Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-29
Gen. Slocum at Gettysburg.

To the Editor of The Star:
Referring to Col Richard NJ. Calhoun s
communication in your issue dated the 18th
instant, in which he adheres to his former
statements in regard to General Slocum be-
ing Indifferent and reluctant to comply
with the numerous requests of General
Howard to render assistance at Gettys-
burg, and states that he has quoted from
General Towards report in support of his
position, and by that report he stands pat,
l have to say that had Colonel Calhoun con,
fined his statements to facts and quoted
correctly the reports to which he refers,
further correspondence would not be neces-
sary To leave the subject in Its present
shape, however would be to falsify history:
Colonel Calhoun says: by O'Clock all
troops both Union and confederate, were
on the field, with the exception of General
Early's division (confederate), which arrived
about 2 o'clock" This is a most remark
able statement to make. in view of the fact
that he says in the same article: 1T was
o clock before any OF his (Slocum's) troops
moved, and that by an urgent request of
Generals Hancock and Howard Consis-
tency thou art Jewel.
Now the facts, as shown by the official
records, are that General Hancock did not
arrive at Gettysburg until pm; that the
only Union troops at or within three miles
of Gettysburg at 1 pm. July 1, excepting
the cavalry, were the 1st and 18th Corps.
The only confederate troops engaged July
We're Generals Heth's and Pender's divi-
sions OF A. p. HilIs corps, and General
Rode's and Early's divisions of Ewelrs
corps, so that Colonel Calhoun makes a
serious mistake by making the statement
quoted above.
Colonel Calhoun is in serious error when
he says that the 10Th Corps lay at Two
Taverns listening to the sound of the bat
tie. The following dispatch from Gen. Mey-
senburg chief of staff, from the headquar-
ters of the 18th Corps, dated July l, l pm,
~
Slocum received of the engagement at Get
tysburg:
1.-The general commanding desires me to
inform you that Ewelrs corps is advancing
from York. The left wing of the Army of
the Potomac is engaged with A. P. HIS
corps"
The main battle Of the first day did not
begin until o'clock in the afternoon, at
which time General Slocum had started to
the front. Colonel Calhoun lays stress upon
the fact that "Slocum was informed by a
citizen that the battle was being fought at
Gettysburg. Does he mean to say that
General Slocunl. with an order from Cen
eral Meade in his pocket directing him to
retire to Pipe creek and not take the of
fensive in case of any fighting. should dis
obey that order on the strength of a story
told by one straggler, who came down the
Baltimore pike? General Slocum did not
read his instructions that way. General
Howard, in his report, talks about his nu-
merous requests sent to General Slocum for
aid. The first dispatch from General How
ard was received by General Slocum while
the latter was eating dinner at Two Tav-
ems, and he Immediately ordered his corps
forward. The other numerous requests
from the frantic Howard We're received by
Slocum while his corps was on the march
to the front, the troops pushing forward
at their utmost speed.
General Sickes did not receive General
Towards dispatch until 3:15 pm, and at
8 80 he issued the following order to Gen
eral Birney commanding the list Division;
Il riCin ta&+
burg Immediately, and report to Major
General Howard with the least possible de-
lay. He is engaged with the enemy. Two
batteries will join you.
Colonel Calhoun says: AT the sound of
the guns ten miles away General Sickles
ordered General Birney to Gettysburg, one
hour and fifteen minutes before he received
a dispatch from General Howard-3:15 p.
m" That this is a clear misstatement Of
the facts Is established to certainty by
the above quoted order from General Sick
les to General Birney, which shows at
lust what time General .Birney received
the order to march to Gettysburg.
1t must be borne in mind that Slocum and
his corps arrived on the field two hours be-
fore the Sd Corps came UP. General Slo-
GUMS dispatch, written on the road, shows
that he was on the pike opposite Wolf
Hill at 3 30 pm.
General Slocum was not dilatory or re-
ness to assist General Howard and even
fight under his command; but with that
order OF General Meade in his pocket he
was not willing to assume command of the
force then on the field until that order
had been countermanded and Meade had
decided to fight the main battle at Gettys-
burg. After talking with General Han
cock, who was authorized to speak for
General Meade In that important matter,
Slocum assumed command being the sem
Tor corps commander OF the Army OF the
Potomac.
Colonel Calhoun and other enthusiastic
| ~ 4 feat
right to praise General Howard for his
work. but they should not resort to columni-
GUS statements against general who
served continuously from the first Bull Run
to the Grand Review, during which time he
was never known to make mistake or
tactical error. and whose corps In all that
time was the one corps OF the Union armies
that never lost q color or gun.
i -. 1lENN 7EtSN AI1AEL..