The National tribune., 1902-07-24
A FRIEND WITH THE COUNTHRSIGN.
The Sequel to the Order Carried to Gen
Smith by Berwick.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I was par
tculariy interested in the story of "a
Friend With the CountersigD," as related
in the issue of July 3, especially in regard
to the order the author carried to Gen.
Smith, and given on page G. As he has
not given the sequel to that order, beg
leave to add something of interest in re-
gard to it.
Among other great qualities of Gen.
Meade, he could move the Army of the Po-
tomac promptly and as unit, an dior the
first time in its history, as is well known,
he put every fighting man in and altogether
at the battle of Gettysburg. Well, during
the Wilderness campaign of 1864 he made
up the orders for the movements of the
forces under Gen. Grant, and as approved
by him. But, on few OCCASIONS, the staff
at Gen. Grants headquarters wanted to
play with the army, and, in fact, rather
held the qualifications of Gen. Meade in
this respect in a low value. Now this
fool order," of May %, 1864; 1 p. m, :"
was one of their productions and attempts
in this direction. The asininity of the order
consists in the direction to move direct to
Newcastle, on the south side of the Pa
munkey River" etc. This is stated plain
ly and definitely, and no mistake could be
involved as to the place. 1t is situated
about four miles down stream from Han
Overtown, the point where Gen. Grant was
crossing all his forces as rapidly as pOssi-
bic, and where the order was written.
Newcastle, or more properly Newcastle
Ferry, is about 16 miles above White
House Landing, or one days sharp march
for troops who had been on board steam
ers and had not got well limbered up for
a quick step under the balmy inspiration
of the Peninsula in May. The Tottipoto-
moy, quite stream, flows into the Pa
munkey from the southwest between the
two places. Now, it is plainly to be seen
that the order was an endeavor to run two
approaching bodies on the same track.
There was no excuse for lack of topO-
graphical knowledge, as good general
map, clearly engraved, was in use at the
time of date of 1862, and any officer or
soldier who was with Mcclellan around
there in 1862 knew as much. Gen. Smith,
as is well known, put his troops promptly
on the road for Newcastle, and as soon as
his command, after an exhausting march,
begin to jam into the Army of the 20
tomac, there was a realization that the
train dispatcher ut Gen. Grants headquar-
ters had committed precious blunder.
The blunder was this-do not dignity it
even as a mistake-the objective point that
the armies were driven for was the posi-
ton at Cold Harbor, and which, if gained,
would put the left flank solid on the Chick
ahominy River. This place is also known
as New Cold Harbor," hence the school
boys blunder Gen. Smith in consequence
lost one days march, when the march he
had already made would have put him in
position at Cold Harbor, at least, the next
morning, if it had been made in the right
direction, and over a. better country for
marching than the one he had been forced
over.
Occupying good positions does not al
ways end war, but the Army of the
Potomac would have been saved a great
deal of the "dole of blood which was de-
manded of it, and which it gave with
steadfast obedience, if it could have been
fairly placed at Cold Harbor, 1864.
There almost seemed a fatality about
this battle in this respect. Gen. Sheridan,
with the cavalry, had cleared the position
and then began retiring, and continued to
do so until stopped by an order direct from
Gen. Meade, who had received this in
formation from Capt George L. Gillespie
NOW BrigadierGeneral Commanding Corps
of En- sineers. U. S. Al, who had, after
many adventures, gotten through the rebel
lines 10 Sheridan from our left near Beth
sada Church.
Too much precious time had been al
ready lost for 'bood and iron" to make
up, and Cold Harbor came to be the mean
est battle of the Army of the Potomac,
and probably put the crossing of the James
River at lower point than otherwise
might have been possible.-GILBERT
THOMPSON. q. S. Engineer Battalion,
Washington. d. G.