The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-26

rofers 70 "Gon. Humphreys, who is at En'nfts-
bitrg trfh fite Third Corps"
I6 Pretty late in the morning" wide Meade's
testimony, y. 8i7l Meade receives Bufords dispatch
90 Reynolds dated al Gettysburg, June ~, lO,o0
pm. giep Com. ConG War, p. ij29
1l. Meade TO Sedgwick:
"It j. loi improbable he the enemy viii reach
that place lGetysburR before the command under
Mai ten Reynolds liarst aud lsieFclith ooIel, now
on the way can arrive there should sueh be the
enee of a superior force. hc j. instructed 10 hold the
enemy in check, andyaR siolrig back II he IL able
90 do this, the line indicated al the circular OF TO-
day will bc occupied tonight"
~ Meade 10 French.
I'm Tie event of our being compelled 60 with
draw or retire before the enemy you viii be IN
readiness 10 throw your command by rail or march,
may be most speedy, into the deienses OF Wash.
is Meade oorrects the Pipe Greek order 50 far as
it relates 10 route OF Withdrawal OF the corps at
Is Atl2.s6p m. Meade writes Hancock:
"In view OF the possible failure Of Reynolds 70
receive the order 10 withdraw his command hy Tue
route through Taneytown, proceed win
your troops out on the direct road 60 Gettysburg
from 1nneytowu, When you Ind that Reynolds
j. covering thnt road instead ol Withdrawing 10y
Emmittshurg (which . u iesfed he may doJ You
will withdraw 10 Frisehurg, directed Ia the cir
cular issued this morning" tsee No. ls, anie,l
INTERENCIlS.
(d Meade was well aware OF the locality OF the
1ei He expected REYNOLDS q attacked 10 fa back
bat was in doubt whether Reynolds had received
the Pipe Greek circular. tSee No. "a. anie)
O. Meade taking all proper prccauton IN
case Of ANY 20 his army. t>ee No u, unie3
Now at 10 30 a. an OF June 80 Buford al Gettys-
burg WAS able 10 correctly locate the Confederate
Hrmy. ] have found the scout who brought the
neWs late that evening on which ihis l0'3o dispatch
Is based
Uutil Il p. m. that night Howard and Reynolds
were al Marsh Run studying maps, etc loee
atlantic l'oHHtig July, 1876 D. SD
Soon after ths Bufprd appears at Marsh Kun, and
holds conference with Reynolds.
Buiord returns 10 Gettysburg with one OF Rey-
nolds'- siHii,
Tlns saii officer reports 10 Reynolds "vory carly
So morning oi July with the latest news.
Quite early on July l. before any Of the First
Corps nmHroh Buford again appears at Marsh
Run. and says 60 Reynolds, I've iun on a couple
OF regiments in woods near Gcltysburgi lend me
some troops 20 feel them"
Reynolds forwards this news to Meade, and the
First Corps march for Get. shurg.
How ihe rest of the First Corps may have Travelled
know not, but ! DO know our division lhoOn-
eon sj moved quite lesUrely. In iacl, wien We
received thc news Of trouble ahead Robinson,
his siaff, and mauy OF his division were eating
Nov. here are Buford and Reynolds in close and
frequent conference. Buiord an fun and correct
knowledge of the locality of the enemy. How IA
the face of his lO.3O dispatch could Buiord few
hours ateT speak Of a couple OF regiments, etc.
Meade WAS using Reynolds as mask to cover the
Pine Cree K movement. tseu HaucOCks testimony,
y. 4Ui.l Until Meade heard Of Reynolds death,
lnoon OF July u, Meade wac expecting Reynolds TO
fall back ii attacked. See d aud IA. aute.)
Bd the death Of Reynolds upset these plans?
Who il responsible Tor tho stand mude ON Seminary
Ridge Had Bulord aud Reynolds concluded 10
force the fight there at ell hazards?
Sec MndswortlI's testimony, y. al3.
ID was "a matter of momentary consultation be-
tween Gen. Reynolds aud myself whether we
would go into the town OF take position Ia front
Die decided thai we had better take position in
front
Meade bad doubts whether Reynolds had received
the Pipe Creek circular. lsee No. Ia, ante.l Did
Reynolds ever get thai circular? The general be-
hci De- le dld noi receive u.
Al Il.s0 a. m. July Meade receives Reynolds's
message from Getty yshurg lthe aid quotes from ms
diary; az 1870 Meade orders the second Corps Out
tsee No a. antel aud al 10 Meade having heard
OF Reynaidss death. orders Hancock io tie front,
aud ,scc Meades testimony PIP. $50, S3l) about or
Pipe Greek movement rs ahand med and the Army
Of the Poiornac march or Geuysburg.
l5. Sicslcs 90 Howard. 3.l5 \. mi
have al this moment received a communioa-
ton irom officer OF your staff and also two writ
ten communications dated at ! and 1880 D. m.
ssdh iHout 70 Gettysburg iHanediGtcg.'
l6 Sicsles to Meade 3:la D.
"A star officer from Howard aud a cCmmunica-
ton dalee Gettysburg l;5J has just reached me.
Howard requests me TO support him, aud shall
imncdigicig."
H. siel,le- 10 Meade S:25 p. M:
shall leave brigade and battery on the
highls beyond Emnitisburg toward Fairfield, and
another 60 the lefl and rear of Emmitisburg These
have orders II unable TO hold Emmitlsburg, TO fall
back 60 Tancytown.n
r. sicSos to Brney. $3.50 y. M.
Move your division 10 Gettysburg Immediately
and report 10 Gen. Howard
~ Monde TO SicSles. 4.l0 p m:
Have just learned thai Howard has ordered You
from Emmttsburg 20 Gettysburg; do not
wish tle approaches through Emmittsburg
guarded M they cover our left and rear.
Hold on until you shai hcar from Gen Hancock,
leaving division al Emmitt-burg IL Is point
Eoi 10 b. abandoned ,.rccls e1iromiiV.
~ Meade % hAnc1cf aud Doubleday, p. M:
say - him socuml Thought il prudent 10
leaNe division oi the Third Corps at Emmitts-
burg. lt oaH be ordered zap io-uight n necessary"
~. Meade 70 SedgwcE. p. m:
The present prospect j. thai our general en-
M Id I H.affa-
p Meade 10 commanding officer at Emmitts-
Dircras that the division OF Gen sicllcs's Corps
ordered 90 remain al llmmtishurg up and
1oin Their oorps on the held OF Gettysburg"
23. Sckles % Meade a.30 d. m.:
Our leit and rear Is not sufficiently guarded.
This is a good batteiield.h
THE $3.50 iHosslIgc OF sokles is Of tenor as
one seni 10y Hancock az b25' IL is a position,
however easily turned
titep Com. Cond War. p. 357)
INFEIIENCEs.
fg) Sickles moved from Emnttshurg on lis own
responsibility and without decay.
ih) Meade WAS 10th 10 let Sckles go but on find
lng some troops had been left at Emmtsburg.
hsHde fully Endorsed Scllles. (sckies really had
anticipated Meades oruer) tsee ~, rs, ana COM
pare ia uHtt.)
Ok on the evening of July Meade was twice
noiihed ta, the iefi of hs line weak (See q
olitc. and Hnmcoei's testimony, D. 405 also Ham
cock e message, D. .l1J
Thus ID b shown beyond peradventure that the
movement, ~ July j, uHiii noon. as far "a tbey
@'ere controlled by Gen. Meade, did not contem-
8Ahlt 3tilA Ntflohs engagement 81 flrhi ana fleN-
enth Corps that the THIRD Corps was operating
under direct aud positive instructions from Cen.
M'gde; that tlie Third Corps commander was
guilty 81 hO delay or osipOpenenl On July I lI
coming o. the front; Thai hc actually went in ad.
vance oi his orders; aud that even before Gen
Mpade's arrival al Gettvsburg he had been ~ cs
notified hal te left Of his line would need speria
attention. JAsas REAtE
late I2ah Mass. SECOND brigade second
DVisioh, Illsi Corp Army Of the Potomac.
An Entirely Fresh start.
fghlaagfty.I .T, Tg,,.s