The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-22

OSAs - W - AZ LAnAAsAs
enemy as TO compel him 70 accept battle on
Gen. Sickles's front, thereby covering Round
Top until il could be occupied and held in force.
(Tremaines and Moores reports, and Long
streets and McLaw's
10. That meanwhile the enemy's demon
strations on our right 10 divert Gen. Meade's
attention from his left had so far succeeded in
their object that Gen. Meade, believing bis
right would be attacked, and not his left, held
the Fifth Corps in reserve 10 his right, sent no
supports 10 Gen. Sickles, and did not occupy
Round Top until after the battle had reached
its fury, when, in compliance with the appeal
Of Gen. Warren, then alone on Round Top
Gen. Meade directed It's occupation by Barness
Division Of the Sifth Corps, about five o'clock
in the afternoon, two hours after the battle
began. (Barnes's official report; Meade's testi-
mony, G. w. also Longstreet's
IL. That until after o'clock the Third Corps,
say 10000 men aud 30 cannon, bore the weight
OF the assaults Of three divisions of infantry
and four battaliOns Of artillery under Long
street, supported by the Second Corps under
Hill-a force more than twice as large as ours
IN both artillery and infantry.
IL. That when the Fifth Corps occupied
Round Top, supported by caldwell's Division
Of the Second Corps and q part Of the Sixth
Corps, and when dctachments from the First
and Twelfth Corps reached our front, the battle
was won, the enemy repulsed and driven back
10 has lines IN confusion and large loss in
prisoners; and If our troops then in position
on our left, at least 10000 infantry, with The
cavalry within reach, supported by our match
less artillery had been thrown against Lees
right and right center Lees army would have
been
ROUTED IN AN HOUR.
l3. That when the battle Of the ID ended
IN the decisive repulse of the enemy. our
left was not IN the position Gen. Meade init
mates that he designed Sickles should occupy,
10 wit, prOl0ngati0n Of the line Of the Second
Corps on its left; but, on the contrary, our left
extended 10 and included both Little and Big
Round Tops, and Crawfgrd's Division Of Penn
sylyania Reserves held the advanced ground
had occupied as far as the stone fence beyond
the Mheatfeld; and this ground, so gallantly
won by Crawford and his splendid division, he
held all night and the next day and until the
retreat Of Lee (Crawford's Official report
Gen. Geo. N. Sharpe Of Gen. Meade's staf, re-
ported 10 him before the council Of war on the
night Of July that our prisoners taken on the
1 lst and % showed that we had fought every
division In Gen. Lees army except Pickett's
ia. That II our left had been held only on
the line indicated by Gen. Meade as the one
he intended sickies should take, TO wit the
! continuation Of the Cemetery Ridge" 20 the
! left Of the Second Corps, the enemy could have
seized both Round Tops-the key Of the whole
! pOsitiOn-withOut resistance; since their occu-
V patton was not ordered by Gen. Meade until
IN the afternoon, when his attention was
I called 10 their importance by Gen. Warren, as
! il had been called much earlier in the day,
4 before the battle began, by Gen. Sickles.
lNarrens testimony; Barnea's report and testi-
mony.)
IS. That the 10000 nen Of the Third Corps
4 in position on the left Of Cemetery Ridge
would have been pOWerless 10 save our left
flank, because the enemy Ia possession Of
Round Top and all the commanding ridge
adjacent 70 il would have swept Us or any CO ual
number Of troops from the field turning our
flank and gaining our rear before the hour when
/ our powerful supports arrived.
lB. That the advanced position taken by
1 Sickles covering kOand Top and the Emmitts-
4 burg road was an Gen Warren saws, about
the only thing that could be done al that time
1t Was a strong line but there were not troops
enough to hold that limo or any other available
line the left against the superior force Of the
enemy under L0ngstroet Warren testimony.
Gen. Meade's line, which he preferred 10 Sick
less line, was held by 10000 men and 80 guns
aickles's line wEs held by the Third Corps
10000 men and 30 guns; reverse these mum.
bers, aud put 10000 men aud 30 guns in Sick
less position, and no criticism would have been
heard about Sickicss advanced line: the enc.
ny's assault would have been repulsed ia an
hour (Mosdee Official report.)
IL. That the assault Of the enemy in great
force on our left flank on the "a Of July found
us wholly unpropared 10 resist such an attack
except 80 far ~ nici.es Inade his dispositions ID
repel the assault Gen. Meade did not believe
an attack would be made on our left hence lac
made no dispositions for battle on that day on
that flank, although solicited by Sickles 70 re.
conn0itoT the left ia person aud occupy Round
Top with artillery. (Sickles's testimony and
Trcmaine's repOrtl
ls. That the assault Of the enemy on oui
left flank was a surprise 70 Gen. Meade care
fully matured aud concealed by the enemy frOm
daylight until their columns wcrc unmasked
by their fire la the afternoon. i say that in
this attack
GEN. MEADE WAS SURPRISED,
not because be had not been told the attach
WIS imminent and certain. but because be wa
holding II council Of war with bis corps CON
nanders NJ bis chief headquarters, % which
was twice summoned at the moment the battl,
began, and because all bis dispositions for The
battle were made after the enemy's assault wa
encountered by the Third Corps. (Tcstimon,
Of ButterReld, Sickles Com c. W., and Long
} streets official rcport)