, 1863-11-14

VoAoAAk2 a AAe
about P. H. Msjor GAn. Howard deemed It |
tesy Ridge, on the south side Of the town.
which operation was tuccessfnl1y accomplish
cd-not, however, without Considerable loss
in prisoners, arising from the confusion fnct-
dent to porttone Of both corps passing through
the town and the men getting confused In
the streets.
About the time Of the withdrawal Major
Gen. Hancock sr1ived, whom had dispatch.
ed to Represent me On the field On hearing Of
the death Of Gen Reynolds. In corjunction
with Anjrr Gen. Ho ward, Gen. Hancock pro-
cfeded TO pest troops on Cometery Ridge
and to rePel - attack that the enemy made
On our right flank. This attack WAS not. how
ever, very vigorous. The enc my, seeing the
strength 1t the position occupied. seemed to
te satitdcd With the success he Ind c3m.
1Ished, desissing from any further attack
About T. N, M,jor Gems. slocum aud
sicl1es. With the 1eth corps and part Of the
hight and left Of tho troops preT1oualy
posted
Being satisfied, from reports received from
the field, that It was the intention Of the en-
emy to support, with bis whole army, the
attsck s y already made snd reports from A.tor
NNA3t
ter Of the position being favorable, deter
mined to eive batt1e at this point. and carly
In the evening of the LIT, Issued orders to al
corps to concentrate at GettYsburg, directing
minister.
At11 p m. Of the 1st, l broke up my head.
quarters, which. till then, had been ut Taaey-
Town, aud proceeded to the field, arriT1ng
there at ., N. Of the I'd. So soon as 1t was
light proceeded to inspect the position oc.
capled, and to make arrangements for post
ing eeveral corps al they should reach the
ground. By Z g. m., the I'd and 5th corps,
With the rest OF the Sd, had REACHED the
ground and were posted as follows: The
terry side, just opposite to the town. The 1st
corps was posted on the right Of the 11th, On
IN elevated knoll. connecsb with the ridge
extending to the South and east, on which
the ed corrs WIS placed. The right Of the
18th corps rested on q small stream at =
aid which formed on this right flank Of tho
18th something Of an obstacle, Cemetery
Ridge extended IN 4 southerlY direction,
gradually diminishing in elevation tn It
came to q very prominent ridge.
called Round'top, running east and west,
the continuation Of Cemetery Ridge, on tae
left Of the 11th corps. The 5th corps, pend
irg the arrival Of the 9Th, Was held In reserve.
While thete dispositions were being m sde,
the enemy Was massing bis troops on the ex-
terror ridge. distant from the line occupied
At . p. m, the 9Th corpa arrived. after Il
| march of L irfy-tWo miles, accomplished from
9 a. m, The day previous. Oo its arrival be-
irg reported, I immediately directed the 5ih
{ corps TO move over to our extreme lett, aud
| 1he 9th TO occupy It's plaee aa q reserve tor
extreme left to await the arrival Of the sth
| corps and post It, when found that Mpior
| General 8lck1ee, Commanding the Sd corps,
| not tu1ly experimenting the instruct ,ns in re-
| gard to tbs position to be occupied, had I'D
! vaoeed, OF rather was In the act Of advancing
! mile ID front Of tue line Of the I'd corps, on
! tie prploDgaton Of which 1t was Designed
bis corps should rest Having found MsJo
General SicklCs, I was explaining to him that
be Vas too far il advance and diseussing with
him the propriety Of withdrawing, when the
enemy opened upon him with eeTeral bate
rIe4 On Ills front and his dank, and 1tnaeli-
a*ely brought forward columns of infantry,
and HaGe vigorous assault, The Sd corps
sustained the shock most herolcally. Troops
from the Cd corps we're Immediately sent By
Mi Gen. Hancock to cover the right dank
Of the Sd corps, and BOON after the assault
commenced the 5th corps most fortunately
| arrived, and took position On the left Of the
Mst. Gen. Sykes command Immediately
| sending force to occupy Round Top RIdge,
when most furious contest Was maintained,
| the enemy making desperate but unsuccess-
| ful efforts to secure It. Notwithstanding the
stubborn resistance Of the Sd corps, under
been wounded earlY In the action, the superb
Gritty In number Of corps In the enemy enA-
bling him to outfank its advance position,
| Ger. BhneY Was counse1ed to fal1 back and
reform behind the line originally designed to
Ill., L. The p.4 a e. gefssispg FIT
corps (Maj. Gen. Sedg~ick) and part Of the
1et corps Ito the command Of which I had
assigned Ms5. Gen. Newton} particularly
Lockwood's Maryland brigade, together With
detaehrnents from the I'd corps, were all
ed together With the gallant resistance Of the
5th corps In checking, md fn.lly repulsing
The assault Of the enemy, Th0 retired in con
fusion aud disorder about eQuset. AID ceased
ary further eforts-
On the extreme left another assault vas,
however, mtde about p. m. On the uth
! corps from the left Of the town, which ras
repulsed with the assistance Of the troops
from the I'd and LIST corps. During the heayy
sstault npon our extreme lett: portions OF
tie 12th corps wG1e sent os reinforce uents.
Daring their absenEe, the line on the extreme
light Was held BY rery much reduced force.
I Th14 was taken advantage by the enemy, Who,
du1iDg the absence Of Geary's division Of the
12th corps, advanced and occupied part OF tho
line. On the morning Of the Sd. Gen Geary,
having returned during the night, Vas attack
I'd In driving him back. and occupying his
farmer position. 4 spirited contest vas
maintained an the morning along thla part oi
the line. Gen. Gcary, reinforced BY Wbeaton's
aud ipGictlng very severe losses on the enc
my. With this exception the quiet Of tht
lints remained undistusbed I'LL l .. m, OF
zoe Sd. when the enemy oTened from orel
1e5 guns, PLAYING upon or centre an
two hourr, when our guns falling to make
any reply, the enemy ceased fixing, and sooz
his masses ct infantry became visible, form
ing tor IN assault On our left and LEFT centre
Tie assault was made with great drmness
6eng ssstda &c Rns RsnsPs s99. a9 the R Ro
cd with equal drmness by the troops Of thu
corps, supported by Doub1eday's diyiefo,
ard StauuRrd'e brigade Of the fltst corps.
During the Assault, both MINOR Gen. Han
cock, commancing the lefe centre, and Brig
Gen. Gibb0n, commanding the second corps
we're severely wounded.
This term1naaed the battle, the enemy re
t'1i1e to his lines. leaving the field strewet
with his dead and wounded, aud numbers 0
prisoners fell into our hands:
Bufosd's division Of cavalry, after Its ar
duous service ut Gettysburg on the 1st, was
on the "a, sent to Westminster to redt ant
guard our trains Ki1patrick's division, tha
n the 2Sth. S0ih and 1T had been success
tu1ly engaging the enemy's cavalry, WAS o.
lac Sd sent to our extreme LETT, on the Em
mettsburg road. where good service WAS rem
dered in axsaulttng the euemy's line and oc
! Gaping his attention. At the same tim
Gen. Gregg was engaged with the enemy o.
our extreme right, having passed across th'
Baltimore pike aud BonaugbtoKn roads, AM
boldly attacked the enemy 5 left and rear.
On the morning Of the 4th, RECONNAISSANCE
1orE nnaA bat = IN 4taA Ar1r hhr1
| his i.ft flank, but maintained his posItion 1,
. | front OF onr left apparently assuming mel
, | line parallel to the mountain.
D On The morning Of the 5th, It was asce,
taIned that the enemy was in full retreat b
|. the Fairfield and Csshtown roadB. The Ct
|. corrs vas immediately sent IN pursuit on th
t Fairfield read, and cavalry on the CashtoW
= road, and BY ths Emmettsburg and Monte
: Iey Passes.
t The 9Th and 9Th Of July vas employed
1 Major General SedgW1ck. commanding T
. enemy is far as the Fairfield Pass aud Il
& mountains, and reporting that the Pass NJ
s very etrong-one In which small force {
n the enemy could hold in check and delay fl
q considerable time anv pursuing force
= | determined to follow the eaemy by tlau
/ movement, and accordingly, leaving M
{ lutesh'b brigade Of cavalry and Neil
i brigade Of i0fAytry to contfnne harrassiu
i. the enemy, put the army in motion +
4 | Middletowu, and orders we're Immediate
c sent to Majer General. French, at Frederic]
!, to Yeoccupy Hazper'e Ferry, and send fort
: 10 occupy Tnfner's Pass, t9 South Aountal
= eral French had not only anticipated the
| .wJ..s T.. +1a~+ f,r+ hs r,nshad a cAvafry f,n