The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-07-24
The Hattie of Gettysburg.

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The Battle of Gettysburg.
To the exclusion Of most of our editorial,
we insert the following interesting details of
the late terrible battle Of Gettysburg from the
Richmond Examiner:
Though number of officers and soldiers
wounded at Gettysburg have. within the past
two days. reached the city. yet. as they were
for the most part struck during the first days
engagement, they know Of subsequent events
only from hearsay. In the entire absence of
official dispatches, we are therefore without
any connected or Ineligible account of the
bloodiest battle of the war. We know the
battle was begun Wednesday morning and
lasted for several days, with the loss of twelve
Thousand on our side and mere than double
that on the part OF. the enemy, but how or
when it was brought TO conclusion, and what
were the subsequent movements of the hostile
armies, we have no positive information.
From what we can learn from the most trust
worthy sources, it appears that Wednesday
and Thursday We drove the enemy before us
with unparalleled slaughter. Again on Fri
day. after sangninary battle, we put them
to flight, but our pursuit was checked by GER
tain hills, intrenchments and rife pits, be-
hind which the enemy took refuge and made
an obstinate and determined stand. Our loss
before this position was very great Five or
more attempts were made to carry it by di. 4
rect assault, and each time our ranks were
fearfully thinned by the fire of the enemy be-
hind earthworks. rife pits and stone walls
Two Of our divisions, Rodes' on the left and |
Pickett's on the right, carried the portion of
the position in front of them, but, finding it
commanded by still stronger position in
rear, were forced to retreat.
From participants in the engagement we
have the main facts of the first days battle,
As usual, to A. P. Hill was assigned the
duty Of opening the ball. Tuesday evening
skirmishing was begun between division ON
our side and Reynolds corps on the part of
the enemy. and lasted unit night. Wednes-
day morning, Pender's division having come
up on the left Of the division already engag-
ed, both were, after an hours skirlnishing,
attacked by the enemy. Our artillery, sta
toned on hills in the rear, played over the
heads Of our advancing columns. The Yam
KEGS fought well and contested the ground
obstinately. About noon Rodes, of Ewells
division, came into the fight on our extreme
left. The enemy also sent forward heavy re-
Inducements and the battle ragged with renew
ed fury. The conflict began in the open
country, some three miles west of Gettysburg,
and ended long after dark by our driving the
enemy to the east of the town.
Unlike every previous battle of the war,
the movements Of the two armies were not
hidden by forests and dense thickets. The
country was broken and rolling, and in high
state of cultivation. On every. side were
wheat and corn fields, surrounded by stone
fences, and dotted here and there by groves
and clumps of open timber. The movements
of each army were visible from every part of
the field, and the game of battle as thus play
ed on clear board, is said to have been of
absorbing interest to such as had time to
watch it. Our troops, infantry and artillery,
were handled with consummate skill. Again
and again they turned the enemy's flank, and
drove them from one stone fence to another
from one range of hills to others further east. |
On our left, Rodes had, at one time, to dis |
lodge the enemy from long breast work,
constructed chiefly Of bales Of hay. This
was an important capture, as 1t saved much
trouble in seeking forage for our artillery !
horses that night. The enemy's loss in kill
ed and wounded'in this days fight was at least
three to our one, and we captured from four
TO six thousand prisoners. The field from
the point where the battle was begun to Get
tysburg, was thickly ,strewn with their dead
and wounded, and every house in the town,
when we took possession Of it, was crowded
hospital. 49,,
Thursday morning Gen. Hill with Rsdes'
Division renewed the battle east of Gettys-
burg. the other two divisions Of EwelPs corps
falling in on our left, and Longstreet coming |
49, L 4
up on our right. This Gay also we met with
success, but we are without |
any particulars of the battle except that by |
n;ohtfall we had driven the enemy six miles
east Of the original battle field. Of Fridays
firht we have heard very little and confess
ourselves unable to understand that. The
enemy seem to have retreated to some strong
position from which we were unable 70 DIS
lodge them, and in front OF winch We ios1
great numbers Of our men and many valuable
officers. |