The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-10-19
Gen. Meade,s Mistake.

H0 4uOLCQ SOluo low o6O q ~
rent newspaper note to the effect that
Gen. Haupt, Federal officer had writ
ten an article for the September Century
Magazine about the battle of Gettysburg,
sin which he holds in positive way that
1t was in the power of Gen. Meade after
the battle to have captured the whole OF
ZEN. Lees army, and thus to have
brought the war to an end much earlier
than that object was achieved" Not
thinking 1t worth while to discuss such a
statement at any length, or to take any
pains to look up authorities to refute it,
we merely suggested to Gen. Haupt that
he would probably find on investigation
that perhaps one reason why Gen. Meade
cid not at least try to accomplish the
capture in question was that he was look
Ing for the best route for retreat in case
Gen. Lee should try to capture him.
that effect in articles written by Federal
the most interesting feature Of Haupt's
essay, to our mind, is its ill-concealed
purpose to break the force of this en-
barrassing testimony to the condition Of
the Federal side after tho battle by set
ting up 80 preposterous claim as
to the condition Of tho Confederate ar
my.
Throughout the article Con. Haupt
carefully ignores the tremendous events
which Immediately proceeded the battle
Of Gettysburg, and which caused the bat
tie to be fought on ground rs near to
New York as it was to Richm ond. Lee
had just driven the Federal armies
across the Potomac, and at the head Of
his victorious troops was threatening
Philadelphia. Meade, with superior
numerical force, fought defensive bat
lie for three days, and on the third day
still awaited the assaults of the Confeder-
ates in his intrenchments. He was very
we'll satisfied with the result when the
last assault failed of its purpose to break
means sure that it would not be renewed
with better success, he was we'll content
to hold his ground.
That he contemplated retreat Is
known, and there is every reason to be-
lieve that he had actually begun to re-
treat, but found that the Confederates
were Withdrawing and remained to claim
the doubtful victory. 1t is an old story,
but we are glad that we challenged Gen.
Haupt's ridiculous assertion, as our re-
marks have had the good result of elicit
ing an interesting contribution to the
history of the battle. In recent number
of the Yorkville, s. O., Enterprise the
editor, Gen. E. NJ. Law, who bore con-
spicuous part in the Gettysburg battle
and campaign, quotes what we said in re-
ply to Gen. Haupt, and adds:
"The editor Of the Enterprise has
word to say on this matter with due re-
gsrd to the truth of history As COM
the right Of the Confederate army, which
took the only Federal artillery captured
OF the field of Gettysburg, and which
brought up the rear Of Longstreet's
corps on the retreat, we know positively
that there was no pursuit on the part of
the enemy. On the contrary the assist
ant adiutant general of the division was
sent back, after we had left the field only
short distance, to retire the skirmish
line. He came back quickly, with the
information that he had ridden forward
over the lines occupied by the Federal
troops the day before, and found them
deserted. Both armies were retreating at
the same time.
lVWhen the Confederate army approach
ed the Potomac, and high water prevent
ed fording and delayed the construction
of pontoon bridge, we encamped quiet
ly on the Maryland side for nearly week
waiting for Gen. Meade to come and cap
him to try it. If he had attacked US he
would have gotten one of the bloodiest
defeats recorded in history. Fortunate
ly for the Federal cause, Gen. Meade was
| wise enough to know this"
This is all to the point, and makes q
square issue for Gen. Haupt to meet, II
\ he desires to establish his case and has
\ any material besides his opinion and his
very natural desire to glorify his side
/ wherewith to support his pretensions.
/ There is q general disposition on the part
I of Northern writers to magnify the re-
suits Of the Gettysburg fight and exalt it
/ to the place Of "the decisive battle of the
war;" Notwithstanding the fact that the
I Confederate cause came nearest to achiev-
/ ing q complete and final success in
/ the campaign of the next summer. It
| does not amount to anything, OF course,
80 long as the efforts to this end are con-
| fined to enthusiastic newspaper scrib..
blers, "Gettysburg orators" and political
\ stump speakers; but when it comes to a
] question of fact between military critlcs
and officers Of high rank who took part
in the battle, 1t is necessary and desirable
that facts only should be regarded, and
that they be given full weight. And a
| study of all facts, we are sure, will con-
i vince Gen. Haupt TINT Gen. Meade not
| only made no "mistake" In not trying to
capture Gen. Lee and his army, but
showed rare good judgment in letting
them alone and leaving to his admirers
to argue, q long while after the event, that
he could haze captured them, if he had
| only had q mind to,-NeUS and Courier.