Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-27


Gen. Doubleday, in his official report, says:
Arrived at the cemetery, our lines, with
those of the Eleventh corps, were reformed
under the direction of Gen. Howard Our
batteries were placed upon the summit of the
hill, the First corps having been directed to
occupy the ground to the west of the road,
the Eleventh corps being on its right A
portion of the troops were placed behind the
hill in reserve. Maj. Gen. Hancock then
rode up and informed me that he had been
placed in command of both corps He at
once directed me to send force to support a
battery which had been established on a
lower range Of hills some 100 yards to the
east of our position, protecting our flank in
that direction. l complied with the order
and sent the remainder of Wadsworth's
division there. immediately afterward or
ders came from Maj. Gen. Howard who
ranked Hancock, to send the troops in an
other direction. This occasioned at the time
some little delay and confusion Gen Han
cock says his orders were to proceed
to the front and assume commando to
move the troops and horses to the rear,
toward the line of battle he t1ieadel had
selected" Or ''if the ground were suitable
and circumstances made it wise, | was to
establish the line of battle at Gettysbursn
Arriving on the field at 3 p m, "orders We're
at once given to establish lire of battle on
Cemetery Hill" This hill twas already par
TALLY occupied on my arrival by direction of
Maj Gen. Howard" Hancock then sent
messenger to Gen. Meade. Ito say that |
would hold the position until night" Later
on another messenger was sent to Meade
Informing him that the position at Gettys-
burg was u very strong one, having for its
disadvantage. that it might be easily turned
and leaving to him (Meade the response
bility whether the baltic should be fought at
Gettysburg or at a place first selected by
him" Between and o'clock the First and
Eleventh corps and one division of the
Twelfth corps were in position, and the head
of the column OF the Third corps was in sight
Gen. Slocum, of the Twelfth corps, ranked
Hancock, and the latter turned the command
over TO him at once, and rode back to- fancy
town, thirteen miles distant, reporting to
Meade in person. Orders, however, had been
already issued by the commanding general
of the corps in the rear, the Second. Fifth and
Sixth, to advance Immediately to Getty sbUrg
Gen. Sickles had arrived on the field in
advance of his corps and before Slocum came,
and he was the superior of both Howard and
Hancock. 81 yielded to Howard" he says.
Howard thought it en- act of grace on my
part, but Hancock would not yield. | said:
Let it all go; good thing has been done (by
the first days ighting) and now let us hang
on to it
Gen. Meade states in his report that ne
learned from the front that the enemy was
bringing his whole army to the attack, and
hearing from Maj. Gems. Hancock and
Howard the favorable character of the
position, l determined to give battle at this
point and issued orders to ell the corps 10
concentrate on Gettysburg"
Before midnight Lee became satisfied thai
the Army of the Potomac was in front of
him, and would make an effort to hold its
ground At this point the Southern contro-
versies again enter in, and the Confederate
statements throw light upor the occur
rences OF July and 8. The pul lie all along
have had glimpses of the inner workings of
the Union camps, through the Investigations
and the official reports; but on the Southern
side the controversy still awaits the publica-
ton OF Lees private papers 1t has been in .
this case, as in many other important in
appeals to the Lee family have !
been met with the response that Lees plans /
and purposes were kept to himself" This
much, however, is admitted in the matter of /
Gettysburg: Lee promised his corps COM
manders a campaign OF strategy, in which
he would place his army in such a position
rs to compel the Union army to fight him. be
keeping on the defensive. Meade meant to OBJ
serve similar caution. as his own testimony be-
fore the committee on the conduct of the war
shows. Here, then. were two great captains
each other and awaiting attack.
ThST In 81 neither. ,x-as committed