Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-07-10


received painful flesh wound in the thigh,
but refused to be led from the field while
the engagement continued. Here, too, Gen.
/ Gibbon was wounded in the shoulder. The
terrible charge and fierce battle ragged with
undated fury. The Fifth corps, including
the regulars and Pennsylvania reserves,
struggled. in the herculean labor with the
determination of men born to conquer in
battle.
Gen. Hayes is said to have covered him
self with glory. Gen. Doubleday fell fight
ing CALAMITY. saying. as a ball pierced his
head, "Pm killed I'm killed. Gen. Han
cock thinks he is not killed, but seriously
wounded And thus night has drawn her
mantle over another bloody day, bat day
SO bright with deeds of heroism and grand
results, with patriotic devotion and sublime
death, that the page of history shall glitter
with that light.
Rebel prisoners say when their infantry
charged our left wing batteries the massa-
ere was beyond parallel. Some Of the guns
were masked, and did not open until the
enemy were within canister range.
Our men were nerved to the highest pitch
OF enthusiasm during the fight, and cheer
| after cheer was heard above the din of bat
tie as our brave fellows rolled back at each
assault the ragged legions of the enemy.
Men with severe wounds, when being car
ried from the field to the hospitals, were
heard cheering as the intelligence that we
were driving the enemy was communicated
to them. One with CHASTITY wound in the
face, forgetting for moment his sufferngs,
swung his cap when our men were cheer
ing, and, giving heartfelt "Hurrah p said,
"lll be with you tomorrow boys I'll be
with you tomorrow p
Gen. Daniel E. Sickles had his right leg
shot of about half-past o'clock on Thurs
day evening He was struck by solid
ball midway between his foot aud knee,
which so shattered the bone as 10 render an
amputation above his knee necessary. This
was performed on the field. Gen. Hancock
was wounded in the leg. Gems. Gibbon,
Warren, and Hunt, were wounded.
AT o'clock on Friday afternoon, Lee
opened a line of artillery fire from about
one hundred guns, concentrated against
Cemetery Hill and the position along the
centre held by the Second and part of the
First Corps.
The firing was responded to by all the
batteries on the hill, and then ensued three
hours of cannonading unsurpassed in inces-
SAINT fierceness by any artillery battle on
this continent The hills trembled beneath
the percussion. The sound filled the heav-
ems, and Nature, as it were, stood still to
contemplate the scene.
Horses were shot down by scores, gun
carriages were demolished, pieces dismount-
ed, caissons exploded, whole batteries were
swept away, and cannoniers and officers
killed ard wounded in numbers almost in
credible. No less than fifteen cassons were
exploded On the nights, and two regular
batteries on the right Of the cemetery were
completely demolished. [
Much of the enemy's firing was wild, and
scattered near and far over the field. Gen.
Meade's headquarters were forced TO take
refuge behind the rocks near Gen. Slocum's
headquarters. The non-combatants were
especially alarmed, but the fighting mem
bers thought il good joke to see their as
soc:ates flee the wrath 10 come, pent up in |
Rebel shells.
Gen. Towards headquarters were in the |
Cemetery, and were raked in fearful man
ner; men fell all around him, but himself
and staff escaped
The silent abode Of the dead was made
the theatre Of deadly conflict. Tombstones
and beautiful monuments were demolished /;
great holes were torn in the earth by the
explosion of shells, and the surface check
cred with burrows.
The artillery fire continued till clock,
when the solid columns of Rebel infantry
were again seen moving in the wood in front
Of the centre, held by the LIST and I'd corps
During the fierce cannonading the men
aid officers were ordered TO shelter them
selves behind the hills and rocks. When,
however, the Rebel infantry was seen in
the woods, several officers came TO Gen.
Doubleday, volunteering TO carry messages
to Gen. Meade and ask that the centre be
strengthened.
Doubleday replied to the officers that
they might trust to Gen. Meade; that he
would keep his eye on the movements of
the enemy and have his forces ready to meet
his attacks. Out they came, and rushed
rapidly over the fields in solid mass, but
evidently with less fury than before.
The head of the column was directed
against position held by Gen. Webb, COM
manding I'd Brigade, I'd Division, I'd Corps.
His troops were old, and steadily and
bravely withstood tie charge. The steady
fire of the National troops staggered the
enemy, and the Rebel Gen. Armistead, who
lead the charge, wishing 10 steady his COL
umn, halted it for moment at fence.
Gen. Webb seeing, called out to his brig
ade, Charge! the enemy is ours" And
TIE enough he was. The commanding
Gen. Armistead and $500 men were can.
tured by the closing in of the Second CORPS
on the right and the First on the left.