Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-10
GENERAL MEADE'S VICTORY.
Full Particulars OF the Battles of
Wednesday,, Thursday, and Friday
Battle scenes and Incidents.
[correspondonco Of the n. Y. world.I

Correspondents OF the N. Y. world.I
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, !
Near Gettysburg, Saturday EV,g, Juty4.
The campaign which has practically ter
minated in the rout whose last sullen echoes
are now dying away among the hills be-
yond Gettysburg, was the most significant
and remarkable of the war. 1t has solved
more riddles; it has taught more lessons;
it has been u brighter advantage to the
cause of the Union, aud a more signal dis
aSter TO that of the rebellion than any vic
tory won by the Federal armies since Nc
Clellan hurled back the rebel legions to
Virginia from the memorable field of An
tielam. The Army of the Potomac, under
cloud since the slaughter at Fredericks-
burg and the blunder at Charlottesville,
has redeemed itself in the eyes of the ma
ton and the world, to a level with it's
standard of the days when it was led to
victory by the leader whose heart may leap
within him as he contemplates this last
achievement of his beloved old-time COM
rades. Theories of its inferiority, born OF
mistakes of Pope, Burnside and Hooker,
and nurtured by the contrast of his failures
with The recent victories of western troops,
are etfectually shattered. 1t is shown to
the public-it has always been evident to
military judges-that,this army has the ca
pacity for fight, the endurance, the elan,
and the energy to render it invincible in
the hands of cool and skillful General.
The first movement toward the invasion
of Pennsylvania was opened soon after the
battle of Ghancellorsville by a cavalry
movement, which was met and quashed at
Brandy Station by General Pleasanton
about the lst of June. On the 18th ulti-
mo, General Milroy was attacked at Win.
chester by the advance of Lees army
under General Ewell, and fed Disgrace
fully, after a short conflict, to HSrPer's
Ferry, abandoning all his stores and can
non to the rebels. This opened the way
for the advance IF the foe across the Po-
tomac. Another force of it's cavalry crossed
the upper Potomac on the 10Th, causing
great consternation in Maryland and lower
Pennsylvania. 1t entered Chambersburg
and Mercersburg in the evening. The
alarm caused by this raid was uuuecessa-
rily great, for the main army of Lee had
not reached the south side of the Potomac.
The Union garrison at Frederick, Md, fell
back 10 the Relay House on the l6th. A
detachment of the enemy attacked Hats
per's Ferry the same day, but was shelled
back by General Tyler from Maryland
Heights. Ten thousand rebel infantry
crossed the Potomac at Wiliiamsport in
the night, beginning in earnest the great
invasion which was now fully shown to be
intended. The fights at Aldie on the 18th
and 18th were between General Pleasan-
toms and body of the enemy's cavalry,
which is supposed to have tlanked their
rear. .
More rebels constantly poured across the
Potomac, and on the 18th EwelPs entire
division occupied SharpsburR, in Maryland.
By this time Pennsylvania, New York and
New Jersey began their great effort to re-
pei Lees advance from the North. Hooker,
reposing 10 pastoral quiet at Fairfax Sta
tiou, in Virginia, did not disturb himself
with any such activity. He watched, wait
ed, and was puzzled. Milroy's stampede,
the clamor of which, it seems, might have
come to him from over the western noun :
tains; the cries of help from Harrisburg,
Pitts6urg, Carlisle, and minor PennsylVa-
MIA towns; the tremulous appeals from
Philadelphia and Baltimore--all these did
not serve to arouse him from bis lethargy,
or give him the least idea of where his
enemy was. IL was not until voice of
command from Washington, inspired, 1t Is
believed, from the midst of his own army,
came sounding in his ears like fire bell
in the night, that he ordered up his tent
stakes and began his march northward over
the Potomac. Meanwhile, Gen. Couch bad
commenced the organization OF q militia
force at Gettysburg TO check the twenty
thousand men under Ewell, who were raid
| ing like bandilLi through the country. The
main rebel army was entirely across the
Potomac below Williamsport on the Goth,
moved northward via McConnellsburg and
Johannesburg, and began in partially scat
tered colums It's advance through PeDnsyI-
yapia in the direction of PhilHdelphia and
| Baltimore The rashness aud audaclty ol
| this movement seemed 10 confound the
| general in command of thi5 army. Every
| mile over which Lee now marched length
| ened his lines of communication in such
| degree as would have imperilled It beyond
4 peradvenlure had Hooker seen ht TO i'm
pr1ve his advantage. Forty thousand
troups and hundred pieces of rebel ar.
ltiHery passed through Chambersburg OF
Il the 9Th. O1 Sunday, York was occupied
by Gen. Early, VINO made his famous levy
on rs citizens. Harrisburg, long threat
ened, was not yet attacked.
i General Meade took command OF this
army on Sunday, the 2sth ult, At tina;
time his headquarters were at Frederick
and Lees at HagerstoRn. lt will be seen
II that he was In the southwest, and eouss-
ouently in the rear of the foe, immiuently
/ threatening his line of retreat. The army
of the Potomac began its campaign trou
| that moment. Orders were issued to tbs
several corps to move early 10 the evening
| and on the morning of the 29th our whole
brilliant and hopeful host was in motiol
toward Pennsylyania. The First. ThirC
!, and Eleventh corps encamped onsT sTuesda!
! - En,u,ettshnte the Second aud TWelftl