New-York tribune., 1909-10-31
IN HOWARD'S DEFENCE
Friends Ready to Debate Any Renec'
tion on His Fame.

IHe Cedtn OF NdJOt -
ard, U. s A, retired, last week. has given
new life 10 the controversy over the re-
sponsibiity for the disaster to the unoon
forces at ChancelIorsyiIle. Colonel John
T. Lockman, president OF the Eleventh
Army Corps Association. Army OF the Po-
tomac. writes as follows;
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your editorial on General How
ard in this mornings issue OF The Tribune
ycu. without intending. do great lnjuS-
lice 10 the offieers and men Of the Eleventh
Corps, Army of the Potomac. VINO partici-
pated in the battles of ChaneelIorsyilie ana
Gettysburg. At ChancellOrsyilie the CORPS
occupied an indefensible position; nouce
of the Confederate movements was prompt
ly communicated to army and corps mead
Quarters and disregarded: our largest brig
ade was sent 10 General Sickles, operating
some four or five miles south
Reports Of General Lees retreat Were
freely circulated. and when jackson de-
Hvered his atts"h. at p. m, u was the
ence. No other body OF troops In the wori9
could have made a better defence than old
the Eleventh Corps, opposing three tinaes pes
its number. IL withstood JACKSON Ior
nearly two hours. and did not have the
assistance of a single man or gun from
the main Army of the Potomac.
The Confederates who attacked the
Eleventh Corps We're so exhausted ey !
o'clock that they could not pursue fur
the delay lost Jackson his great opportu-
nifty TO penetrate the main Union Ilnes- as
the only Union troops to oppose him were
Buschbeck's brigade of the Eleventh
Corps and another small body of troops
General Daniel Butterfield. chief of stan
Of the Army of the Potomac. told the
writer that the Eleventh Corps was made
a scapegOat of to excuse the failure OF the
Charlottesville campaign.
AT Gettysburg the corps was sent IN 70
retard the Confederate advance, TO enable
other Union troops TO reach the Held OF
battle: il held its position until Lees supe-
rior force almost surrounded it: the First
and Eleventh corps were nearly cut on
from Gettysburg and ordered 10 retire.
many of the men OF both corps were capt
ured In the city by Confederate troops,
who reached there before them
As TO the decentralization OF the corps.
there was none; IL repulsed heavy attack
on it's position at Gettysburg on the very
evening Of the first days battle, all of
view OF the corps a few weeks before the
battle of Charlottesville by President Lin
coin and General Hooker the President
pronounced it one of the most soldieriy OF
the corps forming the Army Of the Poto-
mac.
IF you will refer to the memoirs of tho
late General Carl Schurz you will md the
true history of both OF the above battles
The writer trusts that you will see your
the soldiers OF the Eleventh Corps con-
tanned in your editorial. which is entirely
undeserved, and thus do justice TO them
for their courage and fidelity IN the Do
~ JOHN T. LOCKMAN.
New York. Oct. IS. 1909
Another friend OF General Howard sent
in the following letter. written by James
C. Blaine in 1853 to The Evening POST
IN this city:
To the Editor OF The Evening Post.
Sir: In your issue OF Monday last
read with equal surprise and regret an ar
ticle headed THE Eleventh Army Corps
and It's General" In referring 10 its par
ticipation in the recent battle at ChattA-
nooga you use the following Languages:
We rejoice over this redemption OF the
EIIeventh CoTps. US GISsrase h vas saa
OF our arms az heart That the corps is
now trustworthy is proof that its demoral-
selves. but of the officers under whose
command they were. We are glad that to
General Hooker belongs the credit OF re-
storing this lost corps 10 the confidence OF
the country.
You can hardly say too much in praise
of General Hooker. whom all loyal men re-
gard as among the most gallant and heroic
leaders OF our army But In praising Gen
erd Hooker there is certainly no occasion
for aspersinS, even indirectly, the well
earned and brilliant fame OF other officers.
You seem TO have entirely fOrgotten-you
certainly failed 10 menUOn-the important
fact that the immediate commander OF the
Eleventh Corps at the time OF its misfort-
une at ChancellorSvtlle and at the time q
Its magnificent feat Of arms on the summit
OF Lockout Mountain was one and tho
same man-MajOr General Oliver o. How
ard. In both OF these battles General
Hooker was General Howard's superior
officer and IL has never been alleged that
General Howard failed 10 obey orders IN
either place. think The Evening Post''
is the first respectable paper that has even
intimated that General Howard was at
fault for the repulse OF his corps at Chan
cellorsville. HE has in his possession the
documents TO indicate his conduct as a
military comandsr on that field and may
make them public when he can do so with
OUT injury 70 the service.
The gallant part bCrne by the Eleventh
Corps in the battle OF Gettysburg Is entire
ly ignored by you. The herce rebel assaults
NsSpnRtRFV Hili-rhss kew IN Ma.1afS
tion-were repClsed by HOward'S command
with a bravery and skill which won uni
bloody contest the Eleventh Corps had
fought its way 10 the gratitude and ad-
miraticn OF all loyal hearts.
The corps went To Chattanooga. there
fore. under It's gallant young leader. with
the glory OF Gettysburg and not the failure
of ChancelIorsvilie incrfbed on It's banners
After the battle OF Csettysbnrc IN. prssS.
dent of the United States was pleased 10
send 70 General Howard an autograph let
consumiaate generalship ON that neld-a
letter which the young hero's mcdesty has
thus far kept from the public eve. And
alumni of Wateryile College Vice prssi-
dent Hamlin. speaking the opinion Of TWO
Of the most gallant generals who fought at
Gettysburg. declared that when the hisfer-
of that battle should be truthfury wrr
ten. the great victory would be ascr!bed
10 the heroic firrnness with which Wowar5'
Hill
/ ask the insertion Of this lstts- h.
cause General Howard's fame is dear nor
only TO the country but especially 10 h,s
native state. which have the honor in
part 10 represent Tie is my isnmed,ata
constituent. my fellow tOwnsnan. INV
friend. lie has attained. al thirtv-thrss
years OF age, the eminent rank Of major
general with the command ~ an srye'.
corps. tie Is an able. loyal. brave. chrt,.
tlsn general, and venture 70 sav of nir,
IN the language OF another. that Al ~.
close OF this war. few will leave a roore
splendid and none a more stainless ns~a.
uS, j. @. BLAINl