The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-01-18
BLOODIEST BATTLE.
Of the Century-Methuen's
Claim for Modoer River
COntraverted.
From New Orleans States.

FROM new OTlehub OthtcS.
The dispatch of General Methuen to the
British war Office designating the affair on
Modder river as "the bloodiest battle of
the century" has given rise to no end OF
discussion by those familiar with modern
military history. Statistics have been
overhauled and comparisons mace with
the result that General Methuen's "blood-
lest battle of the century" must take its
place in the long list of minor engage
ments. In 10 respect did it reach the
proportions of great battle.~
We are indebted to Colonel Robert c.
Wood for extracts from his forthcoming
Confederate Handbook, that determine
the rank of the Modder river affair among
the battles of the century as fixed by the
losses sustained General Methuen re-
ported his casualties as less than per
cent. of his force engaged. AS shown by
the Confederate Handbook. at Austerlitz,
in 1905, the French lost l0.5 per cent and
the Austrians and Russians 80 per cent.
of their forces engaged. AT Jena, in 1906,
the French lost IA per cent, the Prussians
and Saxons 20 per cent. At Eylan, in
1907, the French lost 353 per cent. the
Russians 1873 per cent. At Friedand, in
1907, the French lost 1875 per cent, the
81 per cent. At Aspern, in 1907, the
French lost 49.3 per cent, the Austrians
81 per cent. AT Wagram, in 1909, the
French lost l6.6 per cent, the Austrians
1872 per cent. At Leipsic, in 1913, the
French lost "a per cent, the allies l7.o
French lost 3i2 per cent. At Woerth. in
1870, the Germans lost 10 per cent, the
French Al A per cent. AT Tour,
in 1870, the Germans lost 1919 per cent,
the French II per. cent. At Sedan, the
French lost AZ per cent.
The above are but few Of the many
engagements of the century in which the
percentage of loss was largely in excess
of that sustained by General Methuen at
Modder river.
1t is known that the large battles OF the
war between the states, such as Gettys-
burg, Antetam, Fredericksburg, Chancel-
louisville, Gold Harbor, Franklin, Stones
River, Atlanta, Chicamauga and others,
the percentage of loss was greater than
any that had been incurred in any previ-
Gus war. 1t is matter of record that in
less than one hours fighting in the Will
deruess and in the assault upon Franklin,
there were more men killed and wounded
than during our war with Spain, and than
have been lost in the Philippines and
South Africa up to the present time.
Without copying in extenso the mortal
ity tables embraced in the Confederate
Handbook, we present the following ex-
tracts to show by comparison, how base
less is the claim of General Methuen that
he fought "the bloodiest battle Of the GEN.
tury." At Gettysburg, the Twenty sixth
North Carolina regiment went into action
with 800 men and lost 55s in killed and
enthusiastically 10 per cent. This regi-
ment had ZIG men for duty when it went
into Longstreet's assault on the 80 day of
the battle, and on the following day tt
could muster but 80.
ION the first day at Gettysburg, Captain
Tuttle's company went into action with 81
officers and ~ men. All Of the officers
and 50 OF the men were killed or wounded.
ION the same day Company @. of the
Eleventh, N. c.. lost 2 officers and "a men
out Of total 80.
"company +, Twenty-sixth North Caro-