The National tribune., 1888-07-26
10 Be continusd.l
GEN. MEADE,

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / would like
10 say few words through the columns of
your valuable paper, ar an old soldier, one that
served four years IN the Army of the Potomac.
and know of what | speak. In reading the
account Of The Boy Spy on to Gettysburg
think he is mistaken in his ideas, or he does
not wish TO give honor to whom honor is due.
! do not wish To derract honor from any one.
but when he says that Ma. Zen O. o. Howard
did not select the position on Cemetery Hill,
he does not know OF what he speaks. When
Gen. Howard came upon the field with the
Eleventh Corps the 1st day Of Jelly he
placed Gen. Sbeinwehr's Division, with Weld
rick's battery, on Cemetery Hill, where they
remained IN reserve until about o'clock in
the afternoon; and when the troops of the First
and Eleventh Corps were outiianked and out
numbered and compelled to give way, | would
1 ask ' The Boy Spy" who it was that sent Gus
ters Brigade 10 cover the retreat but Gen.
Howard as the noble Hancock mad not arrived
+ on the field At this time, if my memory serves
me rigbt5Y l think he came on the field while
4 this movement was going on, with orders from
Z Gen. Meade TO assume command of the troops
{ at Gettysburg as they came IN. Hancock, with
T the assistance Of Howard and Doubleday, re-
/ formed the lines and turned over the command
! 70 Gen. SlOcUm, who at this time had arrived
upon the field with the Twelfth Corps, and
then returned to TaneytOwn aud reported to
I Gen. Meade, who then decided TO order up the
remainder of the army on the brave HancOck's
report. Now claim As other good, honest SOL
diers viii that were there, that if it had not
been for the foresight OF Gen Howard in plac-
ing Seinwenrs Division aud Weidrick's battery
| Oh Cemetery Hill, the battle OF Gettysburg
would never haye been fOHRht,-at least the Sec
ond and third days,-ior the reason that they
never would nave been able to reform the lines
again at that point. The First and Eleventh
Corps were not whipped, but oyerpOwered
Now, / was not member Of Gen. Howard's
Corps but a member of the "Old Diamond
Corps the Thirdj, and have no praise to sing
for Gen. Howard, but as a soldier / love to see
( every loyal soldier, whether be was a Major.
General or a high private, have all the honor
snd glory that is due to them Gen. Howard
was ioyaf and honest man, but as he com
manded corps that bad behaved badly on
couple Of occasions, don't think it Just tha
/ he should be set down on as The Boy Spy
wishes US o. do. Gen. Howard was sent to tht
command OF Gen. Sherman and he did as good
service for his country out West as any corp
commander.
, There is one thing more to which would
I like TO call the attention of comrades Of the OLE
Army Of the Potomac, and il is this: You vii
= hear the praises sung every day OF some favor
! ite General or some private in the ranks-o
some daring deed that they have performed
f i would ike TO ask every cOmrade if they re
4 member one brave, good old man by the nam
OF George Gordon Meade, commander Of tn
D 4 Army Of the Potomac? You never hear on
! man Of that grand old army that ever speal,
7 OF Mai. Gen. George g. Meade. / think this
t . shame aad disgrace TO every man VIII
e served in that army 70 allow the name Of sue
B. an ilustrious soldier as Meade 10 perish so 500
o from our minds. The Army of the Potoma
a ought to be proud OF the name of Gen. Mead,
t 1t was he who first brought victory to tia
i Army Of the Potomac after three years of dt
feat By all the pet officers Of the army, such
II Little Mac, who never wanted TO hurt the ent
L my. lie never gave MS one victory, still hi
!, name is waited TO the winds. Then came GeI
u Pope with headquarters in the saddle. Whi
d did We get from south Mountain to Bull Run
: Then came Old Rhody. What did he do
j. Then came Fighting Joe Hooker. What did /
r do2 Then came Naj.-Gen. George q. Mead
a and what did he do2 lie gave US victory--tf
d battle of Gettysburg, the turning point in I'll
% rebellion.
+ Now, comrades, I want TO ask, what have y
d done for Gen. Meade, that grand old man, 4
d day, while thousands OF comrades are assen
1f bled at Gettysburg dedicating monuments
fallen heroes from every State that had trooI
q engaged in that terrible battle2 VIII there
n one eomrade get up and say, Let the gran
Il old Army OF the Potomac erect a lasting mont
-e ment TO the memory Of Maj.-Gen. George {
l. Meade, tho nero Of Gettysburg'; and let th
D. monument be placed in the National Cemetei
b at Gettysburg by the side Of brave John
le Reynolds, Mejor-GenerAl Commanding Fir
It Corps, aud the Nations dead.--U. s. GRAHAl
/, La Junt8, Colo.
a