Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-07-09
During this attack occurred much of tbe


most desperate lighting OF the war. 1t was
sustained on our part by the llth corps on
the center, the I'd and Sd and part OF the
9th corps on the left. The enemy made
several desperate charges, but each was
broken and forced back in confusion by our
terrific artillery fire, which our men were
fortunate enough, more than once, to get
to enflade them. The advancing lines off
the rebel troops making this attack were
"A. l.. Hill and Longstreet' corps, forming
nearly two thirds of Lees whole army.
Pickett's division Of A. p. Hills corps, re
garded as their crack fighting division, was
selected for the most exposed part of their
attacking line. 10 one charge they made
they swept up in three lines-the first
very heavy one of skirmishcrs stationed be.
fore their battle line, and three reserve bat
tie lines, each stretching for nearly a mile
along our center and lett at Cemetery Hill.
They got within couple of hundred yards
before we opened our whole fire on them,
and the line was instantly shattered, and
sent flying over the fields, while one of their
brigades threw down their arms and rushed
en- masse over to our lines and gave them
selves up as prisoners.
BY half past four the battle was substan-
tally over. The rebels still kept up strag-
! tiuS uic Oll ltIt, anu ITOm houses In
Gettysburg their sharpshooters still tried to
pick OF expUs1d officers on the Cemetery
Hights, while they kept tossing occasional
shells into headquarters. until nightfall, but
from half past four the bulk of their army
had retired. Our losses are less than would
have been expected from so bitterly con
tested battle, owing to the fact that after
the first day we acted wholly on the defen.
sive. From five to seven thousand will prob
ably cover our entire losses in killed and
wounded. .,-.. ~. .....,.
We lost about l., 500 prisoners the first
day--none of any consequence aiterward-
On Friday evening about 1000 rebel pris
oners, by actual count, had been turned ovei
to the officers in charge of prisoners and
morewere still coming in from then till
Saturday noon. No further count was
mode, but it will be safe to say that the
number was by that time swelled to 4, 900,
probably more. Our losses in general off
GERS have been greatly exaggerated by
rumors picked up and telegraphed at dis
tance from Philadelphia Gen. Schim
melpfenning, Of the ] lth corps, is not ,
prisoner. He was cut off from our troop
. in Wednesdays fight, but managed to con
ceal himself in Gettysburg, and has got int
g.. our lines again. Gen. Paul, also reported
killed proves to be safe. Gen. Sickles il
not killed. His leg was shot off below thu
knee, but he is likely to recover. Genera
Hancock wound is not now thought dan
gerous Gen. Gibbon is slightly burt. -
, Gen. Barber is wounded. Gen. Warren
a Chief Of Meade s staff, had narrow escape
A bullet passed under his chin, just grazing
:, the throat and cutting it enough to make i
bleed profusely, but inficting no serious in
, jury. Gen. Meredith was seriously injure,
= internally.
1t is not true that Longstreet is the pris
, oner we took. 1t was Gen. Olmstead, frou
2 which the report probably originated. Tn
! rebel Gen. Garnett was killed aud Genera
liood's arm taken off. In Wadsworth'
=, Division, which suffered so terribly ON tn
4 first days fight, Lieut.. Col. Stevens, Sec
/ Ond Wisconsin, was wounded and will re
! ! cover; likewise Maj Mansfield, I'd Wis
= y and Lieut.. Col Flemegin, oath Michigan
. The losses Of officers in the regiments is no
heavy. On the whole, regarded solely as
defensive battle, it was brilliant victor
y y admirably managed by Gen. Meade an
= splendidly fought by the army, which re
I deemed itself, all doing their duty.
4 HKApouA.rrRs ARMY sy poroMAc,
a July 3.
n A decisive battle has been fought to da
: and the enemy repulsed with much loss :
AT daylight Lees right wing batteries oper
y ed on our left, and shortly after more of hi
/ center followed. After half an hours coui
a termarcking, doing but little damage to IL
i the fire slackened, and only occasional sho
y were exchanged. Shortly aiterward the ei
q emy's left, comprised entirely of infantr
i and sharpshooters, made an attack on OF
right wing. So su ldenly and impetuous
n was It accomplished that our skirmishel
q and first line were driven back from the
a intrenchments, but by the aid Of the bate
g les in the center aud by the admirable br;
,r very OF the second corps, we regained OIL
!, , first position, and captured a considerab
!, number of prisoners. Several hours of on
inous silence followed the partial repulse,-
At o clock the enemy fred two shots al
parently as signal for the grandest arti
. lery tight ever witnessed on this continen
}, 1t is estimated that 80 batteries opened G
. ! US. Our batteries returned the complimel
u with interest. The air was actually thic
u with iron, and for more than an hour
& seemed impossible that man or beast coul
a live through it. Strange to say, the enemy
u accuracy of range exhibited on the two pr,
3 vlous days, was wanting on this OCCASION
IT Most of their shells explod, ID in the rear
our front. and generally missing our bate
. les. Under the fen d'entre Lee advance
Z his columns of infantry from their cove
= and made several desperate attempts to ca
J. ry our line by assault but each successi,
+, attempt was repulsed with terrible havoc
!. their ranks. After an hours incessant cal
q nonading, the fire grew less intense for
short time, but was again renewed wit
g equal spirit. During this period some
y our batteries, whose ammunition had bee
2 expended and the men exhausted, ceased
q fire, and on the approach OF the resery
batteries withdrew to the rear. The enem
e only seeing the boilers withdraw, and mi
taking this forretreat, made despera
!, infantry charge up the hill, and attained
q position in our line, cutting to pieces, an
10 almost annihilating the infantry support
% but before they had time to rejoice at the
imaginary success, fresh batteries poured
d q deadly fire Of canister case shot. III
D. infantry reserves on either flank of the Ga
's charged them and added greatly to the
'r destruction. They were. completely su
: prised, and hundreds threw down their arm
10 and asked for quarter. Nearly an enti
o brigade of General Dick Garnett's was su
,f rendered, and Garnett himself wounde,
n aud barely made his escape.