Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-23

woods and bill near Rock creek. Ga the
ill was the 18th, forming the extreme
light and reaching to the creek
General Meade arrived at eleven O'Clock
rom Taneytown, and approved what had
1een done. The Second corps, when it
arrived, took position on the lett of the
Eleventh, and the Third was sent still fur.
5her down to Round Top Hill.
When the Fifth arrived on Thursday
forenoon it was held in petition west of
Rock creek, on The south side of the Balt;-
more pike, near the centre of the entire
torca. 1t was about equidistant from the
extreme points OF the line, from the wood
ed hill on the right, from the cemetery at
the angle, and from Round Top on the
lett. The reserve artillery, as it came in,
was also parked there, and the ammuni-
ton. The cavalry was kept east of Rock
creek ON the Baltimore pike. On either
side of the road, in the wide fields, cayal-
ry has been appropriately called the wings
of the army. The wings were folded here
like swallows, behind the body, to be
spread in an instant. ---...
The Sixth Corps, when it came up on
Thursday afternoon, was also put in the
centre, on the ground where the Fifth had
been, which at that hour had been called
for on the left centre.
SECOND DAYS BATTLE.
THURSDAY, July 2.
On Thursday morning, when | reached
the ground the 9Th corps was crossing
from the Hanover road to the Baltimore
pike, the men throwing themselves upon
the ground to gain little rest and sleep
after their long and weary march.
There were signs of the approaching
storm. Few rebels could be seen; two
miles to the north single horsemen were
in view galloping furiously over the fields,
disappearing in groves, flashing down the
road to the town, and again returning.-
There was battery in position north of
the railroad, and as | looked narrowly at
an opening between two thick groves
sew the glistening of bayonets, and line
toward the thick forest on Rock creek.
1t was surmised that they were to attack
our right upon the wooded hill by adj
vancing directly down Rock creek through
the forest. Prisoners captured said that
EWell had sworn terrible oath to turn
our flank if it took his last man. To
guard against such flank movement Slo.
cum threw up breastworks from the crest
of the hill down to Rock creek. Two
batteries were placed in position on hill
locks south OF the turnpike to throw shells
up the creek.
Riding along the line south, I found
joining the cemetery, Doubleday's division
of the First corps lying In the oak grove
Stannard's Vermont brigade of nine
months men were there, the 18th, 18th
18th, 18th and 10th regiments, from the
mountains ever verdant.
The Second corps, Hancock's, was mex
in line, then the Third, Sickles', extending
down to Round Top hill. Sickles had ad
vanced two divisions into the meadow
just east of the Emmettsburg road. Or
his extreme left was the 9th Massachusetts
battery, Capt. Bigelow; close by him was
Phillips battery. Along the line the
sharpshooters were at it, over behind the
fences along the Emmettsburg road, ani
the rebels behind the fences and in the
fields of waving grain in front of theil
line.
Let Us walk along the entire line before
the battle begins, and see the exact pc
sitions of the troops, commencing at Rock
creek. On the extreme right are Slocum
18th corps, Gen. Lockwood's division
holding the ground from Rock creek ~
to the crest of the hill, Gen. Williams di
vision on the summit, and Gen. Geary'
reaching down the western slope through
the woods to Wadsworth's and Robinson'
divisions of the First corps, which eX
tended to the town.
Here, as | have said, the line makes
almost a right angle, and instead of walk
ing nearly west, you turn to the SOUTH
Then in the cemetery aud in the field
north of it, are the remnants of the Elev-
enth corps-Gen. Ames' division holding
the angle, Schurz and Steinwehr being il
the cemetery, with an apple orchard anl
stone wall for protection. This is oul
strong position. To take it in front is al
impossibility, but if Ewell makes his oatf
good to take the wooded hill where Slo
cum is posted, Howard will be in an I'M
pleasant position, for the hill is nearly a:
high as the cemetery, and he will then bt
subject to fire in front, on his righ
position of Howard, for from here he Cal
do what no other man can-he can reaci
every foot of the enemy's lines, from
EWell, away up in the north east, on Roel
creek, to A. P. Hill, across the town a
the seminary, to Longstreet down in from
of Round Top.
Major Osborn is in command of thirty
four pieces OF artillery here. He will
WELD tremendous power. Lee knows it
and you can see from the preparation
along the enemy's lines, the planting o
batteries, that here will be continuous
storm of shot and shell. Osborn will re
ceive concentrated fire. Lee must 81
lence the lips of these thirty-four before
he can hope to take and hold our weakes
position.
Crossing the youngstown road, yor
come to the Second corps, Hancock s.
Here you are in fields. You see Hayes
division on the right, Gibbons in the cen
tire, Oaldwell's on the lett. Hayes is in s
grove of ssmali oaks, Gibbons and Cald
well are taking down the rails from the
fences, and are laying them up for bar
ricade, and men with shovels are digging
=" eAoAOu IoI ILLS plL ABOUT TOUR rOGi
west OF the highest part of the ridge
There are the batteries behind, in position
to ire over the men in the trench-tc
sweep the meadows and fields in 'front.'
This is our weakest part of the Iine-no
natural defense, simply little smooth
swell of land, with a clear, unrestricted
open field In front; no obstruction. ex
cept the fences along the Emmettsburg
road, good musket shot distant.
Beyond Hancock is Sickles' Third
corps, advanced forty rods from the ridge,
lying sheltered by swell of land. ,
This is the outline Rut inside of This