The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-08

The Fierce Nature of the Ficht-The Forces
EngagSd, and the Losses.


A quarter of . century has passed since the
battle OF Gettysburg turned the scale in the war
for tie Union. The men who gathered there
from both armies TO live over again the scenes
OF the conflict are Veterans now OF the warfare
of life. though many OF them may have been
beardlcss boys then. A large proportion of those
who escaped the fearful ordeal of the three July
days have fallen since and. of those who re-
main and who have joined in these picturesque
and touching reunions, many bear in their white
hairs . mute but convincing testimony to the
fact, which it often seems hard to realize. that
the period which has elapsed almost equals the
life Of q generation. Most OF the great captains
on either side are dead, aud 1t will not be many
years before Ne look back upon the battle of
Gettysburg as the soldiers Of the Crimea looked
back upon Waterloo.
Gettysburg has often been compared with
Waterloo. because each battle had so marked
an influence upon the worlds history. The
com parsop fails in one important particular
that the battle Of Gettysburg was not immedi-
ately decisive OF the war. The struggle con-
tinusd for nearly two years more. But on the
part of the Confederacy. after the defeat at
Gettysburg. IL was simply fighting Oft the in
evitable. The successful invasion of the North
by the Army of Northern Virginia, reaching
even across the southern border OF Pennsyl.
vanis, and threatening Washington, marked
food-tide in the progress Of the Confederacy;
when Lee set out upon his mournful retreat the
ebb had begun. Beginning on the very day
that Pemberton surrendered Vic sburg to Grant,
il was the first of the death throes Of the REBEL
lion. However much both the Southern leaders
and the people had deceived themselves with
false hopes. and however often many in the
North may have lost courage At temporary
verses, there was only possible termination
TO the conflict after GettysbuR add Vicksbure.
The South was already becoming exhausted,
and though she fought with . desperate cour-
age, the effect Was simply 70 postpone the con-
cusion marked out by the finger OF destiny
at Culp's Hill, Cemetery Hill and the Round
Tops.
The battle Of Gettysburg is remarkable not
only for its results. out for the fierce and stub
born nature of the conflict itself The armies
on both sides were large. though not so large,
perhaps, as to make the battle pre-emipent on
that account. The figures on this point are in
teresting. Those given by the Comts de Paris
may be accepted As obtained by careful investi-
cation. The Army of the Potomac. without
French's division, which had remained at Fred
erick. numbered l67.25l men, but nearly %, 900
on detached service. The number of men pres
ent with their corps was 1898, and
that OF men under arms 3d. About
5000 men came as reinforcements under
fective forces of l05. 900 men and 352 pieces Of
artillery. But ESQ troops were on duty at
headquarters; the cavalry. numbering 10. 500,
were not seriously engaged; 5000 to LOCO were
serving as additional guards near suppy-srains,
batteries, etc., and there were probably 1000 to
5000 stragglers. The Comte De Paris therefore
estimates the Union force seriously engaged at
from 81, 600 to 81, 900 men. According TO official
reports the Union loss was 1884 killed, IL, 100
wounded, including ten generals, and g.
6i5 prisoners, or 23,ls6 in all. But
these figures do not tell the whole story.
The hospital records show the burial
of 3.575 Union cc-pses, and it is estimated that
1000 or l. 100 died OF their wounds 1t is esti-
mated that Lee brought on the Hattle-feld for
actual service 6s 900 60, 900 mep,And $50 guns.
The Confe6 crates had 2.665, killed, 1889
wounded, including thirteen generals. and z ,464
missing. or %. 528 in all, making their Losses al
most exactly the same as those OF the Union
forces, although the latter army was the larger
by one-fourth. These losses enormous,
being n per cent OF the Union army. and 26 per
cent of the Confederate army. They proofs
OF the stubborn bravery Of both the blue aud
the gray. which tho survivors Of to-day can re-
call with pride a. well as with sorrow.