The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-17
GIN sIcKLgs AT GETTYSBURG.
His Version of the Conflict of the Third
Corps with LOngstreet's Force.

Gen. Sickles's version of this conflict Is
particularly interesting at this time.
reporter met him at his comfortable
home recently and found the veteran
seated at a 50O-year-old Moorish desk
presented to him while he was minister
to Spain.
Yes" said Gen. SickIes in answer TO
the reporters query, 1.-The only time
have spoken of this battle in public
sense was in 1854, 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 were
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 prolonglng
the line of the troops who had been
gathered on and near Cemetery hill, and
because went out on the heights and
selected an advantageous position where
l 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
for 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.
1.-The overwhelming force brought to
do limo IInfpnahIp
and 1 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 l 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 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
u,
with the help then had and with rein
forcements from the Fifth corps, which
responded an hour after called them,
we could at least hold the field. L lost III
that fight over 900 men,"
General, is it true then that Gen.
Meade was dissatisfied with your po-
sition?"
There had been sort of council of
\ II l.
manders had been requested to attend
Gen. Meade sent for me; declined to go
because l was convinced l would have
trouble with the enemy before | could
return. Finally positive order came
from Gen. Meade. l mounted my horse,
a thoroughbred Kentucky hunter, and
| galloped to headquarters. To Gen.
Meade impaired my apprehensions OF
an attack and asked him to accompany
light of my fears and dec1areu -
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 conf1icts-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
ett's 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 haC
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 haC
but few rounds of ammunition left anC
were exceedingly demoralized and broker
up. When a rumOr was spread among
them that the Yanks were going t.
charge there was always a stampede
We had the choice of position. We hac
repealed two successive attacks on Oul
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 cOulC
swing in reinforcements from either thi
right or the center. l hold that had no
the Third corps broken the back of Long
streets corps on the second there Heve
would have been a third day at Gettys
burg.-New York World Interview.