The National tribune., 1908-11-05

that a grand countercharge would be
made But Gen. Meade had made no
arrangements to give return thru
1t seems Is me he should have posted
the, Sixth and part of the Twelfth Corps |
in rear of Gibbons Division the mo- |
ment Pickett's infantry were seen
emerging from the woods, mile ana
q half off. If they broke thru our CEN
ter these corps would nave been tnere
to receive them, and if they failed 10
uierce our line and retreated the TWO
corps could have followed them up
promptly before they had time to rally
and organize. An advance by Sykes
would have kept Longstreet IN posi-
ton. In all probability we would have
cut the et.emy's army in two, and cap
tured the long line of batteries oppo-
site us, .Shich were but slightly guard
cd Hancock, lying wounded in an am
buIance, wrote to Meade, reeommen9-
ing that this be done. Meade, IS
true recognized in some sort the good
effects OF counter blow; but to be Ell
fectiye the movement should have pech
prepared beforehand. 1t was too late
10 commence making preparations for
an advance when some time had
elapsed and when Lee had rallied MS
troops ami had made all his arrange
ments 10 resist an assault. 1t was as
certained afterward that he had 70
rounds of ammunition left per gun, nut
Ii was not evenly distributed, and some
batteries in front had fired away all
their cartridges. 4 countercharge un-
tiSr such circumstances is considered
almost imperative in war, for the beat
en- army, running and dismayed, cannot
in the nature of things, resist with much
spirit. whereas the pursuers, highly
eiated by their success, and with the
prospect of ending the contest, fight
with more energy and bravery. Rodes
says the Union forces were so long IN
occupying the town and in coming for
ward after the repuise OF the enemy
that ii vas generally thought they had
retreated. Meade rose leisurely over
to the Fifth Corps on the left, and told
Sykes TO send out and see if the enemy
in his front was firm and holding on to
their position A brigade preceded by
Ekirmishers was accordingly sent for
ward. but as Longstreets troops were
we'll fortified they resisted the advance
and Meade-fnding some hours had
elapsed and that Les. had closed up his
gave up all idea of a counter attack
A Burning Question.
People in those days went from one
extreme 10 another, sometimes in a
very short space of time. On the last
days OF June and che first of July they
were consumed with terror as to Lees
progress and what his ultimate purpose
might be. Not a few had prophesied
that New York, Philadelphia and Bal
.imore would be his prey. as well as
Washington. The moment however
that II was known that Lee had been
stopped and defeated the people wenr
TO the other extreme, and expected thai
he would be eXterminated before ht
could reach the Potomac Such papers
as the New York Tribune, which went
from one fit of hysteria to another
were wild that an immediate, vengefu
and destructive pursuit be made. The
~ Tanf Lra ;s...
him because he did not do this, and
President LINCOLN, Gen. Halleck and
the War Department even were strong.
iy expectant that only a shattered re.
maiHdCr ST Lees army would get bacl
across the nS:c.aac
As Gen. Hancock fell with a severe
wound be dictated a note to Gen
Meade. urging that tine Sixth Corps b,
sent ia CA d countercharge. Meade did
not aa tiifs. because 1T does not seen
so have occurred 10 either him or tn,
commander Of the Sixth Corps to maxi
such riDost. To have been effective
the Sixth Corps should have been read!
at the instant Pickett's shattered col
umn was reeling under its terrible pun
ishmcnt Before the Sixth Corps
which was lying at rest on Cemeter.
Ridge, could have been put in motion
Picl1etCs men would have been rallie'
behind thcir artillery, and the Sixtl
tDiD7 NtllN 4ldFt DCtAi DDIt6tu "
"a charge identical with Ricketts, AM
with possibly the same result A ma
iority of Meadejs higher officers VIII
have written since the war have ex
pressed this opinion. and that Mead
was eminentiy wise in not ordering
eounterchargc by the Sixth Corps. W
know now. IL is true. that The Confeder
ate batteries had weIl-nigh exhauste
their ammunition, and the Sixth Corp
would have had a much easier adyanc
against Seminary Ridge than Picket
had against the weif-suppiied batterie
before him. But Meade and his Gen
erals did not and could not know thi!
Nor did they know that every ma
that Lee had had been put into actio
and severely handled. The air was fu
of stories OF BeauTegard advancing !.
the way of the Shenandoah Valley wit
powerful reinforcements. and that ovc
n portion OF these had reached Lee
SO far from thinking of making a re
turn blow, Meade did not believe tha