Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-09
THE BATTLE OF WEDNESDAY.

tween a
cts pretty shsrp brush and drove them in.
Gen. Reynolds, with the First Corps, on the road
from Emmettsburg Gettysburg, route to the latter
place. which the road approaches through the of the
conflict.
Fh BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT
General Reynolds at threw forward the first
DIVISION under Gen Wadsworth which began to drive the
enemy from the start Very afterwards the second
division of the corps went the right of the first
division the third division the left of the first and the
whole line began to advance.
Nearly west of the town. just in the outskirts the
seminary, is large brick edfce. Southwark from th,
piece of woods and the seminary stands ridge
which slopes to the west into little open valley Of
poughed fields and meadows, rich with grass aud grain
Beyond the valley ridge of higher land thcky wooded
The valley runs in southwestery direction, and at its
lower extremity is large farmhouse. near which the
Eighth Illinois Cavalry drawn up in the field and
formed our extreme left Several rmhouses dotted this
rich little valley.
Across this valley Gen. Reynolds line advanced some
what hastily almost before it well formed and in that
condition did not go until against it heavy force of the
rebel infantry thrown and Gen Reynolds was in turn
driven But his troops retired step by step and in excel
lent order.
CAPTURE SMALL REBEL BRIGADE
Forward with the utmost enthusiasm pressed the rebe
line eager to turn Reynolds retirement into rout
Some Of the rebels had much energy and got far
for while they pressed too closely the right of the
tire division the left OF the same division suddenly
swept around then enclosed in the hsndsomest
ner an entire rebel brigade under Gen Archer Gen.
Archer and his whole staff taken About fifteen hun
dred of the enemys thus fell into hands and went
to the Small regiments were the order in this br
gade The regiments which made this capture the
Sixth Wisconsin the Brooklyn Fourteenth and the Ninety
fifth New York
ANOTHER ADVANCE AND SEVERE FIGHTING.
Though the First Corps still continued to retire. the
bel advance broken after this, and Gen. Rey
nods prepared to 20 forward in earnest apparently
forgetfu that he had at first only gone in to support
airy and was likely to bring general engagement
with only corps Formed before his line went for
ward and drove the enemy the valley and the
ridge at the further side but it at great expense to
u.s. as the fire with which they received forces
terribly severe From the hill the line of skirmshers
thrown out some distance and Gen. Reynolds went out to
the line to reconnore, when he hit by musket ball
in the head and instantly killed.
ARRIVAL OF THE ELEVENTH CORPS
lin rather less than hour after the fight began the
Eleventh Corps up the road by which the First
had approached and Gen Howard at assumed com
msnd Of the whole field, while Gen. Schurz assumed
mand Of the Eleventh Corps Gen. Doubleday had already
assumed command of the First Corps.
Across the north side Of the town creek which
shortly after noon it reported the rebels massna
troops apparently to take the First Corps in its To
guard against an advance from that direction, Gen How
ard sent forward the first and third divisions Of the Ee
venth Corps, which moved the of the First
Corps and through the town. and took position with the
first division the right Gen Seinwehrs divison-he
second-was held reserve.
Meantima fw0 three Of batteries held a sharp
parey with the rebel batteries posted the hills that
circle the town. and their balls overshot batteries
what and threw several shot in among the solid people Of
Gettysburg Whether it frightened them not can
hardly say
REPULsE OF THE REBELS
At about hafpsst two O'clock while the batteries
changed heavy fire and sharp musketry woke up
the echoes on the right the rebels advanced in heavy
against the First Corps which slowly retreated from the
hill. beyond the valley high ground the seminary
where it prepared to make all the resistance it capa
BILE Of 1t reinforced there by dsmounted dra
goons and fought 10 the open field for, though rail
fences thrown down the front Of ne they
afforded From the woods beyond tho farm
houses and across the open space rebel force of per-
haps three large brgades advanced handsomely line Of
battle while the rebel batteries the general centre
sheed our position holly to the advance
On came the line, right up within short range Of our
position, when III opened upon with hire sharp
and well served stagger and then completely epulse
it. Backward went the line that forward in such
good order mere Of straggers each Of whom made
the best Of his way across the plain.
While the musketry very hot in front oi General
Doubleday, party Of about hundred rebels stole
through the woods well up Doubledays left flank, and
fred large barn, of those immense magazines oi
breadsus that in Pennsylvania overpeer the compare
lively sms farmhouses An immense black column OF
smoke soon began ascend from the roof breaking out
presently into white, sulphurous cloud, aud then Into
fierce red blaze Under Of this FIRE the rebel Skin.
misbers exchanged numerous shots with line Of sklr-
mishers from the cavalry on extreme left
SECOND REFUSE or THE REBELS,
Repused hut not vanquishei, the rebel line
formed and reinforcfd and for SECOND time, came
on force neatly twice great as at first Once more
also, the batteries threw Shells answered by our batteries
the left and also by batteries Of the extreme
right which at this time threw shell at the position the
enemy's centre Once more the packed, rapid rattle o.
our file FIRE broke out aud once the rebel line was
broken and went h. the right about in rout
ANOTHER ONSET Our FORCES FALL BACK.
There s mysterious fatality connected with the third
time and So after lu and period or comparative quiet
OF twenty minutes, onward for third time came the re-
bes quite orderly before their line Of skirmshers
firing as they In great force was this line
that 10 completely overspped the line Of the First Corps
on both Aaoks. Two brgades the right we're quite
cut OF ammunition and the order given retreat on
the town: and our boys accordingly retresed in good