Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-03

dsy ID engagement was rene Cd the Federal cavalry
being strongly supported by infantry, and Gen. uars
wss IN tirn compelled 20 retire.
Ths epemv aGVane! a. far as Upperville aud then
fell back In these engagements General Stuart took
nb u four hundred prisoners, Hnd considerable nun
ber Of hOT, es and arms '1tr 'Tf 30
In the meantime apart Of General E~elrs corrs had
entered Maryland ald the ret was .sbout to follow
General Jenkins with his cavalry who accompanied
General EWel penetrated Pennsylvania far Cham
berSburg A these demonstrations did not have the
effect of causing the Fede al army 10 leave Virginia,
and a. Il did not seem disposed TO advance upon the POI
eiton held by Longsreet the latter Withdrawn to
the west side Of the Shenandoah General Hi having
alreadV reached the valley. i.1 -','
General Stuart was LEFT to guard the passes of the
mountains and observe the movements Of the enemy
whom he instructed TO haraSs and impede much
possible should he attempt TO cross the Potomac ln
that event. General Stuart directed to move into
Marylsnd, crossing the Potomac east vest Of the
Blue Ridge, as in his judgment should be best, and
take position on the light Of our column ~ it ad-
vGnced. l.tHl aLltLf tt' =.
By the 24h the progress Of EWell rendered neces
sary that the of the army should be in supporting
distance and LongsFeet and HUI marched to the POto
mac The former crossed at Wiliamsport and the lat
ter at Shepherdstown. The columns reunited at IIa-
eerstOWn, and advanced thence into Pennsy Vania en-
camping near ChAmbersburg on the 9th. .,..
No report had been received that the Federal army
had crossed the Potomac and the abence OF the caVa
rendered u Impossible 70 OBTAIN accurate lOlmat on
In order however 10 retain it the east ride Of the
mountains after it should enter MARYLAND aud thus leave
open our communication with the Potomac through HL-
gsr,toWn ard Williamsport General EWel had been in
sructed send division eastwards from Chambersburg
to cross the South Mountains. EArlys division de-
tached for this purpose, and proceeded far
York while the remainder Of the corps proceeded to
Carlisle. O.. l.s,..
General Imboden In pursuance OF the Instructions
previously referred TO- had been actively engaged on
the left of Gen. Ewe during the progress OF the latter
into Marsland. He had driven of the forces guarding
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad destroying all the nl
portant bridges that from Cumberland to Mar
iniburg, and seriously damaged the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal.
lie subsequently took position at Hancock and after
the arrival Of Longsrcet and Hill Chamber burg,
directed to march by way Of AcConnellbug to that
place.
Preparations Nors now made 10 advance upon Hsr-
rsburg; but on the night OF the ~ uforpaOn was
received from a scout that the Federal army having
crossed the Potomac, advancing nOrIhWRrds, aud
that the head Of the column bad reached the South
Mountain. As our communication With the Potomac
was thus menAcCd it resolved to prevent his fur
ther progress in that direction by concentrating cur
army on the east side OF the mountain Accordingly
Lhngs.Teet and HILL we're directed to proceed IRON
ChamberSburg TO Gettysburg. TO which point Genera
E3ell vas also instructed to march from Carlisle.
Gen. Stuart continued TO ol,oN the movements of the
Federal army south OF the Potomac after had
entered Maryland and in his efforts TO impede iis pro-
gress advanced a. far eastward as Fairfax Court House
Finding himself unshe 10 delay the enemy mateiisly,
he crossed the river at Seneca and ma'cbed through
Westminster to Carlisle where he arrived after General
EWell had left for Gettysburg. BY the route he pur
sued the Federal army inerposed between his COM
maud and our main body, preventing any commuuica
lion with him until his arrival at Carlisle. ..
The mGc1 towards Gettysburg conducted more
slowly than It would have been had the OF
the Federal army been Known. ..r-
Tue leading division OF Hill met the enemy In adj
vance of Get ysbuag on the morning OF the lst Of July
Driving back these troops 10 within short distance Of
the town. he there encountered large force with which
Two Of his divisions became engaged EWel, coming
up with two Of hs divisions by the Heidersburg road
Joined in the eDgfg ment. Tho enemy driven
through Getty sburg with heavy loss Including about
five thousand prisoners and several pieces cf artillery
lie retired.to Ligh range OF hill south and east Of
the town The attack not pressed that afternoon,
the enemys force being unknown, and it being con-
sd1 red advisable TO await the arrival of the OF
troops Orders we're sent back TO hasten heir march,
and ia the meantime every effort made to ascer
tain the numbers aud position of the enemy, and fnd
the favorable point OF attack. L. had not been
intended to fight general battle such distance from
our base unless attacked 10y the enemy; but finding
our elves Unexpectedly confronted by the Federal army
it became a matter OF difficulty to withdraw through
The mountains with large trains. At the time
the country was uniAvoriO'e Tor collecting supplIes
while M the Ireselce OF the enemy NAN bOu1, as ne
was en- rolled restrain foragi1G parties By occupy
ing the psses Of the mountains with regular and local
troops A batle thus became, in measure, un,void o
able. Encouraged by the successful issue OF t! en-
gagement of the first day aud ia view OF the valuable
results that would from the d,feat oil the army OF
Gen Meade it WaI thOrght advisable 10 renew the at
tack.
The remainder OF EWelfs and Hills corps having ar
rived and two divisions OF LougsIeets, prepare
tons were made accordingly During the afternoon,
intelligence was received of the arrival Of Gen Stuart
Mt Carlisle and he was ordered 10 march Gettysburg
and take posse sson the LETT. A full account Of
these engagements canUO he given until the reports Of
tie sever al commanding ticers shall have been rtceiV
cd, aud | shall only offer general description.
The preparations for attack not completed until
the afternoon OF tie l.
The enemy held a high and commanding ridge along
which be had massed large amount OF artillery. Gen
E~eIl occupied the left line, Gen Hill the
ire and Gen. LOhgsIreet tho right In front OF Gen
LougsLreeL the enemy held position, iron which, If
he could bo driven, It thought that army could
be used 70 advantage in ASSUMING tie more elevated
ground beyond and thus enable 10 reach the c;est
of the ridge. That officer directed TO endcavOr
carry this position while Gen. Esel attacked directly
the high ground on the enemys right, which had al
ready been partially fortified. Gen. Hill was instructed
10 threaten tho Of the Federal line, in order
to prevent reibforccmea;s beng sent to ether wing
and 70 avail himself of any opportunity that might
present itself to attack. .I
After a struggle, Lcnga.rect tucce ded in get
tiug possession of aud holding the desired ground.
Sel ao carried some of the streng positions which
he assailed, and the result such to lead 70 the
belief that be would ultimately be able to dsodgs the
enemy. She battle ceased at dark.
These partial determined mo to coutinue the
assault 1t day. Pickett with three of his brigAdes
Joined LOngstreet the following morning, and our ba.
teries were moved forward to O position gained by
him the day before. ....
-
that Que division and two brgades Of Halls eorps we're
ordered to support LOpgstreet I'd
The enemy 10 the mNntime bad strengthened bis line
with cart orks The mOrhing cccnpied N -ncceS-
cary preparations and the battle In the al
trnoOn OF the Sd and ragged with great violence ntd
sunset Our troops succeeded in entering the advanced
works of the enemy aud geaihg pOssessc OF some Of
his batteries; but artillery having nearly expended
its ammunition the attacking columns became exposGd
to the heavy fire of the numerous batteries near the
h. nd ftar n mos mad