The Portland daily press., 1890-01-16
the BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
Lecture by MaJor S. w. Thaxter at
the Y. NJ. C. A. Hall.


At the Y. NJ. c. A. rooms last night in the
course of war lectures, Major Sidney W.
Thaxter gave an interesting talk on Gettys-
burg, taking his recent visit to the battle
field as a text About this he wove thread
OF narrative. describing the battle and the
present condition of the field and discussing
the causes and effects of the battle. There
were, he said, some 400 organizations en-
gagged in that battle ON the Union side, and
up to this time 300 monuments have been
erected upon the field to mark the position of
each regiment and battery. There has been
some criticism of the attempt that has been
made to preserve in monumental form the
history of the battle 1t is said that it will
keep alive the bitterness that grew out of
the great struggle; that every mark of a
civil contest ought to be obliterated, and that
only cold recital of the facts should be left
to the future historian. do not agree with
the few who make this criticism, there was
nothing in this battle that need cause any
citizen of America. either North or South to
blush with shame. While there are people
in the North who desire to spare the feelings
of their Southern brethren, the latter came
forward and desire to crown the salient
points of this field with monuments to her
valor. and to engrave upon them legends
that shall tell to future ages her glory In 1t.
The lecturer then described the ride that the
party took over the BATTLEFIELD and the posi-
ton of the monuments. He also described
the details of the first two days battle and
discussed the question Of Meade's capacity
and ability as commander. He did not re-
gard Gettysburg as a suitable place for a
battle even after the first two days and was
anxious to move to another place, but was
overruled by his corps commanders and
forced to fight it out where he was. Meade's
character was next considered. He was
shown to be untitled for high command, al
though capable and popular with his BROTH
er officers.
In due course of time the riding party
reached Cemetery Hill where is located the
National Cemetery, into which the govern
| fell in the battle. This is one of the 70 ma
tional national cemeteries in which more
100000 Union soldiers have been buried. The
cemeteries are maintained by the govern
meDt with great care and at great expense.
Their use is not only to furnish fit resting
| places for the brave men who died in de-
fence of their country, but to stimulate pat
riotic sentiment and regard for a govern
ment that with such paternal care and affec-
ton bestowed upon those buried there i'm
mortal distinction. The speaker then hk-
ened the battlefield of Gettysburg with
its monuments to that of Mara
th sn; where where 70 ,hosa public monu-
some length, and his neglect of one main OBJ
jective point pointed out. After this he
spoke of the statue of soldier of heroic size
with an empty sleeve, erected by the State
OF Vermont to commemorate the valor of a
| brigade of nine months men from that State
w IN, hQlt the nnrfinp nf tho fold bar fha
monument stood, and turned the flank of
| Pickett's men in their charge, afterward
charging Wilcox's division and driving it back
| with great loss. History records, said the
speaker, no more brilliant feat of arms than
| this charge of the Vermont brigade upon the
| TANKS of the rebel columns; and this stately
| shaft OF granite will eloquently tell the
story to future ages.
Passing from the description of the
battle to a discussion Of its effects,
others, the battle ON which the issues of the
civil war were staked. 1t can be called the
decisive battle of the war. This was not SO
| much because Lee suffered decided defeat
or because it was the beginning of the end
| Of the struggle. Gettysburg will take place
| as one Of the fifteen decisive battles of the
war. This battle gave the death blow to the
| system OF human slavery. l believe, he said,
| that If Lee had been successful at Gettys-
burg. with the North in his power. the tenn.
| contederacy would have disappeared and a
union of all the states with slavery as the
cornerstone would have taken Cts place.
| The character of the political leaders of the
| South confirms this view. From Gettysburg
may be dated the wonderful progress that
this country has made in material develop
ment. The North was released from its pO-
litical bondage to the South and has moved
forward with more vigorous step since tie
poison OF slavery was eliminated. Passing
then to criticism of the campaign of Gem
eral Lee. the speaker said that the invasion
was mistake on his part He went into the
enemy's country without adequate supplies
and without proper planning and arrange
ment. He was anxious to divert the theatre
of battle from the South and thus rushed in :
to 1t headlong. Briefly summed up the
causes Of the loss of the battle to Lee were
the great length, over five miles, of his line
Of battle the concave from the line of battle
| the absence of Stuart and the cavalry, and
| the open character of the country which ex-
| posed all Of his movements to the eye of the
enemy.
The lecture was illustrated by large maps
of the battlefield and was listened to with
| great interest.