The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-11-21

ueAs W al corps 10 concentrate at GettvS-
burg, directing all trains to be sent to the
rear at Westminster.
At IL p. m, of the 1st, broke up nv
headquarters, which, till then, had been at
Ianeytown, and proceeded to the field, ar
irving theFeat / a. m. of the I'd. So soon as
1t was light, l proceeded to inspect the DO
sition occupied, and to make arrangements
for posting each corps as they should reach
the ground, and were posted as follows:-
The 1lth corps retained it's position on the
cemetry side, just opposite to the town.
The lst corps was posted on the right ofthe
1lth, 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 Bal
timore Pike, and which formed on the
| right flank OF the 18th something of an OBJ
stacle. Cemetry Ridge extended in a
southerly direction, gradually diminishing
In elevation till it came to very promi-
nent ridge, called Round-top, running east
and west. The I'd and Sd corps We're 3i-
rected to occupy the continuation OF Gene
try Ridge, on the left of the llth corps
The 9TH corps. pending the arrival OF lie
9th, was held in reserve. While these dis
positions were being made, the enemy was
massing his troops on the exterior ridge.
distant from the line occupied by US from a
mile 10 a mile and half.
AT p. M, the 9th corps arrived, after
march of thirty-two miles, accomplished
rival being reported, Immediately direct
ed the 9Th corps to move over to our ex-
treme left, and the 9th to occupy its place
as reserve for the right. About 3p. m.
rode out to the extreme left to await the
arrival of the 5th corps and post it, when I
found that Major General Sickles, COM
manding the Sd corps, not fully apprehend-
lfltl n G in arlf hn
ton 10 be occupied. had advanced, or rath-
er was in the act OF advancing his corps
half mile or three quarters of nile in
front of the line of the I'd corps, on the
prDIongatiOn OF which it was designed his
corps should rest. Having found Major
General sickles, was explaining to him
that he was too far in advance, and discus
sing with him the propriety of withdraw
ing, when the enemy opened upon him with
several batteries on his front and his flank,
and Immediately brought forward columns
Of infantry, and made vigorous assault.
The Sd corps sustained the shock most he
roicallv. Troops from the I'd corps were
Immediately sent by Maj. Gen. Hancock
to cover the right flank ofthe Sd corps, and
soon after the assault commenced the 5th
corps most fortunately arrived, and took
position on the left of the Sd.
Maj. Gen. Sykes command Immediately
sending force to occupy Round-Top Ridge,
when most furious contest was maintain
ed, the enemy making desperate but unsuc-
cessful efforts to secure. it. Notwithstand-
ing the stubborn resistance of the Sd corps,
under Maj. Gen. Birney, Mai. Gen. Sickles
having been wounded early in the action,
the superiority in number of corps in the
enemy enabling him to outflank it's ad-
vance position, Gen. Birney was counseled
to fall back and reform behind the line
originally designed to be held. In the
meantime, preceiving great exertions on
the part OF the enemy, the 9th corps (Maj.
Gen. Sedgwick) and part Of the lst corps
| Ito the command Of which I had assigned
Maj. Gen. Newton particularly Lock-
woods Maryland brigade, together with
detachuents from tie I'd corps, were all
brought up at different periods, ana sue
cedeed together with.the gallant resistance
| OF the 5th'corps in checking, and finally re-
| pulslng the assault Of the enemy. who re-
tired in confusion and disorder about sun
set, and ceased any further efforts.
On the extreme left another assault was,
however. made about S p. ~, on the llth
| Corps from the ief. Of the town. which was
| repulsed with the assist: nee Of the troops
from the lst and I'd Corps. During the
heavy assault upon our extreme left, por-
| tons OF the 18th Corps We're sent as rein
torcements. During their absence, the line
on the extreme right was held by very
much reduced force. This was taken ad-
absence of Gearys Division of the 18th
| Corps. advanced and occupied part Of the
line.
! On The morning OF the Sd, Gen. Geary,
having returned during he night, was at
tackled at early dawn by the enemy, but
succeeded in driving him back, and occu-
] pying his former position. A spirited con-
! test was maintained all the morning along
/ this part Of the line. Gen. Geary, being
! raw nv Rrip ivf
/ Corps, maintained his position and infiict-
! ing very severe losses on the enemy. With
this exception the quiet Of the lines re-
manned undisturbed till p. m., on the Sd,
when the enemy opened from over one
hundred and twenty-five guns, playing
upon our centre and left. This cannonade
continued for over two hours, when our
| guns failing to make any reply, the enemy
ceased firing, and soon his masses of in
! tantry became visible, forming for an as
sault upon our left and centre. The assault
was made with great tirmness, being direc-
ted principally against the point occupied
by the Second Corps, and was repelled
corps, supported by Doubleday's Division
and Stannard's Brigade Of the First Corps.
During the assault, both Major General
Hancock. commanding the left centre, and
Brig. Gen. Gibbon. commanding the Sec
ond Corps, We're severely wounded.
lAlS t!tc tatNle, tue elleiDy
retiring to his lines, leaving the field
strewed with his dead and wounded, and
numbers Of prisoners fell into our hands.
u ButOrd'S Division OF cavalry, after its ar
duous service at Gettysburg on the lst, was,
on the I'd, sent to Westminster to refit and
guard our trains. Kilpatrick's Division,
that on the 2Sth. 30th and lst had been sue
cessfully engaging the enemys cavalry,
was on the Sd sent TO our extreme left on
the Emmettsburg road where good service
was rendered in assaulting the enemy's
line and occupying his attention. AT the
same time Gen. Gregg was engaged with
: the enemy on our extreme right, having
, passed across the Baltimore pike and Boz
; naughtown roads, and boldly attacked the
, enemy's left and rear.
On the morning of the 9Th reconnaissance
r developed that the enemy had drawn back
his left flank, but maintained his position
! in front of our left, apparently assuming a
new line parallel to the mountain.
On the morning OF the 5th, it was ascer-
tanned that the enemy was in full retreat
3 by the Fairfield and Cashtown roads. The
: 9Th corps was Immediately sent in pursuit
| ~ f,nll ~