Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-21
ElY'S
CATAE r II
VIEWING THE ENsMYs POSITION.
How Gen. Meade Examined the Confed-
MALL. II....rt,. l,utrInt

How Gen. Meade Examined the tonfed-
crate Works to His Hearts Content.
June I9-Sunday -Pickets were firing all
night To-day has been bright and exceed
ingly hot. Sharpshooters and artillery at
work all day. We marched back to our
original position last night, but brought all
our killed and wounded. We are now in
plain sight of the alty-Petersburg At 9
a. m battery of mortars commenced she'll
ing the enemy, doing good execution.
At 10 a. IN. an orderly handed me a note
from Gen Hancock, in which he told me that
Gen. Meade had ordered him to charge the
enemy's work in our front Immediately, and
he asked HE my opinion as to how many men
it would cost | sent word back that l
thought it would cost 20 600 men, and then it
was doubtful Us to our being able TO carry
the works Gen. Hancock sent my note to
Gen. Meade, who, after reading it, sent for
me TO come to his headquarters at once.
went and explained to him the enemys
position, but, as did not wish him to depend
entirely on my opinion, requested him 10 go
with me and see for himself. He consented,
and suggested that he doff his uniform coat
and don plain blouse and hat. He did so,
and after we had ridden a few hundred
yards l proposed to hitch our horses and go
the rest of the way on foot i was deter
mined that the general should see just what
was in front of US and l knew he had too
much sense to drive the men into a charge
after he saw the enemy's position.
We now continued our way on foot There
was line Of old locust trees, about ten or fif-
teen feet apart, along which board fence had
been built and a hedge planted. The hedge
was not very thick, Yet, with the board fence
and the locust trees, it afforded a pretty good
shelter for our front line Of skirmishers, who
were about 100 yards from the enemy's lines
Leading down TO this position was a little
clump of second growth pines. Well, by stoop-
ing low and walking on our hands and knees
for a few rods, the general and reached the
hedge. On reaching a little opening in the
hedge, the general took low position and |
handed him my field glass, which, by the way,
is very strong one, and he lay down and ex-
amined the enemys works to his hearts con-
tent When he had satisfied himself he handed
me the glass and said, "Well go back" Not
another word was spoken until We reached
our horses When galloping back he simply
made the remark, Il had no idea they had so
strong a position" But when we reached
headquarters he thanked me very kindly for
my suggestions, etc, and l bade him good
day and went back 70 the front.
We did not charge the enemy that day, and
! am confident that thousands Of lives were
saved by our not doing so. The field in front
of the enemy was level and smooth. Their
strong Notifications were crowded with in
fantry, and we could see the muzzles of at
least 200 pieces of artillery, undoubtedly
double -shotted, awaiting us. But We did not
please the rebs by attending the picnic they
had evidently gotten up for our benefit
Gen. F. W. Butterfield's Diary in Kansas
City Journal