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| King Alexander I. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, June 20, 1903.
PAPERS ARE CENSORED.
Foreign Accounts of Belgrade Murders Blackened Out.
PLAN TO DYNAMITE THE PALACE.
Late Queen's Sisters Traveled on the Same Train to Vienna With Servian Deputation to Meet King Peter at Geneva—Impossible to Accede to Russia's Demands.
Vienna, June 20.—The Servian deputation which left Belgrade on its way to Geneva to meet King Peter arrived here last evening. The late Queen Draga's sisters came here on the same train.
Queen Draga's sisters traveled second class on the train to Vienna. They say they are ruined. They were only given $400 to defray the journey and they do not expect to receive anything more. They intend to seek an audience of Emperor Francis Joseph to try and obtain justice.
All foreign newspapers are delayed in delivery at Belgrade to enable the authorities to deface the accounts and comments of the tragedy at the Konak.
Fearing the effect of the Austro-Russian denunciation of the assassinations, the conspirators have taken an oath not to divulge one another's names or any particulars of the tragedy.
One of them declares that 90 pounds of dynamite was placed in the palace with the intention of blowing up the building in the event of the royal couple attempting to escape.
Many people here are of the opinion that Russia's demand for the punishment of the murderers is pretext to gain a foothold in Servian affairs and that King Peter will be compelled to grant concessions to stave off the Russian demand.
MUTILATED VERSION.
Austrian Emperor's Telegram of Censure Softened In Translation at Belgrade.
Belgrade, June 20.—The Servian minister, M. Kalievics, talked to a press correspondent with the utmost frankness. The minister explained the necessity of some one taking office in order to insure the continuance of the federal administration after the violent coup d' etat of June 11.
He was called to office, he said, practically by force, but he was happy and willing to do his utmost for his country in her present distressed condition.
He commented on the tranquility which had prevailed throughout the country and men admitted that he was surprised that there had not been a single attempt at reprisals from any quarter. It had not been necessary to change a single provincial officer, though all were nominees of the late regime.
He declared that the mutilated version of the Austrian Emperor's telegram circulated in Belgrade, in which the latter's terms of reprehension were slurred over, was not the work of officials but simply a newspaper translation, the harsh sections of the telegram being suppressed on the editor's own initiative.
Regarding the official version of the tragedy in the royal palace, the minister said the government was too busy now to draw up such a document, besides only the officers who participated in it could give the details. He did not expect a complete revision of the constitution, after the arrival of King Peter. Such changes as had been already made were merely with a view to its easier working. M. Kalievics in conclusion expressed his confidence that the new regime would restore stability and peace to Servia.
Chinamen Captured on Frontier.
Ogdensburg, N. Y., June 20.—Twenty-five Chinamen captured on the frontier while stealing across from Canada were brought here last night by immigration inspectors. United States Commissioner Gray committed them to the county jail for trial for being unlawfully in this country.
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| Dr. Adolf Lorenz. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
How Dr. Lorenz Did It.
Although Dr. Lorenz practices bloodless surgery, there are times when he needs as much nerve and presence of mind as the surgeons who use the knife. And he has both. At a hospital in Rochester, N. Y., on Wednesday, Allan Nichols, 8 years old, was on the operating table for club foot. The anesthetic proved too powerful for the boy's weak heart and respiration ceased. In a twinkling and almost before the large crowd of professional men in attendance realized that the subject was dying, Dr. Lorenz began the manipulation of the boy's arms to produce artificial breathing.
There was a short period of the most intense and nervous suspense, during which not a physician present seemed to have the presence of mind to stir to the assistance of the operator. Dr. Lorenz was calm and collected. At the end of six minutes from the time respiration ceased, the surgeon suspended vigorous operations, looked about reassuringly and quietly observed: "The little man is all right now."
During the clinic Dr. Lorenz slipped on the tiled floor. He asked the pardon of the physicians present and removed his shoes and socks, continuing the clinic in his bare feet.
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| Capt. William Saxton, Company C, 157th Regiment, New York Volunteers. |
WAR REMINESCENCES.
By Captain Saxton of the I57th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.
BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Confederates Approach the Union Army—Hooker's Efforts to Get Out of the Woods—Brigades Lost in Swampy Thickets—Union Army Falls Back on the Defensive—Commander Loses His Nerve—A Lost Opportunity.
CHAPTER 23.
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir-—Friday, May 1.—Confederate Gen. Anderson was stationed behind Mott's run guarding Bank's ford, 7 miles northeast of Chancellorsville. During the night before be fell back toward Fredericksburg with part of his division and being there reinforced with McLaw's division they advanced toward Chancellorsville as far as Tabernacle church. This church is near the point where the plank road unites with the turnpike, about 3 or 4 miles east of Chancellorsville in Gen. Hooker's front. Here they began throwing up entrenchments and were joined by Gen. Lee in person later on. Stonewall Jackson, who occupied the extreme right of Lee's army below Fredericksburg, was informed early on the morning of April 29 that Gen. Sedgwick was crossing the Rappahannock in his front. He lay still all that day in the old lines of Dec. 13, observing the move, supposing it to be the advance of the main army.
Confederates Reconnoitre.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee says Jackson was in favor of attacking Gen. Sedgwick on the 30th in the plain, but Gen. Robert E. Lee said to Jackson, "it would be hard to get at the enemy and harder to get away on account of the artillery posted behind Sedgwick on the north side of the Rappahannock; nevertheless, if Jackson thought best, he would order the move." Jackson asked for time to further investigate. He made a thorough reconnaissance of the position and reported to Gen. Lee that he was wrong and Lee right. "Move then," said Gen. Lee, "and join Anderson," Lee having heard in the meantime of Hooker's concentration around Chancellorsville.
During the night of April 30, Jackson withdrew his Corps, leaving Early's division and Barkdale's brigade of Longstreet's Corps to hold the lines around Fredericksburg. He marched on the old mine road back out of sight of the Union army and reached Anderson's position near Tabernacle church by 11 o'clock next morning, (May 1.) All work on entrenchments was stopped, and preparations were made to move on Hooker and prevent him from getting out into cleared land.
Too Much Wilderness.
During this morning and forenoon Gen. Hooker began to realize the importance of "getting out of the wilderness," but what would have been easy to have accomplished the afternoon before was now rendered extremely difficult by the interposition of Gen. Lee's army. At 11 o'clock Gen. Hooker issued the following order:
The Fifth Corps including three batteries will be thrown on the river road by the most direct route, the head of it advanced to near midway between Mott's and Collins' runs, the movement to be masked by small parties, thrown out in advance, and be completed by 2 o'clock. The Twelfth Corps, including its batteries, will be massed below the plank road, the head of it resting near Tabernacle church and masked from view of the enemy by small advanced parties, to be completed by 12 o'clock. The Eleventh Corps will be massed on the plank road about a mile in the rear of the Twelfth Corps. After the movement commences the headquarters of the general commanding will be at Tabernacle church.
Too Late Now.
Oh, if this order had only been issued and executed at 3 o'clock the day before, when Gen. Pleasanton suggested it. Nine chances out of ten the army of the Potomac would have won a great decisive victory and Lee's army would have suffered a crushing defeat.
Before these troops started Gen. Sickles with the Third Corps, (except Gen. Mott's brigade of Gen. Berry's division, which was left at the U. Ś. ford as guard,) had arrived from the left wing and was posted in the rear of the Chancellor house as reserve, Graham's brigade of Binney's First division being sent to Dowdall's to reinforce Howard's Eleventh Corps.
The Corps designated started at once, except the Eleventh. That never moved as a whole, so far as I can ascertain. I know the One-Hundred and Fifty-seventh, N. Y., of the First brigade of the Third division remained where it was and think only part of the Corps moved.
Is it not a singular coincidence that this was the very hour that Lee's army was put in motion to prevent Hooker from getting out of the woods?
Gen. Mead moved Gen. Griffin's First division in advance on the river road with Gen. Humphrey's Third division in the rear as reserve to assist either Griffin or Sykes. They reached the river above without any hindrance from the enemy.
Mead moved Syke's division of regulars on the turnpike, extending his left toward Griffin and his right toward the Twelfth Corps. The columns found the greatest difficulty in marching through the swampy woods in line of battle, the thickets interposing such obstacles that the line was broken up and the men penetrated through the tangle in squads; consequently the advance was very slow and disconnected.
Lost in the Thickets.
Gen. Sykes had not gone over a mile before he struck Gen. Ramseur's Confederate skirmishers and drove them back on McLaw's division, forcing all back a mile or so, when they were reinforced by Gen. Anderson's division and part of Jackson's Corps. A sharp fight ensued on both sides. Gen. Sykes in vain tried to connect with Griffin on his left and the Twelfth Corps on his right, the swampy thickets rendering his efforts futile. Afterwards in falling back one of Griffin's brigades lost its way and was out all night groping around and did not join the remainder of the division till 4 o'clock the next morning. A similar experience happened the next day to a Confederate brigade coming from Bank's ford to reinforce their lines.
The enemy greatly outnumbered Sykes' division and strove to penetrate between him and Griffin on the left and between him and the Twelfth Corps on the right. Sykes pressed forward, and got out of the woods into the opening, still holding his own. Here he was reinforced by Gen. Couch, with Gen. Hancock's First division of the Second Corps. This reinforcement was placed in front and Sykes' division was massed in the rear.
Orders to Fall Back.
Soon after, orders were received from Gen, Hooker to fall back to Chancellorsville to the original positions. Gen. Sykes lost twenty-eight killed, 167 wounded and ninety-one missing. Total 206 in this encounter.
Gen. Slocum, with the twelfth Corps, met with similar obstructions on the plank road. He extended Gen. Williams' First division to the left toward Sykes and Gen. Geary's Second division to the right. They struck the Confederate skirmishers about a mile out and drove them back. With great difficulty he penetrated the tangled forest. He pressed on as rapidly as he could under the circumstances. It was very difficult to communicate from one flank to the other. Staff officers and orderlies got lost in the swampy tangle. Gen. Williams' left flank had passed the swamp; Gen. Geary's Second division was in the last woods, clear of underbrush and near the opening beyond, when an aid from Gen. Hooker's headquarters rode up to Gen. Slocum and said Gen. Hooker's orders were to fall back to Chancellorsville. Gen. Slocum was so surprised that he said: "Young man, I don't know you, and I refuse to take such an important order from you. You must either bring me a written order or the adjutant-general must himself bring me a verbal one before I will accept it."
At this time some Confederate troops were marching along Slocum's right flank on a road farther south, seeking an opportunity to gain his rear.
Slocum's Astonishment.
Gen. Slocum continued his move, but as soon as the aid could ride back to headquarters and report, Gen. Hooker's chief of staff galloped to Slocum and repeated the order, which Slocum dared not disobey. Gen. Slocum, Couch and Humphreys and other officers begged Gen. Hooker to countermand the order to fall back, but he was immovable, and they returned to their original positions around Chancellorsville, threw up entrenchments and assumed the defense.
Hooker Loses His Nerve.
Why Gen. Hooker lost his nerve and paralyzed his previous matchless strategy is unaccountable. It seems that from this time on with the exception of a move south the next day by Gen. Sickles and others, that he decided to remain on the defensive, notwithstanding he had double the number of troops. It was a second sad mistake for the noble army of the Potomac. The effect was most unfortunate. The change from the boastful spirit of general order No. 47 to that of hesitancy, when the army came in actual contact with the Confederates, had a wonderful tendency to dampen the ardor of the Union troops. Gen. Slocum had lost only ten killed and wounded. In half an hour more Bank's ford would have been uncovered and Generals Griffin and Humphreys could have swung around and struck McLaw's on the flank and doubled him back on Anderson and Jackson. This would have uncovered Hancock's and Sykes's front and they could have joined in the move. The Eleventh Corps could have been brought up on Slocum's right, as was originally intended. Sickles would have been in reserve, and with this force, there was no reason why Lee's army could not have been beaten. Then, too, by uncovering Bank's ford, if it had been necessary Sedgwick with his 30,000 men could have been on the grounds by morning to assist in the chastisement.
Everything remained quiet now till about 4 p. m., when the Confederates appeared in line of battle about a mile from Chancellorsville. A vigorous fire of artillery was opened on both sides which lasted till dark. Gen. Lee was feeling of Hooker's lines to ascertain his strength and position.
My diary says "Friday, May 1, was a very pleasant day. My feet were very sore and as we lay still I went barefoot most of the time."
Position of the 157th.
At sunset the One Hundred and Fifty-Seventh N. Y. moved a quarter of a mile east within a half mile of where the plank road comes into the pike from the southwest, formed in close column by divisions and lay down, Near by was a little stream, the head waters of Hunting Run, which flows north through Hawkins' farm and joins the Rapidan just before that stream unites with the Rappahannock. We soon heard musketry firing, then artillery to the southeast, which ceased at dark, except an occasional picket. We put up no tents, but lay on our arms during the night. Once company C was roused to go on picket, but we were not needed. It is my impression now that part of the company and regiment did go, but I am not certain.
Major Carmichael of our regiment went, I know, and he and the lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Nineteenth N. Y. had charge of the picket line in front of Schurtz's division. During the night the Confederates cut a road past our pickets in front of us. I heard the chopping to the south as I lay there that night with my blanket over me, thinking of home and what might befall us on the morrow, but did not know it was the Confederates.
At the risk of being a little tedious I wish to be as explicit as possible, and at the same time perfectly truthful, in regard to this battle, about which more lies and untruthfulness has gone down into history than of any other battle of the war.
I have never seen a history nor an encyclopedia that gave a truthful account of this battle. Even the official reports of many of the prominent generals, from Gen. Hooker down, contain many untruths, especially in regard to the action of the Eleventh Corps, and I beg the reader to bear with me, and to carefully read what I have to say, for many suppressed truths have been brought to light within the last few years.
NO CELEBRATION
If the Results of Last Night are to Govern the Matter.
The public meeting called by the Cortland common council to meet in Fireman's hall last evening to make arrangements for a Fourth of July celebration, did not materialize as the business men did not take enough interest in it to attend.
A few men gathered around the entrance to the hall at the time set for the meeting and, after waiting in vain for others to appear, made up their minds that the celebration was in the air and wended their way homeward.
Died In North Dakota.
Word has just been received here of the death on June 16, of Mrs. Margaret Myers Stebbins, wife of Hon. S. E. Stebbins of Fairmount, N. Dakota. The body will arrive in Cortland, Tuesday, June 23 for burial in the family lot in Cortland Rural cemetery. Mrs. Stebbins was a sister of Mrs. H. J. Harrington, and Miss Helena M. Myers of this city.
VERNON PHELPS DROWNED.
Son of Mrs. Ernest Waters of McGraw—16 Years Old.
Carthage, N. Y., June 20.—Vernon Phelps, a young man 16 years of age, was drowned in Cranberry lake Thursday morning. His home was in McGraw, Cortland, Co., but he had been working for C. E. Westcott for some time. Thursday morning be started to cross the lake to his brother's in a canoe for some clothes be had left there. He was unable to swim. That night the canoe was found a short distance from the shore near Brook's hotel. The lake was dragged yesterday morning and about 11 o'clock the body was found about 40 feet from the shore in ten feet of water, The remains were taken to the home of his brother and Coroner Drury summoned. Deceased was a son of Mrs. Ernest Waters of McGraw.
Formerly of Cortland.
The Saginaw, (Mich.,) Evening News of June 17 announces the death that morning in that city of Silas L. Danforth, for some years a resident of Cortland and up to the time of his death a member of the A. O. U. W, of this city. Deceased was nearly 63 years of age. Death was caused by paralysis, the first shock of which came two years ago, Mr. Danforth is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter, Frank W., Claude and Miss Leah A. Danforth.
Alumni Banquet.
The annual reunion and banquet of the Alumni association of the Cortland Normal school will be held in the Normal gymnasium, Friday afternoon immediately at the close of the commencement exercises at the Opera House. Hon. Israel T. Deyo of Binghamton is to be one of the speakers and Almond L. Clark of Plainfield, who graduated last year from Amherst, will officiate as toastmaster. Members of the graduating class may obtain tickets from Dr. Francis J. Cheney at the Normal.
BREVITIES.
—The recitals of A. B. Kingsley occur on June 24 and 25.
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