The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-20
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
GEN. mEADE,s OFFICIAL REPORT
Special Dispatch to the New York Times.

Special Dispatch to the New York Times.
HkADou'Rs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc'
November II, 1868. J
GENERAL: 1 have the honor to submit mere
with report of the operations OF TINS army
during the month of July, including deta1ls OF
the battle of Gettysburg. The report has been
detained by INV failure to receive the reports of
the several corps and division commanders,
who were severely wounded In the battle.
On the 97th of June, I received orders from
the President placing me in command OF the
army. The situation OF affairs was briefly as
follows:
Tho Confederate army, commanded by Gen.
R. E. Lee, estimated at over 100. 900 strong, all
arms had crossed the Potomac river, and ad-
vanced up the Cumberland Valley. Reliable
intelligence placed his advance (Ewells corps)
on the Susquehanna, between Harrisburg and
Columbia. Longstreet's corps was at Cham
bersburg, and Hills between that place and
The 26th of June was spent in ascertaining
the position and strength of the different corps
OF the army, but principally in bringing up
cavalry, which had been covering the rear of
the army in its passage over the Potomac, and
to which q large increase had just been made
from the force previously attached to the de-
lenses of Washington. Orders were given on
that day to make Gen. French, commanding at
Harper's Ferry, move with 1000 men to occupy
Frederick and the line of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, and the balance of his force,
estimated at 1900, to remove and escort tho
public property to Washington.
On the Doth the army was put in motion,
and on the evening of that day was in position,
it's left at Emmittsburgh and its right at New
Windsor. Buford's division Of cavalry was on
the left flank with its advance at Gettysburgh.
Kilpatriek's division was in front at Hanover,
where he encountered this day Gen. StuartS
afa1n l~vy ,rnt, had thN
Potomac at Seneca Creek, and passing our
right flank was making its way towards Car
Isle, having escaped Greggs division, which
was delayed in taking its position on the right
flank by the occupation the roads by columns
of infantry.
On the 50th, the right flank of the army was
moved up to Manchester, the left still being at
Emmittsburg, in the vicinity OF which place
three corps-the LIST, 18th and 3d-were COL
lected, under orders Of Major General Rey-
nolds. Gen. Buford having reported from Get.
tysburg the appearance Of the enemy on the
Cashtown road, in some force, Gen. Reynolds
was directed to occupy Gettysburg. On reach
ing that place on the list of July, General Rey-
nOlds found Buford's cavalry warmly engaged
with the enemy, who had debOuched his in
fantry through the mountains on the Cashtown
road, but was being held in check in most
gallant manner 10y Gen. Bufords cavalry.
Major Gen. Reynolds Immediately moved
on the Cashtown road, and without a moments
hesitation, deployed his advance division and
attacked the enemy, at the same time sending
orders for the 18th corps (General Howard) to
advance rs promptly as possible. Soon after
making his dispositions for the attack, Major
Gen. Reynolds fell MORALLY wounded. the COM
mand Of the LIST corps devolving on Major Gen.
Doubleday, and the command of the field on
Major Gen. Howard, who arrived about this
time Q1:30 A. NJ. with the 18th corps, then
commanded by Major Gen. Schurz. Major
Gen. Howard pushed forward two divisions of
the 18th corps to support the 1st corps, now
warmly engaged with the enemy on the ridge
to the north Of the town, and posted his I'd
division with three batteries Of artillery on
Cemetery Ridge. on the south side of the town.
Up to this time the battle had been with the
forces OF the enemy debouching from the
mountains on the CashtOwn road, known to be
Hills corps. In the early part of the actiOns
success was on our side-Wadsworth' division
of the 1st corps having driven the enemy back
some distance, and capturing numerous pris-
oners, among them Gen. Archer, of the Con-
tederate army.
The arrival Of achievements to the enemy
on the CashtOwn road, and the junction with
Ewell'5 corps, coming on the York and Harris
burg roads, which occurred between and
o'clock p. NJ, enabled the enemy to bring vast
ly superior numbers against both the LIST and
18th corps, Outtlanking our line Of battle and
pressing it so severely that at about p. NJ
Major General Howard deemed it prudent to
withdraw the two corps to Cemetery Ridge, on
the south side Of the town, which operation
was successfully mplshed-not however
without considerable loss in prisoners arising
from the confusion incident to portions of both
corps passing through the town and the men
getting confused in the streets.
About the time of the withdrawal Mai. Gen.
Hancock arrived, whom l had dispatched to
represent me on the field on hearing of the
death of Gen. Reynolds. In conjunction with
Major General Howard, General Hancock pro-
ceeded to post troops on Cemetery Ridge and
to repel an attack that the enemy made on our
right flank. This attack, however, was not
very vigorous. The enemy, seeing the strength
of the position occupied, seemed to be satisfied
with the success he had accomplished, desist-
ing from any further attack this day
About T. M, Major Generals Slocum and
Sickles, with the 18th corps and part OF the Sd,
reached the ground and took post on the right
and left of the troops previously posted.
Being satisfied, from reports received from
the field, that it was the intention of the enemy
TO support, with his whole army, the attack
already made, and reports from Major Gems.
Hancock and Howard, on the character of the
position being favorable, 1 determined to give
battle at this point, and early in the evening of
trate at Gettysburg. directing all trains 70 be
sent to the rear At Westminster.
At IL z. M. of the LIST, l broke up nv head
quarters, which till then had been at Tanev.
town, and proceeded to the field, arriving there
at A. N. of the I'd. So soon as it was light
proceeded to inspect the position occupied.
and to make arrangements for posting the sew.
eral corps as they should arrive. By7A. M.
the I'd and 9Th corps, with the rest of the 3D.
had reached the ground and were posted as
follows: The 18th corps retained its position
on the cemetery side, just opposite to the town
The LIST corps was posted on the right of the
18th, on an elevated knoll connecting with the
ridge extending to the south and east on which
the I'd corps was placed. The right of the 18th
| CORPS rested on . small stream at point where
it crossed the Baltimore Pike, and which form
ed on the right flank of the 18th something O
| an obstacle. Cemetery ridge extended in
southerly direction, gradually diminishing in
| elevation till it came to very prominent ridg
called Round Top. running east and west TIL
| I'd and Sd corps were directed to Occup,
the continuation Of Cemetery Ridge, on tn
left of the 18th corps. The 9Th corps, pend
ing the: arrival of the 9th, was held in reserve
While these dispositions were being made, tn
enemy was massing his troops on the exterio
ridge distant from the line occupied by u
| from mile to mile and half.
At 2 p. n. the 9th corps arrived, after
| march of thirty-twO miles, accomplished iron
| ga. M the day previous. On its arrival bein.
reported, Immediately directed the 9th corp
| to occupy its place as reserve for the right