The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-07-22
egN sickle Ar egrTYseuae.
His Version of the Conflicts of the Third
Corps with Lonestreet,s Force.

| nl8 NeFSlOn OF the COnuACt OF the
Corps with Loncstreet's Force.
Gen. Sickles's version of this conflict is
particularly interesting at this time. A
reporter met him at his comfortable
home recently and found the veteran
seated at a 500-year-old Moorish desk
presented to him while he was minister
to Spain.
~Yes, +" said Gen. SiclSles in answered.
the reporters query, "the only time l
have spoken of this battle in a public
sense was in 1864, when l gave testimony
before the congressional committee
charged with inquiring into the conduct
of the war, but my duty then was to
answer only such questions as the COM
mittee put to me. The part that the
Third corps took in that battle can only
be understood by those who either We're
there at the time or have examined the
position since. am aware of the great
amount of criticism that has been
directed towards me for not prolonging
the line of the troops who had been
gathered on and near Cemetery hill, and
because l went out on the heights and
selected an advantageous position where
could quickly detect every movement
that Longstreet made. The fact of the
matter is there was no order of battle,
nor was there the slightest preparation
fer battle that day. When Longstreet
made his formation and swung his troops
on to my left there was nothing for me
to do but attack. l could easily have
held my own against an equal force, but
it was absurd to imagine that l could
check or beat back the right wing of the
Confederate army.
THE overwhelming force brought to
bear against me made my line untenable
and called for reinforcements, realizing
that defeat of my corps meant the flank
ing of the army and the interposition of
the enemy between the army and the
capital. called upon Gen. Hancock,
who had always been kind and cordial to
me, and he sent me regiment after regi-
ment. The gallant Weed, of the Fifth
corps, came to my aid-poor Gen. S. II.
Weed, who was killed that same after
noon ON Little Round Top, and on whose
breast Lieut.. Hazlett, who was in COM
mand of Weeds old artillery battery and
who was also shot by a sharpshooter, fell
while he was leaning over to hear his
chiefs dying words. And poor Zook, of
the Second corps, who fell in the wheat
field later. In response to Warren's APP
peals for help from Round Top let him
have Weed, for 1 was confident that
with the help l then had and with rein
forcements from the Fifth corps, which
responded an hour after called them,
we could at least hold the field. lost in
that fight over 1000 men,"
General, is it true then that Gen.
Meade was dissatisfied with your po-
sition?"
~There had been sort of council of
war that morning and all the corps COM
manders had been requested to attend.
Gen. Meade sent for me; declined to 90
because was convinced 1 would have
trouble with the enemy before ! could
return. Finally a positive order came
from Gen. Meade. mounted my horse,
n thoroughbred Kentucky hunter, and
galloped to headquarters. To Gen.
Meade impaired my apprehensions of
an attack and asked him to accompany
me back and inspect my line. He made
light Of my fears and declared that was
always imagining that was about to be
attacked. However, he directed Gen.
Hunt his chief of artillery, to look into
and Gen. Hunt approved it. Even while
Gen. Meade was ridiculing my apprehen-
sions the booming of guns on the left de-
noted that the fun had begun. Although
the three days strife at Gettysburg is
termed one battle there were actually
three conflicts-Reynolds' fight on the
first day, my fight on the second day ON
the left and the third day, the last ex-
piring gasp, the hopeless charge by Pick
etts gallant fellows on the center, re-
pulsed by Hancock.
In regarding the battle of Gettysburg |
people are apt to dwell upon the third
days fight, because it puts an end to the |
business. The heavier work of the first |
and second days is apt to be overlooked.
At the end of the second day Lee had
but one fresh division, Pickett,s, while
we had the Sixth and Twelfth corps.
Lee was out of ammunition. Gen. Ora
ham, who was wounded and taken pris-
oner, told me that the Confederates had
but few rounds of ammunition left and
were exceedingly demoralized and broken
up. When a rumor was spread among
them that the Yanks We're going to
charge there was always a stampede.
We had the choice of position. We had
repealed two successive attacks on our
right and left, and our left, though APP
parently the weakest part of our front,
was in reality the strongest from the ma
ture of the ground. Besides, we could
swing in reinforcenents from either the
right or the center. hold that had not
the Third corps broken the back of Long
streets corps on the second there never
would have been a third day at Gettys-
burg.-New York World Interview.