The National tribune., 1908-09-03

waltz / voted, Until Lee moved The
answers to this last question showed
the only material variation in the opin-
| ion of the members.
When the voting was over Gen.
| Meade said quietly, but decidedly, Such,
then, is the decision;' and certainly he
| said nothing which produced a doubt in
my mind as to his being perfectly in ac-
cord with the members of the council.
''In 1881 (1S years after the battle)
was shown in Philadelphia by Gen
Meade's son (Col. George Meade) a
paper found amongst Gen. Meade's ef-
fects after his death. It was folded, and
on the outside of one end was written,
in his well-known handwriting, in ink,
Minutes of council, July 2, '63.' On
opening it, the following was found
written in pencil in handwriting (Gen.
Daniel Butterfield's) unknown to me:
Minutes of council, July 2, 1863.
Page 1. Questions asked:
l. Under existing circumstances is
1t advisable for this army to remain in
its present position or to r9tire to an
othre nearer its base of supplies?
"'2. 1t being determined to remain in
present position, shall the army attack
or wait the attack of the enemy?
"'3. If we wait attack, how long?'
Page g. Replies:
'Gibbon: 1. Correct position of the
army, but would not retreat. 2. In no
condition to attack, in his opinion. g..
Until he moves.
Williams: 1 stay. g. Wait attack.
3. One day.
'Birney: Same as Gen. Williams
Sykes: Same as Gen. Williams.
Newton: Correct position of the
army, but would not retreat 2. By all
means rot attack. g. If we wait Ii will
give them chance to cut our line
Page 8:
Howard: l. Remain 2. Wait attack
until 4 p. m. tomorrow. 8. If don't at
tack, attack them.
Hancock: 1. Rectify position with
out moving so as to give up the field.
2. Not attack unless our communications
are cut. 3. Can't wait long; can't be
idle.
"Sedgwick: 1. Remain. q And wait
attack. 8. At least one day.
"'Slocum: Stay and fight 1t out
"'fOn the back or first page of the
slIrut).
"'Slocum, stay and hgnt ii out; New
ton thinks it bad position; Hancock
puzzled about practicability of retiring;
thinks by holding on inviting to mass
forces and attack; Howard favor of not
retiring; Birney don't know; Third
Corps used up and not in good condition
to fight; Sedgwick doubtful whether We
ought to attack Effective strength about
5000, 1880. 5000, 5000, $500,
5000, 1000; total, $4,000.
"'Gndorsement.)
"'Minutes of council, held Thursday,
p. M, July 2. 1868. D. B.. NJ G., c. of
S. Daniel Butterfield, Major General,
Chief Of Staff).'
"The memoranda at the bottom of
the paper were doubtless made while
the discussion was going on, and the
numbers at the foot refer probably to-
the effective strength of each corps.
Several times during the sitting of
the council reports We're brought to-
Gen. Meade, and now and then we could
hear heavy firing going on over on the
right of our line. took occasion before
leaving to say to Gen. Meade that his
staff officers had regularly summoned
me as corps commander to the coun-
ell, altho 1 had some doubts about be-
ing present. He answered pleasantly,
That's all right. l wanted you here
Before / left the house Meade made
a remark to me which surprised me a
good deal, especially when 1 look back
upon the occurrence of the next day