The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-10-07

~ General lopgs,reci. the enemy held position
tn right thar army could DO used advantage in az
sane tho elevated ground beyond ann tins cnubc
reach tue cres of the ridge faat officer direct
ed 20 endesvor 70 carry tins position, whie Gen. Ewe
attacked directly tho high ground the enemy e right
which had already ircn partially fortified Gcrcrni Hin
was instructed 70 threaten the centre OF the federal
~ order to p'eVe'i fenorccments being cent either
wing and 70 avail hssf any Opportunity that might
Alter sevv5e srugge ongstreet succeeded in getting
POSSESSION OF and huts tho desired ground. Ewe
and .be e s y, ,s srons position. which he ".ssed
WOULD Ultimately BE- able to dislcdge the enemy. 9he
battle ceased at dark.
Thes, rara, deternned mo 10 continue the
assault next day Pickett, with three Of hs bricados.
qAea "nrsreet the following morning. and batteries
mef, moved forward TO the position gained by him tho
The general plan attack was unchanged except that
Que division and two brgades pf Hilps corps
The enemy In the meantime had strengthened hs
me with earthworks. The morning was occupied
menced IL the afternoon OF the Sd. and rag d
with great violence until sunset. Our troops sue
ceeded IN entering the advanced works of the enemv,
and getting possession Of Of his batteries but our
artillery having nearly expended It's ammunition, the at.
lacking columns became exposed 70 he heavy Gre Of the
numerous batteries the summit Of the RIDGE and
after most determined and gallant struggle were com
PEELED to renqush their advantage and fall their
| ORIGINAL positions with severe loss.
The conduct Of the troops all that could desire or
expect and they deserved as II can be de-
been required Of them than they were able to perform
but my admiration Of their noble qualities and confidence
in the ability to cope successfully with the enemy has
suffered no abatement from the issue OF this protracted
| and sanguinary conflict
Owing 70 tho strength OF the enemy's position and the
reduction OF our ammunition, renewal OF the engage
ment could not be hazasded and the difficulty Of pro
hsre ss c o. I'M omd 70 longer
don to be removed, and part or the collected
the field were ordered to WilIsmsport. The army
NAMED at Gettysburg during tho 4h and at night began
retire by the road to Fairfield carrying with II about
four thousand prisoners Nearly two thousand had pre-
viousy been paro'ed but the enemys wounded
that had fallen into hands tho first and second
days engagements left behind.
Little progress was made that night, owing to
storm. which greatly embarrassed our The
rear OF the column did not leave its position Getys
burg until after daylight on the 5th.
The march continued during that day without in
corruption by the enemy, except unnportant demon
straon upon In the afternoon. when Fair
field which WINS easily checked Part OF train moved
by the road through Fairfield and the rest by the way
Castletown, guarded by General Imboden In passing
great length Of the trains exposed them 10 attack by the
enemy's cavalry, which CAPTURED number of wagons
and amouances but they succeeded IN reaching Williams
port without serious loss
They attacked at that place on tho 9th by the
enemy's cavalry which was gaiantly repulsed by Gene
raj Imbodcn. The attacking force was subsequently en-
countered ard driven of by General Stuart and pursued
for several mics In the direction OF Boonsboro. The
the rains reached Hagesown tho afternoon OF the 9Th
and morning OF the 7th OF July
The Potomac was found TO DO so much swollen by the
rains tn had fallen almost necessarily entrance
into Maryland, 10 re unrordable Our communi.
cations with the South side were thus inter
rupted,, and 1t was difficult to procure either
ammunition or subsistence, the latter difficulty beng
enhanced by the high waters Impeding The working Of
neighbor'ng mills. The trains with the wounded aud
prisoners compelled await at Williamsport the
subsdng of the river and the construction Of boats
the pontoon bridge ett at Falling Waters had been par
italy DESTROYED Inc enemy had not yet made his APP
pehrance, hut, a. be was IN condition Obtain large
reinorcements and our situation for the ABOVE
mentioned, was becoming daily more embarrassing
II was deemed advisable 70 recross the river Part az
that by the 18th good bridge was thrown over he
river at Falling Waters w.
The eremy In force rcrched our front on the l2r
position had been previously selected to the poo
mac from Wiamsport to Falling Waters and an attack
awaited during that and the succeeding day This
did not take place though the two closs
proximity, the enemy b0ing occupied in fOrfyipp hs
lines. Our preparations being Completed and the
river though still deep, being pronounced fordabe the
army commenced 10 withdraw to the south side on the
night OF tho 18Th. .,f - tfl
Ewolls corps forded the river at wilamspor those OF
condition Of heroads the troops did not reach the bridge
until after daylight on the l4th and the crossing
completed until one NJ when the bridge was removed.
The enemy offered no serious interruption move
ment was attended with no loss OF mater a except few
disabled wagons and two pieces or artillery, which the
horses wore unable u move through the deem mud Re-
fore fresh horses could be sent back for Thorn the rear OF
the column had passed
During the slow and tedious march TO the bridge In
the midst OF violent storm OF rain the men Law
down by the way 10 rest. Officers sent back for them
failed to ind them In the obscnrity Of the night
these, with some straggers fell into the hands the
enemy.
Brieadcr General Pettgrew was mortally wounded In
an attack made by small body OF cavalry which
unfortunately mistaken for our own and permitted 10
enter our lines. He was brought 10 Bunker I where
be expired IN few days afterwards. He was brave.
and accomplished officer and gentleman aud his loss will
be deeply felt by the country and the army.
The following day the army marched TO Bunker Ill., ia
the vicinity OF which IL encamped for several days The
day after s arrivals large force OF the enemy cavalry
which had crossed the Potomac Harper's Ferry. ad
vanced towards Martnsburg. IL attacked by Gen.
Fitz Lee near Kearueysvie and defeated with heavy
loss leaving It's dead and many OF ~ wounded the
field.
owing to the swollen CONDITION OF the shenandoah river,
recrossed the rot mac could be put execution.
auu oc'o'e .ne we,s su ~" noveuens On tne
ton South of the Rsppahannock which was accordugy
DONE
As soon as the reports II the commanding officers shall
he received more detailed account OF these operations
will be given, and occasion will then he taken " speak
particularly OF the conspicuous gallantry good
conduct OF both officers and men,.