Mr. Frank Haskell whom
I knew well was a very accomplished gentleman, a very brave officer. He
wrote a very graphic description of the battle of Gettysburg from the field
shortly after the battle in the form of a letter to his brother. His story
is thrilling and in so far as it relates to what he personally saw and
did is entitled to full credit. In other respects it can make no claim
to historical accuracy. It was not written for publication and without
either opportunity or so far as appears any attempt to gain reliable information
on subjects referred to.
His references to and
insinuations against the 11th corps are without justification. They are
a reflex of the prejudice against that corps which at that time prevailed
in the army of the Potomac by reason of the disastrous defeat it had sustained
at Chancellorsville two months before, the causes of which were not then
fully understood.
No operation of any part
of the 11th. Corps came under Col. Haskell’s personal observation on the
first day when the chief engagement of this corps occurred and when its
very heavy losses were sustained. Col. Haskell was miles away from the
field of battle. The battle of that day was a severe trial of the two small
corps (the 1st. and the 11th,) that were on the ground. They were doomed
to meet the greater half of General Lee's entire army. They had to meet
it suddenly on ground that had not been reconnoitered. The 11th. Corps
came into the battle from a distance of 12 miles, a large part of the distance
on the double quick, Two of its divisions, the 1st, and 3rd, were rushed
into the fight to the north of Gettysburg to the relief of the 1st. corps
already very sorely pressed. Col. Haskell’s caustic remarks fall mainly
on these two divisions although he has sneers also for the Second Div.
which General Howard very wisely retained on Cemetery Hill where he also
assembled and posted all the reserve artillery of the corps, as the rallying
point to which he knew that the part of the army under his command would
have to retreat, unless very substantial reinforcement should reach him
within a shortness of time that could not be even hoped for. The battle
was on when the 11th. Corps arrived. It could not hope to win but only
to stay it. It had to go in no matter at what sacrifice for the sake of
gaining time. Lee's army was closely concentrated near Gettysburg while
Mead’s corps were scattered at considerable distances. Under theme circumstances
the two divisions of the 11th. Corps were marched far to the north and
far beyond the right of the 1st. corps. Perhaps they were shut out too
far. This has been claimed. But that has nothing to do with Col. Haskell’s
strictness. It is true that the position it took up was an extremely exposed
and hazardous one. This was not evident at first but it soon became so
when the strong rebel division of General Early, came upon the field over
roads leading directly to the right flank and rear of General Barlow’s
position on the right of the 11th. Corps. Taken at this disadvantage and
vastly outnumbered retreat was inevitable. And it was necessarily
disorderly. Retreat with organized bodies of the enemy on the flank and
in rear from so exposed a position as the troops had been placed in is
always in more or less broken order, They made their way back constantly
under fire over the fields to the city and then through the streets to
the selected rallying point on Cemetery Hill. From this point the reserve
artillery of the corps supported by its second division had in the meantime
rendered most valuable service, keeping the assailants in check so that
they did not dare to follow up their success or make any attack on this
position. The 1st. as well as the 11th. corps arrived at this point in
very broken condition. But thanks to the taking and holding of this important
point by a position of the 11th. corps all the troops as they arrived could
be assigned to places in its support. Of course they were terribly fatigued
with the heat and the labor and the bloodshed of that day. Of course I
do not claim that every man of the corps was a hero, that many in their
distress did not seek the shelter of houses and hide there as they passed
through that town. There was more or less of that in both corps. There
always will be under similar circumstances. There are Slulkers in every
battle and they are found in every military organization. But there is
no warrant whatever for Col. Haskell slurs upon the 11th. Corps for its
conduct on that day.
Still less reason I might
almost say, certainly no more reason is there for the disparagement and
sneering innuendos in respect of the second day. Col. Haskell was nearer
the ground than he had been on the day before, but he was still far away
from it. He did see the first thing of what he mentions. The scene of conflict
was late at night after sunset at almost dark. A force of the enemy had
come up from a ravine overcome the line of the 1st. corps at the foot of
the hill and rushed upon a weak salient point in our battery line on the
brow of a steep hill. For a moment our line was broken. There was some
confusion on account of the darkness but our troops were immediately rallied,
moved promptly forward and reestablished their line. The assault was defeated
and quite a number of prisoners remained in our hands. It was one of those
incidents that occur in every battle, many of which occurred in the battle
of Gettysburg. One very notable one which Col. Haskell so vividly
describes in his own 2nd. Corps on that same afternoon when he rallied
and brought a brigade which had abandoned its breastworks back to its place
of duty.
The sacrificial services
as they may be called of the 1st. and11th. Corps on the 1st. of July 1863
alone made the subsequent victory a possibility. The severest trial that
ever comes to a body of troops is to be compelled to retire from a position
in which it is posted. To place it in a position where this mist be the
result is sometimes a duty. At Chancellorsville it was not. On the first
day at Gettysburg I believe that it was. The troops who did that duty even
if they did it but fairly well should not be subjected to obloquy. I was
present with the 11th. corps throughout the battle. Looking back I may
think that some things might have been done better. But that is a common
experience in all affairs. Thrown into the emergency as it was I doubt
whether any other corps of equal strength would have done any better service.
Author/Creator: Dillon, Henry, 1828-1882.
Title: Papers, 1849, 1861-1891.
Quantity: 0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes)
