The National tribune., 1891-11-12

lua. win attest The fact that there were com
mandprs small in rank, as well as commands
small n numbers, whose work at critical
periods during those three days of battle wOI
laura.s t8nt Others are wearing Among these
there " ill occur 60 an who diligently trace
the cverts Of those three days in their proper
sequence such names as Col. Berdan, who, with
HI small. land OF Sharpshooters, was host o.
dct, ,iyo strength Ut vital staEeo Of the second
DAYS action. The swift aud timely work Oi
Carro'Ns Brigade that sped io a dangerous
breach on our right. was a magnificent feat in
the battle. Even far-of Minnesota, though
not numorousy, was most gloriously repre-
scented iu the victory by her gallant LIST lnG-
Hs wa. Illinois by her superb Sth Cav
Our Cavalry Cnrps-too seldom mentioned IN
the popular accounts Of the Gettysburg victory
30 which its yalurous contribution was a
trauseandcut impOrtanCe-has been ignored
with deplorahe injustice, save by the luminous
and valuable maps of Batchelder Yet that
great adjunct Of oar army brought 20 total
wreck iho bold design OF Lee, who, without
the rgnotest doubt
HAD MAPPED OFT A TLAN
by which "Jebn Stuart was to reap with his
cavalry the spols aud null fruit Of that destroy
ing infantry assault of which PIckett's charge
wu- bul an entering wedge 90 Cemetery Ridge
D0uhtp-s as he saw those brave ArEiniaus
his minds eye the havoc thai Stuart would
mako Utb the broken infantry OF Meade AS
they abandoned their artillery, flung muskots
and flags away and Chokcd the roads OF retreat
in lrrn.icd panic pursued by his cheering line
OF Southern yic,ors.
These then, are r few Of the commands rs
well as commanders whose signal services at
vital points aud moments in the battle, though
less snowy than others that have been eXt0lled
ga NJ 0f ~
value "a oUr causo. Their deeds deserve en-
during rcnown aud ailectionate veneration n
the annals ot our country and in the hearts OF
our people.
Touching the action OF the Third Corps and
the conduc, Of its commander, Gen. Sicklcs, a
few woods viii embrace all ] think il necessary
o. say ai this writing.
Ou JuIy D, l-S1, ] stood in a large crowd Of
thv Veterans of the First Corps and their friends
who tr.d assembled O. dedicate the spot whore
thoir meuted leader, Gen. Reynolds leil, at
Oak Grove. An orator, who had the day be-
fore bepH nominated loT n State Office Bt "A con-
Feniion at Harrisburg was introduced as the
chief speaker on the pavilion. The Colonel
o. b. was now called, but whom j knew as a
2e-year old Lieutenant Of infantry up to with
in o leg weeks Of Lees surrender, took il into
his dense political aud erroneous head that he
could not better honor the memory Of Gen.
Reynolds aud win some noisy local eclat for
hilusgl han to give Gen. Sickes what be took
care should be ndustriOusly announced before
band among the assembled crowd as laying
out"
need not here track him through the vapid
Bnd silly lIbels that strung themselves at weary
length through the pompOus 0rati0n" he IN
fletcd upon his yawning hearers, but among
other sample gems was the reckless nlsstate-
mcut that The First and Eleventh Corps had
been wimlly sacrificed by the failure of Gen.
Sickics 10 obey an early order OF Gen. Meade TO
bastun from Emmisburg 10 tho relief o. the
distressed force fighting
HEAVY ODDS AT GETTYsRURG.
or course he could not claim 10 have any
personal knowledge Of the important new
facts be alleged, nor point 10 a record or liv-
ing nutHority worthy of the least credit TO
fuehiu So grave a charge and seemed 10 think
1ilslH aEarieVed when hc atterward learned
--and be very distinctly and swiftly learned
thm tie oiub gossip Of an irresponsible staff
oflicer. who had given il 70 him straight" was
not dccned either by soldiers or civilians
Worl.yol the snlalIg rank as evidence % make
out sUch d case against an honorrd corps com
maudeE whom be came ail the way from the
C0uNHutIou 90 lay out And this great effort
Of b .iln was this misguided and mis- ranked
"Colouel chief tribute 10 the memOryol Gen.
John ~ Reynolds Was the man who spoke
this rot one who would waut0nly and wiiully
oeiHIue ono Oi our most hOuOrcd CUrps leaders 2
By SEQ means. he bad been a brave young
lieutenant in n gallant Pennsylvania repi-
meft and was an honorable aud socially Iowa
Biz companion among bis friends and comrades.
Bad the leadiong Colonel taken the small
est Dalu- % consult the authentic records which
Were easily within bis reach for fully half Of
his ilHime he would have learned what every
Intelligent army man had long known that
Gen 81 kles who was holding Emmitsburg on
July ], l@i3 by Meadvs orders on learning by
q swift rearier OF the ftlIt in progress 40 Get
tyshul1 aud of The death OF Reynolds. started
Instantly with onr Third Corps tor the front,
an3 d.l uoJ wait fOr the distant army cum
mal.dr,s orders. nor did his men halt one
m0si,.t ou that hot and t-bliudiug road
uniil they reached the side of their hattie-wOrn
C0HiTa.rs 0f the First and Eleventh Corps and
b.goUarsgG beside them that night on Gene
beTs l-dse.
A. fO THE BATTLE OUR CORPS FOUGHT
DsE' Gay in the sight Of the Army Of the
Potomac. aud the conduct Of our commander.
neither needs eui0gy nor defense at my hands.
The Third Corps wrote ITS own history that day
1n glorious and crimson characters aud the
c0mp p.etc Vindieaiion of Gen Daniel II Sick les
car be- sought aud found easily in higher places
than in Hu imperfect and partial memoir by
one Of the smallest and youngest officers Of his
old Excelsior Brigade.
li ls found la the reports OF tie Committee
or ihe Conduct OF the War and the truth was
lumInlB-Iv aud truthfuly set forth IN the
memorable address Of Gen. Siczles before the
yei ruus OF las old corps az Gettysburg on July
z l--1
Bui % was reserved for the great Lincoln "a
give voice % the sense Of the army aud country
WEeH, IHyIHP that homely but loved hand on
thr shuId,r 81 our commander. who came IA
demand m official inquiry that would right
hlm lrHW Tie wrong done him in Meades re-.
Poft oi Gee battle, The grand old patriot said
'rrhID. they accuse you Of forcing a hattIt
at Getty burg and from what has been told
me Z am inclined 10 believe the charge Is true
and may God bless You for H. Don't ask m,
ior $50 inquiry into your conduct iu that battl,
Or aHFotHcr There WIS glory enough at Get
tys0nrg 10 20 ali around" And so say we al
o. nj.
gagchup The subject of Piczetrs charge On
july 3 10 may bo news 10 those who hay,
formed iHrir ideas of it from pHilliuotenuyt
Cvc.omma, kuthermes s25 600 painting. ana,
Blmltar snowy fetIOns that have
DELIGHTED AND DMUDED
noH H-rsm baiauts, and alas somewhat iemor,l
lzed iIH veterans OF Ncbb's magnificent pbila
uelplia Brigade, 10 learn that when pfcketfi
meu came back after their rrpulse 10 the En-
miisAurg road, near which was AZ a wouude,
captive. aud whsre they reformed In tolerabI,
good order, That they brought with them Quit,
d large uumhcr Of prisoners taken from Bap
cock line. What proportion Of these bcl0uge,
% NohO'- Brigade ] am. OF course upaI,Ie I,
Bay tut certain % il that mum Der of the Off
GER o, ti.at command left the field with me gpt
Other prisoners, and some of them silent hes IA,
nIc i1t HaHy months afterWard on tbr n0g
oi Libby PRISON. To be exact, ] name th