► NEWS OF THE 10th MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY ► Friday April 8th, 1864 ► ► Willseys Diary: It has been a beautiful day , but it looks like rain this evening. Recd a letter from Lucy. Hear that we shall move by the 16th for Richmond, but fear it will end like all our other movements, yet shall hope fer the best. The Band played fer the 7th Mass at Dress Parade this evening. They are expected to visit our Regt tomorrow. ► Newell: no entry. ► Roe: no entry. ► From the Springfield Daily Union: • FROM READVILLE CAMP MEIGS, Readville, April 5, 1864. To the editor of the Daily Union: Such of your readers as have friends in the 4th Calvary are warned not to give credence to the reports which are in circulation, to the effect that a portion of his regiment has been lost on board the “Western Metropolis” during the recent gale. No credit is given to the rumors at the headquarters of the Regiment, and they can be traced to no reliable source. For the information of our friends I will give the names of the officers, & C., Who embarked on the Metropolis. She sailed from Boston one week ago last Saturday, with about 350 men, and nearly the same number of horses; in fact all the first Battalion accept about 60 men and horses of Company A, under command of Capt. Charles A. Keith, who sailed on board the “Ashland.” The latter vessel has been heard from, having “put in” for safety somewhere on the coast of Delaware. The first officer in command was major DB. Keith, formally Capt. in the first Mass. Cavalry, and a better officer never commanded a battalion. He is generally loved and admired throughout the Regiment, by officers and men. The line officers on board the “Metropolis” were as follows: Company B – Capt. Harlburt, Lieutenants Brotherson and Mulligan; company see – lieutenants Staples and Davis; Company D – Capt. Morton, lieutenants Perly and Sterling. Dr. Russell, our surgeon, was also on the steamer, with all the hospital stores of the Regiment. All the surplus ordnance and Quartermasters stores were sent by the Metropolis also. The only reason for putting the least faith in these circulating stories is, that the recent gale has been so very severe, and that in all probability the steamer was overtaken by the storm. It is horrible to think of those strong, brave men, going forth to do or die for the country voluntarily, being cut off so suddenly. But such a death would still not be less honorable than to fall with their breasts bared, to the steel of the enemy. Company E will sail next, of our Regiment, probably the first of next week. They sail on the Oriental, from Boston. This company, commanded by Capt. F. H. Rand, has already acquired considerable proficiency in the mounted drill, and is probably as well disciplined a company as the Regiment can boast, and this is saying a great deal. This result is due mainly to the iron nerve and untiring energy of the captain, who is most ably assisted by his two lieutenants, Goodnow and Carter. Yesterday the 14th light battery, under command of Capt. Wright, left camp for the Army of the Potomac, going by way of Providence. This is a splendid organization, and is officered by men who have seen considerable service. One word in regard to our commanding officer, Maj. Lennox Cabot, formally of the 1st Calvary, and afterwards of the 2d. He has seen considerable service in the present war, is a young, energetic officer, Stern, yet pleasant, and every man with him, while on duty, must be strictly (illegible). Battalion could not be better commanded than by Major Cabot. Our Regiment, or such part of it as is here, is in very good health and the best of spirits, eager to join their comrades in Florida. The detachments for the old Battalion will probably embark last, and consequently we may not go for two weeks. It depends considerably upon transportation. So soon as it can be obtained, orders will be immediately issued for our departure. I remain a friend to THE UNION. H. M. P. • There was a large mustering end of men at the camp of the 57th Regiment, Wednesday. Several of the companies were made full by the addition of new recruits, and the 10th company – the sharpshooters, was sworn in. This company will be commanded by Capt. Kimball, and the Spencer repeating rifle, with which it is to be armed, will arrive in a few days. The Regiment numbers 984. By the middle of next week the order will undoubtedly come, “on to Annapolis.” Rev. A. H. Dashiel, Jr., of the Orthodox Congregational Society of Stockbridge, has been appointed chaplain of the 57th Regiment. • Jane E. Goss, the ninth victim of the late explosion at the cartridge factory of C. D. Leet & Co., died this morning at 3 o’clock. Her remains were carried to Longmeadow and will be buried this afternoon. • NEW YORK. April 8. ○ A Washington special to the Times says: Refugees from Richmond report Lee’s army as being largely augmented, and he expected to start in the spring campaign with 80,000 or 90,000 troops. Conscripts arriving at Richmond are sent forward to the Rapidan without delay. Reports that the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad has been taken up by the rebels are pronounced untrue. It is the general understanding in Richmond that the rebel leaders have concluded on the defensive line of operations this spring. ○ The Federal War Department is about to weed out unemployed Generals to the number of 30 or 40, and make room for the promotion of others. ○ Gen. Butler has three rating generals in his command, who delight in executing his plans, and they are generally very successful. Their names are Wilds, Wistar and Graham. ► The Springfield Republican was not published today because of Fast day. ► ► Meade, Life and Letters, p. 188: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, April 8, 1864. The New York Tribune of yesterday informs the world it has been positively ascertained that I am and have been in constant correspondence with McClellan, and that this fact has destroyed all my chances for nomination as major general in the regular army, but it is not believed it will remove me from command. I know where this canard comes from. Grant told me that he had received several visits and innumerable letters from that old crazy man Gurowsky, all to the effect that I was completely under the influence of McClellan, and in constant correspondence with him, and urging Grant to relieve me. I saw Historicuss last effort, and was greatly amused at the very powerful position that he assigned me in the despotism he asserts I have exercised in the face of the lieutenant general and others.^ I am sure I ought to be flattered that I am allowed to exercise such powers. It is a redeeming trait in the powers that be, and in my countrymen, that the base and persistent attacks on me have so signally failed, principally from the bad standing of my assailants. As to my being nominated for the regular army, I never dreamed of it, though I always believed the secret of some of the attacks on me was to remove a rival from some one who did want and expected to be nominated. I think it a pity Philadelphia was so late in getting up its fair. The subject will be so thoroughly exhausted that people will be tired with such matters. Still, there seems to be great spirit evinced by those who have it in charge. I have now as a guest Lieutenant Colonel Strave, of the Russian Engineers, who seems a young man of intelligence. He came down with letters from Mr. Seward and Mr. Stanton. ^ For article mentioned, see Appendix O. APPENDIX O (p. 337) SECOND NEWSPAPER ARTICLE SIGNED HISTORICUS, ATTACK ON GENERAL MEADE, MENTIONED IN LETTER OF APRIL 8, 1864. SEE PAGE 188, VOL, II (For first article signed Historicus, see Appendix J. For article by General Barnes, see Appendix L. For article by A Staff Officer of the Fifth Corps, see Appendix K) (New York Herald, April 4, 1864) THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG HlSTORICUS IN REPLY TO GENERAL BARNES AND THE STAFF OFFICERS OF THE SECOND AND FIFTH CORPS. THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR, &C. To THE Editor of the Herald. In your journal of the 12th ult. I gave an impartial and conscientious sketch of the battle of Gettysburg. Regarding it as the decisive battle of the war, I thought it wise to put its main features on record while the facts were familiar and the principal actors at hand. I challenged criticism; and three replies have appeared, accusing me, not only of inaccuracy, but downright misstatement. This induced me to redouble my researches, as my only motive was to aid the future historian of this great event. To my satisfaction more than to my surprise, I find that not only was the outline of my picture correct but nearly every detail and incident exact. I stated, it may be remembered, that the left wing of our army, under the command of General Sickles was selected by General Lee as his report shows for the main point of his attack. I stated, also, that whilst this formidable attack was preparing all the morning of Thursday, July 2, General Sickles was Ieft without orders, in spite of his urgent entreaties to the Commander-in-Chief, General Meade. I stated, likewise, that during this fearful interval, instead of being occupied with the steady advance of the enemy, General Meade was entirely engrossed with the plans for a retreat that General Butterfield, his Chief of Staff, was employed in drawing up, and that just at the moment the general order for retreat was prepared, the cannon of Longstreet opened on our left wing, under Sickles. I stated, further, that, as retreat was now hopeless, General Meade galloped up to our left flank and inspected the dispositions General Sickles had made on his own responsibility to repel die enemy, when the following colloquy ensued, which I repeat in epitome . — Are your lines not too extended, General Sickles? said the Commander-in-Chief. Can you hold this front? Yes, replied Sickles, till more troops are sent up. I will send you the fifth corps and a division of the Second corps and you can have all the artillery you need/ I stated finally, that the Third corps, constituting our left wing at the beginning of the battle, withstood heroically, to use General Meades expression, the furious onset of Longstreet for nearly an hour before the reinforcements promised to Sickles, by the Commander-in-Chief arrived and took their part in the dreadful fray. Now, I appeal to your readers when I ask what one of these statements, describing the beginning of the action, or any other portraying the contest of Friday, July 3, as well as the inglorious failure of General Meade to profit by his victory in pursuing and destroying the enemy, has been disproved or controverted by the anonymous communications published in reply? Not one. Allow me briefly to notice them. The first evidently emanates from a champion of the Second corps, whose task was gratuitous; for it was far from my intention to disparage by a single word, the valiant troops of the Second corps or their gallant commander. The writer in question is deeply offended that General Sickles figured so conspicuously in the fight of July 2; but that is no fault of mine. The blame, if any, is to be attributed to the eagerness and activity of General Sickles. The said writer, however, makes one charge so grave that it demands refutation. He declares that Sickles advanced his corps so far away from his supports, on his right and left, as to cost the lives of these three thousand men to extricate him. He calls this a sad error and an unaccountable one. Yes, it would have been an error for which General Sickles would have been immediately cashiered if he had committed it, the aspersion is preposterous. What General Sickles did do was to make a simple manoeuvre which the movements of the enemy required. He changed his front to the left by wheeling forward the centre and right wing of his corps so as to confront the flank attack of Longstreet No military critic would call this an advance. If he had not done this he would have been cut to pieces by an enfilading fire, and the safety of the army might have been compromised. Furthermore, it would have been difficult for General Sickles, at the moment in question, to abandon the support on his left for the obvious reason that he had none; for the Fifth corps, which afterwards took up position on his left, was not there when he changed front. So much for Another Eye-Witness. The second reply which appeared in your columns is signed by a Staff Officer of die Fifth Corps and he indulges in a series of such reckless assertions as to show that neither his temper any more than his memory, if he was at the battle, qualified him for the task of rectification. He first denies that General Sykes reported to General Sickles on the field. Then General Sykes failed in his duty; for he was ordered by General Meade to do so. Let me vindicate Sykes, however; for he did report, and Sickles requested him to take position on his left, and also to relieve General Wards brigade and Smiths Battery on the Little Roundtop Mountain. Again, the Staff Officer asserts that the Third corps never had a soldier on the Roundtop. This is true enough for Walls Brigade and Smiths Battery (Third corps was posted on the Little Roundtop adjoining the Big Roundtop Mountain). This is a mere quibble and unworthy of the gravity of the subject. I reassert that it was nearly an hour after the battle began before the Fifth corps reached the Big Roundtop; and it required all this time to march the distance. The desperate valor of the troops of this corps in defence of their position not only covers them with honor but sheds glory on the army and country. Three accomplished officers — Vincent, Weed and Hazlett, of the Fifth corps — consecrated the spot by their heroic deaths. With a view to mislead the public the Staff Officer coolly asserts that Barnes division of the Fifth corps, was posted in front of a portion of Sickles corps, but, forgetting this, he soon afterward states that the left of Third corps (Sickles) was far in advance of the Roundtop, occupied by the Fifth corps. This b a ludicrous contradiction I will not dwell on; nor is it necessary to waste time on the blunders of the Staff Officer. A third letter and a long one, has appeared in your columns signed James Barnes, Brigadier General, Unit^ States Volunteers commanding 1st division. Fifth corps, at the battle of Gettysburg, which denies in obstreperous language the unpleasant charge I felt myself obliged to make in my first letter. I narrated that Barnes Division suddenly fell back and left a gap in the line of battle, and that General Birney by desire of General Sickles remonstrated at his conduct, but that Barnes refused to return to his position. I further declared that Zooks Brigade, which came up gallantly to supply the defection of Barnes, marched over his troops, who were ordered to lie down for this purpose. As General Barnes denies all this roundly, under his own signature, it be proper I should give the names of those who cheerfully came forward to corroborate in every point the facts I stated. I refer General Barnes, first to the letter of General de Trobriand, in the Herald of March 29, where he states that a portion of Barnes division fell back and took position in his rear, and that in spite of his remonstrance they finally withdrew altogether without being engaged. This confirms what I alleged; but I have positive testimony in a private letter from General Birney, which he will not object I am sure, to my using. When he saw Barnes withdrawing his troops before they had received a shot, he remonstrated at Barnes leaving a dangerous gap in his line, as well as abandoning the good position. It was of no avail, for Barnes retired. I copied the following from General Birney s letter: — He (Bames) moved to the rear from three to four hundred yards, and formed in the rear of the road which passed from the Emmettsburg Road to the Round Top. When Zooks Brigade, the first one brought to me, came up, Barnes troops (being in the way) were, at my request, ordered to lie down, and the Brigade from the Second corps passed over their prostrate bodies into the fight, under my command, relieving de Trobriands left. A portion of the troops of Bames were afterwards detached and fought splendidly under another commander. I mentioned the conduct of General Bames to his corps commander General Sykes, and also to General Sedgwick, that night, after the Council; and Sykes told me that Colonel Sweitzer who commanded one of Bames Brigades, had reported the same thing. This extract must be regarded as conclusive. In final confirmation, I may add that General Barnes was relieved of his command after the battle and now has been reduced from the commander of a division to a brigade. I regret to place General Barnes in so mortifying a position, but it is well that both officers and soldiers should know that the eye of the country follows them to the battlefield, and that while it sparkles with joy at their heroism it is dimmed with sorrow at the want of it. In fine, I defy my three assailants to deny that the invincible resistance of the Third corps under Sickles, to the determined flank attack of Longstreet, until the reinforcements arrived, saved the army from imminent danger; and no better proof of this be wanted than that it finally took the united efforts of the Third, Fifth and four brigades of the Second corps to defeat this grand manoeuvre of the enemy, and the result was still doubtful until the reserve (the Sixth corps) under General Sedgwick, came up. It be only due to myself to say that my narrative of the battle of Gettysburg, published on the 12th ult. will be fully sustained by the concurrent testimony of all the generals who have recently appeared before the Committee on the Conduct of the War. The evidence of General Butterfield, Chief of Staff to General Meade, be known to be so ruinous to the reputation of the Commander of the Army of the Potomac that it will be a singular indifference to public opinion on the part of the government if he be allowed to remain longer in that important post. It has been most conclusively proved that nothing was easier than to force Lees whole army to an unconditional surrender at Williamsport, where he was without ammunition or sustenance, and the swollen Potomac preventing his escape. It was stated that our army was so humiliated at the vacillation and timidity of General Meade on this occasion that many of them shed tears and talked of throwing down their arms. Yet General Meade still commands this noble army, and not only that, but he has lately ventured to break up, under shallow pretexts, two of its finest corps, and dismiss some of its most heroic officers, Pleasanton, Sykes and others. It will be an important inquiry for the Committee on the Conduct of the War to ascertain by whose influence General Meade exercises such arbitrary power. This vital and dangerous act was carried out without any consultation with General Grant and may we not hope, that for his own sake and the countrys sake he will wield the authority which belongs to him, ere the worst be to be feared. HISTORICUS. For General Meades letter to Colonel G. G. Benedict, of March 16, 1870, on the battle of Gettysburg, see Appendix V.
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