The National tribune., 1892-09-29
PERCENTAGE OF LOSSES.
Col. Wiley Explains the Basis upon which
He Estimated.

Col. Wiley Explains the Basis upon which
He Estimated.
n LLOW me space for few lines in re-
~ ply to communication of Comrade
A n Kelley in your issue of January %.
No dsrespect was meant. any
undervauation of the cavalry arm of the
service intended they are the eyes of an
army, and are indispensable to its move
ments. They performed their allotted share
of the service well. and fought gallantly
when their duty required it, gave them
tho opportunity to do 80. He, however,
loses sight of the object sought in making any
estimate Of per cent. of losses in battles 1t is
to give an idea of the severity Of the fighting
that actually occurred. IT, therefore. we in
clude cavalry that did not actually participate
in the fighting it gives an entirely erroneous
idea of the severity Of the fighting. 1t is for
that reason. ard that alone, that | omitted
them in my calculation in stating the percent
age of losses at Chickamauga. / certainly did
tho cavalry of the Army of ths Potomac no in-
justice, for / stated their numbers and the
Losses tin ey had sustained, but ! omitted them
and their losses from the per cent. of losses in
the battle proper Not to have done SO would
have given very erroneous idea of ths sever
ity of the battlo proper, to tho prejudice of the
Army of the Potomac.
In regard to his method of reducing the num-
bers of the Army of the Potomac | must object
/ reduced the returns of the Army OF the Cum
berland by showing specifically where the
troops were that made up the return
and were not in the battle, with the excep-
ton of the estimated loss of 1000 in nine
days campaigning When he shall do the
same with regard to the soldiers embraced
in the returns of June 30, and show where
and who they were, l will be glad to
rect my estimate Of the per cent. OF their losses
en that basis. 1t is my impression, though
have not the book at hand to verify it, that tho
Count of Paris, in his history. estimates the in
fantry and artillery at Gettysburg in the Union
army at 81 900. | estimated it, | believe, at
$4,000 l would further say that have since
writing the article alluded to come across some
data with reference 10 the sick that had accu-
mulated during the nino days campaign, that
leads me to think my estimate of 1000 was per-
haps below the mark ono regiment reporting a
loss of 60 men from the causes inclnded III that
estimate. refer to the 23d KY. A communi-
cation from G.. r. Thurston, A. A. G. and Chief
of staff of Con. McCook, to Col. Post. on page
COS, PART g. Vol. 30, Rebellion Records, will show
the extent to which they had accumulated in
McCook's Corps alone. He s there directed
to send the sick back in tue ambulance train
and invalids in the wagon train.
communication from Col. Post, on page 572
of same volume, shows that on the 18th of Sep
tember, 1863, the sick of McCook's Corps and
the cavalry then with Post numbered 250.
They would probably accumulate more rapidly
the subsequent week. Col. Posts report, sos
and 507, Part of same volume, shows that
having sent away all the train could carry on
the 18TH there still remained lot Of sick to be
taken care Of by the cavalry. mention these
facts merely to show that my estimate of a loss
of 1000 in nine days of active campainng is
not Observation-Disclosures WILEY, Colonel,
4lst Ohio Wooster O.