Daily national Republican., 1863-07-03
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

The Philsdelphia Inquirer of to-day contains
the only dStailed description Of the battle at
Gettysbnrg on Wednesday that has come to
hand. This correspondent says:
To-day, and on Pennsylvania soil, has been
fought one of the most desperate and bloody
bsffles Of this aecursed rebellion.
We have attacked force honestly our su-
perlor In numbers-a force not worn down with
nineteen days OF rapid marching In heat and
rain, dust and midland one splendldly posi-
toned and cntrenched. Against all these ad-
vantagcs a portion OF our war-worn, battle
SCARED veterans struggled, never finching or
skulking from any duty assigned them, but
making desperate bayonet charges, rushing Into
the very jaws Of death, and although suffering
severely, yet have they managed to seriously
ripple the enemy, and at the same time retain
possession Of the town OF gettysburg, which
they sought to repossess.
This morning, early, the First and Eleventh
corps, which had been during the night en-
'amped near Emmettsburg, advanced, the
First corps marching In the following order
First division under Gen. Wadsworth; Third
ilvision, Gen. Doubleday; these followed by
I've full batteries under Col. Wainwright;
ringing up the rear was the really splendid
iivision of Gen. Robinson; this corps having
,ecn In the advance during the whole time of
,ur march from Falmouth, were the first force
If infantry to reach Gettysburg and to come up
with and fight the enemy.
During the day this corps had been under the
direction Of Major Gen. Doubleday, Gen. Rey.
aolds being in command Of the right wing,
comprising the First, Third, Eleventh and
Twelfth corps.
When some three miles from town, and while
quietly marching along, the sound of heavy and
rapid cannon firing was heard coming from the
direction hey ond Gettysburg. Almost at the
,ame instant Capt. Mitchell, gallak aid upon
zen. Reynolds staff, came dashlng down the
road with orders to the various division COM
nanders, to push forward their divisions as rap
dly as possible. The order was given to do"bl-
utick, which was instantly obeycd, and Kept up
Until the Intervening space, where our batteries
were engaged, was passed over. These bate
ries, two In number, were part ofthe artillery
belonging to Gen. Buford's division, and were
stationed some half q mile To the south Of the
5ettysburg Theological Seminary, while the
opposing forces were stationed and spuEly In.
trenched urou the east side of Marsh Creek,
and at about the same distance from the Semi
nary as were our own troops.
The latter was the first to open fire and were
for a time compelling our batteries to r"t'sc
from their position. This they wee quietly
doing and In good order, when the division of
Gen. Wadsworth came TO their support, the
two able regiments, the Second Wisconsin and
aad Twenty-fourth Michigan, rushing up and
driving from in front OF them the infantry
force who were making desperate efforts to
capture the pieces. When these enpports ar
rived the batteries again took up command
ing position, which they were enabled TO hold
during the day.
In rear OF the position SO taken up, and to
'he right the division of General ,Wadsworth
sere drawn up in line of battle, with the divi-
'on of General Robinson holding the second
iue. Az the moment that these formations
| Serc completed, the rebels, emboldencd by
heir partial success In driving from position
he batteties, attempted another charge, with
Le object of seizing the pieces, when the
jrigades Of the Second division, with fixed
,ayonets, made charge upon them. and such
IS were not killed were taken prisoners. Two
entire regiments Tennessee and Mississippi
! 'egment-wcre then bagged."
Immediately after the arrival and going into
position of the First Corps, the Eleventh., under
he amablc and brave Gen. Howard, who had
| ecn In the rear and marching "a the same road
rs the First, made their appearance, marched
lircctly through the town, and at once formed
! line of battle on the right Of the Chambers
Durg road, and some half mile west of the
| 'ollege, which Is located at the extreme end of
| ,he town. After some three hours of artillery
| iuelliug the rebels commenced to retire. There
werG mGssed the two infantry corps, and In this
| formation pursuit Of their rercating column
was commenced.
After driving them back towards the noun
tain, something over mile, soon after four
| O'Clock II was discovered that with an eyten-
sive force of infantry and cavalry they were en-.
deayoring TO turn our left flank, with view,
| probably, to get hetween IA and our supply
trains. Upon this being noticed, and 1t being
| evident that onr rein!orcements, the Third and
Twelfth Corps, who had been anxiously inquired
after during the entire day, were not yet up,
no other alternative was Offered us than to re-
tire to the east of the town and take up a better
position upon the top of hill, aud along til,
line of road leading to Emmettsburg. This was
done, but in admirable order, no unusual haste
oeing apparent, while, at the same time, all
ammunition and supply wagons as were up to
the front were sent to the rear.
A little after O'Clock, the Third corps, un.
der command of Gen. Sickles, came upon the
icld, md went into position upon the left OF
that held early In the morning by the First
corps; the Twelfth, under Gen. Slocum, aswell
| arrived about the same time, and were stationed
upon the right of the Eleventh corps. After
these two corps, as well as those Who chad
borne the heat and burden of the day." were
formed in "battle array" they made an ad-
vance, and but with little resistance, succeeded
n driving the rebels from the town, and back
INTO the positions they first occupied early In
| the morning. In this manner and In these 10.
cations both armies are resting for the ni.h.
The Rebels Make n Dash Through ins
| Town.