The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-10

"euheSua! a' oeltys ysourg, "a, are strangely
conflicting. Some accounts saw that we
drove the enemy and gained an important
position; others that We were hanked on
both wings and driven back by the over
whelming superiority of numbers. All agree
that the battle was severe and the losses on
both sides great Our loss of officers was
unusually large. We seem to have many
prisoners.
A HERALD ACCOUNT.
At the first onset the rebels we're driven
back. Gen Reynolds line advanced some
what hastily, almost before it was well form
ed, and in that condition did not 20 far
until against it heavy force of the rebel
infantry was Immediately 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 into a rout. Some of the rebels
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
division was suddenly swept around, and
then enclosed in the handsomest manner an
entire rebel brigade under Gen Archer. Gen
Archer and his whole staff were taken
About fifteen hundred of the enemy's men
thus fell into our hands, and went to the
rear. Small regiments were the order in
this brigade; and when an Alabama colonel
was asked where the rest of his regiment
was, he responded laconically, "Gone to
He'll, sir'
Though the first corps still continued to
retire, the rebel advance was broken soon
after this, and Gen Reynolds now prepared
to go forward in earnest Apparently for
getful that he had at first only gone in TO
support cavalry, he was very likely to bring
on general engagement with only one
corps. Formed as before, his line went for
ward and drove the enemy across the valley
and over the ridge at the further side; but It
was great expence TO US, as the hre with
which they received our fellows was terribly
severe. Gen Reynolds fell early in the bat
tie while placing his men in position He
took pains that no one should know that he
had received his death wound until he had
ridden some distance out of the action, when
he quietly got of his horse, announced that
he was seriously wounded, and direcred .
surgeon TO be sent for.
/ In rather less than an hour after the fight
began the llth corps came up the same road
by which the first had approached, and Gen
Howard at once assumed command of the
whole field, while Gen Schurz assumed COM
mand of the l1th corps. Gen Doubleday
had already assumed command of the first
corps. At about half-past two o'clock, while
the batteries exchanged heavy fire and
snr,e s~a-H -~"~l-~.,- = - - II
on the right. the rebels advanced in heavy
force against the first corps, which slowly re-
treated from the hills beyond the valley to
the high ground near the seminary, where
It prepared to make all the resistance II was
capable of 1t was reinforced there by some
dismOunted dragons, and fought N the open
field. From the woods beyond the farm
houses. and across the open space, q rebel
force OF perhaps three large brigades advanc-
ed handsomly in line of battle, while the re-
bel batteries near the general center shelled
cur position holly to cover the advance. On
came the line, right up within short range of
our position, when il was opened upon with
fire so sharp and well served as to stagger
and then completely repulse 1t. Backward
went the line that came forward in such good
order. a mere mass Of siragglers, each Of
whom made the best of his way across the
plain.
There is a mysterious fatality connected
with The third time; and so, after lull and
period of comparative q uiet for twenty mla-
utes. onward for a third time came the rebels,
/ quite as orderly as before, their line OF sklr-
mishers firing as they came on. In SO great
! force was this line that it completely over
| lapped the line of the lst corps on both
ranks. Two brigades on the right were quite
out of ammunition, and the order was given
TO retreat on the town; and our boys accord
ingly retreated in good order, while the
rebels rushed forward with yells to Cur posi-
ton. On came the enemy's fourth line, fur
ther TO the right of the third in good order,
until the position of the seminary was reach
ed, when they came forward with rush, and
occupied hill we had deemed it worth while
not to holl after the other was taken On
also came another line in support behind this,
and our cavalry on the extene left began TO
retire. When the lst corps retired 10 the
town the left of the llth was uncovered, and
heavy advance completely on it, right tiark
at the same time compelled If TO retire. 1t
affords me pleasure 10 say that this corps Is
reported to have fought well and lost many
men. After our retirement on the town the
rebel advance was not pressed further. And
so ended battle that was brought on in the
mos, rash manner, vet which was well fought
against largely superior force, and COTTON
out Of at last much better than We could have
expected TO get out.
The ladies of Gettysburg deserve especial
ly honorable mention. While we were re-