Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-07-16
THE BATTLES AT GETTYSBURG
The Rout of the Rebel Forces.
Correspondence Of the New York Times.

Correspondence OF the New York Times.
HEAD QUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAc,
Saturday night, July 4.-Wbo can write
the history of a battle whose eyes are i'm
movably fastened upon a central figure
Of trarscendingIy absorbing inierest-lhe
dead body OF an Oldest born. crushed by a
she'll in position where battery should
never have been sent. and abandoned to
death in building where Surgeons dared
not to stay?
The battle of Gettysburg! l am told
that it commenced on the lst OF July, a
mile north of the town. between two weak
brigades Of infantry AMI some doomed ar
tilery and the whole force of the Rebel
army. Among other costs of this error
was the death of Reynolds. Its value was
priceless. however. though priceless was
the young and the old blood with which
il was bought. The error put us on the
defensive. and gave us the choice OF po-
siiions. From the moment that our ar.
tillery and infantry rolled back through
the main street of Gettysburg and rolled
back OF the town to the circle of eminences
south of it. we were not to attack but to
be attacked. The risks, the difficulties
and disadvantages of the coming battle
were the enemy's. Ours were the heights
for artillery: ours the short, inside lines
for man@uvering. and reinforcing; ours
the cover Of stone walls, fences and crests
of hills. The ground upon which we were
driven to accept battle was wonderfully ia
vorable to us. A popular description OF
it wonli Bc tosssay that it was in form of an
elongated and somewhat sharpencd horse
shoe. with the toe to Gettysburg aud the
heel to the south.
Lees plan OF battle was simple. He
massed his troops upon the east side of
this shoe Of position. and Numbered on it
obstinstely to break it. The Smelling of
our batteries from the nearest overlooking
hill. and the unflinching courage and com
plete discipline of tho Army OF the Poto-
mac repealed the attack. 1t was re newed
at the point OF the shoe, renewed .lespe-
rately at the south west heel, renewed on
the western side with the effort consecrs
ted to success by Ewell's earnest csths
and on which tho fate of the invasion Of
Pennsylvania was fssiy Pit at stake
Only perfect infantry and an artillery
educated In the midst of charges of hostile
brigades could possibly have sustained
this assault. Hancock's Corps did sus-
tain it. and has covered itself with immor-
tai honors by its constancy and courage.
The total wreck of Cushing's Battery, the
list OF its killed and wounded, the losses
Of officers. men and horses Cowen abstain.
ed, aud the marvellous outspread upon the
board of death Of dead soldiers and dead
animals, Of dead soldiers in blue. and
dead soldiers IN grey, more marvellous to
me than anything bavs ever seen in war,
are CHASTITY, and shocking testimony to
the terrible fight OF the Second Corps that
mono will gainsay. That corps will ever
have The distinction Of breaking the pride
and power Of the Rebel invasion.
For such detnils as.J have the heart for.
The battle commenced at daylight, on the
side Of the horse Shoe ,position. exactly
opposite to that which Ewell had sworn to
crash through. Musketry -prece.lsd the
rising sun. Athick wood veiIsd this ti,ht.
but out Of its lcsiy darkness arose the
smoke and the sursing and swelling Of