The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-06-02

~. The combination of action of these
three columns formed concentre opera
ton which may be either good or most per-
nicious according to circumstances
Touching this point. Gen. Grant makes an
absolute statement of principle which can
only be true under certain circumstances
"Generally speaking" says he "concentra-
ton can be practically effected by armies
moving to the interior of the enemy's coun-
try from the territory they have to guard"
instructions to Gen. Butler: Report Of
Operations. page 4. Now while this prin-
clple Is true under certain conditions. it is
very wide of the mark as above formu-
lated. Concentrc operations are good in
two cases: l. When they tend to concen-
trate a scattered army upon point where
it will be sure to arrive before the enemy:
=. When they direct to the same end the
efforts of columns which are in no danger
of being beaten separately by stronger
enemy. Jomini justly observes: "Une lgne
Operations double. contre les parties
dune armee ennenie plus rapprochees,
sera toujOurs funeste, forces egales, 81
rennemi profile des avantages DE sa po-
sitiOn, ct manOeuvre avec rapidite dams
FinteripHr de la sienne. '-Iomini: Historic
des Queries de Frederic H., vol. l, p. 293
Now the point of concentration of the
three columns. respectively under Meade.
Butler. and Sgel. was Richmond; and
Y
crates, the latter could unite much more
rapidly on this point than could the Union
forces. In this regard. therefore, this COM
bination lacked the first condition under
which a concentric operation is judicious:
and, as there was danger that the outlying
forces might be overwhelmed by superior
numbers, it violated also the second con-
dition.
30. In the reorganization of the Army
Of the Potomac. the Second, Fifth, and
Sixth Corps were consOldat ted into two
divisions. The First and Second Divisions
of the Third Corps were transferred to the
Second Corps. preserving their badges and
distinctive marks. The Third Division of
the Third Corps was transferred perma-
nently to the Sixth Corps. The three divi-
siOns forming the old First Corps, CONSOLE
dated into two divisions. We're transferred
to the Fifth Corps, preserving their badges
and distinctive marks. The reorgamized
army then stood as follows:
FIFTH CORPs-First Division, Brig Gen
Charles Griffin; First Brigade, Bryce
James Barnes; Second Brigade, Brig. Gen.
J. J. Bartlett; Third Brigade, Brig. Gen.
r. B. Ayres. Second Division, Brig Gen.
j. G. Robinson; First Brigade. Col. Leon
ard; Second Brigade, Brig. Gen. Henry
Baxter; Third Brigade Col Dennison.
Third Division, Brighten. s. w. Craw-
ford: First Brigade, Col. w. McCandless;
Division, Brig Gen. ]. s. Wadsworth:
First Brigade, Brig Gen. L. Cutler; Second
Brigade, Brig j. G. Rice: Third Bri-
gade, Col. Roy Stone. Inspector General
and Chief Of Staff, Lieut.-Col. III. &. Bank
head. Chief Of Artillery, Col. q. S. Vain
wright.
SECOND CoRPs-First Division, Brig
Gen. 4. G. Barlow; First Brigade, Col. n.
A. Miles: Second Brigade, Col. T. A.
Smythe; Third Brigade, Col. r. Frank;
Fourth Brigade, Col. ]. r. Brooke. Sec
ond Division, Brig. Gen. John Gibbon;
First Brigade. Brig. A. S. Webb;
Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. ]. p. Owens;