The National tribune., 1908-07-02

married. Dec. 81. 1910, to a Miss Ser
| geant. the, daughter of a prominent citi-
zen of Philadelphia. He next sought
reinstatement in the Army, and was
commissioned Second Lieutenant in
the Typographical Engineers. In this
capacity he took part in the Mexican
War for two years, participating in the
siege of Vera Cruz and three battles.
1t seems that in Mexico he began to
show a distaste for engineering, and
longed to command troops. Tho at that
time he was dandified young officer,
very particular as to dress, conduct and
duties. yet. rather strangely. he did not
| take to Office work as kindly as to
rough service in the field. For the next
Is years of peace he continued at his
work as engineer, building light houses.
surveying boundaries and superintend-
| ing public works. but all his leisure was
given to the study of the higher walks
of his profession. to familiarzing him
self with great campaigns, and applying
| the principles illustrated by them to
his own country and Army. He grew
rapidly in the estimation of the little
lcircle of earnest soldiers in the Regular
Army, tho his reputation did not extend
beyond this. Notwithstanding the fact
that he was only a Captain when Fort
Sumter was fired on, there seems to
HdNt Dttn littit ullHCutly III
for him commission as Brigadier-
General of Volunteers. and he was as
signed to the command of brigade of
the PENNSYLVANIA Reserves, and took n
natural State pride in fashioning them
into soldiers second to none. His first
opportunity to show the mettle that was
i'm him and the manner of soldiers he
had made of his men came in the little
fight at Dranesville. Va. the first vic
tory won by the Army of the Potomac.
His next was at Beaver Dam Creek, the
brunt of which was borne by McCalrs
Pennsylvania Reserves. In the forma-
ton Reynolds's Brigade was on the
right, Seymour's on the left and Meade
in reserve. The punishment inflicted
upon the swarming Confederates whom
Lee had rushed against the position was
appalling. The Pennsylvanans showed
the GOODNESS and discipline of veterans,
and, waiting till each successive charge
of the enemy was within easy range.
moved the Confederates down with
wellaimed, deadly effective volleys. At
Fraziers Farm. June 20, 1862, the
Pennsylvania Reserves We're desperate
" engaged, and covered themselves
with glory by their magnificent fighting.
The division lost heavily, however.
Gems. Reynolds and Mccall were cap
tured, Gen. Meade was badly wounded,
an Aid was killed by his side. and every
regiment had to mourn the loss of gal
liant officers and men. All came out of
the bloody struggle with an enhanced
reputation. Reynolds received the COM
mand of the First Corps after Antietam.
while Gen. Meade, who had returned to
duty before his wound was healed, was
given a division. How we'll he fought
that division at the assault on Freder-
icksburg has already been described.
He led it forward directly against the
L. Il
tered all opposition before him. and
approached Stonewall Jackson's head
quarters. Had he been supported by
Franklin, as he should have been, Fred
ericksburg, instead of being one of the
most mournful chapters in our annals,
would have been the story of a glorious
victory. Meade's conduct was so brill
liant that re- received command of the
Fifth Corps. At Charlottesville he
handled his men with exceeding ability,
and covered the retirement of the army
beyond the Rapidan. His two years OF
service with the Army of the Potomac
him to all, who were in q
position to know, as a thoroly capable,
careful officer who had mastered all
the details of his profession, and had
them ready for instant application toI
any situation. He was a just but strict
discipIinarian; saw that all of his Off
GERS cared properly for their men; that
nothing should ever be overlooked nee
cssary for the readiness of the men for
march or battle. They must have all
in the way OF food, clothing and equip |
ments to which they were properly en-l
titled, that they might render the best
service to their country. and this he
was strenuous in exacting from them. |
While Gen Meade had a high temper, |
which was not always under control, |
and he was liable at times to say the
bitterest things, yet his sense of justice
was so strong that he never neglected
to make full reparation at once to those
whom he felt he had wronged. In ap- |
pearance Gen. Meade was tall, slender,
with something of the STOPPING Shout |
ders of the scholar. to which look his
spectacles added. He seemed man of
quiet studious turn of mind, but no
man could show a more infiexible VIII
or more fiery courage when the occa-
sion demanded it.
Lee Taken Unnwares.
AS late as June % Gen. Lee was in
such ignorance as to the Army of the
Potomac as to believe that it had not
yet left Virginia. This is most singular,
as it would seem that even with StuartS |
Cavalry absent he should have known
that Hooker's army was in Maryland. |
advancing upon him. That the Army |
of the Potomac should have done so I
was the obvious thing, and Lee should |
have been prepared for it. In his re- I
port, however, he asys that he was not.
which shows the difference between op-
Grating in a friendly country and hos
tile one. In Virginia every citizen was
a spy and the carrier of intelligence. In |
Maryland and Pennsylvania, in spite of
the noise made by the Southern sym
pathiZers, no one was anxious to take |
any risks or make any effort to carry |
Lee information. He was cropping in
the dark Stuart had expected to have
scouts carry information to Lee all the
time but those. on whom he most relied
for this purpose failed him. Mosby was
prevented from either reaching Stuart
or Lee, and Stringfellow, most val
liable spy, had been captured. Gen.
Longstreet had sent one of his best
Secret Service men, named Harrison,
from Culpeper to Washington three
weeks before with orders to stay there
until he got some news of Importance
Harrison was successful and at mid
might June %, he reached Lee at
with the news that
Hooker had been superseded by Meade,
and that three corps of the Army of the
Potomac were at Frederick, Nd, and
two near the base OF South Mountain.
rrbic intelligpnce WAS very threatening