Maine-born Union major general (1828–1914) who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his defense of Little Round Top at Gettysburg. He later served as Governor of Maine and president of Bowdoin College. TLS, one page, 8.5 x 11, The Florida West Coast Improvement Co. Constructing and Operating the Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad letterhead, August 16, 1888. Letter to M.S. O’Donnell of Boston , Massachussetts. In full: “Yours of the 15th has just reached me here, having been forwarded from Brunswick, Maine. The military wisdom and effect of the movement and position taken by Gen'l Sickles with the 3rd Corps at Gettysburg is a matter of controversy. The facts are these: He advanced his corps, just before the action of the 2nd of July commenced, and before our general line was fairly taken up, to a broken piece of ground some half mile in advance of the left of the line General Meade intended our left wing to occupy, on the ridge of hills which stretches southerly from Cemetery Hill to Round Top. Both flanks of the 3rd Corps were exposed to the enemy's immediate and heaviest assault, and after the most gallant and obstinate resistance and great losses, the 3rd Corps and all its supports from the 2nd and 5th Corps, were forced back to the place in the line which Meade first intended Sickles to occupy. It is an open question whether the position taken and resistance offered by Sickles did not delay and break the force of Longstreet's attack so as to do quite as good a work as if he had followed Meade's intention from the first. General Sickles claims that he did more than that, that his action compelled Meade to fight the battle at Gettysburg, and also that it saved the day on the 2nd of July. General Meade, and his friends after him, have vigorously denied this, and have maintained that General Sickles' course led to a needless sacrifice of his troops, and imperilled the success of the Union Arms.
I have not been able as yet to study this question deeply enough (to be able) to reach a perfectly satisfactory opinion. On general military principles, and with a tolerably good knowledge of the ground, I have been inclined to rest in the opinion of General Meade and his friends. The burden of proof certainly is upon General Sickles. It is for him to show that the position General Meade intended him to occupy would be less favorable and less decisive of the result than the ground he actually took up. I do not think as yet General Sickles has succeeded in making this evident. No one questions his bravery or the good conduct of his troops on that day. It is a question of ‘grand tactics’, and involves many elements in its consideration. This is the best answer that I can give at present to your inquiry.”
Intersecting folds, a block of light uniform toning to both pages, small mounting strip to left edge of both pages, three words crossed out in red pencil, and mild wrinkling and creasing, otherwise fine condition.
More than 20 years after the end of the Civil War, the former Union general offers his thoughts on the Battle of Gettysburg—where his valiant defense of Little Round Top hill propelled him to prominence and earned him the Medal of Honor. Here, the famed general tries to reconcile one of Gettysburg’s more controversial events. The so-called Meade-Sickles Controversy involved the famous feud between generals Daniel E. Sickles and George G. Meade. The controversy involved whether Sickles disobeyed orders by moving his troops during the battle and if his actions ultimately benefited the Union army. When Confederate General James Longstreet attacked Union forces, Meade was forced to send 20,000 reinforcements, and Sickles’ outfit was decimated.
“It is an open question whether the position taken and resistance offered by Sickles did not delay and break the force of Longstreet's attack so as to do quite as good a work as if he had followed Meade's intention from the first,” writes Chamberlain. Historians maintain that Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac, ordered Sickles to position his corps along a certain area, a command Sickles claimed never to have received. “I have not been able as yet to study this question deeply enough (to be able) to reach a perfectly satisfactory opinion,” Chamberlain states here, but ultimately adds that “with a tolerably good knowledge of the ground, I have been inclined to rest in the opinion of General Meade.” An outstanding letter of historical significance! Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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