The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-07-15
Ccrrcspoudeuce of the y y. Times.
Thrilling Description OF Fridays Fight.
HEAD0UARrERs Army OF POToNAc,
SATURDAY. Night. JULY 4

HEADQUARTERS Army OF POToNAc,
Saturday Night, july 4.
The battle OF Gettysburg l am told that
il commenced on the lst Of Julv a mile north
OF the town, between two weak brigades Of
Infantry and some doomed artillery AID the
whole force Of the Rebel army. Among other
costs o. this error was tie death OF Reynolds
lis value vas priceless however, though price
less VAS the Young and tie old wiki which Il
Was bought The error puf rs Oh the defensive,
an gave rs the choice OF position. From the
moment that our artillery and infantry rolled
back through the main street OF Getty sburg and
rolled out OF the town 10 the circle OF ominence
south OF il, We we're not 10 attack but 10 be
attacked
The risks, the difficulties and the disadvan-
tagos OF the coming battle were the enemy's.
Ours We.e the heights for artillery ours the
short, inside lines for marV vring and rein-
forcing. ours the cover OF stone walls, fences
aud the cresls OF hills. The ground upon which
We were driven 10 accept battle Was wonder
tuls favorable 60 US A popular description
oi u would be 20 say that IL Ia 10. N AL
elongated aud somewhat sharpened horseshoe,
With the toe Go Gettysburg and the heel 10 the
south.
Lees plan OF battle was simple He massed
bic troops upon the east side of this shoe of
break it The shehnc of our batteries from
the nearest overlooking hin, and the unfiuchiug
courage and complete discipline OF the Army Of
the Potomac. Iepslcd the attack Ii WIS re-
revtd ~ the point OF the shoe-reneWed jes-
pcratey 40 the -outhwesf heel-renewed on the
aesicru side with an elou consecrated 20 sue
cess hs Ewel earnest OATH and on which the
fate of thc INVASION of PENNSYLVANIA was fully
pni 90 the stake Ous perfect iniautry and
an artillery educated ia ihe midst OF charges Of
hostile hrgade- could possibly have sustained
This assault
Hancock'- corps did sustain it, and has Gov
erred itself with immortal houors bv its con-
~iancy AID courage The total wreck OF Cush-
ug's 5atterv-the list Of ts killed aud wounded
the losses OF officers, men and horses Cowen
northumberland the marvellous outspread upon
upon the board OF death of soldiers and dead
. auimas--oi dead soldiers in blue and dead SOL
dicrs in greY-more marvellous 20 me than any
thing have ever seen in war-are ghas,ly aud
shocking testimony 10 The terrible tight OF the
Second Corps thar no one viii gsnsay That
Corps will ever have the distinction Of breaking
lhe pride aud power OF ,hc Rebel invasion.
For such details as ! have the heart for.
The battle commenced at daylight on the side of
the horse shoe position, exactly opposite TO that
which Ewell had sworn % crush through Mus
! a
wood veiled this fight, but out Of is leafy dark
ness arose the smoke and the surcing and swell
/ ling OF the fire from intermittent 20 continuous,
and crushing. told Of the wise tactics Of the
Rebels of attacking in force and changing their
/ troops Seemingly the attack of the day was
/ 90 bee made through that woods The demon
sTation was protfacted; il vas absolutely pre-
parative; but there was 10 artillery FIRE accom-
panying the mHsketry, and shrewd officer in our
western front mentiorcd, with the gravity due
to the fact, that the Rebels had ielled trees at
the intervals upon edge Of the wood they occu-
pied ia face OF our position. These were breast
works for the protection of artilieTymcn.
Suddenly. and about ten IN the forenoon, the
firing on the east side, and every where about
our lines ceased A silenc as Of deep sleep
iell upon the field Of battle Our army cooked
ate and slumbcrcd. The Rebel army moved 20
guns 20 the west, and masse' t.efc Longstreets
corps and Hil's corps, 20 huh them upor the
really weakest point OF cur entire position.
Eleven o'cock-twelve oclock-one o'clock
In the shadow cast by the tiny farm house c
by 20, which Gen. Meade had made bis head
quarters, lay wearied staff officers and tired re.
porters There was not wanting 70 the peaceful
ness ofthe scene The singing OF a bird which had 4
nest IN peach tree within the tiny yard of the
white washed cottage. In the midst OF its war
bling, a shell screamed over the house, instantly
followed by another, aud another, and in a mo
ment the air vas full OF the most complete ar
tllery prelude TO an infantry battle that was ever
exhibited Every size and form Of shell known
90 British and TO American guunery shrieked
moaned. whistled and wrathiull, futtered over
our ground.
As many as six in a second, constantly two IN
a second, bursting and screaming ever ans
around the headquarters, made very hell o.
fire that amazed the Oldest officers They burs
il the yard-burst next % the fence on bOti
sides g4rui-hed a. usual with the htched hOr
-es of aids and orderes The fastened animal
o. reared and plunged with terror. Then one fen
3 then auother-sixteen laid dead and mangle,
before the fire ceased still fastened bv their hal
p tcrs, which gave the expression Of being wick
edy tied up 90 die painfully. These brut
victims Of a cruel war touched all hearts.
Through thc midst Of the storm Of screaming
aud exploding shells, al ambulance, driven b
+ its lrenzed conductor a. full speed, presented 1
s. all OF us the marvellous spectacle Of horse "a
n iug rapidly on three legs hinder one ha
. been shot on al the hook A shell tore up th
e little step ai che Headquarters Cottage, and riF
b. ped bags Of oats a. with q kliie Another 500
.e c4fuet oh one Of IT, two pillars. Soon a sphei
D.. icai case burst opposite tle open dOOf-anOthe
Do ripped through The low garret. The remainin
pillar went Immediately 10 he howl OF a fxe
shot thar Wentworth must have made.
or Dafing tA'- FIRE the houses at twenty an
- thirty feet distant were receiving their dealt
I. aud soldiers 90 Federal blue were torn 10 piec,
- iu ile road AID c.ed with the peculiar yell- th
' blend tie eKfofted cry ~ pain with horror an
- despair. Aot am ordcriy-uot an anbu ance-
b not stfarg.er vas % bee seen upon the pla
-eepi by thi- tempe-t Of orchestral death thiri
minutes alter t cOmmeuccd Were not on
/. hundred ard tWenfy pieces If artillery, trying
-. cut from tie fed every battery We had IN poi
50 ton 10 resist their pgrpOsed Infantry attack, al
a- % sweep sway the slight deieuces behind whit
n our infantry were Waitings
-e Forty m.nutes-hty minGies-c0unted
~ watches that rau Oh 40 lauguidly She
a through tie tao .oEer rooms. A shell into Il
y chimney that darngly did not explode. she
il the yard. The air thicker and fuller on
n more dealening Siih the hosing and WhirlI
or OF these internal missiles. The chief Of o.,
strlca-Setl Willams-lOved and respect
through the army, separated from instant dea
n- by tao inches of space vertically measured
DE- Aide bored Eith a fragment Of iron through 1
30 bone Of the arm. Another. cut with an expl
al ded piece And the time measured on the slu
o. gish ~atches va one hour and forty minutes
81 Then there was a lui and We knew that q
Rebel infantry vas charging. And splendid
ie ttev did this WOfk-the highest and severe
fest q the stuff that soldiers are made Of Hi
division. IN line Of battle, came first on 9