The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-28


army, as not engaged OF these he accounts for
1884 infantry and artillery or more than one
sixth Of their reported strength detached rs fol-
lows: HcadquaTtcr guards, train guards re-
serve artillery and engineers; 9. 700 men fallen
out on the march from sickness, fatigue and
exhaustion commonly designated as stragglersl,
and various strong details guarding important
points on the TANKS and rear the latter a very
necessary precautiOn where an enemy is pres
ent Ia force.
Their cavalry, he says, took no part in the
battle proper, they merely engaging the atten-
tion Of the Confederate cavalry, swapping Jokes
with them probably.
And here is where his estimates are miglead-
ing. lie takes what he considers the fighting
strength Infantry aud artillery Of the Army
OF the Cumberland, 10000 rs a basis from
which 10 figure out the percentage Of losses 40
ChicEamauga, while Of the Army Of the
Potomac be takes the whole $1,000 reported
present as basis 10 figure the percentage Of
loss at Gettysburg from. Not a man does
be allow detached Tor any purpose. With the
enemy present in force, with such tempting
bait a. the cities Of Washington, Baltimore
Philadelphia and Harrisburg within his
reach, the roads leading directly aud indi-
rectiy TO those cities would need 10 be heavily
guarded against sudden raids Of the enemy
With our immense wag0n-trains, sufficient 10
supply ammunition, provisions and forage for
an army $1,000 strong, the necessary train
guards would be no small item. With four Of
the SIX corps Of the Army Of the Potomac
making forced marches day and night in ex.
tfemely hot weather through country where
the people were friendly 10 the Union aud
farm produce in abundance the temptation
was never greater nor the opportunity never
better for the worst element Of the army 10
shlrk, 90 fOTagng, or desert, and il is more
than probable that great many men abscuted
+ themselves from their commands on that &C
count during these long hot marches between
the morning OF June 30 ldatc Of last report
aud the afternoon Of July 2, when the fighting
commenced in earnest; then, too, ] suppose we
had some artillery in reserve, and our head
4 quarter guards and the lst u. S. and JOlh NY
4 Engineers not engaged.
And now suppose we adapt the same trim.
ming-dOWn process with the Army Of the po-
tomac that Gen. Wiley does with the Army Of
/ the Cumberland, and take one sixth Of our
/ whole force, OF lG 600 men for the purposes inst
1 mentioned. Add 10 this the whole Of the
+ Sixth Corps 1900 men, not engaged. lUt
/ held in reserve On the field. This would give
+ us 2-OO0 infantry aud artillery not engaged
! out Of e8OO1 The whole number Of these two
arms OF the service mentioned in the report
4 which leaves IS .HI0 actually engaged Leaving
out the cavalry loss, we have "a loss 81 p 1877. a
f pretty large percentage Should this br.thonrbt
too high, see The lOssc, ia the artillery. with n
reported strength of q .GJ2. aud without allow.
/ ing Tor reserve artillery, they would average
/ 1000 men 20 each 81 the six infantry corps. and
4 6.G32, with the light batteries attached 20 the
cavalry corps. Then. leaving out the latter.
aud the batteries Of the Sixth Corps not en-
] gagged, We have 5000 uriiilerists actually en-.
/ gagged with loss Of 2,sI7, still higher per-
] centage. but j can't agree with Gen. Wiley in
/ leaving out the cavalry. the men who,
Win Old John Bul0rd the first day, or with
A fitzpatrick aud Caster and Merritt the third
day, nor The hcrm0ntcrs who rode over that
stone wall and through a line Of rebel infantry
1 10 Their death, with the heroic Farnsworth. /
saw them come back, not many Of them. Twas
q hard sight many wounded horses rushing
wildly over the field with empty saddles.
Others bearing wounded men cliuFing desper.
ately TO the saddle, ondeayoring 10 reach our
lines.
IL any Of those boys are living today. they
Mlll enter vigorous protest against being left
Out when the h0nOrs VI Gettysburg are being
discussed
1en. Wiley 8 Judgment appears 10 be warped
by the same prejudice displayed by too many
veterans 0i late, that Of belittling the service
OF one part Of our army IN the interest Of some
DINER No man living has greater admiration
Tor the heroism displayed nv the men who
stuck by Then c0lan 70 the last Al Cbicka.
manga even prcicrTiug death 30 being driven
from the bcld, than ] have aud perhaps nS
troops were ever placed Ia a more trying DO
sitou, There IN hsnnr enough for all who de-
serve a. without trying TO snatch each other
lanrels.-JoHS KELLY. 20. y. "a T. a. Cav.
f54 West superior &c., Chicago. IN.