The National tribune., 1908-11-12
THE NATIONAL WASHINGTON


severe trial I'd the patience of the au-
thorities. On July, Z. at S:4o p; m,
Gen Haileck telegfaphed Gen. Meaue
as follows:
Maj Gen. Meade. Frederick, Nd:
You have given the enemy STUN
ming blow at Gettysburg. Follow IL up,
and give him another before ne Can
reach the Pot6macio When he crosses.
circumstances 'wflp determine whetner
it will be best to pursue him by Ine
Shenandoah Valley or this side OF Blue
Ridge. There is strong evidence tnat
he is short of artillery ammunition, and
if vigorously pressedahe must suffer.
H. w. Halleek, Conimander-in-Chlef.
This was followed Aup by note from
Halleck covering the following from
the Presidents - i
''Maj.-Gen. Hallack:
I'VE have certain Information that
Vicksburg surrendered to Gen. Grant
on July 4. Now, if Gen. Meade can
complete his work, so gioriously prose-
cuted thus far. by the literal or SUD
stantial destruction of Lees army, the
rebellion will be over,
yours truly,
"a. Lincoln"
Meade to Hallecl.
Gen. Meade responded to this the
next day:
r"Gen. Couch learns from scouts that
the train at Williamsport is crossing
very slowly. So long as the river is
unfOrdable the enemy cannot cross.
My cavalry report that they had fight
near Funkstown, thru which they drove
| the enemy to HagerStown, where a
large infantry force was seen. From
aif can gather the enemy extends from
Hagerstown to Williamsport. covering
| the march of their train. Their cavalry
and infantry pickets are advanced to
the Hagerstown and Sharpsburg pike.
on the general line of the Antietam. We
hold Boonsboro. and cur pickets. four
miles in front. toward HagerstOwn, are
| in contact with the enemy'S pickets. My
army Is assembling slowly. The rains
| of yesterday and last night have made
all roads but pixies almost impossible.
Artillery and wagons are stalled. 1t VIII
| take time to collect them together. A
large portion of the men are barefoot
ed. Shoes will arrive at Frederick to-
day, and will be issued as soon as pos
sible. The spirit of the army is high.
| The men are ready and willing to make
every exertion to push forward. The
very first moment l can get the differ
| ent commands, the artillery and cav
| airy, properly supplied and in hand, I
viii move forward. Be assured I most
earnestly desire to try the fortunes
| of war with the enemy on this side of
| the river, hoping, thru Providence and
/ the bravery of my men, to settle the
question, but should do wrong not to
| frankly tell you of the difficulties en-
| countered. I expect to find the enemy
| In strong position, well covered with
| artillery, and do not desire to initiate
| his example at Gettysburg. and assault
| position where the chances We're SO
greatly against success. wish in ad-
4 So Al -
those who, in ignorance of the diff
culties to De encountered, may expect
| too much. All that can do under the
circumstances I pledge this army to
| do"
Halleck replied 70 this that he had
reliable Information that the enemy
was crossing at Wfilfamsport, and that
there was therefore an opportunity to
attack his divided forces which should
not be lost. The President was very
| urgent that the attack should be made
| Meade replied by one of those aggra-
yatfng dispatches which seemed chronic
| from the headquarters of the Army Of
| the Potomac, that his army was short
| of rations and barefOoted. Halleck
again answered that he had informa-
ton that the enemy chad been crossing
for two days, (which must divide Lees
! force, and thus present an opportunity
| for attack such as might never occur
again. Troops would be sent from all
points to enable M4ade to make his
July g., complainingl that his artillery
! horses were exhausted and batteries
had to be left behind until fresh horses
could be obtained and, shod. His opin-
ion was that the enemy We're not using
the bridges to get across the river, but
to bring up ammunition and supplies
Halleck telegraphed Meade not to be
Influenced too much by dispatches from
Washington. since information received
from the Capital was not always cor
| rect, but that Meade must act on his
own Judgment. Halleck would continue
| to push up troops and artillery to him.
The General-in-Chisfs next dispatch
indicated his belief that Lee was likely
to offer battle north of the Potomac in
la strongly defensive position, and
therefore Meade had better wait until
he concentrated sufficient force to be
| assured of victory.
The Vermont Brigade at Funkstown.
| The most brilliant achievement of the
| operations at this stage was the fine
showing made by the Vermont Bril-
gade, under Brighten. L. A. Grant.
at Funkstown, little south of Hagers-
| town. This splendid brigade, which
was one of the notable organizations of
the army. consisted of the I'd, Sd, 4th.
| 5th and 9Th VT, forming the Second
Brigade of Howe's Second Division of
the Sixth Corps. IN the manuvering
| for position around Funkstown the
whole Vermont Brigade was deployed
in the skirmish line extending over
front of two miles, and moving forward
rapidly, gained n crest of much i'm
portance, from which the Confederates
thought 1t necessary to drive them.
An entire division was sent to do this,
and advanced in line of battle three
| different times. being repulsed each
| time by the Ieady, telling fire of the
VermOnters, who took cover wherever
| they could find 1t, and with deliberate
aim scourged the advancing line of
| battle so severely as to send it back
each time in disorder. So secure were
these Yankees in the belief of their
ability to resist the attack that they
did not call for reinforcements, and
| none were sent them. Meade's orders
| were strict against bringing on a gen.
eral engagement. Lee had felt the posi-
ton so important that he sent up sew
eral batteries to aid in the attack, but
the Vermonters were as undismayed by
| the storm of shells as they had been
l hv ttla advance of the foryoida bIo