(For first article signed ‘Historicus,’ see Appendix J. For article by
, see Appendix L. For article by ‘A Staff Officer of the Fifth Corps,’ see Appendix K)
, &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 left 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 the 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 ’
