The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-27
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
GETTYSBURG.
What Regiment Supported Berdan's sharpshoOt
prk.

What Regiment Supported Berdan's SharpshcOt-
ers.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Knowing
your broadrage character for fairness, also
willingness in rectifying wrongs or correcting
errors If such can be proven, j wish for the
benefit of the comrades who have read my
communication of May 10th on Gettysburg aud
the command that supported the Sharpshooters,
and the repy of Gen. Bcrdau of May 80 on the
same subject, that YOU will allow me still space
in yeur valuable columns TO answer this we'll
written and seeming well-supported document.
Those who have read both articles carefully
would say at once that the General, and not
thc Lieutenant, had the best of the argument,
and that the latter had no just grounds for
complaint, as t was and always bad been con-
ceded by Gen. BeFgian that none but the Sd
Me. had been his support and fighting strength
In the woods on the morning of July 2. In
support of this assertion he takes refuge be-
hind his report of the reconnaissance dated
July %, 1863, q days after the engagement,
in which he very justly makes complimentary
mention OF Col. Lakeman and Maj Lee, OF the
Sd Ne, for valuable services rendered on this
occasion that tried mems souls.
This is all right and correct as far as il goes,
and if it had never been eontradicted by any
subsequent report, there would never have
been any occasion for the subject TO have been
given further publicity; but the following news
paper clipping which / saw and cut from the
New York World July 5. "a hours after the
conversation and statement was made, and
which give in its entirety, was what aroused
my indignation and called for reply aud de-
NAL Immediately. The following is the o9Jec-
tiOnsble matter, and reads thus:
THE TURNING POINT OF GETTYSBURG"
A memorable meeting that Of Gen. Bcrdan,
Of the sharpshOOlers, aud Gen. Longstreet here
hand, said 10 hn: Gen. Berdan, you gave me
more anxiety than any other General met on the
Aed, for you frustrated one Of the principal move
ments 81 nay command. Had my plan been sue
cessfnl would have turned SIckles's left, aud we
would have driven Meade out of bis position. 1t
your action that made the turning point OF the
war favorable 10 the Union case
Gen. Berdan said 10 the Void correspondent:
Every one comedies that Gettysburg the
turning point Of the war. but very few people take
the trouble 10 learn what the turning point of
Gettysburg. On the morning OF July Gen. Sick
les discovered that hs left was unprotected. The
cavalry that supposed to project his lefl flank
had been Withdrawn by Gen. Meade's orders lie
was very apprehensve of an attack from that
quarter, and suggested TO him that Il might be
well for me TO make reconnaissance He readily
sssented. and selected for the expedition four
picked companies Of my Sharpshooers and
Michigan regiment as reserve. We left the Peach
Orchard. started down the Emmilt-burg road for
hElf miie. sud then struck out 10 The west. We
then deployed our Sharpshooters skiTmishers
and worked through the woods 10 the north.
When we were about opposite the Peach Orchard,
and three-qnarters OF mile from IL, we struck
Gen. Herbert's Alabama regiment. which was de-
ployed as skirmisbers and Longstreets Corps.
shock Of attack great that Longsineet
imagined he had corps before him. Gen. siekies
will tell you that sent an Aid TO him and TO Gen
Meade with the nteiligeEce that 600 men were
moving TO turn Sickless flank.
That attack OF 2ei men delayed Dongstreet 40
minutes aud saved our army. You must recollect
that Sickles mile ia front of Meade's main
line aud we three quarters OF II mile IN front
OF Sicl1les We Jeff many brave boys on that field
bot we held the entire Confederate line in check.
and B0uRsireet gives tie credit for 10. We shall
er@t monument al the angle Of the fence, where
tbe fight WAS hottest, with Tie words, " The turn
Ing point Of the war"
Comrades will sec Sc once that the word
Michigan is substituted and used instead Of the
word Maine as in his original report; % years
having changed the location Of this supporting
column from the distant East TO the far West
This Published letter or conversation Of Gems
Berian and LOngstTeet and the herds CORE
sp0ndent had wide circulation among the sol
0iers, as IL took place during the Reunion OF
the Blue and the Gray at Gettysburg last year,
and must have met the eye of Gen. Berdan.
the party most interested ia seeing how his
Own interview with this reporter and his own
conversation with Gen. L0ngstFeet would look
in print, aud single glance showed him at
once as iaf as ms supporting strength was con-
eerned, that the report was wrong and iBcor-
rect. and also yeTg unjust 10 the Sd Me. And
knowing this so well, why did he not have the
mistake corrected al once aud not leave it for
me 70 do; Tor il Is soidierly 10 correct a wrong
done any body Of troops or individual, and
certainly IN this would have taken no lus-
Der OF fame from the party making the correc-
t3on.
The General says little sarcasticaly tbut
IL Is ali right, that he could settle the Lieu
tenants mind as 10 who had command Of the
troops on that reconnaissance, and quotes the
best Of authority, which j bow to aud recog-
Dlze; but remember ] was not over-confdent
On this point, these being my exact words
Think ] am correct in stating that the entire
force was under the command Of Col. Lakeman,
bot DO not assert this positively" But this
point is side issue anyway, and nothing that
anyone cares about.
The General closes his communication in 8
manner that reads well, and if sincere does
credit 70 his head and heart but il is not 10
exact uHison with the neglected opportunity
% do our regiment justice by having this false
and misleading statement corrected at the time
81 was made. which the World refused TO do fol-
me Jniy J 4. "Tcgretting, for lack Of space they
were unable to use my manuscript
Thinking that have covered all the ground
and that the Worlds letter that you have
kindly given 10 your readers must for once
and Tor al settle the point that ] did not gc
beyond my right and duty in bringing this
correspondence 70 the forefront, where Ber
dams sbarpsh0oters aud the Sd Me were found
for three long years Of war and rebellion, and
that have proved all have positively assert
ed by facts and the Generals own statements
and that loyalty TO my noble old regiment aBt
not yindietigeness 70 anyone outside our com
mand was my only motive in this matter,
will close by asking the General 70 shake.-H
a. JOHNSON Worcester Mass
We have given COmTadc johnson this mucl
space regarding this controversy. because b.
feels aggrieyed. We think, however, that tn
error Of giving Michigan regiment the credi
was entirely due 20 the reporter, and not Q
Gen. BeTdan. We say this ia explanation 70
giving this question 80 much room in our col
umns.-EDIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE.l