Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-23

movements had been noticed in the woods
beyond Stevens run. Sickles advanced
nearly mile. Bigelow's battery was
taken forward nearly to the Emmettsburg
road to cover the advance or the recoil.
1t was the intention of Gen. Meade to
bring on the battle. but the enemy was
ready, and in reality had begun to move
at the time the Sd advanced. 4 battery
opened o. LoDgstreet's extreme right
Another and another. The fire run along
the entire front line up to Rev. Dr..
Schmuckers house. 1t was furious. |
was at the moment near the cemetery. 1t
rained shot and she'll. Knocking over the
marble slabs, shattering the iron fences.
disemboweling horses, tearing m the
graves. The air was full OF wild. hideous
| noises -the low buzz of round shot. Ehiz
zlng OF the elongated rifle bolts, scream,
| ing and screeehing, the sharp stunning
explosions of shells-oEer head and ali
| around. 81
There was quick response. In three
minutes time the earth shook with the
| tremendous conclusion of TWO hundred
| pieces Of artillery. The skirmishers came
up and engaged the Sd corps, followed by
two lines of the enemy-thirty to forty
thousand men. They came with cheers
| yells, like Indians sounding a warwhoop.
The men who stood like granite blocks at
the apex of the triangle at Chancelloryille
against the impetuous dash of Jackson,
were not to be easily turned back. They
engaged the entire mass of the enemy,
holding Longs rect in check till word
could be sent to Meade as to what might
be expected. While thus holding them.
division was detached by Longstreet
which moved upon Siokles' left flank. to
| get between hiiu and the base OF Round
Top hill.
s. Send up batteries aud send up men,
was Slckles' request. They were close
upon Bigelow's battery. It was it's first
experience under fire.
I" | want You to hold on till can get 10
two batteries On the right" said Major
McGilvray, IN command of the artillery
on the left. "Give them grape and can
nister," be added. Capt. Bigelow gave
them all he had, the last round, and com.
menced on spherical case.
The rebels were desperate. Siokles was
pushed back. It was impossible for him
to stay SO far in front. There was no
rout-no disorder, but a steady, backward
movement toward the ridge as orderly as
If at dress parade.
| A rebel battery fastened up and unlim.
bered close upon Bigelow. He gave them
a shot aud they linbered up again. The
two batteries We're not yet up, and the
Captain and his brave men would not
leave. The rebels rushed upon his guns.
He blew them from the mazzles, and filled
the air with legs, heads and arms. StilI
they came with demoniac screams, climb
ing upon his limbers and shooting his
horses. Sergeant Dodge went down, kill.
ed instantly; also Sergeant Gibson. Lip
man, Ferris and Nutting, three of his
cannoniers were gone, twenty two of bis
men were wounded, and himself shot
through the side; also tour men missing,
get he held on till AcG5l0ray got up has
taOo batteries. He brought off five lin.
bers aud two of his pieces, dragging them
in part by hand! More than half his
horses were shot. The rebels sliced the
four pieces with shouts, waved their flags
aid came on for new trinmphs. -.r
But the two batteries, with McGilvray
there to superintend them, were doing
finely. The division which had come on
Sickles' flank received an enfIadng fire
and was driven back. Bgelow's gun.
were recovered.
| Now is apparent the beauty of Meade's
plan. The Fifth corps started from the
position upon the run, reached the ridge
came up to the front and were ready tt
give the Third little rest.
Before the Fifth arrived the Second was
engaged, and Doubleday's division Of the
| First. Hotter grew the fire. The rebels
| became desperate. AS there were no par.
| ticular signs Of al attack in front Of Slo
cum, two OF his divisions we're sent over
Still the rebels pressed on. The reserve
artillery was called for, battery after bat
terry. The Sixth corps, which had JUS
arrived, all weary as they were, moved u
with alacrity and became supports.
From five ?. II. TIL eight the struggle
went on. The rebels charged repeatedly
upon our lines, but were as often driver
back, and then our men improving theil
opportunity would dash out and gather OK
prisoners-ffteen hundred were brough
in, otfsetliDg our losses OF yesterday. They
were all from Hills and Longstreet's com
mands.
Where was Ewell? He was not il
sight. We found him suddenly, while ths
fire On the left was hottest. Our picket:
on the right discovered here and there
rebel coming stealthily down Rock creek.
A scathing fire begun. Ewel, with The
remainder Of the rebel army, was comm
down Rock creek, and was within muske
shot Of our lines before discovered.
Looking down from bis position on The
hill, Howard saw them two hundred feel
below him, half mile distant. The gun:
among the tombs, which had been hurting
death far off TO the southwest, were wheel
ed to the northeast, their muzzles de-
pressed, and then with the utmost rapid
ty from forty pieces there was hurled q
continuous storm of shells into the wood
ed ravine.
But Ewell pressed on. He bad sworr
to break through and reach our rear. His
men climbed the steep ascent. Slocum's
skirmishers fell back from rock to rock
and from tree to tree. But gradually the
| line of fire crept nearer the top. Anothe;
| battery now opened south of the turnpike
its line of fire being directly up the creek
| Hotter, fercer grew the musketry, more
terrible the cannonades.
On the right the rebels rushed up to the
rife pits. There were desperate hand to
hand encounters-thrusts with the bayo,
net. Men nerved themselves for despe.
rate efforts. 1t was the fury of tigers
Foes became impaled on each others bayo.
nets and fell to the ground together. But
the line had been so much weakened that
notwithstanding Slocum's efforts his ex.
IRENE right was pushed back little from
the creek. The door was partly opened.