Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-11-17
THE BArT1H OF GETTYSBURG.
Official Report Of General Meade.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF IHh PoToMAC, I
Octnhrr l lSf3 [

HEADQUARTERS ARMY or INA PoTOMAo,
October l. 1868 I
GENERAL: have
with report ot tht lp,.. -..Iy
during the month OF July, ino,uiIng details Of
the battle of Gettysburg. The port has been
detained by my failure to receive the reports OF
the several corps and division commanders, who
were severely wounded in the battle
-. On the 2Sth of June, received orders from the
President, placing me in command of tic army.
/ The situation of affairs was briefly as follows.
The Confederate Army commanded by Gen. r.
/ Z. Lee, estimated at over one hundred thousand
strong, oil arms, had crossed the Potomac River,
and advanced up 10 the Cumberland Valley
Reliable intelligence placed his advance (Ewelrs
corps on the Susquehannab, between Harris
burg and Columbia. Longsreel's corps was at
Chambersburg, and Hills corps between that
place and Cashtown.
The 2Sth Of June was spent in ascertaining the
position and strength of the different corps of the
Army, but principally in bringing up cavalry,
which had been covering the rear of the Army in
its passage over the Potomac, and to which
| large increase had just been made from the force
previously attached to the defenses Of Washing
ton Orders were given on that day to make
General French commanding at Harper's Ferry,
to move with 7 900 men to occupy Frederick and
the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and
the balance of his force estimated al 4 900, to re
move and escort the public property to Washing
| ton.
On the Goth the army was put in motion, and
on the evening of that day was 10 position, its
lett at Emmiitsburs and its right at New Wind
sor. Butords division Of cavalry was on the left
flank with its advance at G 'ttysburg XII
pairicks division was iu front ut Hanover, where
he encountered tls day General stuar's Con-
| federate cavalry, which had crossed the Potomac
/ at Sanprn (irppl NM nt1r riUht flank
was making its way toward Carlisle, having es-
capped Grekg's division, which was delayed in
1 taking its petition un the right flank by the Oc-
cupation OF the roaas ny columns Of Infantry.
On the 30ih the right flank of the army was
moved up 10 Manchester, the left still being at
Emmttsburg, in the vicinity of which place three
! corps-the Ist, lth and 3l-were collected
under orders of Major General Reynolds. Gen.
Butord having reported from Gettysburg the ap-
pearance of the enemy on the Cashtown Road in
| some force, Gen Reynolds was directed to occupy
\ Gettysburg. On reaching that place on the 1st
Of July, Gen. Reynolds found Buford's cavalry
warmly engaged with the enemy, who had de
bouched his infantry through the mountains on
the CashtOwn Road, but was being held in check
in most gallant manner by General Bufords
cavalry.
Major General Reynolds Immediately moved
around the town OF Gettysburg, and advanced on
the Cashtowu road, and without moments hes
tatiOn depIoyed bis advance division aud attack
| Ell the enemy, at the same time sending orders
Tor the Eleventh. Corps General Howard,) TO
advance rs promptly us possible. Soon after
making his dispositions for the attack, Major
General Reynolds fell mDrially wounded, the
command the First Corps dovolving upon
| Major GeueTal Doubleday. pnd the command of
the fed on Major General Howard, who arrived
about this liue II 30 ID. IN, with the Eleventh
Corps then commanded by Mnj1r Gen. Schurtz
Major General Howard pushed forward two
divisions Of the llth Corps to support the lsi
Corps, now warmly engaged with the enemy on
the ridge TO lie north Of the town, and posted
his 3D. DIVISION, with lree batteries Of artillery,
Cemetery Ridge, Oh the south side Of the town.
Up to this time the battle had been with the
| iorces'of the enemy deb1uching from the noun
tins on the Cushtown road, known to he Hill's
corps. In the carly part Of the action success was
on the enemy = side Wadsworths division Of the
lst Corps having driven Tie enemy back some dis
tance, captured numerous prisoners, among
them Gen. Archer Of he Confederate Army.
The arrival Of reuforcements to the enemy on
the CushtUWn ROAD, and the junction with Ewell's
corps coming ON the York aud Harrisburg roads,
which occurred between and > o'clock p. M,
,nablel the enemy to bring vastly superior
forces against both the lst and l1th Corps out
aauking our line of battle and pressing it so Sc
vcrely TINT Ut about p IN. Major Gen. Howard
deemed it prudent 10 Withdraw these two corps
io Cemetery Ridge, on the south side Of the
town, which operation was successfully accom-
plished-tot, however, without considerable loss
in prisoners arising from the confusion incident
to portions Of both corps passing through the
town and men getting confused in the streets
about the time of the withdrawal, Major Gen.
hancock arrived, whom had dispatched to re-
present me on the field on hearing of the death
of Gen. Reynolds. la conjunction with Major
q Il. Howard, Gen. Hancock proceeded to post
troops On Cemetery Ridge, and 10 repel an atiacl,
that the enemy made on our right flank. The
attack, however, was not very vigorous. The
enemy seeing the strength Of the position occu.
MED. seemed to be satisfied with Inc success he
ind accomplished, desisting from any further at.
taek this day.
About p. M, Mejor Generals Sloeum and
sicklts, vita 18th Corps, and part of the Sd,
reached the ground and took post on the right