The National tribune., 1886-07-15
sICKLES AT GETTYSBURG.
Gen. Howard Talks About the Commander Of the
Third Corps.

Maj Gen. Oliver o. Howard, who spent a
few days last week at indianapolis, Ind. and
lectured in that city on the battle of Gettys-
burg, in an interview as TO the truth of the
statement made by Col. Norris relative to Gen.
Sickless part in the great battle, said:
The charge that Siekles was derelict In his duty
and did obey orders is absolutely false He did
just as he commanded to do. and subsequent
Developments showed that where he acted indie
pendenty in the absence Of any orders what he did
for the best. There was nothing about Sickness
conduct that was not gallant and soldierly that
occasion. / do not to speak in detail about
myself further than say that IT has been generally
conceded and recognized in a vote Of thanks given
me by Congress that the position in which placed
troops Cemetery Hill on that first day saved
US from utter defeat and disaster. Whatever can
be said about my military record nobody truth
fully say that ever delayed in obeying orders
Gen. Howard said it was impossible to have
had victory on the first day. No sane man
could have expected victory under the eircum-
stances.
Think OF IT. We had 5000 men against 1000
under Lees command, and the enemy had the adj
vantage OF position and concentration. Lee was
deceived as 10 our position and numbers, and this
fact, connected with our stand on Cemetery Hill,
the most available place sor a defense that we
could have found, enabled TO hold our own
against such fearful odds.
The General then proceeded 70 reply in
detail 10 the charges made about SclSles and
himself. He said:
The undoubted fact Is that Meade was out
generated by Lee, who had his immense army in
such shape that il could be speedily concentrated
Neither Siekles nor myself were ordered to Getys-
burg, as is charged. but Reynolds was. was or
dered to be IN supporting distance and Sickles was
ordered at EmmittsburR. was almost at the be-
ginning of the first days battle and did not arrive
late, and my corps was there by o'clock IL COM
menced after 10 o'clock and in the very start Gen
Reynolds was killed and assumed command. i
was in supporting distance, in accordance with my
orders. and marching toward Gettysburg. When
we heard the hiring we hurried on, and IL was
shortly after got there that Reynolds was killed
IL was a terrible fight against great odds and as
soon rs was in command saw at that we
must hold the hill Cemetery at all hazards and is
sued orders accordingly. sent PieTson back 20 tell
Gen. Barlow TO move up at once with his division
and TO tell Gen. Sckles to move up Immediately
| with his corps. Pierson started TO deliver the
| orders, but Sickles at Emmistsburg ~ miles
| away, where lac ordered, and vas not easily
found. When he did receive the orders lie at once
started forward, and brought his corps fast he
could
sickles acted promptly in accordance with his
c-ders. Ii was hot day, and the road was dusty
and blockRded. Let US suppose that those orders
had been given TO Col. PiersOn, of my staff at ii
\ o'clock IL would have taken him two hours TO
have got them to Sic<les, half an hour longer to
! get the troops moving, and at least four hours
longer TO have reached Gettysburg That would
| lave brought him there between and 6 o'clock,
long after the battle was over, for ii was about
| O'Clock when Gen. Hancock came up and we be-
/ gan our retreat Sickles at Emmttsburg by
| order Of Gen. Meade, 10 hold that point against a
Q
! stores were there. He came forward as fast as he
| could when ordered TO do 50, and even If he and
] his corps had been ut Gettysburg earlier in the
fight their slight force would have helped us but
little against such odds our position ON that hill
alone saved Us. Everyb body frankly admitted that
al the time and the only wonder Is that did not
get whipped anyhow.
With respect to Sickies's moving out Of line
Gen. Howard said:
II Meade had located his lines on the second
day Of that battle he did the third, it was
! not wise for him 20 have moved out bat he
did not. Going out he did TO meet Longstreei
was fortunate thing. That was a desperate strug.
gle for Little Round Top, for that was the key "a
! the whole situation, and Gen. Lee recognized thu:
fact. / think that the whole controversy about
this matter arises from the First Corps men, e
which Norris belonged, who claim that their seTv
ices in the battle never received the recognition
they deserved Possibly this may be true, but ever
IL II is IL Is excuse for Col. Norris any othe
man misrepTesenting the facts Of which he is either
ignorant docs not want 10 do justice to the par
Elephants.