The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-10-28
TIE 18th MAINE,
A Sharp Criticism of Gen. SickleS from
the Pine Tree State.

EDIroR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: AS a constant
reader of your valuable paper / would like
little space in your columns TO help develop
the line Of battle IN the Gettysburg campaign.
i read with unusual interest Gen. Sickness
address at Gettysburg July ?, in defense Of the
Third Corps upon that historic field p years
ago. Some Of his statements were faulty. i
have been waiting anXiousy for some ready
ouill-driver from the Second Corps to point out
some of the errors OF omission and commission,
and to show where the honors belong in the
repulse of the rebel troops, that they may not
Doe loaded upon those who willingly let the
Job out" Gen. SiGkles made this surprising
statement-surprising TO those who know the
facts:
Gen. Meade stated that at the beginning Of the
action troops from the second Corps were lmmcdi-
atey Sent by Mai Gen Hancock 10 cover the right
flank Of the Third Corps. This Is an error. The
right faux Of the Third Corps needed no cover or
support IL was not attacked.
What can he possibly mean by such an alb
surd statement2 Let us look at Humphreys
Division as viewed by the 18th Me This regi-
ment belonged 20 the First Brigade Second
Division, Second Corps. Ii went upon the Held
early in the morning of the I'd, and with the
other troops of the division was massed In the
rear and left of Cemetery Hill, and remained
there ill near p. M, when the attack upon
the Third Corps warned Gen. Hancock that
double-quick
TO SUPPORT THAT CORPS,
and were placed in direct line from Cemetery
Hill to Little Round Top, about equi-distaut
between the two. When we arrived there we
were ordered TO lie down. Upon our left were
Battery b, list Il. l., and another said 10 be a
Regular battery. When we took our position
the Third Corps, Humphreys Division, WAS
falling back in our 'front.' and battery of brass
pieces was obliged to 10 back in haste with
that division by passing diagonally off 10 our
right The Second Division, or White Diamond,
came back pell-mell TO our regiment passing
over MS, stepping between our men as we lay
upon the field, hurrying in the most positive
manner to the rear They did not seem 10 be
going in order; il was simply 10 get
j cannot do better than TO give Col J. W.
Spauldings description OF that rout Hewas an
eyewitness, and speaks from personal knOwl-
edge as well as every man present in the regi-
ment He says:
] shall never forget the scene. which beggared de-
scrpton, of the retreat of the Third Corps, one
division of which-ilumphreys over our
regiment were lying fiat upon our faces.
First came the stragglers and wounded then the
division en- mussC. Some of these men were COM
pletely whipped, while others were unconqucred
and uneonquerabe. As they passed over IA some
would say, Run, boys, were whipped. The day
is lost Others cried out with tears of Joy stream
ing from their eyes 10 find our line there in position
III,
In your rear" Another moment and they had
passed us
The above explains clearly how they went TO
the rear, and a New Hampshire regiment-the
I'd or l2th-passed over the left wing of the
18th Me. They formed about is rods in our
rear, and the 18th Ne. was left there alone with
the two batteries upon our left The rebels,
triumphant and brave. soon came TO within
short muslet range. When we got the COM
mand to fire we sprang to our feet and delivered
volley after volley
INTO THEIR DENSE RANKS,
but they were not persuaded TO halt until they
came TO within five OF six rods of our line. We
delivered several vOleys at that close range
when we got orders TO charge. The regiment
alone and unaided, charged with the determi-
nation TO DO or die. lt was our good fortune to
break their lines
Now let us look at Humphreys Division
which passed over our line and formed in our
rear, and see how much il helped US. While
our regiment was holding and then repulsing
five times its number, humphreys Division
was a long distance in our rear, waving their
flags and cheering US on in that enthusiastic
duty. Not one man advanced to assist us and
when we charged they were still there. In a
most happy frame OF mind the 18th Ne chased
that rebel division across that field TO within
about 200 yards of the Emmittsburg road north
of the Peach Orchard. We rccaptured two
guns and three or four caissons Of Bigelow's 9th
Mass battery, which was sent from the reserve
artillery TO assist Humphreys. We captured
them about half way from our lines TO the En-
mittshurg road, and no other troops were with
us al that time or atterward on that day The
report OF Gen Humphreys is also curious. lie
says:
Upon arriving at the crest of the ridge mentioned
the remnants of my division formed on the left of
4 n
upon the enemy about 100 yards distant The in
iantry joined, and the enemy broke and were
driven from the field, rapidly followed by Han
cock troops and the remnants OF my two brpades,
who took many prisoners and brought Of two
pieces OF our artillery that had been left after all
the horses were killed. Sergt Thomas Hogan
brought 10 on the field the flag of the sth Fla
which he had captured.
Gen. Sclies quotes the above statement as
approving of the language expressed TO show
that Humphreys Division
WAS NOT ROUTED,
and would at this late day make us believe the
statement which our eyes and senses told US al
that time was contrary 10 the above statement
When We were near the Emmittsburg road
an Aid from the corps staff rode out and over
took us and demanded Of Col. Heath where hC
was going, TO which the Colonel replied:
+" We are chasing the rcbs."
Then the staff officer told the Colonel 10 Get
out OF il, MS his regiment was almost surrounded
by the rebel lines and he left us. But we wer,
where we could not get back SO we were Obliged
TO lie there and await the pleasure Of the rebel,
on three sides OF US till after dark when they
were 10 bag their game. After dark we mad,
q rush for our lines bringing Off with us Tn,
two cannon and the caissons, and delivered
them, taking receipt for the pieces. The can
non which we recaptured were captured by Tia,
rebels on the line 10 our right; because whel
we charged we were obliged TO oblique TO tn,
right 10 take them, and as the rebels were trot
ting of at a lively gait with them we wer,
compelled 10 make better than doublo-quick e
Oyertake them. When nearing the guns the,
readily dropped the ropes, not feeling disposet
% contend for the prize.
The rest Of our brigade was farther to tn
right, or rather the 18th Nc. was some distanc
30 the left Of them, alone and neither fanl
supported. We were just right 10 get the bene
III Of that routed division thNIgh and over on
ranks. Not only did we
CAPTURE THE CANNON
and oassons bat several hundred prisoners an,
one stand OF col0rs; but the regiment passes
over several stands OF cOlOrs ia the charge
which Humphreys Division g0bbled ND afte
we had passed over them 10 the Emmittsbur
road. One stand my own company passed ovel
but as we were charging and cheering we di
not stop 10 take them. We saw Humphreys
men come out and gather them up when W
were near the EmmIttsburg road, and chcc
over their capture la this way they gathere
In our honors.
The statements from Gen Sicl5les seem
come too late in the day 10 upset facts and hi,
Tory, as Gems. Hancock and Meade are now bot