New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-03
SICKLES AT GETTYSBU RG.
THE FIGHTING on THE SECOND DAY.
REPLYING TO CRITICISMS AGAINST THE THIRD
ARMY CORPS.

NyE
,he Third Corps was held this morning in the rink
hupding General siekes delivered an Grafton In vim
dc.tion Of part taken by his corps In tho second
a,vs fight showing that he asked for ORDERS ana re-
sivlng none assumed the responsibility and won the
victory. tie said In part
This il the first occasion have taken to make
statement of facts concerpins the part borne by dIe
Tniri Army Corps In the battle OF Getysturs severely
unable TO official report keeny sensible OF tue
,.nGc in Cnief General Haeck, and by the Com
mandlng General OF the Army OF the Potomac, General
for the purpose OF correcting the serious errors
n tart contained in the official repor of the battle
prs.ident replied: sickles, they charge you with
bringing the battle; they cay you pushed ou WIN
your you c mon of war met about 3 tho after
noon ToS OF is 't trSsald God bless YOU for III Don't
ask to order an inquest 70 Iene nt cstivs
burg. History VIII set you all Iisht ana l., give Ue
everybody his Just place There was glory enough won
oW naye waited patiently waited for twenty three
years-waed in unbrokeu silence for Justice to yon the
holding the key OF our position at Gettysburg HIS
torians have done Justice otr silence has been beer,
I shall say oday shall speak from the record .,.
the Isi miami, the battle Of the second was the
battle of Gettysburg-one. stubborn, for hours doubt
u anu suerod by both sides The episode Of third
was "a orlorn hope of General Lee, doomed 10 certain
meni OF Ionesreet He says rhc assault ny Pickett;
n the third shonld never have been male as II could
nC 1 ,aci,cs beinS absolutely hopeless assault
Pickett said me-" says Iongstreet. General shall
advanced My feelings had overcome me that woulu
not spe Ak fear of beraving my want or confluence
to him. bowed affirmation and taneS Which TO cona not
have succeeded by possible prodigy OF courage OF
tactcs - that assault the battle OF Getyspurg II
ia so represented in PICTURES and narratives caile1
history; YOU know ami know that inc srepRs o,
had been already employed on the second,
aud they had been defeated, and the battle woh rgh'
Comrades believe it to be my dnty on this occasion,
the survivors OF the IDra A sse h pp,n
10 make statement OF the facts rel ting to ,he par, ""
took IN the engag smcnt OF tho second OF July lSp5
nave been often invited by the conductors of our leading
journals and Veri ,dical, and sometimes by respectoe
Jisnrans like the Conn de Paris make contributions
10 The unwrtten history of the bate of Gettyspurg
ve n avail ed yself of these opport nniles 10 III Ke
nsw red in January 1851 long after the battle
such inquiries were addressed 10 me ABOUT nv "a, 10
The War aud | had TO COMEDIAN OF the con
illusions reached in 'hrir report tn. ono al re"rs
tegimenta battery and stah-hsd not beer puil,hen,
had srsa e be az" TO- e
| acsorded to Inc voluntarily by General Hhliw ana
| me modest place assigned to me ia contenporarY
accounts of the battle OF Getysbnrs and anu NOT so
| .enstiVe 70 criticism TO challenge discussion Whth
seTs6ei that my duty has performed conf S.
hreXcr thst nav there are in my Judgment. good and
nen rcasons to ae, art from The which
nave chosen maintain during 80 many wears Oh ,le
sunect nf TINS battle. The Official reports are primo on
hot6 sides Confederate and Union. All the essential
facts necessary Tor accurate appreciation OF tle
batiIe are acce ,ibe WITHIN the reach III military
simdsnts and critics IL and more Appar-
emf rs years elapse that msapI rehensons III regard 10
the relation OF ne Third Army Corps TO thls Law are
beroming conclusions in the minds ~ most people ana
that misrel ,.natons which the most snp"rnclni
knOwlelsc OF ths battle sA~uli nave ae"et' 80,
To- often accepted tho truth Silence - no longer
Golden j. time to speak, amt to speak hisunclY.
| ls,-rhat when General Meade assumed command oi
tho Army OF the Potomac. on the Z~th {" june 7p''
! Lees campaign OF Invasion IN PennsyVaHm h"l nee,
| already dc'eated by General Hooker ices Official
! report and Mcade's order Of jay Do O., ,
2d-Tnat General Lee finding himself 9utmah'rt',en
by Hooker @ecaed his advance from the me OF tne
ssqu ehauua the Goth OF June, ano directed "a 'on
already reconnored by tie enemy ana CHOSEN by thoin
10 3i'"Fhat Genefal Meade. who knew nothing OF
Getvsbnrg nor Of Lees ans, decided TO oer hli'le al
pine Crc,k between Nlddlebue ard Manchester. some
! twenty miles south Of Getys0urg 70 the rear; ana
that the FIRST, Eleventh and Third Corps were thrown
a mask to enable Meade to concentrate on llpe creek
| Iianco ok and Meade's testimony Com C. w.. .,.o.,
4ih-That the bold advance o Buiord on the Caontoh
Road holding Lees advance in check in IFS march on
Getty sonre, and Il o opI9ltnne nfrn Vi ey W
Bniord those great soldiers, who mad seen NE enor
4 nous advantages which the choice of position al |ett,s
hurs would give the omy. fought and Won the battle
of Oak Ridge. July l, and enabled Howard 10 stlHe
and occupy the Improbable position OF CemediE hluge
5th. That the Third ARMY Corrs moved rom hmnils
burg to Geyshurs, under Sicles without 3rleI.i Cd re-
.ne' "g IeVSots +" defeat And this timely re-
inorcemcnt reaching Geitysburg by forced march on
of July l. The first step in the concen-
ira army at Getysbure aflerward ord"e by
General Meade on tie advice o. Howard. Hancock and
SicRls Testimony Sickles Com. c. W.
cLucc of Tosion at Gettysoue WAS forced t. abandon
hls plan OF campaign. which was TO he Offensive III
strategy and defensive IN lactc anu ATTACK or pos
ton; that at daybresk on the morning OF jay pre-
bean on Pr e and TERI dr 9 1 v Sef '
cavalry lee, Longstreet and Buioid's official remris
yenvciopng our LEFT flank dispositions FOR
auack, were reported to General Meade by General
tain Moore of his staff and through General Hunt. Of
Mrades stan report of Generals IremaiIe and Hunt
Of si eneT er 1c s n9d ar
Division of Cavalry sent away from orr left flank 10
Westminster and not replaced by other troops leaving
uosition uncovered and exposed 10 he seze1 by the
enemy CBufori's official reIorD.
9tn.-rnat General sickles. havins repeatedly
solicited orders and information from General Mea lie
hs staff TO the dispositions TO he made on the lett
sponsDle, aid the day afNanc and the enemyS de-
mon.trations the direction from winch their assaults
finally ZANE compelling General slckes 10 decide DC,
tween abandoning or occupying the commanding ground
in his 'front.' including Round Top ne advanced his line
near 10 the enemy as 10 compel MN 10 accent Dttte
on General sckes's 'front.' thereby covering Bound Top
until II could he occupied and held III force Iremaine
aud Moore's reports. and Lonesreet and McIaws'sl.
loth-Ih. r. ane eHGS fTna
hs left had 80 far succeeded in tIer , object
he attacked and his left held the Fifth Corps
in reserve to his right sent 10 supports To General
hattie had reached its fury when compliance with the
appeal Of General Warren. then alone Oh Round Top
vision Of the Fifth Corps about O'Clock In the after
noon hours after the ba tie began (Barness Official
report Meades testimony Com. c. W, also Long
Streets.
llth-That until after o'clock the Third Corps,
10 900 men and fifty cannon b0re the weight of the
sanls of three divisions OF infantry and three batteries
OF artillery under LODsstFeet. supported by the Second
Corps under IIlla force than twice as large
ours in both artillery ana inaItry.
12tb-That when the Fifth Corps occupied Round
Top supported by Caldwcrs division OF the Second
(orps and part of the sixth Corps, and when dcach-
mems from the FIRST and Twelfth Corps reached onI
from the battle wOn the eneny repusei and driven
pack to his lines In confusion and large loss in pI
es and 1t troops then in position our let. a
least 10000 infantry with the cavalry within reach
sunported 10y matchess artillery had been throw.
against Lees right and right centre Lees Amy would
have been routed and destroyed in an hour
l3th-Thst when the battle OF the second ended in
the decisive repuse OF the enemy. lett III
tho uosilon General Meade intDates he designed