The National tribune., 1904-08-11
MEADE'S'H OPPORTUNITY.
It Came at wnl,auasport and He Let It Slip.


EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: BY read
ing Comrade Swintons Campaigns of the
Army of the Potomac. in your interesting
and valuable paper. of which l have been
a constant subscriber since April, 1856.
am reminded Of events that came under
my observation and knowledge while our
army confronted Lee. and his beaten and
demoraiized troops at Williamsport. July
II, 13. and IA, 1863 At that time was
an operator in charge Of a field telegraph
instrument Of the L. s. Signal Corps. sta
toned at Gen. Meades Headquarters.
There were two councils OF war held at
that time. l distinctly remember sending
the messages summoning the Corps Com
manders to Headquarters for that pur-
pose: but which resulted in no action be-
ing taken. On the night of July LIT
must have been-l forwarded over the line
TO the Corps Commanders Il message. in
structing them that the next morning. at
the signal of three guns fired from our
right and left. they were to advance ana
attack the enemy. But before the time
appointed for this general advance l sent
message countermanding the order
Gen. Meade having another attack OF
what we call. in this sun kissed land of
Caiforna-cold feet. In the meantime
reports were received from Gen. Kilpat-
rick, of the cavalry. stating that he had
that Lees army was in an utterly de-
moralized condition. that they were short
of ammunition. having but few rounds to
the man, some with none at all; that there
was no means of obtaining supply,
owing to bad condition of the roads.
Lees ammunition train was stuck in the
mud and could not he got up; that the
enemy was making desperate efforts to
improvise a bridge.
My comrades and associates who were
cognizant of the above facts, were clated
with joy as we imagined we could see the
end Of the war right there. But when the
countermanding order was received, our
joyous spirits went below zero; for we
knew then that the sacrifice of life at
Gettysburg was in q measure made in
vain.
If Meade had attacked at the time ap-
pointed on July 13. he would have found
Lee with his forces divided, as was ascer-
tanned the next day when Meade finally
did decide to advance. Lee had succeeded
in constructing makeshift bridge the pre-
viOus morning and portion of his army
had already crossed at the time appointed
for the attack to be made.
Oh! low | wished at that time that we
had an officer like Napoleon at the head
of the Army of the Potomac. instead of
the vascillating and timid General who
then commanded it! Meade let slip the
greatest opportunity of his life-the great
est opportunity any General had during
the war-to end the war. by the capture
of n part of Lees army, at the sacrifice
of far less lives than occurred at Cold
Harbor the following year. even had he
attacked on the first day after he got his
troops together and in position. He re-
peated the tactics Of Mcclellan at An
tietam. who let slip from his grasp a
beaten antagonist.
The above facts can he substantiated by
the messages sent and received, which
should be on file in the archives OF the
Government Mt Washington. for the op-
orators had strict orders to preserve them
all What disposition was made Of them
after they left onr charge, the writer is
unable to say. They were turned over to
the Signal Officer in command l have a
stuffed club in soak ready for the first
coffee-cooler. pig sticker or chicken for
ager who gets up in meeting and denies
the above statement without adequate
proof.-AARON LEVY. u. s. Signal Corps,
Army Of the Potomac