Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-07-08
The Severe Battle of Wednesday.

The great contest which has resulted
so gloriously to the Army of the Potomac
under Gen. Meade, opened at Gettysburg
on Wednesday. when the First Corps, un-
der Major General Reynolds, were about
half a mile beyond the town. The action
on Wednesday was sa%nguinary in the ex-
IRENE, and was mainly fought by the
First Corps. Gen. Reynolds was killed
by a sharpshooter early in the fight, when
the command of the Corps devOlved up
on Gen. Doubleday. The correspondent,
of the Philadelphia Eq7tirer, on the feel d
thus speaks of the doings of the First
Corps, and the terrific bayonet charge Of
Col. Meredith's Western Brigade:
The First and Third Divisions first
reached the front, and after being placed
in position. the Second, still keeping up
its double-quick, coming Immediately up
to the right of the line. Soon after, the
rebels adv anced and opened fire along the
entire line. Meredith's brigade, all West
ern troops, dashed forward, and, with
fixed bayonets and a good solid Union
ohee +, succeeded in capturing near six
hundred prisoners. The First and Third
Divisions holding their own, and finding
no i'm preston could be made upon them,
the enemy turned their attention to the
snlendid division under command of Gen.
Robinson. This division being situated
upon a ridge, and having no support, was
Obliged not only to fight the front, but
protect his flank.
Suddenly a strong column of rebels
came upon this divisions front. Volley
after volley was poured into them, but
steadily they advanced. Finding the
rifle balls had no effect upon them, a re-
course was had to cold steel. The brig
ade under the gallent Baxter was ordered
to charge bayonets upon them, and so
well did they odey this order that the
rebels were compelled 10 retire with a
loss, in prisoners taken along. of some
four hundred and eighty men.
At this juncture the rebels were seen
advancing in force on the right flank of
the division. But finding himself hard
pushed in that direction, he sent for the
excellent brigade under command of Gen. I
Paul. who Immediately came up, but not
a momen too soon, rs the rebels were
found 10 be coming out of the dense woods
on both TANKS, Is well a in front. and in
immense force: again did the Second re-
pei them. 1t was while bravely leading
the latter charge that the noble Gen.
Paul received the fatal wound.
All this Tim the First and Third divis
ions were being hard pushed, but still
held their ground, the Second division
doing the hard work, requiring frequent
changes and prompt decisions in its COM
handing officer. So rapid and frequent
had they been firing that at this time
they were completely out of ammunition.
and were compelled 10 get that then very
useful article from the cartridge boxes Of
their dead and wounded comrades.
While the fight was progressing. and
the firing the hottest, n Lieutenant of
the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania came up
to Gen. Robinson, and, after saluting, in
an impromptu speech, presented the Nag
of the Sixteenth Alabama. Another flag
captured by the Ninety-seventh New
York.
So rapidly were the rebels reinforced
with fresh troops in those attempts to
turn the First's left, that it obliged the
order to be given to fall back ii distance
Of perhaps a mile, fighting the whole
time.