The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-11-19
Gen. Meade,s Report on Gettysburg

Gen. Meade's Report on Gettysburg.
Gen. Meade's official report of the
battle of Gettysburg, and of the cam
paign that followed, has appeared. 1t
is dated October LIST, and is only given
to the press by the War Department
this evening.
Gen. Meade says it was delayed this
long awaiting for reports from some of
the commanders who were too serious
ly wounded to furnish them any sooner.
He gives a succinct narration of the
battle, differing but slightly from &C.
counts with which the public are ia
miliar, excepting one or two particulars.
He passes over the first days fighting
without giving the slightest indication
of opinion on either side of the mooted
question, whether Gen. Reynolds acted
rashly in bringing on the first days
fight by attacking the enemy beyond
Gettysburg.
Gen. Sickles' advance on the left,
which brought on the second days
fight, was made, he says, under mis-
apprehension of orders /; and it was
while he was explaining to Sickles that
he was half or three fourths of a mile
in advance of the position he should
occupy, that the rebels attacked him.
The number of guns employed by the
rebels II their terrific cannonade on the
centre and left, in the last few days
fight, be estimates at over 125.
Of the movements after the fight
and the escape of the enemy, he says
On the morning of the 4ti a recon
noissance developed that the enemy
had drawn his left flank, but maintained
his position in front, our left apparent.
ly assuming a new line parallel to this
mountain. On the morning of the 5th
it was ascertained that he was in full
retreat by the Fairfield and Cashtowr
roads. The 9th Corps was immediate
ly sent in pursuit on the Fairfield road
and cavalry on the Cashtown road and
by Emmittsburg and Monterey passes
The 5th and 9th of July were en-
ployed in succoring the wounded and
burying the dead.
Sedgwick, commanding the 9Th
corps, having pushed in pursuit of the
enemy as far as Fairfield, pass in the
mountains, and reporting the pass very
strong, one in which a small force OF
the enemy could hold in check and de.
lay a considerable time any pursuing
force, / determined to follow the enemy
by flank movement, and accordingly
put the army in motion for Middletown,
Md. On the 18th of July we were in
front of the enemy, who occupied a
strong position on the nights of a
marsh, their advance being at Williams.
port.
The 18th was occupied in reconnois-
sances of the enemy's position, and
preparations for an attack, but on ad
vancing on the enemy on the 14th, it
was ascertained that he had retired the
night previous by a bridge at Falling
Waters and ford at Williamsport. The
cavalry in pursuit, overlook the rear
guard at Falling Waters, capturing
two guns and numerous prisoners.
After reciting the failure of his effort
to intercept the enemy at Manassas
Gap, he says:
The result of the campaign may be
briefly stated in the defeat of the enemy
at Gettysburg, his compulsory evacua-
ton of Pennsylvania and Maryland, bis
withdrawal from the upper valley Of
the Shenandoah, and in the capture Of
guns, Al standards, and 1921 pris-
oners-24,9 1913 small arms were collect
ed on the battle field.
Our own losses were very severe.
amounting, as will be seen by the &C
companying returns, to 1884 killed
49, zoe wounded, and 6,643 missing, ir
all 23,1s6.
He concludes by thanking his stat
and army for gallantry, etc.