Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-11-20
aEIKAuovARrERs ARMY OF THE PoroMlc,
October /.

tIKAuouARrERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
October /. \ q
GENERAL: Il have the honor TO submit here
With report Of the operations Of this army
during the month of July, including details Of
the battle OF Gettysburg. The report has been
detained by my failure to receive the reports Of
the several corps and division comm anders, who
were severely wounded Ia the battle. III
| On the 2Ssh, of June iTeceived orders from
the President, placing me in command Of the
army. The situation of affairs was briefly as
folloNa: The Confederate army, commanded by
GeheraI r. E. Lee, estimated at over one hun-
dred thousand strong, all arms, had crossed the
Potomac river, aud advanced upthe Cumber-
land valley. Reliable Intelligence placed bis
advance (EWelrs corps) on the Susquebanna,
between Harrisburg and Columbia. q Long
street's corps was at Chambersburg, and Hlli'a
corps between that place and Cashtown. l
The 20Ih Of June was spent In ascertainipg
the position and strength Of the different corps
Of the srmy, but principally In bringing up
cavalry, which had been covering the rear Of
ths army Ia lie passage over the Potomac, and
10 which slarge increase had just been made
from the force previously attached to- the de-
fences of Washington Orders were given on
that day to make General French, commanding
at Harper's Ferry, move with 1000 men to oc-
cupy Frederick and the line Of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, and the balance of hls force,
estimated at 1000, to remove and leacort the
public property to Washington. ~ - -'h g.-
On the 29lh the army was put In motion,
and onthe evening Of that day was 10 position,
ts left at Emmitsburg and its right at New
Windsor. Buford's division Of cavalry was on
the left flank, with its advance at Gettysburg.
Hnlpat,ick's division was In front at Hanover,
where he encountered this day Gen. Stuart's
Confederate cavalry, which had crossed the
Potomac at Seneca creek, and, passing our
right flank, was making its way toward Carlisle,
having escaped Gregg's division, which was
delayed in taking its position on tho right flank
by the occupation Of the roads by columns oi
infantry. e.wcfJ I1Vh %.
On the 3Oih the right flank Of the army was
moved mp to Manchester, the left still being at
Emmitibufg, in eho vlncnity Of which place
three corps, the lst, 1lth, and Sd, were collect.
ed under orders Of Major General Reynolds.-
Gen. Buford having reported from Gettysburg
the appearance Of the enemy on the CashtbWn
road In some force, Gen. Reynolds Was directed
to occupy Gettysburg. % reaching thatplace
on the lst Of July, Gen. Reynolds found Buford's
cavalry warmly engaged With the enemy, who
hsd debouched his infantry through the noun
/ euiu5 w thO NnputVWh touul bup Whp bptuA uOiu
In check In most gallant n1anher By Gen,
Buford's cavalry. &
Major General Reynolds Immediately moved
around the town OF Gettysburg, and advanced
on the Csshtown road, and without moments
hesitation deployed his advance division and
attacked the enemy, atthe, ssme time sending
orders for the llth corps (Gen. Howard) to ad'
vance 90 promptly as possible. Soon after max
Ing bis dispositions for the attack Msj-Genera
II Reynolds fell mortslly wounded, the command
of the Let corps devolving on Msj-Gen. D)uble-
day and the command Of the field on Msjol
General Howard, who arrived about this time
IQI.30 A. N.Y. with the 1lth corps then COM
manded by Msjor Gen. Schuiz. Major General
Howard pushed forward two dlviaonse of the
l1th corps to support the lst corps, now warmly
engaged with tho enemy on the ridge TO the
north Of the town, and posted BILE Cd division
With three batteries of artillery, on Cemetery
fridge, on the eoutb side Of the town. Up ltc
this time the battle had been with ihs forces OF
The enemy debouohing from the mounts ins on
The Cashtown road, known to be Hill's corps
In the early part OF the action, success was pr
lour side-.W Wadswofth's division Of tho lst cores
having driven the enemy back some distance
and capturing numerous prisoners, among them
Gen. Archer, of the Confederate army. /
The arrival of rslnforcements to the enemy
on the Cashiown road, and the Junction with
EHell,s corps, coming on the York and Harris
burg roads, which occurred between one and
two O'Clock P. M, enabled the enemy to bring
vastly superior forces against both the Ist and
llth corps, outfanklng our line Of battle and
pressing Il 30 severely that at about four P. M.
Major. General Howard deemed It prudent to
Withdraw these two corps to Cemetery Ridge
on the south side Of the town, which operation
was succesafully mplished--not, however,
without considerable loss In prisoners, arising
from the confusion Incident to portions of both
corps passing through the town and the men
lgettlng confused 10 the streets. H
About the time Of the withdrawal Major
Gen. Hancock arrived, whom had despatched
to represent me on the field on hearing OF the
death Of Gen. Reynolds. 10 conjunction with
Major Geneial Howard, General Hancock pro
ceeded to post troops on Cemetery Ridge, and
TO repel an attack that the enemy made on our
i right flank This attack was not, however
very vigorous. The enemy, seeing the strength
lof the position occupied, seemed 10 be satisfied
with the success he had accomplished, desistinp
i from any further attack this day, 'a 'laua I
About P. NJ, Msjpr. Generals Slocum and
Sicklee, with the 18th corps aud part of the 3j
reached the ground and took poet on the righl
and left Of the troops previously posted d,mssG.
i Being satiffied, from reports received from
the field, thatd was the intention Of the enemy
to support with bis whole army, the attack al!
lresdy made, and reports from Major. Generals
Hancock and Howard, on the character OF The
position being favorable, Idetermined to give
battle at this point, and eirly 10 the evening oi
the lat, issued orders to all carps to concentrate
Of Gettysburg, diieo.ing all traine 10 be cent tc
the rear at Westminster. ,a2l9iny y, 5,t 'oa'A
aAtIl p. NJ, Of the 1st, ! broke up nv head
4 quartets, which, till then, had been at Taney-
town, and psocssued to the field, arriving ther,
at h A, M OF the %. Sc soon as 1t was lieh
prt csedsd to inspect the position occupied
and to make arrangements ipra posting seyefa
Icorps as trey phould reach the ground. b.
A. Ms the y abd ssh Scotps. With the rest o
the Sd, lad rsHchedR the ground and were post
> ed 40 follow.: The 1lth corps retained its DO.
stIon on the cemetery aide, just opposite to b,
\ town. The lat corps was posted on the right o
the lIth, on an elevated knoll, connecting will
i! 1.-The ridge extending to .he eon,h and east, cl
Z / which the % corps Was placed. ...-f.s sigjif
S1 The right OF Z -e lSih corps rested on aemsl
! stream al o point where II crossed the Bait
3 more Pike, and which formed on the right anl
h of the 12Ih something Of an obstacle, Gene
5 terry Ridge extended 10 q westerly and soutbe,
ly direction, gradually dimipishing In elevatIo
z ill 1t came to O very prominent ridge, calle
a | Round.top, running east snd west. The % an
: 3d corps we're difeotod 10 occupy the continua