Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-27

his artillery there, commanding the
whole battlefield, and what the result
would have been leave you to Judge
Now, when wrote my report of the bat
tie honestly believed General Sickles
did not know where | wished him to go,
and that his error arose from Il misappre-
hension of my orders. but have recently
learned from General Geary, who had the
day before been sent by Hancock to hold
the left, and who in doing so had seen
the great Importance of Round Top and
posted Il brigdtiC on it, that on the morn
ing of the End, when he received my order
that he would be relieved by the Sd corps
and on being relieved would rejoin his
own corps, O2th,) ON the right, after wait
ing for some time to be relieved he sent
to General Sickles a staff officer with in
structionS to explain the position and its
importance, and to ask If troops could not
be sent to relieve him, that General
Sckles would send one of his staff to see
ground and to place troops there on their
arrival. He received Tor reply that Gen
eral Sickles would attend to ii in due
time. No officer or troops came and after
waiting til his patience was exhausted
General Geary Withdrew and joined his
corps. Now my first orders 10 General
Sickles were to relieve the 18th corps
division (Geary's) and occupy their posi-
ton. Here is evidence that he knew the
J position occupied by Geary's division, or
could have known, and yet failed to occu-
ply it. Furthermore, when he came to
my headquarters at about noon and said
he did not know where to 90, | answered,
"Why, you were to relieve the 18th corps"
He said they had no position; they were
massed, awaiting events. Then it was
told him his right was to be HdHcOckS
lett, his lcft on Round Top, lUhiCh |
pointed out. Now his right was three
quarters of a mile in front of Hancock's
left and his left one-quarter of a mile in
fro, t,,ft ha of ntrit,
that key point hnOccupicd, which ought
to have been occupied by Longstreet be-
fore we could get there with the 5th corps.
Sickles's movement practically destroyed
his own corps, the Sd, caused loss of 80
per cent in the 5th corps, and very heavily
damaged the 2nd corps,-as said before,
producing Is per cent OF the loss of the
whole battle and with what result-driV-
ing us back to the position he was ordered
to hold originally These losses of the
first and second day affected greatly the
efficiency and morale OF the Amy and
prevented my having the audacity IN the
offense that might otherwise have had.
If this is an adVantage-tO be so Grip
pied in battle without attaining an object
i must confess can not see 1t.
Pardon my writing with, SO much pro
| liXity, but your generous defence and the
clear view you have taken of the battle
| have led me to wander thus far.
Very truly yours,
GEO. q. MEADE.
/ .Thc substance of these editorials in the
/ Burlington FREE PRESS will bc found in the
! appendix to the second edition of Colonel
| Benedict's admirable little work, vermont
! at GettysburY."-ED. PHILADELPHIA PRESS.
/ +Genersl Meade's recollection on TINS point
seems to be slightly at fault. lie did see
/ General Humphreys on the morning he as
sumed command of the Army of the Potomac
at Frederick city, and he at that time express
ed his de ire of appointing him his chiei OF
! staff, but after discussion IL was agreed be-
tween them that this officer could be OF great
er service by retaining command OF his diVls-
! ion in the 81 corps during the impending pat
| tle.-LGcnerH HmplreW,' testimony before
/ Committee on Conduct Of var
4 To move from his right upon General
/ Mcad's communications.