The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-17

made disposition of his tried force to NEE
he onset Of Ewell.
Gen Howard, with quick eye, on his ad
vance had noticed Evergreen Cemetery as 6
strong position. Seeing also that the enemy
was superior to him, and that he might be
forced to retire, he sent Steinwehr's brigade
with battery of reserve artillery to hold it.
He sent Schurz and Barlow to the aid of the
first corps. The troops went through the
town upon the run.
They came into position on the right Of
the lst corps, along the Carlisle road. They
had hardly got into line when Ewell came
down the hill with his entire corps in -four
lines on the extreme right flank of the 11th
as if intending to;work his way into the town
and thus cut off Howards force and Stein
wehr's at the cemetery. The 1lth held its
ground manfully, but gradually the flank be-
gan to bend At the the same time A. T.
Hill moved south of Rev DR. Scmucker's
house, throug b grove and orchard, over the
ground where Reynolds fell, and attacked
the lst corps in flank. 1t was an attempt
on the part of the enemy TO fold up the
wings of Howard, gain the town on both
sides and have him imprisoned
After resisting the overpowering force
from one till four P. NJ, the order wps, given
to fall back
During the three hours' fighting a large
number of prisoners were taken, but when
the order came for falling back, the regiments
become exposed in filing through the town,
and the enemy improved the opportunity to
take about fifteen hundred.
The enemy, evidently we'll pleased with
what they had done, and perhaps mistrusting
trap or that the entire army was lying be-
hind the cemetery, or perhaps also waiting
for Longstreet and Lee, made no attempt to
push their advantage that night. The town
occupied by the pickets of both parties.
Messengers were sent to the corps which
had not yet arrived, and from all quarters
Union and rebel troops were Fastening We'd
nesday night-marching in the clear light of
the full moon toward that pleasant town for
one of the greatest conflicts of modern times.
There is no doubt that this engagement
was prematurely brought on by Gen Rey-
nolds. Gen. Meade desired to find the enc
my, and compel Lee to make the attack. But
perhaps, after all, it was the very thing need
ed The enemy was flushed by the success.
He was confident. He had beaten US both
at Fredericksburg and Charlottesville. He
had done it in the first conflict in Pennsyl-
vania. He felt he could always do it. a
mistake. There are tides in the affairs of
men and nations. Stars are not always in
the ascendant. But stimulated, encouraged,
he became confident of crushing the General
who never had been heard of except as a
plain, modest, unassuming corps commander.
After the engagement on "Wednesday,
Howard seized the cemetery as a pivotal
point, strong position, which he was con-
fdent of holding till the rapidly advancing
columns could arrive-quickened in spirit
by hearing the boom of his cannon, and
knowing that at last, after a long, toilsome
march, they were up with the enemy.
The lst and lth we've there; the 18th
came up at dark the Sd arrived in the nj ght,
and the 9TH at ten o'clock on Thursday fore
noon, leaving Hanover at four o'clock and
marching fourteen miles. The 9th came up
the Baltimore pike Thursday afternoon, hav-
ing made forced march from the extreme
right of Meade's line of advance north.
When the fifth arrived on Thursday fore
noon it was held in position west of Rock
creek, on the south side of the Baltimore
pike, near the centre of the entire force. On
the Baltimore pike, on either side of the
road, in the wide fields, cavalry has been ap-
propliately called the wings Of the army.
The wings were folded here. like swallow s
behind the body, to be spread in an instant.
The sixth corps, when it came up on Thurs
day afternoon, was also put in the centre, on
the ground where the fifth had been, which
at that hour had been called far on the left
centre.
The Battle of Thursday.
On Thursday morning, when reached tht
ground the 9TH corps was crossing from The
Hanover road to the Baltimore pike, tn,
men throwing themselves upon the ground
to gain little rest and sleep after their long
and weary march. Riding up the pike
reached the cemetery and had view of the
field over which the great contest was SC
soon to rage. Gen. Howard was there will
his staff taking lunch, knowing that there
would be hard work before sundown.
There were signs of the approaching storm
Few rebels could be seen; two miles to tn,
north single horsemen were in view gallopin,
furiously over the fields, disappearing i,
groves, dashing down the road to the town
and again returning. There was a batter,
in position north of the railroad, and as
looked narrowly at an opening between twc
thick groves | saw the glistening of bayonets