The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-07-09
L. NJ. STANTON,
Secret ory OF War.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM THE
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
PaILADELrHrA. July

hALA LFHlA' July ..
The rebels are said TO be completely
dcmoraIized and retreating rapidly to
ward the Northwest, with the view OF
crossing Blue Ridge Mountains, by
Doubling and McAlIister's Gaps, and
make their escape by way of Cumber.
land and Hancock There are little
hopes of their escape, as the Potomac is
much swollen, Many of their numbers
.hsyo, deserted and taken to the noun
tainS
y Fsrhers who lostSfetr pro
ledtned buShwackerS ana annoy b 5,o,,,
my very much. General Meade.~s said
to be following the enemy closely.
Up to six O'clock this evening the re-
ports received have been very conf let.
ing, but all agree In making il victory
for us, with heavy losses on both sides.
The news from Harrisburg state that
General Couch is pressing his troops on
the enemy'S front. The chances of es-
cape seem cut off.
Columns of the entmy's army could
be distinctly seen Tetreating, and their
wagon trains being hurried off as fast as
possible.
The battle OF Wednesday, concerning
results and losses of which a full dis
patch was forwarded from the field, was
partial repulse to US, not because our
troops did not fight splendidlY, but sim
ply because the enemy very largely out
numbered US. On that dav we were
the attacking party Gen. Meade arri-
we'd on the ground about midnight, and
at orco resolved on making it a purely
defensive battle. Gen. Howard, who,
after his arrival on Wednesday evening,
had the command, had selected high
bluff, south Of Gettysburg, on which
their cemetery is located, and stationed
his troops there, up along that line and
had planted batteries to sweep every
approach. Gen. Meade adopted this
as the proper position for his center, and
at once arranged the other corps as they
came up on either side Of the cemetery
hill, the outlying nights giving to our
whole line nearly the shape Of a horse
shoe, The ground was quite rolling,
with two or three high cmnences. and
afforded numerous splendid positions for
I forresses.
With such disposition we awaited the
enemy's attack, Early on Tuesday
forenoon all the corps had come up and
been placed in position, except Sedg,
wicEs, which had been sent beyond
'|,F'minster, under the impression that
our amy would have to march to York
to find the enemy, and this gave it so
long detour to make that it did not get
up ill Tuesday evening, when it was
placed in the rear Of the center aud held
in reserve.
All Thursday forenoon We had moth
ing but sharp fighting between the enc.
my's skrmshers and our own, with oc-
casional discharges of artillery thrown in
when the enemy pressed our skimish.
ers too hard. The enemy did not risk
their artillery at ALL
There was considerable pressure
through the forenoon by some of our di.
vision and corps Generals for heavy at.
tack on the cnomy's center, but General
Meade wisely trusted that tho enemy
must fight him on the ground he had Sc,
lectod, and persisted in retaining the
defensive
About half.past five the enemy madc
the long awaited attack, concentrating
the heaviest force on tho loft wing,
! which was naturally tho tOoblcst part oil