The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-07-17

cleaned. All day II naO Deon occupied by
lines of men, and there groups of officers
gathered together, inspected the position
and canvassed the possibilities Many
men sat upon the graves, leaned against
the tOmbstones, and recounted their va
rious mischances. Orderlies came and
went necessarily, for there Generals How
ard and Steinwehr had their headquarters.
Altogether the City of the Dead was a
very lively place; but very soon after the
artillery fire became warm, it was deserted
by all but the generals, whose headquar-
tiers were there, and the men necessary to
hold the place.
Meantime the fire of the musketry on
our lett seemed to become every moment
more and more fierce. Already the third
corps had been driven in disorder from the
ground it had won, but, rallied by General
Sickles in person, it had again gone for
ward, and now held it's place with despe-
rate tenacity against very heavy force !;
for this advance on our left had developed
that the enemy's troops were in reality
massed here; and when the third corps
took the initiative, it precipitated an at
tempt on the part of the enemy which
might otherwise have come when we were
not so well prepared to receive it.
Hard pressed on it's whole line, the third
corps called for support, and at P NJ. the
fifth corps was marched from its position
on the Baltimore turnpike by little cross
road right across to the little hill just north
of Sugar Loaf Hill, and went into action
on the left of the third corps. This ad-
vance developed still further the intention
of the enemy, which was to get around our
left flank, and so to get at the Emmetts-
burg road, and perhaps at our ammunition
wagons near it. AS the division of regu-
lars and Griffin's division of the fifth corps
went forward, and before the fire had
opened on their front, some fire had swept
from their left down the line, and the right
brigade of the division of regulars was
wheeled SO as to face that way. No sooner
had it done so than the fire in front
opened, which then came in the rear of
the right brigade, and threw it into some
confusion; but it was rallied and went on
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 on these
two divisions from batteries further to the
rear, and at the sam time the enemy was
reported on their left. At once the line
was ordered to retire, and went back
steadily to the crest of the hill. This hill
was not particularly precipitous, but on
the front it was very rough and rocky,
and the crest was covered with growth
of scrub oaks.
1t was half an hour before sunset, and
now came the final great attempt with
which the rebels usually endeavor to
close up great engagements-the attempt
which certainly has in the larger number
OF instances been crowned with success.
Here, however, it met a different fate.
Two divisions, which proved to be Ander-
sons and McLaw's, Of Longstreet's 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 yells roared out in one. They
had not kept their line very even, but
they were scarcely less impetuous as
mass, than they would have been in line.
They killed men On the crest of the hill
over the crest, and men were even driven
well down On the other side; but these
rallied on those that held their places, and
bullets were poured into the rebel mass
by voleys. Checked, broken, beaten back
by this one titanic effort of the fifth corps.
the attacking column was scattered down
the hill, and the battle was over on the
left, with the enemy completely beaten.
In twenty minutes after the heavy fight
was over on our left, the last vestige of
| daylight was gone, and the moon was so
much enveloped in clouds that it was
scarcely possible to see at ALL Just in this
| impenetrable darkness the fire Of pickets
began across our right, and in a little
While swelled Into q heavy continuous fire.
This was ct the post where the twelfth
corps had been placed early in the day,
but when the battle became doubtful on
our lett all OF the twelfth corps but one
brigade had been sent over there. The
brigade thus left was the third Of General
Geary's division, made up Of five New
York regiments.
The force was SO slight the command
was in worthy hands, and thus one brigade
was enabled to hold q li1e which had
previously been occupied bya corps. Gen.
| WadsWOrtil sent down Il few men from the
first corps, and Col. David Ireland, of the
18TH New York, gathered together some
loose men on the road, and compelled
them to take their places behind the field
works against General Greene's position
The enemy advanced in two lines Our
men held their places well, and repulsed
at this point four charges. when the enc
my gave up all further efforts. Though |
recount General Greenas victory thus
briefly, the fire on his front was continuous
for thirty minutes.
TFEsI BATTLE ON FRIDAY.
Headquarters ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,t
Caf MI T,,ly