The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-05
sIoKLEs AT GETTYSBURG.
He Defends His Action, and Quotes Lincoin's
Indorsement-AE Inspiring Scene.

said: "The General is coming; when give the
word You play" motioning to the band in the
ratters moment after gigantic shadow fell
across the threshold of the narrow door. There
was no waiting for word The $500 men got
on their feet and yelled. The band turned loose
into Marching Through Georgia" The rafters
among which they were situated began to shake,
buffeted between the noise above and the noise
below.
MAKE a passage" roared Colonel Rafferty,
above the tumult. There came heavy trudge,
trudge along the fine rink hocr, and yet not one
tenth of them had seen s.Old DAN" An instant
later, coming up out of the crowd as If shot up
from stage trap he stood on the stage. There
was the whole of him--the grim, war worn face
twin to Bismarcks the towering figure, the
uniform coat, the maior-generals golden
stars. the slouched, gold-corded hat and
the clutches Then it was that the Third Corps
acted like children on Christmas morning. The
reverend ex-captain of sharp shooters rushed TO
the edge of the stage and guided the scattering
fire of yells and shrieks of delight into three
volleys of cheers The band and the drum
corps went off together. The light blue caps OF
the Zouaves went sailing up on the storm The
acknowledged hardtacks, which numbers OF
the Third Corps men wear in their hat bands Tor
badges, went sailing after the caps The wives
and daughters of the Third Corps went crazy,
too. They sang alternately the tune which the
band was playing and that which the drum
corps was trying to play. They waved their
handkerchiefs into ribbons, they beat their fans
into splinters. The grim old soldier stood still,
poised on his crutches, and waved his gold
corded hat in acknowledgment, his strong jaw
naked underneath his big mustache, the cords
of his great throat strained against the tight
regulation collar of his coat
1t was a sight that he who sees shall not forget
the reunion of father with his children after
twenty three years of separation; for. after Get
tysburg, the Third Corps was the Third Corps no
more. It's shattered remnants were consolidated
with the Fifth. Since the war it had never come
together until now and now it came to hear its
commander vindicate it before the world for
what it and he did on that day, twenty three
years ago. when he last rode at its head. There
was table heaped with papers in the center
front of the stage, and the General sat down be-
side it during prayer, offered by Rev Joseph a.
Twtchell, chaplain of the Second Excelsior, or
over Colonel Rafferty, stepped forward and
beamed at the corps. Then he said: las
I suppose that none of you know the man
that made the victory of Gettysburg possible,
/ will have to introduce him to YOU As the
roar of cheers and laughter that greeted the
Colonels little joke ceased, General Sickles
turned over the leaves of his manuscript and
said: You will excuse me if remain seated.
This set off another fight of cheers in honor of
the reason why the old soldier did not stand up,
and then q jolly voice in the outskirts OF the
crowd called out: ssWhere's Longstreet, Gen.
erall' '.You ought to have had enough Of him
on the second day of July, 1868, the General
answered with grim smile.
White bearded General Hunt, Meade's chief of
artillery at this battle. was escorted IN by
Brevet-coienel E. R. Warner, commanding
Battery G of the Third Artillery on duty here.
He received a round of cheers. and then General
Sickles began to speak. After brief welcome
he said:
This is the first occasion have ever taken
to make statement of facts concerning the part
borne by the Third Army Corps in the battle of
Gettysburg. Severely wounded towards the
close of the engagement, was unable to make
an official report. Keeny sensible of the injus
tce done TO my command and myself by the
commandern-chief, General Haileck and by
the commanding general of the Army OF the
Potomac, General Meade. / asked President
Lincoln to grant me court of inquiry for the
purpose of correcting the serious errors con-
tanned in the reports of the battle made by
General Halleck and General Meade. The
President replied, 'Sickes, they say you pushed
out your men too the enemy, and began TO
fight just as that council of war was about TO
meet at o'clock in the afternoon of the battle.
| am afraid what they say of you is true, and
God bless you for it. Cheers. Don't ask US
to order an inquest to relieve you from bringing
on the battle of Gettysburg. Cheers. History
will set you all right and give everyb body his just
place
s.There was glory enough Won at Gettysburg
to GO all around. From that day until now |
have waited patiently. waited for twenty three
gears, waited in unbroken silence for justice to
you, the living. for justice to the dead heroes
who fell bravely holding the key of our position
cock in the left center on the third day was the
great event of the battle General Sickles went
on to treat of it thus: 'The brief contest of the
third day was dramatic, pictorial brilliant The
battle of the second was the battle OF Gettys-
burg long stubborn for hours doubtful, and
from the beginning to the end terrible IN the
losses suffered by both Sides The episode of
the third was a forlorn hope of General Lee,
doomed to certain defeat, never for an instant
doubtful in the clear judgment of Longstreet
s'He says the assault by Pickett on the third
should never have been made, as it could not
have succeeded by any possible prodigy of cour-
age or tactics-being absolutely hopeless as
sault. Pickett said to me- says Longstreet,
General, shall I advanced My FEELINGS had so
overcome me that would not speak for fear of
betraying my want of confidence to him.
bowed affirmation and turned to mount my
horse Was this hopeless assault which could
not have succeeded by any possible prodigy of
courage or tactics, was that assault the battle OF
Gettysburgl It is so represented in pictures
and narratives called history. But you know
and know that the strength of the enemy's
forces aud the best tactics of their ablest COM
manders had been already employed on the Sec
ond day: they had been defeated and the battle
won right here on our left"
Near the conclusion of his minute details OF
argument. strongly supplied at every point by
records, 10th federal and confederate, he thus
summarizes:
~ am, therefore. alone responsible for the
lines on which the battle of July was fought.
Good or bad it was my line. am not respons-
ble for the delay in occupying Round Top, the
key of our position on the left. had repeatedly
urged General Meade TO send infantry and ar
tillery to Little Round Top, but ne did not do
so, nor did he approve my suggestion that |
should occupy it in force General Meade did
not concur in my belief that the enemy would
make serious attack left: hence he
made no dispositions himself and authorized
none on my part to meet such an attack. AT
length when the assault of the enemy was so
imminent that could wait no longer for orders.
made my own disposition to meet it, adj
vanced my corps as to occupy higher and bet
which obstructed my movements | took posi-
tons which threatened the tanks of the enemy
on moving to our left, and forced him to attack
me on my front"
On the point of his having received no orders