The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-17
THE GETTYSBURG BATTLE.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIGHT.
Desperate Character of the Fight.
Correspondence of the Boston Journal.
GETTYSBURG, July 4. 1868
THE VICTORY.

|
| THE VICTORY.
This morning, the anniversary of our
independence, is jubilant one to the ar
my. They have met tie enemy and de-
feated him. 1t is no ordinary defeat, but
one which will prove q damaging blow to
the Confederacy. You will have extrava-
CANT stories, reports and rumors Let rs
see how the account probably stands. Lee
came into the State with about one hum
dred thousand men. The most reliable
information which can obtain makes the
number which crossed the Potomac at one
hundred and four thousand. A brigade
was left in Maryland.
This is independent of Stuart's cavalry
force, which may be set down at eight
thousand. A fair estimate of prisoners
is eight thousand. The loss in killed and
wounded cannot be less than fifteen thou
sand. And to this assertions, stragglers,
OF which there is always large per cent
age to defeated army, and you have at
least thirty thousand to substract from the
sum total. The decentralization will 90 on
| Gregg, Buford and Pleasanton have orders
to harass the rear of the enemy. They
will cut off slice after slice. The distance
from Gettysburg to Williamsport is from
| titty-five to sixty miles-a hard two DAYS
march. 1t cannot be made in two DAYS
by a retreating army. His loss by the
time he reaches the south side of the Poto-
mac will not be less than forty thousand
There are good grounds for such an esti-
mate. Gregg and fitzpatrick are in their
element now. Their harvest time has
come, and from what I have seen of the
operations OF the troops under their COM
mand, | am confident they will do Lee
great damage.
When Lee is at Williamsport he is still
long distance from Richmond, his base
OF supplies. If he makes rapid march
his troops will become demoralized. Thou
| sands of stragglers will fall out, to be picked
up by the cavalry. He will be harassed
| all through the Shenandoah Valley. His
strength will fail daily. He is on the down.
ward road Decentralization has set ina
disease hard to arrest in defeated, re-
treating army, pursued by stronger force.
Will Meade follow him? | think not. A
| significant order has just been issued to
the corps commanders. "Report immedi-
ately what amount of subsistence you have
on hand, and how long you can make it
last on a long march, 1t indicates that
| the General in command does not intend
that this army shall lie still and allow the
rebels to escape.
Although Lee is moving off his trains
you see them moving upon the trot down
the Fairfield road-he has strong rear
guard. Some officers desired to attack to-
| day. "No, that is what Lee wants us to
do, and | am rot going to do it, was the
reply.
With his force concentrated, Lee could
resista strong attack, as we did at Malvern
| Hills. Lee is growing weaker; Meade
stronger. Couch is close at hand. Pierce
is over On the other side of the mountains,
with ten thousand men, ready to be in at
the proper moment. Frenchis near Harp
ers Ferry, and in day Or two Meade viii
| have his army up to the maximum before
| the battle
l should not be surprised if Meade did
not attempt to pursue Lee. It is possible,
on the other hand, that when Lee arrives
at Chester, Thornton's and the Luray Gaps
Of the Blue Ridge, through which he must
pass to reach Richmond, that he may find
them in the possession Of Meade.
Looking at the map you will see that
| Lee has march Of one hundred and sew
enty miles from Gettysburg to Culpepper,
by the nearest possible route. Meade
can reach Culpepper by march of one
hundred and fifteen miles. Meade can
receive supplies continually from Wash
ington by rail at Frederick and at Cul-
pepper. Being on the inside he covers
Washington by his movements.
| have conviction that the army OF
Lee never will see Richmond again. Al
that is needed is celebrity Of movement,
concentration of available forces, prompt
delivery of supplies, and under the bless
ing of God, the brave men now, in the
Army of the Potomac, will destroy the
rebel army now fleeing for tie Valley OF
OF the Shenandoah.
TIE Battlefield.
at daybreak | was in saddle for q ride
over the battlefield. Reaching the top
of the hill at the cemetery, I found tie
men Of the 1st, 18th, and 18th corps,
which took their position on Wednesday,
still in place They had not moved. There
was still rattling fire along the picket
lines. Gen. Howard and staff were in the
cemetery. How changed that spot. On
Wednesday its gravelled walks were
smooth and clean; the flowers were in
bloom; the shrubs and trees unsecured ;
the monuments undefaced; the marble
slabs as pure and white as snow. There
were broken wheels, splintered caissons-
horses shot in the neck, in the head, with
their bowels torn out, legs broken-here
and there dead soldier, wrapped in bis
blanket. The marble slabs were shiv-
cred, the iron railing around the Enclosure
of the dead broken, the ground plowed up
where solid shot had struck, holes exca-
waited by exploding shetland indescrib-
able scenes of desolation.
Fearful was the fire upon that point.
Fifty shells minute exploded around that
spot, ard yet it was held by the 18th corps
and by Osborne's batteries. Not for
moment was there thought of abandon
ing that position.
How those batteries famed and smoked
H. 4&<Ny