Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-09


for we held part aud they part and sometnes gun IN
ono Of our batteries would seud experimental shell To-
wards the enemys lines The enemy through all this Kept
marveously shy with his artillery and did not fire shot
which it was thought indicated that heavy ammunition was
in the rebel camp
During all the earlier part Of the day very little was
known in respect to the enemys movements, but II was
thought to be clearly made out that he was massng MS
forces extreme right In view OF TINS additional
preparations were made meet whatever might come in
that direction But there who thought that
the Of the enemy towards our right were made
only for show and to distract attention from more mPor
tant points for such the nature OF the country that
had the enemy really wished to his forces there 10
could have done it without making man visible.
AN ARTILLERY FIGHT.
All day more or less picket firing had taken place ON
our left and it became pretty sharp between two and
three p. NJ Some movements were in progress behind
this fire. and develop these Gen. Sckes was ordered to
advance with the whole Third Corps. This advance
brought on the general engagement
Under cover of fire from the eight brass pieces in bat
terry on the open field the corps went forward in line of
BATTLE corps and division and brigade coors all In the air
and the in excellent spis. Then the enemys artl-
ery long SILENT began left at the pieces in the
field. In turn our pieces on Cemetery Hill opened on
those of the enemy in the field other batteries OF the
enemy centre opened on those on Cemetery
H and 60 it went around until guns the northern
face of the hill engaged the enemys batteries two miles
across the country, right. The whole valley in
which Gettysburg lies immense network with the
trace of shells from battery to battery.
Such a concentration Of ERE our position naturally
necesstaed movement of ambulances and ammunl-
ton wagons, and in ten minutes after this extensive duel
began the Baltimore turnpike lined with vehicles In
motion towards safer places All sorts of shaky fellows
also improved this opportunity to effect slight skedad
de-" and soon the column of in motion towards the
rear became more considerable than the column of veh
Giles. When begin to go each additional she'll
that expodes in the air above them makes them want
faster and owing this peculiar constitution of the hui
ANIMAL stampede down the Baltimore road was inn
minent, when line of men established and every
fellow disposed to retire was forced to the front
| BY this Smelling the Cemetery Hill cleared All
day had been occupied by lines of and there groups
of officers gathered together, inspected the position and
canvassed the possibilities Many sat upon the graves,
leaned against the tombstones, and recounted their
rious mschances Odsrles and went necessarily,
for there Gems Howard and Stenwehr had their head
quarters Altogether the city Of the dead very lively
place. but very after the artillery fire became warm
was deserted by all but the Generals whose headqua
tiers there aud the necessary to hold The place
THE INFANTRY ENGAGED.
Meantime the muskery fire left seemed to be-
every moment and more fierce. Already the
Third Corps had been driven disorder from ground
it had won but rallied by Gen. Sickles in person, it had
again gone forward and held its place with desperate
enacy against very heavy force for this advance
left had developed that the enemy's forces in
reality massed here and when the Third Corps took the
initiative it only precpitaed attempt the part of
the enemy which might otherwise have come when we
were not so well prepared to receive it,
Hard pressed its whole line, the Third Corps called
for support and at FIVE P NJ the Fifth Corps marched
from its position the Baltimore turnpike, by little
road right to the little hill just north Of Sugar
Loaf HILL and went into action the left Of the Third
Corps This advance developed still further the intention
of the enemy which to get around left flank, and
get at the Emmetsburg road and perhaps at our
ammunition wagons it. As the division of regulars
and Griffns division of the Fifth Corps went forward
and before the fire had opened their 'front.' fire
swept from their left down the ne and the right brigade
of the division of regulars wheeled to face that
way. No had it done than the fire in front
opened which then in the Of the right brigade
and threw it into confusion but it was rallied and
went again. and the line Of the two divisions drove the
enemy before it until it had taken the position previously
occupied by one of the enemy's batteries.
Here fire was concentrated these two divisions
from batteries further to the and at the time
the enemy reported their left At once the line
ordered to retire. and went back steadily the crest
of the HILL This hill not particularly preciptous, but
the front it was very rough and rocky and the crest
was covered with growth of scrub oaks.
DISASTROUS REPULsE OF THE ENEMY
1t was half hour before sunset and now came the
final great attempt with which the rebels usually endeavo
to close up great engagements-the attempt which
ny has in the larger number OF instances been crowned
with success Here, however it met a different fate
Two divisions, which proved to be Andersons and Nc
Laws Of Longstrees corps were formed for this great
attempt, and came forward in their usual magnificent
style They had difficult ground to come over but on they
came over rocks and through the low wood until within
fair distance when they made rush with all possible
yes roared out in They did keep their line very
even but they scarcely less impetuous than
they would have been in line They killed men on the
crest of the hill the crest and were even driven
well down The other side; but these rallied on those
that held their places and bullets were poured into the
rebel by voleys. Checked broken beaten back BY
this Titanic effort of the Fifth Corps, the attacking
column scattered down the hill, and the battle was
on the left, with the enemy completely beaten.
NIGHT ATTACK AND REPULsE
In twenty minutes after the heavy fight was over on
left, the last vestge Of daylight gone and the
much enveoped in clouds that it was scarcely
the fire Of pickes began right, and in lit
tie while swelled into heavy continuous fire. This was
at the post where the Twelfth Corps had been placed |