Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-10
M0rtester 4ailp Spp
THE DAILY SPY.
Details of the Great Battle orFrlduy.


Details of the Great Battle of Friday.
GETTYsBURGH, Penn, Sunday, July 8.
The peculiar feature ofthe battle is tile fer
ocity and desperation with whichit was fought
by both armies, and the glorious issue places
the lu5tre of the national arms, and the valor
of the army of the Potomac in the impersh-
able annals Of brilliant history. The battle
occupied three days. Six hours fighting on
Wednesday, four hours on Thursday, and in
GLIDING the artillery firing on Friday, thirteen
hours on that day, making total OF twenty
three hours, during which the battle ragged
with extreme fury.
The momentous and decisive part of the
battle was that on Friday. 1t began really at
daylight, and continued until 10 o'clock, the
principal part Of the musketry fighting being
on the right, with Slocums corps. A lull OF
three hours followed, during which the enemy
maSsed his artillery on our centre, held by
Hancock with the second, and Newton with
the first corps. At o'clock one hundred and
twenty guns opened on that position, and
rained shot and shell in perfect deluge for
one hour and forty minutes.
! rode this morning over the entire length
Of the battle field and it is not too much to
say, Tor have seen nearly every other battle
field in Maryland aud Virginia, that the
N'''"SAitSh "''o PNAASHti9 hupdl our
details were busily engaged in collecting and
burying the dead, and the ghastly, terrible
sights were enough to shock heart of adam
ant. The vast number OF dead lying in front
OF Slocum's line, on the right, and of Han.
cock and NewtOn'S on the centre, attracted
much comment. They had been literally cut
down by whole ranks at a single discharge
Slocum accomplished bloody repulse of
Ewell's corps on Friday morning, sustaining
but small loss himself his position being very
formidable, against which the enemy nsanely
charged.
But the field full Of the greatest incidents
and the scene of the most desperate fighting,
was on the center, in front OF Hancock and
Newton against whom Longstreet's corps was
precipitated.s The enemys front was that of
one division in line Of battle; there were two
such lines, and a very heavy line of skirmish-
ers, almost equal to another line of battle.
Out of their concealment in the woods they
came across the open fields and up the gentle
crest, on the top of which was our line-a
weak line Of men behind a line of defences
hastily thrown up and composed partly of
stone walls, partly of rife-pits, and partly of
natural projections of soil and rock. The
first charge was repulsed; the line broke and
fell back before it had reached point two
thirds the way over. A second line was form
ed; the officers came to the 'front.' and with
the onset of fierce nd brutal hearts they rush
ed Our men looked with establishment,
while fighting with great vIgor; their line was
dangerously weak the defences were not for
midable. A few men temporarily gave way
our advance, in some instances, slightly fall
tered The artillery engaged was small in
force, having been seriously weakened dur
Ing the early part OF the fight. The rebels
t,ai e
rage plainly distinguishes some of
them actually gained the inside of the first
wall-but they never returned. Our immor-
tai men, nerved to a degree of desperation
never before equaled, poured forth such
devastating fire, and the artillery joining with
its terrible canister, that the Two long lines
of tie foe literally sank into the earth. Of
the divisions of Pickett and Heth, who
made that charge, composed OF eight brigades,
positively not two hrigades returned uninjured
across the field. The color -5eare9s of uigtv-
fire rebel regiments, who were in that charge
were shot down, the colors fell on the field,
and were gathered by the victorious veterans
of the Second corps. Being repulsed, large
numbers of the enemy started back on the re-
treat, but our lire was so destructive that they
fell flat on their faces, or again rushed about
and impiored mercy at oar hands as prisoners
were buried on that field this morning; eight
more were captured. beside those who were
wounded and crawled or were taken off,
Among the rebel officers killed and captured.
Op that front, were Barksdae on Thursday:
Garnet killed, and Armistead wounded on
Friday ;-these general officers: Col. Magru-
der, brother of Gen. Magruder, killed; Col.
Lee of the Forty eighth Virginiais prisoner;
Col. Allen, of the Forty eighth Georgia is
killed Col, Miller, of the Forty -second Mis-
sissippi is a prisoner and wounded; Col.
Frye, OF the Thirteenth Alabama, and Col.
Asb0rn, of Virginia, are both prisoners. All
these captured or destroyed by the brigade of
Gen. Webb, most intrepid officer, who won,
with many others, the highest plaudits for his
conduct
Apecullar fact concerning rpostioni con-
tanned iii the expression of surprise which the
rebel officers uttered when they crossed our
lines as prisoners of war. One of the colo
neis said, as they looked at our thin lines.
''Where are the men who fought us ?'
''Here," said captain. "My God!" ex-
claimed the colonel, ''if we only had another
line we could have whipped you;" and then,
still gazing about him with establishments he
continued, with great emphasis, "By God,
qco could hare Whipped you as it lcoS" This
is positive fact and illustrates how the noble
army Of the Potomac can fight, after all the
imputations OF decentralization and inefficient
cy which have been heaprd upon it.
The I'd division OF the I'd corps loses ~
officers killed and wounded, and 1856 enlisted
men killed and wounded. The highest praise
is awarded to Gems. Hancock and Newton for
their distinguished conduct on this portion of
the field. Hancock was severely wounded in
the thigh, but remained lying on his back on
the field and giving the orders. Gen. Newton
was especially actve in supporting the line ON
the right with reinforcements. History will
never chronicle tenth part of the gallant
deeds performed during these bloody DAYS:
but the satisfaction Of having molly performed
his duty shall be the sweet recompense of
every patriots heart.
How the Surrender Was Effected.
HEADQUARTERS GEN. GRANT, }
Near Vicksburg, July 3-3 p. NJ.