The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-03-12

The attacking force, McGowan's and
Gracie's Brigades on the flank, Hunton's
and Wise's on the front, numbered at least
5000, and they were aided by heavy fire
Of artillery from the vicinity of the Plank
road.
Ayres's Division numbered but $3.50, and
part of Gyms Brigade, at least 500 men,
were on the picket-line connecting Ayres
with Humphreys. These, under Lisut.-Col.
| Pat,ee, of the 190th Pa, were relieved by
men of the Third Division after the battle
| began, not in time to reioin the division, but
in time to do effective service as the affair
| progressed. Allowing for the usual number
on detail, etc, it is safe TO say that Ayres
had not over 5000 muskets with which to
confront this onset of Lees veteran soldiers,
charging him front and flank, while the ar
tillery was laundering against them on the
right. For this situation neither Warren
nor Ayres was to blame.
When the attack reached the Third Divis-
ion the contest was not yet equallzed, and
the only way to shake off the flank attack
was to withdraw to a new position. The
two divisions fell back with no more con-
fusion than would naturally follow from the
circumstances of the attack and the charac-
ter of the ground. As 10 panic, an I'M
friendly critic of these troops and their COM
mander might have seen something of this
sort far to the rear but at the front there
was no panic. The resistance was continuous
and SO effective that the advance of the
enemy was stopped before they got near the
Plank road. They were defeated in their
purpose by the Second and Third Divisions.
These two divisions held the field. This is
fairly claimed, from the fact that the First
Division did not become engaged till the ad-
vance of the afternoon.
On the right Of the two divisions as they
faced the attack, and we suppose all along
the line, the advance of the enemy was
checked as early as II a. M, though they
still held their ground. at 1870 a. m.
Ramsey's Brigade, First Division, Second
Corps, came forward from their position on
the Plank road, charged Wise's Brigade, and,
after temporary repulse, drove it. and later
forced it back to the intrenchments on the
White Oak road.
The time had now come when Warren
was about to make the only attack he made
that day. He made it with his whole
corps. 1t was successful. A dispatch from
O. Z. Babcock dated p. m. says: Enemy
completely checked, and Warren is now
pushing his command after them" Hence,
at this hour, if not earlier, the corps was III
condition 10 take the offensive, though the
actual advance was not made till little
later.
The corps advanced, steadily driving the
enemy, until, at $40 p. m, Warren held the
White Oak road, and had accomplished all
that was expected Of him. Direct commune
cation between the main rebol force and any
troops in the vicinity of Five Forks was
effectually cut eff. The experience of the
morning was only equivalent to tempo
rary repulse, while the main result was a
victory.
In all these events Warren certainly dis
played enterprise as a soldier, zeal and
ability in carrying out the wishes of his
commander.
Additional facts are accessible which
would serve to show the case in clearer
light, but enough has bsen presented to JUS
tify the following conclusion The dispo-
sitions of Warren's Corps were in accord
with Meade's orders, and were contrary to
WarTen's judgment; the reverse of the
morning of the 31st resulted from these
dispositions; the advance of the afternoon
was made with his whole Corps, was prompt,
vigorous, and successfnl.-R. T. MCBRIDE,
Go. c, 190th Pa, Manhattan, Kan.