The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-12

resistance 10 was capable Of II was re-
inforoed there by some d~ismounted
dragoons, and fought IN the open field
for, though some rail fences we're thrown
down across the front Of our line, they
afforded no cover. From the woods be-
yond the farmhouses, and across the
open space, a rebel force of perhaps three
large brigades advanced handsomely in
line Of battle, while the rebel batteries
near the general center shelled our po-
sitiOn holly TO cover the advance.
On came the line, right mp within
short range of our position, when il was
opened upon with a Gre so sharp and
we'll served as to stsgger and then COM
pletely repulse IL. Backward went The
line that came forward in such good
order, a mere mass Of ~stragglers, each Of
whom made the best Of his way across
the plain.
While the musketry was very hot in
front Of General Doubleday, q party of
about one hundred rebels stole through
the woods well up ON Doubleday's left
flank, and fired q large barn, one Of those
immense magazines Of breadstutfs that
in Pennsylvania so oyerpeer the compar-
atively small farm houses. An immense
black column Of smoke soon began to
ascend from the roof, breaking ont pres
emily into a white, sulphureous cloud,
and then into a fierce red blaze. Under
cover of this fire the rebel skirmishers
| exchanged numerous shots with a line of
skirmishers from the cavalry on our ex-
IRENE left. Repulsed but not vanquished,
the rebel line was reformed and rein
forced; and now, for the second time,
came on a force nearly twice as great as
at first. Once more, also, tn batteries
threw shells, answered by our batteries
on the left, and also by batteries of ours
on the extreme right, which at this time
threw shell at the position on the enc
my's center. Once more the packed,
rapid rattle of our file fire broke out,
and once more the rebel line was bro ken
and went TO the right-about in rout.
There 10 a mysterious fatality connect
ed with the third time, and SO, after a
lull aud period of comparative quiet of
twenty minutes, onward for a third
time came the rebels, quite as orderly as
before, their line of skirmishers firing as
they came on. In 80 great force was
this line that il completely overlapped
the line of the LIST Corps on both flanks.
Two brigades on the right were quite
out of ammunition, and the order was
given to retreat ON the town; and our
boys accordingly retreated in good order,
while the rebels rushed forward with
yells to our position. On came the enc
my's fourth line, further to the right Of
the third, in good order, skirmishers
ahead, until the position at the Semina-
ry was reached, when they came forward
with a rush, and occupied Q hill we had
deemed il worth while not to hold after
the other was taken. On also came an
other line in support behind this, and
our cavalry on the extreme left b gan to
| retire.
At this moment ihe Geld presented a
true war picture. Across the field to
the right came the rebel line with coll
ors which ti1ttercd in the pleasant
breeze; in the center were two farm
houses, outbouses and barns in flames,
and on the left the column of cavalry in
retreat, while beyond all the rays Of the
sun beat down through the showery
clouds and gilded every object with a
I peculiarly golden light, and over the
heavens to the eastward stretched a
magnificent rainbow.
The new position of the sd Corps
was at a line of stone wall south west
of the town, along the slope of a hill on
which is a cemetery. When the LIST
Corps retired to the town the left of the
18th was uncovered, and a heavy advance
completely on its right flank at the same
time compelled it TO retire. 1t affords
me pleasure to say this Corps is reported
to have fought well and lost may men.
AS / was on our extreme left | did not
see the fight of the 11th Corps, andleave
all particulars in relation to il TO the
gentleman who was with il.
After our retirement on the town the
rebel advance was not pressed further.
And so ended 3 battle that was brought
on in the most rash manner, yet which
was fought against a largely superior
force, and gotten out of at last much
better than we could have expected tc
get out.
The rebel force fought by US was the
corps of General Ewell, and that of A. 2.
Hill. South of the town is a high hill; on
which is a cemetery, and this became
the headquarters. Its slope to the west
was held by the LIST Corps, and a contin-
uation of hills from it toward the east
was held by the llth, while the 12tL
Corps was placed so as TO hold both
TANKS, the LIST Division, under Gen. Will
lisms, being on the extreme right, and
the I'd Division, under Gen Geary, on The
extreme left. The Sd Corps, which
came ON the field just at. nightfall, was
massed in the center ready to be used
whenever occasion might require. Gen
Slocum, of the 18th. Corps, had assumed
the command upon his arrival.
The ladies Of Gettysburg deserve es-
pecially honorable mention. While VIZ
were retreating, they came out upon Oh,
sidewalks, with composed, though
anxious, ia es, and offered our soldiers
every thing needful in the way Of re.
freshments. The shot were whistlinl
meanwhile; but they appeared elevated
by noble impulses above the sentimen.
of fear. They took the most tender car,
of our wounded, as well as those of tn,
rebels who were captured during tn,
day. How we grieved to leave this in.
teresting town in the possession Of rebe
soldiers.
We fell back to a position south of th'
town cemetery, which Gen, Howard haC
first selected as the only good position
that we could secure. The rebels did do
seem to think il best 10 attempt to dis
lodge us. The enemy occupied the tow
on our retirement and their sharpshoOt
ers were stationed on the house near us