Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-27


At Gettysburg on July ?, 1863, and
again at Gettysburg in July, 1856, Gen.
SickIes obeyed the first half of the old and
inspiriting legend, "Re bold be bold, as
completely AS he forgot the qualifying and
equally important admonition "Be not
too boldn From the stern, consequences
of his excess of boldness in moving the
Third Corps far to the front of the posi-
ton to which he had been assigned on the
second day at Gettysburg he was partially
rescued, as Col. Bddle has shown, 10y the
Skill OF his commander, Gen. Meade, and
the bravery of the troops hurried to his
support. In attempting month ago,
single handed and unaided, by a similar
excess of boldness, exhibited on the same
field, TO remove what remained Of conse
queuces to his previous rashness he is
met with the stern arraignment by Gen.
Meade, for the first time made public in
to-dav's Press, which is as overwhelming
in its way as was the onslaught of Nc
Laws and Hood. Everything of import
auce that Gen. Sickles has asserted in re-
gard to the second day S fight is denied in
this letter written by Gen. Meade years ago
to Col. Benedict, and everything that Gen.
SickleS has denied is here asserted.
General Slckles asserted that he had no
orders directing the placing OF the lnlrd
Corps Colonel Biddle heard the orders
given once, and again, and repeated Gen
eral ~ickIes asserted that the enemy We're
massiug in his front all the morning that
he 50 reported to General Meade, but could
obtain no directions. General McLaw5
has shown that his troops and Hoods
were not in front of Sckles or visible
to HIM till the middle of the afternoon.
A nd now the letter of General Meade him
self declares what General Sckles denied,
that his commander pointing out
Round Top, told him where to 90
in such exact terms that t,,ot they
1t denies what Gen. Sickles has asserted
that he forced the battle it shows what
,he has dened-the wisdom of the Pipe
Greek order; it denies what he has claim
ed-a victory on the afternoon of the 2d I;
it strips from him every laurel which he
has striven to seize; but more than this,
than all, it arralgnS him, on the evidence
of Gen. Geary, for deliberate diSObedence
of orders, for the destruction of his own
corps, for a terrible and useless loss of
life, and for gripping the Army of the Po-
tomac to such an extent as TO lessen the
audacity of offence which its commander
would otherwise have had.
After reading this passionless and
powerful arraignment of the subordinate
by the commander the wonder grows that
with the evidence, power and opportunity
a
Sickles before court martial for disobe-
dience of orders. 1t has been said that the
wound which the latter received aud the
generosity of the chief alone stood in the
way. This letter from General Meade to
Colonel Benedict marked throughout by
the clearness, calmness, force and modesty
of the authol, and the most decisive
contribution to American history
made in recent years, was itself
only written after General Sickles
had trespassed upon the generous
forbearance Of the writer 1t is published
only after Gen. Sickles has repeated the
offence described by Col. Benedict as an
attempt TO elevate corps commander at
the expense of the commander of the
army and by Gen. Meade as an endeavor
to distort history. 1t leaves Gen. Sickles,
to use a military figure of speech again
driven from his advanced line far to the
rear of the reserves. 1t could be wished
for the sake of the military fame of this
brave soldier, that he could show ignor
ance, and not wilful disobedience of or
ders. to lie at the root of his fault, but
Gen. Meade's letter leaves small ground
for such nope.