The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-20
LINCOLN ON GETTYSBURG

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 I read Hon. w. R. Houghtons reply to Major Robbins in your issue of Sunday last and as generally with his contribu- tions to war history. a great deal of val uable fact IS to be learned from it.
 1 reproduce here in full letter from President Lincoln to the commanding general of the United States forces on the field of Gettysburg and it is probable that Major Robbins may find in it some measure of argument for the claim that good sense would be vindcated by proper and adequate marks to show the positions of Lees brigades on that historic field. At any rate MT. Lincolns letter is proof positive that somebody hit Meade a lick at Gettysburg that crippled him so badly he could not bear the thought of more fighting for some months later. Lincon's letter is among the noblest monuments to Lee and his army at Get tysburg that the history of wars ever erected to a chieftain and his followers
 Washington, July IA, 1S63 General George G. Meade:
 'I have just seen your dispatch to Cen eral Halleck asking to be relieved of your command because of supposed censure of mine. l am very, very grateful to you
 
 cause of the country at Gettysburg; and I am sorry now to be the author of the slightest pain to you But l was in such deep distress myself that I could not re- strain some expression of 1t. I have been oppressed nearly ever since the battles of Gettysburg by what appeared to be evil dence that yourself and General Couch and General Smith were not seeking a collision with the enemy, but were trying fI.A ..frrg g.t1F another battle. What these evidences were, if you please, hope to tell you at another time when we both feel bet ter. The case summarly stated is this: You fought and beat the enemy at Get tysburg and, to say the least. his loss was as great as yours. He retreated and you did not. as it seemed to me, pressing ly pursue him; but flood in the river detained him so that by slow degrees you were upon him again.
 "You had at least 20000 veteran troops directly with you, and as many more raw ones in supporting distance, all in add- tion to those who fought with you at Gettysburg while it was not possible that he had received a single recruit, and yet you stood and let the flood run down, bridges be built and the enemy move away at his leisure without attacking him. And Couch and Smithi The latter left Carlisle in time, upon all ordinary calculations to have aided you in the last battle at Gettysburg but he did not ar rive. At the end of more than ten days, I believe twelve, under constant surging, he reached Hagerstown from Carlisle, which is not an inch over fifty-fve miles. if so much. and Couchs movement was very little different.
 Again, my dear General, l do not be- lieve you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lees escape. He was within your easy grasp. and to have closed upon him would, in connec- tion with our recent successes, have ended the war. As it is the war will be prolonged indefinitely. If you could not safely attack Lee last Monday how can you possibly do so south of the river when you can take with you very few more than two-thirds of the force you thea had on hand? It would be unreason- able to expect, and l do not expect, that you can now effect @much. Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasurably because of 1t.
 q beg you will not consider this prosecution or persecution of yourself. As you had learned that I was dissatis- fled. l thought it best to kindly tell you why. A. LINCOLN"
 What magnificent Irony. this official let ter, It is a letter like many the President wrote to his army commanders. He was indeed a wonderful man. He wrote to Mcclellan soon after Sharpsburg. some months before that, If Lee had his CMc- CIeIlan'sl chances and Mcclellan had Lees that Lee would wipe him off the face of the earth sin twenty-four hours"
 JOHN WITHERsPOON DE BOSE.
 Birmingham, December IS, 1903.