Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, December 3, 1864.
I received the two volumes of the Army and Navy Review (British)
and have read with great interest Captain Chesney's critique of the battle of
Gettysburg. It is decidedly the most impartial account of this battle that I
have read, and I think does more justice to my acts and motives than any
account by my countrymen, including the grand address of Mr. Everett. What has
struck me with surprise is the intimate knowledge of many facts not made very
public at the time, such as Slocum's hesitation about reinforcing Howard,
Butterfield's drawing up an order to withdraw, and other circumstances of a
like nature. This familiarity with details evidences access to some source of
information on our side, other than official reports or newspaper accounts.
Captain Chesney's facts are singularly accurate, though he has fallen into one
or two errors. I was never alarmed about my small arm ammunition, and after
Hancock's repulsing the enemy on the 3d, I rode to the left, gave orders for an
immediate advance, and used every exertion to have an attack made; but before
the troops could be got ready, it became dark. There is no doubt the fatigue
and other results of the three days' fighting had produced its effect on the troops
and their movements were not as prompt as they would otherwise have been. I
have no doubt all his statements about Lee, and his having been overruled, are
true. Lee never before or since has exhibited such audacity. I am glad this
impartial account by a foreign military critic has been written.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 248-9
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