The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-07-09
EDWIN M. STANTON,

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field. He states that the route of Lee
was thorough and complete.
Gen. Meade has not only captured
10000 rebels, but re-captured all our
own troops who were previously in the
hands of the rebels.
3P. Mt is really true that Lee
has been totally routed and is seeking
to escape. Pleassnton has cut off his
retreat through the gap leading to
Chambersburg.
We took 11S pieces of artillery and
from $4,000 to 10000 prisoners.
Secretary of War.
THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY.
On Friday forenoon, by ten minutes
past 4, the attack opened furiously on
our extreme right, held by Sloeum's
corps. During the night this corps
had left the rihe-pits it had constructed
on Thursday, to reinforce some weaker
portion of the line, and daylight showed
the rebels in possession of these rife
pits, and eager to press their advan-
tage. The fight at first was confined
chiefly to musketry, our artillery being
unable to see where TO direct their fire.
From half past to 6 a. M, firing was
very fierce, but we were unable yet to
regain the rife-pits. The rebels made
several charges on our line, striving
but un5ucceshfullY to drive US still fur
ther back.
From this time till half past 10, fight
ing both with musketry and artillery
was terrific, and. ended in our regain
ing our rife-pits.
Meantime the rebels, at about half
past 10, made sharp attack on our
center and right without accomplish
ing anything except Kidding a small
house occupied for Gen. Meade's head
quarters, with shell and round shot.
From eleven to one was q comparative
lull. Our troops held their cid posi-
tons along the whole line, and quietly
awaited further attack.
A little after one the rebels opened
their last and most furious attack along
the whole line of the centre and left,
and continued it till twenty minutes
past four, when, repulsed at every
point, they slowly retired and took up
defensive line one-half mile to the
north of Gettysburg.
During this attack occurred much OF
the most desperate fighting of the war.
1t was sustained on our part by the
18th corps, on the centre by the I'd
and Sd and part of the 9Th corps. On
our left the enemy made several despe-
rate charges. but each were broken
and forced back in confusion by our
terrific artillery fire, which we were
fortunate enough more than once to
get to enGlade their advancing lines.
The rebel troops making the attack
were A. ?. Hills and Longstreete
corps, forming nearly thirds OF
Lees whole army. Pickett's division,
of A. p. HIPS corps, regarded as their
crack fighting division, was selected
for the most exposed part of their at.
lacking line. In one charge they
made they swept up in three lines, the
first very heavy one of skirmishers,
the second their battle line, and the
third their reserve battle line, each
stretching for nearly mile along our
centre and left. At the cemetery hill
they got within couple of hundred
yards before we opened our whole fire
on them. The line was instantly shat.
tered and sent flying over the field,
while one brigade threw DOM their
arms and rushed en- DadSSe over to our
lines, and gave themselves up as pris.
oners.
By half-past four p. m. the battle
was substantially over. The rebels
still kept up a struggling fire on oul
left, and from houses in Gettysburg
their sharpshooters still tried to pick
off exposed officers on the Cemetery
Heights, while they kept tossing oc
casionally shell into the headquarter.
till nightfall, but from half past -four
the bulk of their army retired
i Our losses are less than would have
been expected from SO bitterly contest
ed battle, owing to the fact that after
tue tGi.st day we acted wholly on tht
defensive.
Five thousand to / 900 will probably
cover our entire losses In killed ant
4 wounded. We lost about 1900 pris
oners the first day, but none of an,
consequence afterwards. On Frida,
evening about Z o'clock, 5000 rebe
prisoners, by actual count, had beer
turned over to the officers in charge o
the prisoners, and moro were still com
ing in.
From that time till Saturday noon
no further count was made, but it mus
be safe to say that the number was b,
that time swelled to 1000 prisoner
more or less. Our loss in general Off
GERS has been exaggerated by rumor
picked mp and telegraphed at dis
tanoe from the field. Gen. SchimmelI
] fsning of the 18th corps, is not prii