The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-19

We now return TO the matter of the
charge. AS compared with Picketts there
are some points of similarity and many
of difference. In point of time ours was
the opening of a great battle; his, the
close-the forlorn hope. As to numbers,
he had 10000 men; we less than half as
many He assaulted an enemy in plain
view, in the open, without intrenchments;
we concealed enemy behind both nat
ural and artificial protection, posted in the
woods. Pickett assaulted an enemy de-
moraliZed Of it had been possible to de-
moralize HIM by two days hard fighting
in one of which he had been beaten and
driven, and in the other of which he mad
no more than held his own,and by con-
tinual cannonade of long duration; We as
saulted an enemy fresh, rested, against
whom practically no cannOnade had been
directed. He assaulted an enemy whom
he had whipped two months before, whom
he had led a wild-goose chase of more
than 200 miles, and whose General-in-
Chief was practically an unknown guam
tity to the great bulk of his men; we as
saulted an enemy who had been victorious
or had retired at his leisure during the
six months then last passed; on ground of
his own choosing, and under the eyes of
Generals in whom they had the most I'M
bounded confidence. Pickett personally
addressed his men, urging the import
ance, nay the absolute necessity, of sue
cess; our General simply said Forward
In his Pickett's) assault his TANKS
were free from annoyance until the last
supreme moment at the elimination of his
charge; We were exposed, front, tanks
and rear, either to artillery or infantry
or both, from the very moment we set
out. He gained nothing at any time; we
broke the enemy's first line, took large
number of prisoners, held our most adj
yanced position for more than an hour,
and retired without DISCRIMINATION. We
gained advantage which il held would
have cut the rebel army in two and rem
dered its defeat certain. His charge was
spectacular drama; ours an obscure but
dreadful tragedy. Pickett's men at Get
tysburg are heroes in history and gods
in sOng;' Meade's men at Fredericksburg
are forgotten by all except a few surviv-
ing participants and still fewer spec
tators OF their sublime courage, all of
whom linger superfiuous on the stage of
action, and when these have passed over
to the silent majority" the episode will
be forgotten.
These reflections were written some five
years since for my own delectation, and
before l lad any opportunity to consult
the authorities" Having since had such
opportunity and improved it, | now make
up brief Of the findings of other peo-
pie more or less able and in q position
to speak by the card, and shall add such
comments as may TO me seem pertinent
L ind that at some time previous to
the battle of Fredericksburg the Pennsyl-
vania Reserves had had assigned 10 duty
with that organization the 12lst and 142d
Pa, and there were consequently - regi-
ments of infantry in the division at that
battle, and that they numbered in all
about-not to exceed, 800 officers and
enlisted men, an average of 300 to a regi-
ment. But as the two new regiments
added TO the division must have had
many more men than any of the original
reserve regiments, the average of these
latter must have been much below 300,
Our regiment lost 211 officers and men.
GEN. MEADE's REPORT.
Gen. Meade, in his official report, says:
his formation" referring to the placing
or the Third on the prolongation of the
line of tho First Brigade, twas barely
executed before the enemy opened a sharp
ilre from battery posted on the nights
| to our extreme left. Coper's, Amsden's
and Ransoms Batteries Immediately
turned on it, and after about 80 minutes
rapid firing the enemy abandoned his
guns, having had two of his Iimbers or
caissons blown up. AS soon as the en-
emys guns were silenced the line of in
fantry was ordered to the attack The
| First Brigade advanced and drove the
enemy up TO the nights in front. The
Second followed to the railroad, where
SO severe fire was received on their
right flank that the 4th Reg't halted and
forced the hghting In that direction. The
Third Brigade adganced and reached near
~ tho same point as the First, and was