The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-07-11
Description Of the Great Battle.
CHICAGO. July

oSSSeASs
CHICAGO, July 8.
From New York papers received this
morning, We coudense the following
concerning the battle on Friday:
A popular description Of he ground
held by our forces on the morning Of
that day would be to say that it was in
the form of an elougate, somewhat
sharpened horseshoe. with the toe TO
Gettysburg and the heel to tue South.
The battle commenced exactly at day
light. on the side Of the horse. shoe op.
posi;e to that which Ewell had sworn
TO crush through. Muskesry proceed
ed the rising Of the sun. Thick woods
veiled this fight. but on. Of its leafy
darkness arose smoke. and surging aud
swelling Of fire from the intermittent to
the continuous and crushing. told Of
the wise tactics Of the rebels of attack.
ing in force and changing their troops.
Seemingly the attack Of tie day was
to be made through the wood. De.
monstIa,ion was protracied, but only
prepars;ive, there was no artillery fIe
accompanying the musketry. Sudden
ly. about ten in the forenoon firing on
the cas-. side and everywhere about
ceased. A deep sleep fell upon the field
Of battle. during which the rebels
moved their artillery. . hundred and
twenty pieces. and massed Longs,reet's
aud Hills corps TO front our centre.
About 9 o'clock in the afternoon the
rebels opened on our centre with all
their artillery. Every size and form Of
she'll known to British or American
gunnery shrieked. ~hirlsd. moaned and
wrathfully futtered over our ground.
As many as six in a second, constantly
two in second, bursting and scream.
ing over and around, made q very hill
Of fire that amazed the Oldest officers.
They burst in yard next to the fence,
on each side. garnished as usual with
hitched horses of aids. and orderlies.
Fastened animals reared. dashed and
plunged with terror. Sixteen were kill.
ed before the Ere ceased. One shell
tore up the little step Of headquarters
cottage. another carried of one of its
two pillars. and the other followed i'm
mediately, carried away by shot from
q Whitworth gun. Soon another sho.
burst opposite the open door. another
tore through the low garret. Forty
minutes passed. and the air grew thick
er. bowling. whirling internal missiles
grew more deaieniug. Not an orderly,
ambulance or s,raggler was to be seen
on the plain swept by this tempest of
orchestral death from twenty minutes
after it commenced to the expiration of
an hour. when it ceased. aud Hills
division, in line of battle, moved for
ward at double quick. Isags,reet fol-
lowed in supporting distance.
| The position Of our centre, where the
ed corps under Gen. Hancock was post
ed. was very strong. one portion resting
on the crest Of Cemetery Hill, protected
in front by breast works Of rails taken
from the neighboring farms, and on the
right by q stone wall.
Tho rebels rushed in perfect order
across the open field up to tho very
muszles Of our guns. which tore lanes
through them as they came up. But
they met men who were their equals in
spirit and their superiors in tenacity.
Never was better fighting since Their.
mopyle than was done that day by our
infantry and artillery.
The rebels carried our defences.
cleared the cannoniers and horses from
of our guns. aud we're wheeling them
around 10 use upon us.when bayons.
!! charge drove them back. A. one time.
from exhaustion Of ammunition, every
battery upon the principal crest attack
ed was silent, except Craven's. His
service Of grape and canister was aw-
full. 1t enabled our whole line ,outnum-
bered az they were two to one, first to
drive the rebels back: then charge upon
them, taking . great number prisoners.
} Previous 10 this. so terrible was our
muskctry and artillery FIRE. that. when
the rebel Gen. Armisted's brigade vas
checked in its charge and stood rceling.
all its men dropped their musksts aud
crawled on their hands and knees un.
derneath the stream of shot until close
to our troops, when they made signs Of
surrendering. They passed through
our lines scarcely no iced. and went
slowly down the slope to the road.
The rebels were repulsed, but repeat