The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-19
The Eleventh Oorps At Gett,sburr.

To THE EDITOR: In your issue of Jan. Is
read an article published in defense of the Elev-
enth Corps at Gettysburg, over the signature
of A. r. Barlow. The article appeared how
ever, to be as much an attack upon Comrade
James Beale as in defense of the Eleventh
Corps.
Now, I do not intend or desire to make an
attack upon the above mentioned corps. for
believe that it was composed mostly of brave
officers and men: but, as was a common saying
among the soldiers Of the First Corps, 1.-The
least said in regard to the Eleventh Corps at
Gettysburg the better" Nevertheless, as a
friend of Comrade Beale, who by the way, was
in my regiment (the 18th Mass J, and good
and brave soldier wish to write a few words
1t requires nothing from me to prove to the
world the gallant, heroic conduct of the SOL
diers of the First Corps on July l, at Gettys
burg; but when any writer expects partici-
pants in the battle and readers of history to
believe his most remarkable statement that
The Eleventh Corps saved the First Corps
from utter rOut on July ], at Gettysburg" he
expects what is impossible; for the general i'm
preston is, I am led to believe from any knowl-
edge can gain, that both at Gettysburg and
Charlottesville that corps had all that they
could do to take care of themselves. Neither
do historians agree with A. 4. Barlow in that
respect, for Swinton, in his Twelve Decisive
BATTLES Oh the WAT, Says. Inc ILlcStnln
Corps made but feeble resistance and gave way
before the enemy2 Losing in his work, also
says: AT about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
Early pressed Barlow back. Rhodes dashed
through the weak center and threw into con-
fusion the right of the First and left of the
Eleventh Corps Early dashng forward. cap
tured nearly 5000 prisoners chiefly of the
Eleventh Corps" The Chaplain of the 18th
Pa, in his "Story of the Regiment" also
writes: "The First Corps which for six hours
numbering in all only 5000 men, had contend
ed against Hills Corps of over 10000 strong !;
hut now new danger threatened them; the
Eleventh Corps, that had for some time held
its own, suddenly broke, precipitatng EwelPs
Corps upon our right flank. Overwhelmed
in 'front.' sorely pressed on either flank, the
Union lines gave way and retreated through
Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. We were going
in and out among the dead and dying, when
the broken and flying battalions of the Elev-
enth Corps came streaming in from the right.
1t was night never to be forgotten; crowtling
through the Streets up the alleys, over fences,
in utter ignorance of where they were going;
every moment increasing the confusion and
dismay.'
When any person will make a statement
like the above, that the Eleventh Corps saved
the First from utter rOut at Gettysburg on
July l. he is either ignorant of facts or will
fully blind to the truth. The writer asks Com
rade Beale If he was i'll the fight, and, If so,
did he not travel in the headquarters wagon !?
Now, / consider Comrade Beale abundantly
able to defend himself, but, as senior officer of
his regiment, wish to give my testimony in
his behalf and without his knowledge or re-
quest Comrade Beale was in the fight. and
his bravery was and still is unquestioned; he
bears scars on his body, of wounds received at
Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, where he
bravely fought until wounded and taken pris-
Ia, Ia,o tl..r4 xl,-n L.
not the only soldier who has an unfavorabe
opinion of Gen. o. o. Howard as Corps conf
mander.-BENJ. F. Cook, Lieut.-Col., 10th
Mass