The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-23
GEN. MEADE At GETTYSBURG.
Grants OpinIon or HIm-what Grant Said
10 Admiral Foote.

Grants OpinIon or HIm-what Grant Said
10 Admiral Foote.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The Eren-
ing Post OF New York reprinted on Friday the
recollections OF Mr.. David Wills Of Gettysburg
OF some comments said to have been made by
Gen. Grant In June. 1887. upon Gen. Meade's
conduct OF the U-ion side OF tho battle ut that
place. Upon these recollections. based. as l
think can readily be shown. upon ignorance
OF what actually occurred at the battle OF Got
tysburg and m entire failure to comprehend
the plan Of tho battle. tho Post In turn bases
an article embracing all OF those errors and
misconceptions which declares that Meade
should have annihilated Lees army. md that
such is the matured opinion Of the country.
Let us return to Mr.. David Wills's recollec.
tons for a moment. He quotes Gen. Grant as
saying that not moro than one.half OF the
Union army was in action ut one time. II Cen.
Grant said that. h" WAS other expressing an
opinion in ignorance Of the facts. or. what was
equally reprehensible. he ignored the facts.
In either case Mr.. Wills makes Gen. Grant use
words which. in view OF Gen. Grants integ-
rity. 1t is impossible that no could have used.
Tho Union troops engaged mt once attho
time OF Longstreet's assault on the second day
OF the battle were the Third Corps. Birney's
and Humphreys divisions: the Second Corps.
RuCer's division of the Twelfth Corps. the Fifth
Corps and tho First Corps. Second and Third
divisions. Tho sixth Corps arrived after its long
march OF thirty five miles In time for one divi-
sion to render important service. While these
troops. with the batteries and even the reserve
Johnson attacked. CUPS Hiii and isrly and
kodes had been ordered to attackC
w WI !, Enriy astnally did with great visor: Tho
arm OF the service. except the cavalry. which
had its own work 70 attend to. wa. there
citizen OF Gettysburg puts the ridiculous criti-
cism referred to in the mouth OF Gen. Grant. it
vote som time to the STUDY ' Of local ne Sisto 20 de-
M9re9ver. Con. Hatleek; the then General
1n.ohiei with Mhs sv tSll S o Ger; Msade,s move;
Gen. Meade on July 2s. 1855:
"Y.n handed y.ar troops in th.! battle IGettysbprS]
MO nj ' ss'io au x 'EEs iii ai.s SA i'm. s" md Hrp pt.s.' a. %hi ysu 10 i" .s.,.
y yoas .u u sl,sF ssnsr. ySnI short samp.'F" has proved
In his Memoirs tpage I'D Gen. Grant says:
Of " Me.a ,1 ihan AZ sHE H, % sf: sye g,s a mor: taxs,ss!s opinion
tth6 Inc %o Sn soi sssH from wl,"m We may always expect
David ID. Porter gives tho purport Of several
eonveGsations With Gen Gram. in reference to
R, I3ns night Ms :, c 1it re,n; I'm jTs, before the surrender Of
man, =" VIZ, Ss ': .a.%.;sa r'ri a s.t.:% an MIN m ni.hiIy.
aa@ but sn iSr y Hs 9T he . ,aiisGsT s' sG .ns, n asis. =" ,. .sSs;
goes his quick perez ption of what is required on Inc
neid or battle ana makes his Judgment so -xceptional'
! WAS with Gen. Grant. then President. when u tele.
gran was brought n Announcing hs. Gen; MeAdes,
death. lie handed II to III" and said; 'lhat 10 sad
happened during the war"
When Gen. Grant first came to the Army of
that army were disposed to speak lightly OF his
ability. Gen. Meade said to them: 'Gentle-
men. you are making a great, mistake. Gen.
Grant is n man Of very great ability" 1t seems
to the writer that this service rendered y
Gen. Meade to Gen. Grant. and his subsequent
cordial and Jealous cooperation with Gen.
Grants PURPOSES is but poorly repaid bythose
civilian admirers OF Gen. Grant who seek 10
use his hame unon tho field OF Gettysburg TO
lessen %unlustly and iGnorantly the %laureis OF
the mol 10 soldier who won that great yiotory
There was glory enough for both Grant and
Meade as well as for Thomas and Sherman. :.
ISAAC 4. PENNYPACKEn.