The Portland daily press., 1863-07-07
Tuesday Morning, July I, 1868.
The Battle OF Gettysburg.
WEDNESDAYS FIGHT.

i ne correspondent OF the New ork HeralQ
gives an Ineligible account of the battle near
Gettysburg, on Wednesday, portion of which
we copy. His letter is dated "Bivouac on the
Field, West of Gettysburg, July l, 10 2. NJ"
General Buford's cavalry had previously
driven the rebels TO the west OF the town, be-
yond the seminary, and between nine and ten
O'Clock A. NJ. the rebels gave his pickets a
pretty sharp brush and drove them in. Gem
eral Reynolds, with the lst corps, was ON the
> road from Emmettsburg to Gettysburg, en-
route to the latter place, which the road APP
proaches through the very scene of conflict.
Gen. Reynolds at once threw forward the
Fist division, under Gen. Wadsworth, which
began to drive the enemy from the start.
Very soon AFTER the Second division of the
same corps went ON the right of the First d-
vision, the Third division on the left of the
First, and the whole line began to advance.
Nearly west Of the town, just in the outskirts,
near the seminary, of which have spoken, is
large brick ediiice. Southward from this
runs piece OF woods, and the seminary
stands on ridge which slopes to the west in
to a little open valley OF ploughed fields and
meadows. Beyond the valley is ridge of
higher land, thickly wooded.
Ihe valley runs in south-westerly direc-
ton, and at its lower extremity is a large
farmhouse, near which the Eighth Illinois
onr extreme left. Across this valley Gen.
Reynolds line advanced somewhat hastily, al
most before it was well formed, and in that
condition did not 60 far until against is a
heavy force of the rebel infantry was immedi-
ately thrown, and Gen. Reynolds was in turn
driven. But his troops retired step by step,
and In excellent order.
Forward with the utmost enthusiasm pressed
the rebel line, eager now to turn Reynolds
retirement lut0 Some of ha ralalo
had too much energy and got too far; for
while they pressed too closely on the right of
the center DIVISION the left of the same di-
vision was suddenly swept around, and then
enclosed in the handsomest manner an entire
rebel brigade under Gen. Archer. Gen. Ar
cher and his whole staff were taken. About
fifteen hundred Of the enemy's men thus fell
into our hands, and went 70 the rear.
Though the First corps still continued to
retire, the rebel advance was broken soon
after this, and General Reynolds now prepared
TO go forward in earnest. Apparently forget
ful that he had at first only gone in to support
cavalry, he was very likely to bring on gem
eral engagement with only one corps. Formed
as before, his line went forward and drove the
enemy across the valley and over the ridge at
the further side; but it was a great expense
to us, as the fire with which they received
our fellows was terribly severe. From the
hill the line of skirmishers was thrown out
some distance, and Gen. Reynolds went out
to the line 10 reconnoiter, when he was hit by
musket ball.
In rather less than an hour after the fight
began the llth corps came up the same road
by which the lst had approached, and Gen.
Howard at once assumed command of the
whole field, while Gen. Schurz assumed COM
mand OF the llth corps. Gen. Doubleday had
already assumed command of the 1st corps
Across the north side of the town runs a
creek, on which, shortly after noon, 1t was re-
ported the rebels were massing troops, appar-
emily to take the LIST corps on its rear. To
guard against an advance from that direction
Gen. Howard sent forward the first and third
divisions OF the 1lth corps, which moved
across the rear OF the lst corps and through
the town, and took up position with the first
DIVISION on the right. Gen. Steinwehr's di-
vision-the second-was held as reserve.
AT about half past two o'clock, while the
batteries exchanged heavy fire and some
sharp musketfy woke up the echoes on the
night, the rebels advanced in heavy force
against the First Corps, which slowly retreated
from the hills beyond the valley TO high ground
near the seminary, where il prepared to make
all the resistance it was capable Of 1t was
reinforced by some dismonnted dragons, and
fought In the open field for though some rail
fences were thrown down across the front of
our line, they afforded no cover. From the
HDDao oO1o jim tue ul-upustS. ana across the
open space, rebel force of perhaps three
large brigades advanced handsomely in line
oi battle, while the rebel batteries near the
general center shelled our position hotly to
cover the advance.
On came the line, right up within short
range OF our position, when it was opened up
on win nfe so sharp and well served as to
stagger ana Then completely repulse it. Back
ward went the line that came forward in snch
good order, a mere mass of stragglers. each OF
whom made the best OF his Way across the
plain.
While the musketry was very hot in front q,
Gen. Doubleday, party of about one hun
dred rebels stole through the woods upon
Doubleday's left flank, and fired large barn,
hepulsed but not vanquished the rebel line
was reformed and reinforced; and now, for a
second time, came on with force nearly twice
as great as at first.
once more, also, the batteries threw shells
answered by our batteries ON the left, and also
py patteries OF ours on the extreme right
Wnich al this time threw shell at the position
OF Tn 9 enemy's center. Once more the pack.
ed, RAPID rustic Of our file line fire broke out
and once more the rebel line was broken and
went to the right about in rout.
After lull and period of comparative ouie,
oil twenty minutes, onward for a third time
came the rebels quite as orderly as befora
their line of skirmishers firing as thev camf
on. In so great force was this line that /,
completely overapped the line Of the Is,
corps on both fianks. Two brigades on IN.
right were out of ammunition, and the orde,
was given to retreat on the town and our how,
accordingly retreated in good order, while III,
rebels rushed forward with yels to our posi-
tion. f'''
i.Ae new position of the Third corps was :
line of stonewall southwest of the tow
along the slope of hill on which is GENE
terry. When the First corps retired to tn
town, tile left of the Eleventh was uno ,yared