VII. Was Gettysburg a Federal Victory?
Light is thrown upon this question by the testimony of several general officers given before the Congressional committee on the conduct of the war in the years 1864-5. Thus General Sickles testified, (Part I. page 302) that "at a council of war held on Friday night, July 3d, there was a pretty strong disposition to retreat." He further testified that the "reason why the enemy was not followed up was on account of differences of opinion whether or not we should ourselves retreat." Again he said, "It was by no means clear in the judgment of the corps commanders, as of the General in command, whether we had won or not."
Major General Butterfield, General Meade's chief of staff, testified, (page 426) that, "on the night of the 4th of July a council of war was held to decide the question, 'Shall we assume the offensive,' and that General Newton, General Sedgwick, General Howard, General Birney, General Pleasanton, General Hays, and General Warren, all voted 'no' to that question."
Major General Birney, (page 367) testified that "at a council of war held on the night of July 4th, the opinion was expressed that Lee was not retreating, but making a flank movement." Several of the council (page 368) voted to retreat, but it was finally decided by a vote of 3 to 5 to wait twenty-four hours before retreating. It was stated that General Meade did not wish to hazard a battle unless certain of victory. However, he intended to be guided by the opinion of his Corps Commanders. As a matter of fact, the Federal army remained at Gettysburg Saturday, Sunday and Monday, July 4th, 5th and 6th (page 369).
the Federals on Culp's Hill, prepared during the night, drove Johnson's Division in panic down the hill." Instead of this there were at least six hours of stern conflict after the sun rose, for possession of Culp's Hill, and when Steuart's brigade of Johnson's Division finally yielded the hill, they marched steadily down without confusion, rout or panic, in spite of their long hours of terrible battle and their immense losses.
Elsewhere in his writings he makes the great mistake of putting the white population of the seceded States at 7,000,000, instead of 5,000,000, which is the figure given in the census.
The lecture referred to is published also in Henderson's "Science of War," Chapter X, pp. 285 seq.
