The National tribune., 1888-07-19

l would attach myself TO him as a means to
get me out safely. But he was nowhere in
sight; neither was Doubleday, Howard or any
of the big guns ! had just left on the hill, and
glaneiug down the Baltimore road to the rear,
/ saw such signs of general commotion that it
gave me the impression that we were going to
be surrounded.
] thought then that Hancock had made an
awful big mistake in allowing the men up there
to be caught In the rear while lying behind
the stone wall looking in the opposite direc-
tion. was not the only one who entertained
this opinion at that iunctuTe, by large ma
iOrity. But future events proved that Han
cock was right and we were all wrong
went back over the same old road along
which ] had dashed so galantly in the morn
ing, and did not stop until safely established
near Gen. Pleasonton, aud so far TO the rear
that the sound Of guns did not disturb my rest
that night.
PLEEsoNTON AND GETTYSBURG.
As another historical fact about the disputed
question Of securing the position on the first
day, / viii relate what personally heard Gen.
PleasontOn say regarding this point. Every
body knows that Pleasonton commanded the
Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and
he had for subordinate division commanders
such gallant men as Custer, Fitzpatrick and
Buford, Of the First, Second and Third Di-
Visions which gained for that army most of the
glory it achieved great deal of which Sheri-
dan gets the credit for to-day. PleasOnton,
like Meade, Hancock and a number of other
Eastern Generals, became soured at the promo
ton of the Western men over them, which
fact should not detract from this story as IL has
no bearing upon this subject under discussion.
have heard PleasontOn say repeatedly that
he had the evidence that Lee was making for
Gettysburg during the Antietam campaign the
year previous TO the great battle, and that he,
IN anticipation Of this fact, sent a Prussian
lWho was All officer on his staff, whose name is
entirely too long TO remember and too hard to
sPell) with squad of cavalry to Gettysburg,
and that this officer made a careful Topographic
cal map of the country, which map was fled
among McClellan's papers, and Pleasonton
claims this document will yet be found to es-
tablish the correctness Of his statement. Look
ing at the matter as q professional soldier,
PleasOnton discovered that Lee had wisely Sc
lected Gettysburg for the battle-ground, as all
the roads to Washington, Philadelphia and
Baltimore ceuteTed or crossed at that place,
and is was stTategetically good point for rapid
concentration. Besides this, he could fight his
army with the South Mountain like a great
wall at his back, with the Potomac and Susque-
hanna on either flank, so that in case of disas-
ter the passes of the mountain would easily
protect a retreat. You viii observe that the
above is pretty fair military logic.
Now. Gen. PleasOmtOn asserts that, knowing
these matters q year previous, he had, as Chief
Of Cavalry, sent Buiord cut in 1868 to secure
the position in advance of Lees anticipated
concentration. This is important, if true, and
i will be glad to furnish THE NATIONAL TRIB-
USE Gen. Pleas0ntou's autograph for the state
ment.
We all know that Bufard did go out alone,
and alter a careful personal examination Of the
position, he drove back aud held the ground,
with Reynolds's assistance, until, as rebel ora
tors say, and as was repeated by some Of them
at the recent Reunion, " We were oveTpCwer-
ed" They seem to forget that it WAS the
Union forces VINO were overPowered the first
and second days. As a rule, the forces actually y
engaged were pretty evenly matched ~ al the
great battles. 1t IS becoming monotonous to
hear the rebels say: We were overpowered
by numbers and resources" They were prac-
tically solid IN the South, and were on their
own dunghill, and besides this great adYan-
tage-equal TO an army Of observation-they
had the active aid and sympathy of another
army Of COppeTheads ia our rear, while the
English nation Wed with the French in sup
plying them with the very best munitions oil
war. Of course there was only a small pro.
portion, comparatively, in number who sur
rendered to Gen. Grant, but there was q;
many more deserters who came into our lines
nnothcially, and / give it as my private opinion
that these blowers were among this lot
wish some one well yersed would look NJ
history and see if in all the wars which have
occurred In the world, there is an instance tc
be found Of 50 great a surrender of men and
arms, where they had such aid and resources
with supposed right and liberty at stake
always get little bit wild when discussing
this question Of oyerpoweTing and resources
When the officers OF the law attempt TO ar.
rest desperate IN his familiar haunts, they
do not usually 20 alone, TO be shCt dewn by the
murderer. i Is always conceded that one
man inside his own castle. acting ia defense O.
his family, is fully equal to dozen attacking
him from the outside. Stlll the Confederate
continue 10 blow about this matter-thcy ever
did so at Gettysburg. Ia 1861 they claimed
that one Southerner was equal 10 five Yankees
while IN lass il is 4" We were oyerpowered.
Bah
AN INTERVIEW WITH PLEAsoSTOg.
Recently met Gen PIeasonton in the read
ing-roOm Of Willard's Hotel, in Washington
city, aud had quite an interview with him
He can be found nearly every evening sittin,
IN the same chair reading the papers. He j
what would be called quiet, elderly, good
/ looking man, one who would attract attention
( in any crowd Always neatly dressed he ha
/ quite dudish appearance His face is cleanl,
/ shaved, with the exception of d short-trim ne,
! gray mustache. lie is very gentlemanly an'
courteous IN his manners, and 10 matter win
! addresses him, he will rise 70 his feet, salute
1 aud remain standing until the person taikinj
20 him has finished or found a seat. Every
! thing about Gen. Pleasonton stamps him tn
4 gentleman by birth, breeding and education
4 Yet this mau is to day beggar at the feet 0
\ the Government, and like many other OF hi
/ companions -iu-arms who served this same Gov
i emmeut in its hour Of need, is broken ieartcd
/ discouraged and bitterly soured because hi
/ claims for recognition have been for years ig
/ nored. he is impecuHious aud it is under
stood is supported by his brother, who lives il
I Philadelphia.
] introduced my boy to the General, wit
! the remark: This is my dear old General
! PleasOntOn-the man vino told Us what 10 d
4 in the war, and we had to do it when he bad
1 US 10 matter If we were killed in doing it."
! ] then said TO the General q notice tina
! the Cavalry Reunion Of the Army Of the Poto
mae has been held at Saratoga, and that Sick
/ les again refers 10 you as nc did at Gettysburg
/ Why don't you attend these affairs? The boy
would give you good time. The mere men
I tion Of yoar name by Sickles at Gettysbur
I raised a storm Of cheers; when he said
/ Napoleon bad received such aid as Hunt, O
/ Artillery, and PleasOntoB, OF Cavalry, had give
| the Army OF the Potomac there, they wou
/ have been made Field Marshals on the spot.
% M said pleaSoutofi In his oyJjpf xysv