The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-22

artillery on the Sd was a cannonade, the
most OF ID at long range, and much OF il so OBJ
Vi0usly q waste of ammunition that Gen. Hunt
ordered firing TO cease on our side. The artll-
lery battle of the ID was fight all the
afternoon and all along our line with masses
of infantry aud artillery; whilst on the Sd,
the enemy's assault was made by single di-
vision quickly destroyed by the combined and
concentrated fire of an overwhelming force of
our artillery and infantry. The brief contest
OF the third day was
DRAMATIC, PICTORIAL, BRILLIANT.
The battle Of the I'd was the battle of Get
tysburg-long, stubborn, for hours doubtful
and from the beginning 20 the end, terrible
in the losses suffered by both sides. The epi-
sode of the Sd was a forlorn hope of Gen
Lee doomed 10 certain defeat. never for an in
stant doubtful in the clear judgment of Long
street He says:
The assault by Pickett on the Sd should never
have been made as IL could not have succeeded by
any possible prodigy of courage or tactics, being
absolutely hopeless assault. Pickett said 90 me,
"Genorl, shall advance" My feelings had 80
overcome me that could not speak Tor fear OF be-
traving my want of confidence To him. bowed
affirmation, aud turned 20 mount my horse.
Was that hopeless assault, I" which could not
have succeeded by any possible prodigy of
courage or tactics was that assault the bat
tie OF Gettysburg2 1t is SO represented in
pictures and narratives, called history: but
You know aud know that the strength Of the
enemys forces and the best tactics Of their
ablest commanders had been already employed
on the 2d and they had been defeated, and the
battle won, right here on our left.
During the first two hours OF the battle on
the 2d, we were as much inferior TO the
enemy la the number of our guns in action
ON the left as we were in infantry. We had 30
guns, the enemy had more than a hundred.
That Is 10 say the enemy employed the artil-
lery of the First and Second Corps, six bat
talions of four to six batteries each, numbering
IN the aggregate la guns, taking the lowest
number OF batteries, four, TO each battalion.
On our side. we had in position on our left the
FIVE batteries Of the Third Corps Randolphs.
Clark's, Smiths, Seey's and Minslows, and
Ames Bigelow, Turnbull, Hunt and Phillips,
of the reserve artillery. Later in the action
part Of the artillery of the Fifth Corps was
engaged, and fresh batteries from the reserve
relieving the batteries in position earlier IN the
day, whilst Weirs and Thomass batteries were
ordered forward on my right, joining Hum
phrcyss Division, on the right OF Seely and
Tnrmbull
Let us then be Just to our comrades Of the
artillery in recognizing their right TO large
share of the honOrs of this battle, nObly won
by them la the great and decisive conflict of
the % Of July here on our left flank. How
inadequately has the great work done by
oUR ARTILLERY AND CAVALRY
been appreciated! The Chief Of Artillery of
the Army OF the Potomac Hunt held the
rank OF Lieutenant Colonel. Randolph, Chief
of Artillery OF the Third Corps, was a Captain.
For services like those Of Pleasonton and Hunt
IN the campaigns of ChancelOrsvile and Get
tysburg Napoleon would have promoted both
OF them 10 the highest rankhe would have
made them Marshals-and corresponding pro-
motion would have been conferred on their
subordinate commanders
Comrades believe il to be my duty on this
occasion, when the survivors Of the Third
Corps are assembled on this field for the FIRST
time since the battle, 10 make a statement of
the facts relating 10 the part we took in the
engagement Of the I'd Of July, 1863 j have
been often invited by the conductors OF our
leading journals and periodicals, and some
times BY respectable historians like the Count
de Paris, 10 make contributions 10 the unwrit-
Gen history of the battle of Gettysburg. have
not ayailed myself Of these opportunities 10
make any declaration on the subject. i had
officially answered in January, 1864, not long
after the battle, such inquiries as were ad-
dressed 10 me about the battle By the Joint
Committee Of Congress on the Conduct Of the
War. and j had mo reason to complain Of the
conclusions reached IN their report The OIL
cial reports OF the commanding ofiicers--cOrps,
division, brigade regimental, battery and staff
-uhl uot ucGI puUAlhueu. II uau great iClNc-
tance 10 engage in any controversy the object
OF which might seem 10 be 20 claim honors not
accorded 10 me voluntarily by Gen. HAlleck
and Gen. Meade. For myself j was quite con-
tented In the modest place assigned 10 me IN
contemporary accounts Of the battle Of Get
tysburg, and am not so sensitive 10 criticism
Rs 10 challenge discussion when satisfied that
my duty has been performed.
] confess, however, that now there are, In my
Judgment, good and sufficient reasons 10 depart
trom the reserve which j have chosen 10 main
tain during 20 many years on the subject oi
this battle. The official reports are printed on
both sdes. Confederate and Union. All the
essential facts necessary for an accurate ap.
probation OF the battle are accessible and
within the reach Of military students and
critics ID becomes more aud more apparent a:
yeaE elapse that misapprehensOns touching
the relation Of the Third Corps 20 this battl,
are becoming conclusions In the minds of mos
people, aRc that misrepresentation which the
most superficial knowledge OF the battle should
have rejected, are now 100 often accepted as ths
truth
SILENCE rs 30 LoEGER GOLDEN.
II is time - speak aud 10 speak distinctly
Our silence has been construed az an admission
Of the truth Of statements aud animad version
which should never have been made, becaus
they arc untrue aud unjust And our fair shar
Of recognition FOR the signal services we per
formed here on the ID Of July. 1863 has beer
denied 10 on the authority of those VIII,
have undertaken 10 write history aud mouls
opinions, without that thorough and exac
analysis Of the testimony inseparsble from th
Judicial authority and duties Of historians
This day appears to me 20 be- 40 appr0pri
ate occasion 10 review some Of the more con
Epicu0us errors which time, 80 far from cor
recting, has rather indorsed 80 iaI as relates q
the action Of the Third Corps and its com
mandor al Gettysburg This duty / shall per
form with more solicitude and zeal in your be
hall than for myself You always gave M
your confidence, respect and love. In you
ranks. ln ihe hearts Of the true men OF thi
corps, have never needed defense nor gindi
cation You knew me AZ = regimonta. bri igade
division, ana corps commando. VI my servici
during tho war was in the Third Corps
pupil Of Hentzelinan, Kcarny and Hooker I
WAS ny good fortune 10 succeed those brillian
Leaders in the command Of The divisions the
bad created Hnd fashioned in their own iinag,
IL Was an easy iask a. command such soldiers
but niilcnli % win the esteem 0f men who hal
served under chiefs among the foremost in on
army ] am here. then to-day 10 plead you
cause and f0 ask iast recognition for your sery
1cfs. aln not hefC a. sTfaigu. Jr % censufe q
toc.iic.z ans body, whatever may have been h
Tauk ~ cammand li tlie facts ] shall preseu
Ie4uifc niiy mod hcuiion Oi opinions heret0for
entertained. J am not responsible Every ma
every s0llicr-mu6t be- content % stand o
fhE record when thg whole reroFd IA fafrl