Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-08


triangle In the apex Of this triangle Gen. Meade has
his headquarters Before sundoMn t proved TO be the
hottest place the battle field far careless shell
ling was concerned.
General Howard occupied with his corps beaud-
full cemetery on hill to the south Of Gettysburg Can
non Numbered, horses pranced, and men carelessly
tramped over the remains OF the dead. From this hill
beautiful view could be obtained Of the whole wi
lev and also Of goodly portion of the enemys line OF
battle.
Our forces had all been concentrated Tuesday night
save the Fifth and Sixth Corps. The former arrived
during the morning, and the latter soon after noon
|They were all massed Immediately behind our centre.
Whether or not it was General Meade's intention 10
ttack cannot say, but he hardly ready for it be-
lore the afternoon of yesterday.
The day had become almost dull. Skirmishing was
how and then brisk and the shapshooters IN the steepes
Ind bereys Of the churches persistenty blazed away
ut officers and artillery horses. i was by sharp
shooter in barn just opposite Wadsworth's division
yesterday that Captain Stevens of the 9Th Main bate
nv got hit. bullet passed through both legs below
the knee indictng a severe but not dangerous wound
At halfpas three General Meade had received safi-
cien assurances Justify him in the belief that the Re-
bells we're concentrating their forces left flank
which all felt to be under the protection OF the
inyincible Third Corps 0nr line was immediately
strengthened on tina. ank General Sykes corps being
sent 10 its support several batteries from the
being brought GU. and placed into position.
At about halfpast four P. the enemy sent his first
comolments by salvo of artillery his first shell falling
uncomfortaby near Gen. heade's headquarters From
this hour forth half eight o'clock occurred by
Odds the most sanguinary and bloody engagement yet
chroniced in the annals Of the war; considering its short
duration.
Toe artillery attack which was made by the enemy
chiefly on the left and CENTRE was rapidly followed by
the advance of his infantry The Third Corps received
the attack with great GOODNESS. The Rebels at once
made an attempt to get on flank, and kept moving
heavy columns in that direction This necessitated sup
port which quickly given by the Fifth Corps, the
division of General Barnes beng to the right and
that of General Ayres (reguars to the left with Gen.
eral Crawford in reserve.
The battle became perfectly fearful The armies
engaged each other at very short range, and for three
long hours the Of musketry incessan l have
heard more noises louder crashes in other battles but
heard Of such desperate tenacious fighting
as took place on this flank. The enemy would often
bring up suddenly heavy column of and force
line back, only to be in turn forced back by our own
line of gltterng steel.
Our gallant columns covered themselves with glory
over and over again. They fought superior force in
numbeTs the dispositions of the enemy very rapid
for look where you would that field body of Rebels
Wou be advancing Our dispositions equally rapid
and the enemy found than their equal in such gal
ant veterans as Sickles and Brney and Humphreys At
hafpast six General Sckes struck in the right leg
by piece of shell and borne from the field The injury
was 80 great LUdt dlnpuJdllOu anu
was performed successfully, the limb being taken off
below the knee.
The struggle grew hotter and hotter and many of
regiments small enough before, melted away into al
most nothing The Second Corps called for aid
and though IFS position was strongly threateped,
yet the first division, formerly Gen. Hancocks, flung
themselves into the fight with desperation and alter
long and obstinate conflict the enemy slowly and SUI
leny gave way In this last charge the brigade of Gen.
Caldwell Second Corps and that of Col Sweitzer, from
the Fifth Corps, won greaqhonors.
The charges made by our men deserve mention, but
want of time orbids The rebels made frequent att mps
to capture artillery and at one time had Watsons bat
terry 10 their possession bat it retaken in furious
charge by Burneys division.
The battle lasted till fully half past o'clock when
the enemy fell back to his old position and left vet
Grams the ensanguined vctors Of that field Our pickes
thrown OUT and our lines covered the most OF the
Id including great numbers of the snemys dead and
wounded visited some portions of the line by moon
light and can bear personal witness to the terrible fe
rocity Of the battle.
In front of some of brgades who had good protec
ton from stonewas or fences the rebel dead lay piled in
lines like winrows of hay. In front of General Webbs
1.-THE PHILADELPHIA brigade, they lay thick to liter
ally cover the ground. Not far from here found he
body of poor Barksdale that naughty and violent
rebel who craved, a dying boon cup Of water and
sore cher from ambulance boy He is literally cut
to pieces with wounds, and must die.
A great anQ maBnlncenL feature Oh uRnL IL tue
splendid and extensive use of artillery. Though
liae Of battle only mile and hall long, yet al
most every battery belonging to the army Of the Poto
mac was more less engaged. Every Of the Re-
serve batteries brought into action the positions
'for use being numerous.
The enemy also used artillery largely, but not to
so great al extent as did From this they suffered
i'm nensely especially he left where canister
largely used. believe lost artillery, unless t
was Two three disabled pieces, though it was very
wonderful did not considering how the enemys for
cas were piled on to Them Some of their skirmshers
we5e literally blown away from the muzzles of our
guns.
Our losses at this hour cannot be computed. For the
two DAYS fighting they must reach ten thousand We
mourn the loss OF many valuable officers but they have
been amply reveuged in the hecaombs Of rebel dead
who lie piled along our lines
Between 10 o'clock and midnight consultation was
called by Gen. Meade, Of all corps commanders and af
ter delberation it unanimously decided to maintain
our present position all hazards, and fight long as
there a man left.
The death of Lieutenant General Longstreet is
ported by prisoners taken from his corps know OF
NO other authority for It's assertion.
Tue enemy withdrew his forces from the city Of
Gettysburg yesterday, and occupies it only with
skirmishers Our skrmishers advanced into it short
distance last night and now hold considerably more
than they did
There is much doubt whether the enemy will renew
the attack at daylight bat the expression on all hands
is 1--WE are ready"
Captain Dalgnren, volunteer aid TO General Peasan-
ton, made daring scout into HagerstOwn yesterday
with twenty picked men, and captured more prisoners
than he had men in bis party He also CAPTURED des
patch bearer from JEFF Davis Lee with dispatches Of
the greatest Importance the nature of which cannot TO-
day be properly disclosed. They have an important
bearing on looming events"
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
correspondent of the Baltimore American furnishes
the suboined account Of Thursdays battle:
The line of battle was formed shortly after o'clock
A. M our centre occupying the heights on this side of
Petersburg at and near the cemetery, the Second and
Third Corps General Sickes formed the left wing; the
n tho riorhf