The Portland daily press., 1894-03-08

be admitted. 81 shall never forget" says
General Hamlin, his reply when, turn
ing to the General, his eyes suffused and
with trembling lips, he gave deep
sigh, and in gentle and subdued tones
he said, General, it is best as it is. 1t
is now part OF the history of the case !"
After the reading of the paper other
recollections were given. Major IL. ;.
Burrage, who was adjutant general. on
General Curtin's staff, at the time, re-
called how General Griffin, of the Fifth
Corps called on General Curtin at the
the news was received, and the deep
detection of General Curtin. The town
council of Farmville, Confederate
town, passed q resolution expressing
profound regret at the event. which they
considered a great calamity to the
nation, and especially to the South. On
the day of the funeral memorial services
were held, and the Confederate Presby
terrain minister pronounced an eulogy.
Ex-Governor Connor recalled that he
was at the Douglass hospital, restless
and suffering, when he was told of the
assassination. twas then thought.that
all the leading officers of the government
and the army were the victims of great
conspiracy Two of the nurses of that
hospital were with Seward that night,
and one of them, Robinson, Maine
soldier, kept the assassin from killing
Seward.
Major. Fl. S. Melcher recalled that he
was with the Fifth Corps at Farmville,.
Al were in high spirits when the sad
news came. The darkest despair settled
over the bivouacs, such as had never
been seen throughout the war.
Governor ROBBIE recalled that he at
that time was on his way from New
Orleans, under orders to proceed north in
the course of his duty as paymaster. Inc
report of the death came to him on the
train near Cleveland, Ohio, andswas not
believed until the flags of Cleveland
were seen at half mast.
General Beal recalled that he was in
the Shenandoah valley at the time, and
"as ordered at once to Washington.
Major Burrage next presented letter
from General Howard, which is to be
added to the Commandery's collection of
autograph letters. This letter is as fol-
lows:
General Howard's Letter.
Headquarters Department of the East.
Governors Island, New York,
February 9th, 1894.
Major Henry S. Burrage, Oxford Build
ing, Portland, Maine:
Ny Dear Sir:-Your question is as fol-
lows: "Can you give me the facts con-
corning your selection of the army lines
at Gettysburg after the. first days fight
was over?"
did not select the field SO late as your
question would imply. After | had
organized my two columns at Emmets-
burg and set them in motion, one
division following Reynolds and the
other two going via Homers mill and
the Taneytown road, l, myself. accom-
panied by an escort and staff rode
paths to point near Gettysburg.
While waiting for staff officer
Captain Hall, DanieD to find General
Reynolds, that l might, in person, go to
him, reconnoitred the region. First
I rode to the highest ground near the
Peach orchard; then turned, and seeing
the Cemetery heights, I rode rapidly to
more pike. Col. Meysenburg (the
adjutant general of the Eleventh Corps
sat on his horse by my side while i
studied the position ranging from the
Round Tops" to Culps hill I re-
marked to him substantially, This is
only position" We both meant for the
lines of Meade's army, as it was evident
that Reynolds. Buford and myself could
not cover fifth of this position with
but o. 900 men. | left my escort on the
cemetery ridge, while with few officers
and orderlies | rode to the court house.
Fahnsiestalk' observatory opposite gave
L
maps and observed what was going on
till staff officer Il think it was Captain
Hall returning) reported to me General
Reynolds's death.
Then instantly I assumed command,
sent back reports to Meade, Slocum and
Sickles.
Descending from the cupola, rode
back to the cemetery point and fixed my
headquarters there permanently.
AS soon as General Carl Schurz arrived
(about II m. J ahead of his command !
gave him the Eleventh Crops, leaving
Doubleday commanding the First Corps
and General John Buford his division of
calvary. I caused the new position on
Cemetery ridge to be occupied by ali
the reserve artillery of the corps under
Major Osborn, and by Steinwehr's
division (the second) of the Eleventh
corps. He occupied the stone walls and
he and Osborn intrenched, by slight
epaulments, theirssbatteries.
From this point | went almost alone to
the front, as the other divisions OF
Schurz went into place in echelon, back
of the right of Doubleday, then return
ing to my station.
After the fighting had become too
orievous to be maintained against enor-
nous odds, sent distinct order for
Schurz, Doubleday and Buford to retire
and form on the Cemetery RIDGE | also
which he sent forward, to prolong the
line and General Sickles, yielding to my
instructions joined our left, which
Buford was occupying with much show
of cavalry.
This is the part which bore in form
ing the lines beginning about 1890 a. NJ,
and continuing until night. General
Hancock joined me just as Doubleday
was leading his command into place
south of the Baltimore Pike. In my
records that time was 4.30 p. m. For my
part, on motion of Senator Grimes of
Iowa, my name was coupled with that
of Meade in the first vote of thanks
which Congress gave.
General Meade in his report gave me
credit for selecting this ground now SO
famous from Big Round Top via Little
Round Top, Zeigler's grove, Cemetery
Ridge, -Culp's hill to McAliister's mill.
Should you wish to correspond with
living witnesses, my brother, then major,
now General @. n. Howard, Glencoe,
Illinois, Colonel I. A. Meysenburg, St.
Louis, Mo-, and Colonel Daniel Hall of
New Hampshire, (now I think in Boston)
would quickly corroborate my state
ments Also General T. W. Osborn, III
West 93d street, New York city, is still
living, and has clear remem brance of
SinOuIa ny hot oil