The National tribune., 1904-07-14

0. On this point Lieut. Gen. Grant says:
Il am satisfied that he iGel. Burnsidel
did not make the debouehement that he was
ordered to make. ! know that as well az
l know anything that | can not
exactly exactly. swear I'VE =. to.'Mkeport a on the tn
ries, vol. i, p. 40. Gen. Meade says:
'"rhere was high parapet in front of our
lines, an abatis and other obstacles to keep
the enemy from us. Those obstacles should
have been removed to enable our troops
to move out promptly. There was but a
small opening made, by which the Ninth
GeR snR 1iD g. "sssd sss the BY tsst .as
mony, Of Maj. Duane, Ibid, p. 50; Warren,
Ibid, p. S3. !.
10. Meade: Report Of the Battle of
Petersburg.
II. "A part of the colored division was
DETECTED to the right, and charged and cap
stand OF cOlors and some prisoners. -
Burnside: Report of the Battle Of Peters
burg.
II. The most destructive FIRE came from
a gun in work south of the mine, which
was covered from the Union batteries by
fringe Of trees on their front, that the
Chief Of Artillery had required should be
felled. "This work having been delayed by
the Ninth Corps until the night Of the
18th, it was then objected to by Gen. Burn
side that the noise Of chopping would. alarm
the enemy" Hunt: Report dsiess0per-
ations. s
ure Of the assault was due to the following
causes: /. The fact that the charge was
led by white, instead Of black troops. This
is stated by the COMMITTEES to be the FIRST
and great cause of disaster" 2. The fact
that Gen. Meade directed that the assault
ing column should push at once for the
clearing the enemy's lines to the right and
left Of the mine. This is q ridiculous
charge: for the order to crown the crest
involved, in its execution, the clearing of
the enemy's lines right and left, as much
as an order to Gen. Burnside to pass
through door would presuppose his open
A very different verdict was, however,
pronounced by military court Of inquiry
instituted soon after the failure. This
court was composed of Gems. Hancock.
Ayres, and Miles, and its finding is as fol-
lows:
"The causes of failure are
II. The injudicious formation Of the
troops in going forward. the movement be-
ing mainly by flank, instead of extended
front. Gen. Meades order indicated that
columns OF assault should be employed 70
take Cemetery Hill, and the proper pas
1t is the opinion of the coart THAT there
were no proper columns Of dssault The
troops should have been formed In the open
ground in front OF the pointse attack, par
allel to the line Of the enemy's works The
evidence shows that one or more columns
might have passed over at and to the left
OF the crater, without any previous prep
aration OF the ground. ~
=. The halting of the troopA in the crat-
er, instead OF going forward 30 the crest,
when there was no fire Of any consequence
| from the enemy.
"3. No proper employment Of engineer
ofhcers and working parties. and Of mate
Corps.
-. That some parts of the assaulting
columns were not properly led
.. The want Of a competent common
head ut the scene of the assault, to direct
| affairs as occurrences should demand
Had not failure ensued from the above
causes, and the crest been gained, the sue
cess might have been jeoparded by the
failure to have prepared, in season proper
| and adequate deboucbes through the Ninth
Corps lines for troops. apl Especially for
neid artillery, az orderesE w Maj.-Gen.
Meade. Resortson thss CoGduct Of the
"sI: H:;,hss ,seeond series, vol. i:R. E21os
reaches the FOOT of the efsL I IL the read
er will study carefully tie pdssage have
quoted from Garnot, in its application to
| the character Of the troops that made the
assault. he will have the real cause of the
failure. All the rest followed from that
primal evil.
J sCen'isasss ON saseaa pase,, :.