The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1890-11-14


tn point out the spot before naming II.
I.e locality that aroused the most spiri
among the generals was the scene O
Sickles' famous battle, the action whicl
President Lincoln called godsend, for tin
reason that 1t insured fight to the finisl
ut Gettysburg The criticism on Sickles 4
that he went too far forward and present
ed two lines, or an angle, to the enemy
The count finds some fault with the stat
Of affairs in his history, but puts the blame
upon Gen. Meade. During the examina
ton of this ground Gen. Howard remarked
to Gen. Slocum that Sickles' movement tt
the front delayed the Confederates long
Round Top, the key position of the whole
and beat of the enemy who rushed for It
Slocum said that this may have been the
result; he would not say positively. Gen
Newton said that 1t was worth thinking
about, that Round Top might have been
secured to the Union troops without call
the fuss" Sickles had with Longstreet in
order to secure it. The count made no OBJ.
servation about the affair while on the
field, and the comments by Howard, Slo-
cum and Newton are the result Of this
meeting of the corps generals
At the famous angle Of the stone wall
where good view of the field of Pickett's
charge is to be had, all gave way to Capt.
Longs faithful description, and no one
cared to dissent from his opinion that the
charge was the bravest thing of the kind
on record AS is easily to be seen, the
whole of the ground marched across by
Pickett's column was swept by Meade's
artillery on Cemetery Ridge. When the
speaker ended his story, leaving Picketts
baffied and disheartened remnants sullenly
retiring to their own lines, the count add
ed, as though finishing the thoughts he
had carried in mind during the narration:
eyes, they failed for want of artillery am
munition. With plenty of ammunition to
play artillery against artillery the Confed-
crates could have carried it, or, with their
infantry against Meade's infantry without
artillery they could have won. But with
infantry alone against artillery it was not
possible"
This view agrees with that of Longstreet
at the time-LOngstreet whom the count
blames for Lees failure at Gettysburg
This general attempted to recall Pickett
after he had started on the charge because
the Confederate artillery ceased firing, and
gave as a reason lack of ammunition.
1t would have added interest to this tour
of the great battle ground had there been
some of the Confederate generals present.
Longstreet and Ewell, of the corps COM
manders, and several division commanders
and chiefs of artillery battalions are still
living Doubtless a desire on the part of
the count to avoid ENHANCEMENT in the
bitter controversies that have grown out
of the battle is the reason they were not
present.
When the scene of the grand charge had
been left behind several of the followers of
the distinguished party supposed that the
work of exploration was finished, but a lit
tie informal voting showed a strong desire
TO ride away off to the right flank, four
miles beyond the extreme end of the army
lines around Gettysburg, and hear what
Gen. Gregg had to say about the way he |
,brashed "Jeb" Stuart's famous troopers |
n open field on July 3, 1868. On the road |
! halt was made at the little old stone
lwelling occupied as Meade's headquar-
ers during the fight. Gen. Daniel Butter
ield, who acted as marshal of the tourists,
luietly led tAe way to a room where the
amous council of war was held late on
July 2, 1863, after Sickles' disaster on the
Union left.
That council it was that decided whether
here should be any great battle at Gettys
)urg or not for it was there voted to ''stay
md fight it out" on Cemetery Ridge. How
much the unhappy result of Sickles' fight
# the day had to do with the decision or
With bringing up the question of retreating
n fighting can only be conjectured. The
majority of Meade's generals objected to
etreat perhaps for the very reason that it
would look like defeat.
This informal meeting of the survivors
# the council, Slocum, Howard and New
on, with Butterfield, who, as Meade's
hief of staff, recorded the minutes of the
riginal council, was the only gathering of
he kind that has been held. The more the
inside history of the battle of Gettysburg
) brought to light the greater is seen to be
he significance of Meade's war council,
nd this impromptu affair of the survivors
viii probably give rise to permanent me-
nento.
In spirit of fun at first the members
ssumed their original positions, Newton
n the same old bed where he had been
sleep after long ride. and awoke with
ut arising to hear opinions and give his
dice; Slocum behind door, which for
Omfort's sake on a hot July night, was
7 lie open: Howard and Butterfield in
heir old places in the same cottage chairs
he commissioner of the state of Pennsyl
ania in the Gettysburg Memorial associa-
on, Gen. Goblin, seized upon this little in
dent as an inspiration for poem and a
icture commemorative the meeting of
~> II