The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-14
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

the fiery ordeal of the advance in safety,
and charge, now fall on the right and on
the left. Armistead is wounded and in
the enemy's hands. At this critical mo-
ment the shattered remnant of Wright's
Georgia brigade is moved forward to COW
er their retreat, and the fight closes here.
Our loss in the charge was very severe,
and the Yankee prisoners acknowledge
that theirs was immense. Anticipating
that renewal of the attack would be
made on this point in his line, Meade had
concentrated a very heavy force of infan-
try in support of his batteries, and the fire
of our artillery was said to have been very
destructive to them, lying, as they were,
in heavy masses just in rear Of their guns.
l have stated that just after Pickett COM
firing, and upon inquiry learn that they
had exhausted all their ammunition, and
were thus compelled to withdraw. This
is most remarkable, and would seem to
demand investigation.
THE RETREAT TO VIRGINIA.
Nothing further transpired during the
afternoon and night of Friday. On Sat-
urday we were engaged with strong work.
parties burrying our dead and caring for
the wounded.
1t is now apparent that the enemy's
position was almost impregnable. 1t was
further made known that the three days
fighting had nearly exhausted our ammu-
milton. There had been indications the
night before friday that the enemy were
moving off; but all Saturday morning
the atmosphere was so hazy that moth
ing could be seen, and from noon until
night the hail poured in such tor
rents as to utterly preclude any accu-
rate observations being made. During
the whole Of the day our woundsgys
at least such as were able to bear it, were
being sent towards Hagerstown, and late
in the afternoon our artillery and wagon
trains also commenced moving in the
same direction. At dark our whole army
were put in motion, taking the road to
Fairfield, and crossing South Mountain at
Waterloo Gap. Our falling back was or
derby and without loss of men or guns.
All our artillery was brought off, and very
few, if any, stragglers fell into the enc
mys hands. Having crossed the noun
tain we moved on to Hagerstown, where
We arrived on Monday, the 9th. Here
we took position and calmly awaited the
approach of tn enemy. On Tuesday his
advance got as near to US as Funkstown,
four miles south of Hagerstown, and on
Wednesday and Thursday his whole COM
mand confronted us. We were anxious
for him to commence the attack, and
hourly expected the ball to open. During
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday,
we lay face to face, but the enemy refused
to accept our wager of battle. On Mon
day night, finding that the enemy had no
idea of offering US battle, but had gone to
work intrenching and fortifying, General
Lee determined to re-cross the river. |
have no doubt the continued and heavy
rains, and consequent rapid rising of the
Potomac, had some influence on this
movement. We are now on the "sacred
soil Of Old Virginia." in fine spirits and
in good health, and fully prepared to meet
the Yankee army whenever it shall get
ready to move upon US. No one in the
Lee in the slightest degree impaired by
the last months campaign. He had diff
culties to contend with which impartial
history will duly record, and his fair fame
will not receive a single blot by this cam
paign. | shall at some future moment
when have leisure, give you some more
full particulars of the campaign and what
we accomplished Our loss in the three
days fighting at Gettysburg will fall be-
low ten thousand in killed, wounded and
missing. The enemys loss is at least
thirty thousand killed and wounded ap1
ten thousand prisoners. Some of the pris-
oners, indeed many Of them, were paroled
in Pennsylvania; the balance have been
sent ON to Richmond.