The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-30

~->~~---.-~----SS--E' ludicrous. In closing
he demands the truth and not waste oil
| words, etc. In his reference to the figures IN
the editorial columns of your issue Sept. 8
1891, he dsregards alike the truth and the in
telligence of his readers by placing the number
| of Union troops participating in the battle oil
Gettysburg at the absurdly high figure of 3d.
900, thereby making the percentage of losses
sustained by them appear lower, while with
| the Army of the Cumberland he reverses his
method of computation, placing the number
engaged at Chickamauga at the ridiculously
low figure of $4,000, or bare two.thirds of the
reported strength Of that army, that he may
make the percentage Of loss appear very high,
or make it out the "bloodiest battlefield" a
phrase so often repeated May 10.
Now, don't care straw which is shown to
| have been the bloodiest battlefield, nor whore
the breaking of that metaphorical Confederate
| backbone occurred.
| But if he adopts the minimum as the basis in
ascertaining the percentage of losses at one en-
gagement, why not do 80 with both, always
bearing in mind that it is the readers of THE
| NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and not either dsputant,
| who are to be the judges of the arguments ad-
duced and the language they are couched in.
Until quite recently it has not been claimed
by anyo2e but rebel authorities, or their cop
| perhead sympathiZers, that Meade had rs many
as $4,000 troops in action at Gettysburg and no
| fair minded man, knowing the history Of that
| campaign and the situation and environments
| of the Army Of the Potomac, will believe it.
| Never, after the battle of Gaines's Mill, did
| the rank and file Of the Army Of the Potomac
have the slightest doubt of their ability, when
properly handled, to cope successfully with the
Army OF Northern Virginia, and yet they were
| afterwards led to defeat after defeat, aud AL
ways by different commander. They took
| that bungling affair at Second Bull Run rather
goodnaturedly, and were not more than half
ti.ft hair i,tn iofo hut
were perfectly disguised with the fruitless
slaughter at Fredericksburg, and mad clean
through at the fatal hesitation of their COM
mander at Charlottesville, which lost them
the opportunity Of fair stand-up fight with
Lees veterans.
And now they marched to battle again IN der
a new and untried commander appointed but
three days before 1t was not known against
what point the enemy would direct his main
attack, consequently our army was strung out
over 60 miles of territory, where struggling was
not only perfectly cafe, but was most delight
full affair. The country people, in their simple
patriotism, cheerlully entertained our soldiers
at their houses. Such was the situation when
our old reliable, John Bufort, with his division
of cavalry (of which had the honor to be a
member present for dntyJ, encountered the
enemy's infantry beyond Gettysburg. A few
hours later the army commences to arrive by
forced marches, under Il blazing July sun,
through suffocatiug clouds Of dust, corps at q
time, until the third day of battle, when the
Sixth Corps, the last to arrive. came the field,
but is not put into action. Does any sane man
suppose that our trains were left unguarded,
| that every other point was uncovered, stripped
of every man, when the enemy's advance on
Gettysburg might, for all we know, be only
fent to cover the movement in some other di-
rection? Or that the full reported strength of
the army was in the ranks, and remained in
m
arrived on the field? And yet this Is what
should have been done in order to put $4,000
men in action without the Sixth Corps.
On tho other hand, the situation is quite diff
ferent The Army of tho Cumberland is pre-
pairing for battle under IN old and tried COM
mander who has hitherto been uni formly
successful. The weather is cool and bracing,
and struggling decidedly unsafe. And yet II
we arc to believe this seeker after truth "
from ST. Louis, from All army $1,000 strong,
| there is but bare $4,000 put into action at
Chickamauga, where few thousand moro
might have rendered incalcuable service. He
reiterates the statement that majority Of the
best authorities take his view of the subject,
yet he doesn't name single authority on tho
subject except Longstreet
Now we do not regard that foxy old rebel as
a reliable authority, if it is question of the
number OF troops arrayed against him, the
amount of damage his Cause may have received
at their hands, Or the condition OF the COME
cracv after the engagement in dispute as he is
but human like the rest of US whether con.
sidered SO in st. Lonis or not, and no doubt is
willing enough to belittle the results Of Gettys-
burg, for the reason that he got good sound
thrashing there. | would like the opinion of
some disinterested party on the whole subject,
some one whose statements might bear the
stamp of truth.-JoHN KELLY, CO. r, Cd u. s.
Cav, 734 West Superior street. Chicago, III.