The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-07-18
THE GREAT REBEL DEFEAT.


time and occupied position covering Washington
and Baltimore Gen. Lee advanced cautiously
into Pennsylvania with his main army, Chambers
burg, Carlisle and other places having been pre-
yiOusly occupied by the advance under Gen. EWeli
On Sunday, the 2Sth Of June, when Gen. Hook
er wasrelieved, his headquarters wereat Frederick,
and Gen. Lees at Hagerstown, about 4o miles
northwest. General Lee pushed forward in the
direction of Harri burg and the Susquehannah, but
as he progressed, his communications became more
exposed, and he was evidently disconnected at the
failure of Gen. Hooker, and subsequently Gen.
Meade to attack him. When the latter assumed
command. he Immediately put his troops In mo-
ton, but avoided battle.
On Tuesday, June 80. cavalry fight occurred
near Hanover, a few miles from Gettysburg, and
Gen. Stuart was defeated by Pleasanton, with great
loss. On Tuesday evening, and Wednesday morn
ing, July 1st, the two main armies approached each
other near Gettysburg, where Gen. Lee succeeded
in engaging, with his whole army, our First and
Eleventh army corps before the main body came
up. In this fight our troops fought with undaunt-
I'd courage, and Iy their noble resistance gained
time for the remainder of the army to come up.
Gen. Reynolds was killed, and we lost great num-
bLr of officers and men, and though the enemy sue
ceeded in driving us back little from Gettysburg,
the object of the battle was gained by the timely
arrival of the Third Army corps, under Gen Sick
,itude. During the night the First, Eleventh and
Third corps fell back to the Ii of the Tarrytown
road, where after hastily throwing up slight for
tcations in front of the batteries they rested for
the night, the Twelfth corps holding splendid
position on the hill near the cemetery, which Is
located at the eastern end of the town. to the left
of this were the Eleventh, next the First, and then
the Third Corps. Two advantages were gained.
The enemy was obliged to exhibit his strength and
f{o o,,Af fhnn onH-
ing POSITIONS were seized and held BY the National
troops.
During the night Gen. Meade and staff came up
to the front. The Commanding General carefully
examined the surrounding country. and after con-
sidering the locations and positions in all their
Strategica and tactical bearing, he approved of the
position taken by Gen. Howard, and so disposed
his forces on the several hills, or Ground tops"
and ridges, as to construct battelne in the form
of crescent, with the centre to the southwark
from the cemetery.
The enemy was ina valley, or on. hills at a dis
tance too great to be Of for shelter. The roads
on which the enemy would desire to march were
commanded by Meade's guns, and hence Lee must
fight with the hills against him. For once, then,
in the history of the Army of the Potomac, the
enemy had been compelled to give battle at dis
advantage. On Wednesday night all the troops
but the Sixth Corps, commanded by General Scdg-
wick, arrived on the field. Numerically, commen-
cling with the right, the line wss formed of the
9th, 18th, I'd, lst, Sd, and 9th Corpse. This was
essentially the position during Thursday, and Fri
day, though Gen. Meade did not fight his army by
corps AS the battle ragged more aercely here or
there detachments of division or brgades were
sent to support, and would remain till wanted
elsewhere. All the heights and every advanta-
geous position along the entire line where artillery
could be massed or battery planted, frewned down
on the enemy through bTows of brass and iron.
There was no nooonceivable advance ofapproach that
could not be raked and crossed with the artillery
The reserve artillery and all the essentials to in
sure victory were in position at the right time.
The immense cavalry force, too was present COW
airing both tanks of the army aud continually har-
essing the enealy. This was new and an encour-
aging feature that gave confidence to the men and
security to the trains.
Skirmishing commenced at early dawn on
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