th \. Y. were cut off, Ii they
were they never knew it, but in connection
with the 9th Wis charged the enemy, which
the 147th had been holding at bay, and cap
turcd good share of them.
OF course il is easier to criticise than to
gather data for and write correct account of
any battle, but articles relating TO important
battles written for publication by men of Gen.
Towards rank and high standing should be
carefully scanned and reviewed, as they are
very likely to become history, or at least to
give color to future history. The Official report
of Gen. Doubleday, who had the responsibility
of directing the most of the heavy fighting
done upon the first day, will probably stand
without material amendment as the correct
history of the opening of the great battle of
Gettysburg. If wrong in any statement above
made | hope some one who remembers the
affair referred to will set me rght.-H. III.
LYMAN, Adutant, 147th \. Y.