The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-24
A G

~ NV~e$ Ao q IL
Day publication, that on one OCCASION, find
ing q force of militia assigned to prevent the
landing of troops from a British squadron
had fed, he rode among them in full fire OF
the ships guns, endeavo.ing to rally them,
and became SO enraged at their flight that be
drew his pistol, snapped it repeatedly at the
flying men, and, obliVious of his own peril,
dashed about wildly until some of his staff
seized his horse aud took him from the scene.
It is also stated that he was humiliated by
his action when his anger subsidized. 1t is
not stated that he swore any, but any old
soldier will draw his own differences. He
would have left untried one Of the most
| effective 1allying influences if ha had not.
This much of Washington, incidental to his
Birth Day.
We remember another incident of 4 Gen.
erals wrath which we have never seen in
print, even in these days when incidents of
the war for the Union fill so many columns
and pages. 1t is that of another General,
not trying to rally his men, but to induce
them TO charge again when they had been
through a fire almost as fatal as that "the
Six Hundred" went through at Balaklava,
held their ground till overwhelmed and al
most surrounded, and when the columns be
would have hurled them against were as fifty
to one. The General was George G. Meade;
the field was fredericksburg the day Dec.
IL, 1852. Meade commanded that day the
division known as the "Pennsylvania Re-
Serves" in which be had served since July,
1861. 1t was the extreme left of Franklin's
Grand Division. Franklin was directed to
break the Confederate lines, turn his right
and flank Marye's heights. Meade's Divi.-
ion was selected for the assault, which was
made against Stonewall Jackson's Division.
1t was made, and Meade says, in his report
SIT will be seen from the foregoing that the
attack was for the time perfectly successful.
The enemy was driven from the railroad, his
rifle pits and breast works, for over half a
mile; over 200 prisoners were taken and sew
eral standards. When the advanced line
encountered the achievements of the enemy
who, recovering from the effects of our
assault, and perceiving both our TANKS I'M |
protected, poured in such a destructive fire |
from all three directions as to compel the |
line to fall back, which was done without
confusion. II + My loss was 1,76O out of
1850 men-nearly 40 per cent. x i While |
1 deeply regret the inability of the Division, |
after having successfully penetrated the
enemy's line, to remain and hold what had
been secured, at the same time 1 deem their |
withdrawal a matter Of necessity.
Before the committee on the Conduct of
the War, Gen. Meade testified: The Division
on my right, which I had understood was to
advanced simultaneously with my own, |
did not advance until I was,driven back. + X
delay enabled the enemy to concentrate
his forces and to attack me in front and on
both tanks. I had penetrated SO far that
had no support on either flank"
We cite these extracts to show that the
Reserves, as all historians con
:ur, really broke the Confederate army in
that day, and if they had been supported
~ the 10000 men standing idle in their rear,
would have fanked Marye's heights and
'urned the disastrous battle of Fredericks.
burg into victory. But Gen. Meade was not
10 philosophic on the field as when writing
lis report. As the last remaining little body
IT men who had accomplished this were
we're getting it front and flank with shot and
hell and rifle ball, aud holding their own
8 best they might in hopes support would
'ome, General Meade came dashing forward
o the railroad, where perhaps 100 men we're
till sullenly holding their ground. With
sword and . glorious rage, be plunged I
bout, flashing his sword and shouting,
charge them, men! Charge them - {
hem, charge them! Hold the field for five !.
minutes and the victory is won! Charge
hem, --! Charge them :" and he &C.
naliy, but doubtless unintentionally, struck
bis Captain of the 18th, and As good 4 man
3 ever smelled powder, square across the l
boulder with his sword. The gray columns, t
'ithin q stones throw Of either flank, were c
losing in on the handful of men in their d
rasp, while = battery on an eminence 200
ards off that had been captured and again
captured and manned was blowing canister
shells into them with . vengeance, b
[eade finally pulled up, faced the serried b
'lumns closing in, took = look at the emilia fl
ing battery, and, if We mistake Lot, q rife d
Ill went through his hat ct the same in.
ant. The utter hopelessress of the situ.. 3
on seemed to dawn on him for the first b
me, and turning his horse about he rode n
owly to the rear, followed by that little Il
of the 18th. Who with foul guns and de. =,