Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-12-22
GETTYSBURG.
Recture by AIajor-General Howard-ah
Audience Well Entertained.

! Audience Well Entertained
Major General o. o. Howard lectureo
before the California Museum Association
last night, his subject being Gettysburg
There was thoroughly representative au'
dience present. The stage was quite hid
den by two large maps or charts used &c
illustrate the lecture. The one-armed hero
received warm greeting, and held the
large audience for two hours and over, dur
ing which time not one person retired. de
spoke in an easy, yet effective manner
such as one adopts in narrating events WIN
which he is familiar and In winch
he has had profound and tragic interest
He began his recital by outlining the po-
sition of the Union and Con-
federate forces in the summer OF 1865,
with Lee across the Rappahannock, his
grand army reorganized after ChancelIors-
vile, and the Army of the Potomac re-
duced to less than 10000 effective men. He
sketched the strange conflict OF the news OF
the time concerning Lees rumored lnYa-
sion of the North, and how finally the re-
connoissance under Pleasanton brought on
the Brandy Station engagement ana deyel-
oped the truth, by the capture OF Lees as
patches, that the invasion of the North was
on foot General Hooker was not per-
mitted to cross the river and TALL upon
Hills corps, because Mr.. Lincoln
rightly hold it necessary to vlgllanuy
protect Washington, for the loss
of which the capture OF Rlchmond
could not compensate. After the cavalry
fight by PleasantoD, Ewell, WITH Jackson
old corps, met and defeated Milroy at Win
oI, on, IN HaF-
per's Ferry Everything south and west OF
the Potomac was then controlled by Ewell.
Meantime Hill left Fredericksburg and fol-
lowed Ewell, while Longstreet took posi-
ton nearer Washington, covered by
Stuart's cavalry. Hooker moved his army
from Falmouth to Centerville, covering his
left flank with Pleasanton's cavalry, which
came in contact with Stuart at Aide,
where a fierce engagement occurred June
18th, resulting in the repulse of the Con-
federate cavalry. As Lee proceeded north
ward Hooker gained ground toward Ed
wards Ferry, where he intended to cross if
Lee did likewise. Ewell crossed June 21st
and 22d, near Sharpsburg. On the oath and
25th Longstreet and Hill did the same.
The instant it was known that more than
one corps was passing into Pennsylvania,
Hooker effected his crossing June 9th, and
marched northward with an extended line.
A force under General French was at
Maryland Heights. General Hooker asked
Halleck for the command of it, and
being refused, asked to be relieved.
Accordingly General George Meade re-
Iieved him of the command June 18th.
Meanwhile Stuart, who had somewhat
mistaken Lees order. crossed at Seneca,
captured wagon train and many prison.
ers and made raid, completely encircling
Rockers army. Stuart tried to join
Ewell at Carlisle, but was too late. As
soon as Ewell reached Chambersburg he
sent his troops north and east brushing the
militia before them. Jubal Early passed
Emmettsburg and Gettysburg on to York
and caused the destruction of the bridge
over the Susquehanna at Wrightsville. Ed.
Johnson and Rhodes marched their divis-
ion to Carlisle and came in sight of Harris
burg.
The moment that Lee discovered the near
approach of the Army of the Potomac he
drew in his forces, concentrating at Cash
town, Just west of Gettysburg.
General Meade had moved his army
northward, and having been given French's
command, the very thing Hooker had
been refused, brought that back to Fred
eIick for support, and pressed his left for
Manchester, on June Both, his left was al
ready in the vicinity of Gettysburg, stretch
ing out his command fol at least thirty five
miles. The lett three corps, consisting of
the First, Third and Eleventh. under Gen
eral J. F. Reynolds, with Buford's cavalry
in advance, on the evening of the Both of
June was stationed as follows: Buford at
Gettysburg; First, at Marsh Run; Second,
under Howard, at Emmettsburg Third,
under Sickels, between Emmettsburg and
Taneytown. In the vicinity was Meade,
with the Second, Twelfth and Fifth Corps,
while the Sixth was near Manchester.
This was the position of the Union army
when the first days battle begun.
General Howard gave a.sketch of his own
movements from Emmettsburg on July
LIST, when. accompanied by his brother, he
came on the field at 1870 A. M, in advance
of his command. In searching for point
of observation he visited Cemetery Hill,
and at once decided it to be a most advan-
tageous point, and resolved, if the command
should devolve upon him, to take and hold
the position. The command did, by Rey-
nold's death in the first clash of arms, fall
upon him, and he then acted upon his
Judgment concerning Cemetery Hill. He
then described the battle of the first
day, replying to those who criticise him
for not retiring before disaster came, that
to have done so would have been TO trans
fer Seminary Ridge to Cemetery Hill, and
thus lose all. All he was striving for was
to hold the enemy in check until the army
could come up, and that was done. He
gave his hearers vivid idea of the terrible
loss of life on the first day. Meade and
his army came up in the night, and he
placed the troops, with the left taking in
Little Round Top and the Peach Orchard,
and with the right covering the ground
from Zeigler's Grove, past the cemetery
and Culp's Hill to McAllister's Mill. Lee
enveloped Meade's position, with Long
street opposite Meades left and EweJ op-
posite his right and A. P. Hill in the GEN.
ter. Thus the second days battle was be-
gun. and Sickels, who held the Peach
Orchard, was finally driven back, and all
the ground was taken by the enemy in
front of Little Round Top. Then came the
terrible night battle opposite Ewell, which
resulted in the enemy's holding a part
of Meades barbados between Culp's
Hill and McAllister's mill. The first con-
test on the third day began at $50 A. M,
when Slocum with the Twelfth Corps and
batteries, with some other help, regained
the lost barricades. Then followed the
charge of the Confederates under Pickett in
the afternoon, also another effort on Lees
part to secure the Little Round Top. This
was the most famous epoch in the great
battle. About 100000 men on each side
were engaged in the battle, which turned
the tide of the civil war and brought victory
to the Union arms. The Union army had
$40 and the Confederate 2S7 guns. The
loss on the Union side was 23,1S6, while
the Confederate loss was about 10000.
At the close of the lecture, from which
we have omitted the details, apecdotal
recitals and most of the opinions and judg-
ments expressed, General Howard told the
touching story of his parting at Gettysburg
with his dearest companions in arms-an
affecting story and well told.
CALIFORNIAN CLUE. = This organization
met at Pioneer Hall last night to elect off,
GERS for the ensuing term, and subsequently
INDUCED in a fine collation., after which
there was speech making, songs. dances
and a good time generally, such as the
canny Scots well know how to enjoy. The
officers elected are: A Logan, Chief;
John Carlaw, First Chieftain; James Stew.
art, Second Chieftain D. McDougall
Third Chieftain W. Sim, Fourth Chief
tain The Club will celebrate Bobby Burns
anniversary with concert and ball at the
old Pavilion, January oath.
METROPOLITAN THEArER.-There was 6
hitch in the programme of the Emerson
variety entertainment last evening, and