The National tribune., 1908-01-30

Burnside's own conduct at Antietam
will be remarked by those who have
| read the account of that battle.
Tho Meade's action and the fighting
of his men was far and away the most
brilliant performance of the day in that
half OF the army, he gets scant praise
from Gen. Franklin. who states as brief
ly and succinctly as possible the abso-
lutte facts, without comment. A little
more praise is given by him to Double
day and Gibbon, and Franklin returns
thanks to Gems. Reynolds, Smith and
Stoneman "for the valuable assistance
they rendered me in managing their
commands" All this is negative and
coIorless, but what better could we ex-
peet from as tepid nature as Frank
Inns? Gen. Reynolds. commanding the
First Corps, was a little warmer in his
description of what Meade's Division
had accomplished, and says with refer
ence to the assault:
The gallantry and steadiness of the
troops brought into action on the left
is deserving of great praise, the new
regiments vieing with the veterans in
steadiness and GOODNESS. That the bril-
liant attack made and the advanced
position gained by them were not more
successful in their results was due to
the strong character of the enemy's de-
lenses; the advantage he had of OBJ
serving all our dispositions, while he
made his own to meet them entirely
under cover, and the loss of many of the
| leading officers of the command, among
whom we have to deplOre that of Gen.
| Jackson, of the Pennsylvania Reserves
killed; Gen. Gibbon and Col. Sinclair
severely wounded, and many others of
distinguished merit, whose names have
ot onl,a l I, tI,a ,a,fe.~
vision commanders"
Gen. Meade is quite modest in his
claims for his division, but still says
that he drove the enemy from the rail-
road, his rifle-pits and breastworks, for
more than half mile, taking over 300
prisoners and several standards, when
he was compelled to retire by receiving
fire on his front and both TANKS. He
lost 175 killed, 1,241 wounded and 437
missing: total, 1853. AS the total loss
of the three divisions of the corps was
1887, it will be seen that Meade's lit
| tie division lost more than both the
other two divisions. Gen. Meade in his
report says:
when 1 report that $500 men is
liberal estimate of the strength of the
division taken into action this large loss,
! being 40 per cent, will fully bear me out
in the expression of my satisfaction at
| the good conduct of both officers and
men. While I deeply regret the inabil-
! ity of the division, after having sue
cessfully penetrated the enemy's lines.
to remain and mold what had been Sc
cured, at the same time I deem their
withdrawal matter of necessity. With
one brigade commander killed. another
wounded, nearly half their number hors
du combat, with regiments separated
from brigades and companies from reg
iments, and all the confusion and dis
order incidental to the advance of an
extended line thru wood and other OBJ
structions, assailed by a heavy fire, not
only of infantry, but artillery-not only
in front, but on both fianks-the best
troops would be justified in withdraw
ing without loss of HONOR
After all. it is apparent that there
was much more Justice in Washington
than the complainers would allow us to
believe. for Meade was promoted, most
desevedly, to Major-General, to date
from Nov. 20, and was shortly after
ward assigned to the command of the
Fifth Corps. On the other hand, this
career and the Army of the Potomac
was soon to know him no more.
Burnside's Report.
After reciting the dispatches which
he had sent to Franklin and others,
From these dispatches it will be
seen that one of the smallest divisions
of the command Gen. Meade's) led
the attack. AT 9 o'clock it moved out
with Doubleday's Division in support
At IL o'clock it had been moved half a
mile and halted without serious loss.
one of Stoneman's Divisions was or
dered across. At II o'clock this divi-
sion was getting into position. At 1905
p. m. Gen. Meade's line was advancing
in the direction I prescribed in by first
order to Gen. Franklin. At l D. m. the
enemy opened battery, enfilading
Meade. AT lis p. m. infantry was
heavily engaged, and Meade assaulted
the hill. AT 1:25 p. m. he carried the
wood in his front, and seemed able to
hold his ground, and Gibbon would
support if necessary. AT lao p. m.
our men drove the enemy, and Gibbon
advanced to Meade's right. At 2:15 ID.
m. both Gibbon and Meade were driven
back from the wood. At 1925 D. m
Franklin will do his best. At D. m
things looked better, and at $40 Glib
bon's and Meade's Divisions are badly
used I'D, and unimportant fighting Isl