The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-14
His Version of the Story of
Gettysburg.
NO PLACE TO FIGHT A BATTLE.
He Says Meade Must Have written
without Comparison with
the OmcIaI Record
General sIoklss Replies.

pnDllSneQ Dy the IuuduclpulA weekly
Press from General Meade. dated in
1870, to Colonel Benedict. of Burlington.
VT. General Sickles says: General
Meade's letter must have been written
without elaboration, without revision,
and without comparison with the
official records. 1t contradicts his
own official report of the battle
made in October, 1858. and his testi-
mony before the committee on the con-
duct OF war in March, 1861. General
Meade is altogether mistaken in speak
ing of the charges, insinuations and at
tacks upon him by me. l have never
spoken of his conduct at Gettysburg.
except in my testimony before the
committee upon the conduct of war in
February, 1854. General Meade's testi-
mony was given in the following month,
and with q full knowledge OF all my
statements, none of which were contra
dicted by him when he testified.
The report of the committee upon the
conduct of the war justified me and
censured General Meade. IL must not
De supposed that General Meade had q
controversy with General Sickles only,
Other corps commanders made protests
when / was silent. L will only speak
now of one or two as examples. I'M
mediately after General Meade's report
of the battle of Gettysburg. Major
General Slocum, commanding the right
wing OF the army Of the Potomac at
gettysburg, in an official communities
ton TO General Meade, arraigns him
for a Series of inaccuracies, to use the
mildest phrases, in General Meade's
report of Gettysburg, by which great
injustice was done to General
Slocum and the troops at his command.
After reciting so. much of General
Meade's report as relates to the opera
ton of his (Slocum's) command, Gen
eral Slocum said: yet the facts In the
case are very nearly the reverse of the
above in every particular, and directly
in contradition to the facts as set forth
in reports TO Generals Glary and VIII
lians." Brigade-General Williams,
commanding the Twelfth corps, in an
official communication to MAjor-Gen
eral Slocum, dated December 26, 1853
points out four serious misstaiements In
General Meade's official report relating
to the operations of the Twelfth corps
on the second of July. could amplify
similar proofs, showing the character.
! istic inaccuracy of General Meade, in
his official report of his military oper-
atoms. General Meade knew nothing
oil Gettysburg and he so stated TO the
committee upon the condnct OF the war
I / assisted in this by moving my corp
/ twelve miles from Emmetsburg "a
Gettysburg on the afternood of JHlr ist
/ TO help Howard, after Reynolds fell
also by nv letter to Genera
Meade, written at Gettysburg a
Q O'Clock, on the night Of july
/ LIST, asking his approval OF my
march made without orders ant
urging him TO come to GettysSurl
with his arny, describing it as gooC
place TO fight battle and pointing on
/ 10 him that its weak place would be OF
his left, as il proved TO be the next day
when 1 was left unsupported for tw'
hours to resist the Longstreet assault.
After general Meade had brought hi
forces up to Gettysburg and had recon
noitred the position, he was dissatisfied
and frequently spoke OF il on the IN.
of July as mo place TO light battle.
He so expressed himself in council o
war held on the night Of the second
after this council has desided to sta,
and fight il out. General Slocum thu
describes what took place. Genera
I Meade said: well, gentlemen, tn
question Is settled. We will remain
here. but wish 70 say that conside
this no place TO fight a bate.
This was sitter the combats o
the LIST and I'd Of July. and after 90 90
Union soldiers had fallen in the field
General Meade seemed 20 manifest
resentment against this corp com
lmander who had been instrumental il
the choice Of Gettysburg as our battle
field. He owed his splendid position
there 10 Buford, Reynolds and HovarS
and the divisions OF WadswOrth
Doubleday and, Robinson. Yet all o
these officers. except Reynolds, wit
was killed, suffered the marks of hi
I displeasure, or were dismissed with tbl
scantiest recognition Of their heroi
conduct. In Howard's case. Con
gress ineerposed 10 do him justice
when he received their formal yot
Of thanks for his choice for our position
on the cemetery ridge, the Gibraltar
Gettysburg. Nevertheless neithe
Howard nor SlocuR were welcome Il
Meade's army and sought service II
the west, under sherman, Where ootl
gained so much distinction. Genera
Meade was surprised by the attack Q
| L,ongstreet on the left on the affernosl
of the second OF July. No preparation
whatever were made BY the com
mandipg general 70 meet Long
streets assault. There was no ords
of battle. General Meade had no
personally reconnoitered the position
though frequently solicited by Geners
Slckles, General Hunt and the Chief o
Artillery and General Fremaine' ~
Chief of Engineers, to do so. Tins sp
pears in he testimony OF General nun
and in toe report OF General Fremaine
, not ou.y was no preparation made b
General Meade to meet the attack upo
his left position. held, bat ne deEsiye
ne and himself OF the only eiiecns
support he had upon his lett mans :, Q
his unaccOuDtable wItndraWSl u - -,
ford's division of cavalry, which hel
/ the Settysburg road and coyere
: on ourleft flank, including the ROM
Top, until late hour on the mornin
Of the I'd. General Gray's DIVISION
infantry had been Withdrawn IIoLH ~ ~
! left very early on the morning Oh u
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