The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-19
RECENqC OLD CHARGE
John Bresnahan Discredits
Slur on Gen. SlOcum.
ECHO OF THE SICKLES DEBATE
weII-knovn District Veteran De-
cIares that the Commander of the
Famous Twelfth Corps Is Made the
Victim of Misrepresentation in an
Article in Grand Army Newspaper.

Famous Twelfth Corps Is Made the /
Victim of Misrepresentation in an
Article in Grand Army Newspaper.
During the recent discussion incident |
to the effort to have Gen. sickles pro-
noted to the rank of lieutenant general
of the army by special act of Congress,
the old and thoroughly discredited charge
rejecting upon Gen. Sloeum's course at
the battle of Gettysburg was again re-
newed. The National Tribune, for in
stance, printed this statement:
Gen slocum, commanding the Twelfth CorTs. was
nearer Gettysburg and Howard than Gen. Sickles
was and received the same pressing ely for help
He declined 10 move his @Tps. however, until ne
received orders from Gen. Meade, and eid not ar
rive the field until Il was too late Tor tne pres
ehce Ct his corps to have any important influence
upon the fortunes Of the first day.
John Bresnahan, the well-known vet
eran Of this city, who was a member
OF the Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry.
and who speaks not only from experience.
but as a student of war history. calls
attention TO a numbF of important facts
which completely dispose of the forego-
ing statement:
Gen. Slocum says in his report:
Gen. sIOcum's Report.
On the morning Of July the corps was moved to
Two TsFerns and remained at that place until in
formation vas received that the First and Eleventh
Corps were engaged at Gettysburg. when the march
was at ones resumed. and agTeCaby 70 suggestion
from Gen. Howard the first division was put IN
position on the right Of or line near Rock Creek.
The second division moved forward as rapidly
as possible and placed. pnSuaut to orders from
Gen. Hancock. on the extreme left Of the line.
Gen. Geary, whose division had the lead,
states in his official report that HIS
column started at p m. and advanced
rapidly on the road TO the town. and
Gen Williams in his report. says that
when the information Of the engage
ment was received, his division moved
rapidly up the pike. While on the road
10 the front. Slocum met bis officer twho
had been sent 10 Gettysburg 10 ascer-
tain whether there was any truth in
report made by citizen who came down
the Baltimore pike from Gettysburg
about / p. M and reported that a battle
was being fought there). who was re-
turning Mai Guindon confirmed the
citizens story and informed Slocum that
he had met Gems Hancock and Howard,
| both Of whom sent an urgent request
that the Twelfth Corps push forward as
| fast as possible. These calls were IN
necessary. however. as Slocums men
were already swinging along the road
at a most rapid gait and had been for
some time.
Just before reaching Rock Greek, in the
southern vicinity OF the town, Slocum
sent the following dispatch:
July ]. iss5-3S5 p. m.
| Gems. Hancock OF Howard: am moving the
Twelfth Corps 50 as 20 come IN about one mile 10
| the right Of Gettysburg d. ". sLOSIM.
Col. William F. Cox. in the History
of New York az Gettysburg" volume /,
page 90. writes:
On arriving st Rock Creek. Williams division
turned oil 70 the right and moved against Wolf
| Hill Col. ColsToEe Of the Fweniy-seventh indiana
who had the advance SAYS in his report that this
movement vas made apparently with the intention
/ Of fanking the enemys left But. ON learning
I that the army had Withdrawn 70 the east SIDE 81
( the town, Slocum ordered Williams hack 20 the
| Baltimore pike, and. going 10 Cemetery Hil nm
/ self assumed command O. the field by right OF
| seniority Gesrys division in the meantime having
/ been ordered 20 Little Round Top rs Gen HaneoeE-
| Both Slocum and Sickles marched 20 Gettysburg
without orders in response 10 HOWards APPEAL
| Gen. Ruger, who commanded the lead
|
Corps. states IN his report:
The First Division, leaving the turnpike and hear
| ing 10 the night az a point about two miles from
Gettysburg gained position threatening the left
| flank Of the enemy. who had compelled the flTsi
and Eleventh Corps to retire toward Gettysburg :.
The apeparance 81 the division in this position AZ
the time il occurred apparently timely diver
sion favor Of forces the further advance o:
! the enemy ceased.
Col. Crane. who commanded the 10Th
New York of Rubers Brigade, states In
| his report that ION July l. about the
hour OF p m. we arrived near the
field where the First and Eleventh corps
were engaged. after a severe march.
DIsprove the Charge.
These quotations from the reports Of
Gen. Slocum. Gen. Ruger and Col.
l Crane" says Mr. Bresnahan. "unques-
tionably disprove the charge made
against Gen. Slocum-that Gen. Slocum
and his corps did not arrive on the field
duly y until 1t was too late for the
II presence of his corps to have any inn
portant influence upon the fortunes OF
the first day.
"The failure Of the enemy to gain pos
session Of East Cemetery Hill, after the
retreat of the First and Eleventh corps,
by Gen. Early was due entirely TO the
brought Gen. Williams division to Wolf
Hill and attacked with skirmishers the
left flank OF Gen. Early's division, who
was then preparing TO assault East Gem
etery Hill, but desisted because Of infor.
nation received from Gen. Smith, one OF
his brigade commanders that a large
force of the enemy consisting of infan-
try, artillery and cavalry, were advanc-
ing on the York road, and we were about
TO be flanked. and Gen Early sent Gen
Gordon, with his brigade, 10 take charge
Of Smiths Brigade also, and keep a look
out on the York road
1.-THE second division, Geary's. OF Slo-
GUMS Corps, arrived at 4 p. m, wher
the First and Eleventh corps were fall
ing back through the town and occupy
ing Cups Hill, East Cemetery Hill, ana
II Cemetery Ridge. Gen Geary reported
! to Gen Hancock. who ordered him TO oc
cupy, with his division, the ground Il
the right of and near Round Tou Noun
tain. Geary's report states that at
D. m. this movement was consummated
and that at a. m. July he was re
iieved by the Third Corps by order o.
Gen. Slocum.
Never Lost a Color or Gun.
Enthusiastic friends of Gen. sickle
have perfect right to praise Gen Siekles
whose corps did so much toward winning
: that historic battel on the second day
but they should not resort to calumniou
d statements against a general who serves
. continuously from the first battle of Bul
Run TO the grand review. during whicl
: time he was never know TO make mis-
take or tactical error. and whose corp
IN all tan thine was the one corps o
the Union Army that never lost colo
or a gun.