Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-07-10

Railroad trains will be running to this poin
tomorrow.
PHILADELPHIA, July 4.
COL Forney, of the Press, received the fol
lowing highly important dispatch to-nigh
from the army of the Potomac:
HANOVER, Pa, July 4-5P M.
There has been no fighting up to this TIM
to-day. Last evening we drove the enemy
back to Gettysburg. Our lines this morning
extend eight miles around Gettysburg Ou
batteries are on all the hills looking on tn
town from the south. We occupy the ridg
commanding the Chambersburg turnpike, ant
have cut off all lines of retreat. Our force
occupy the strongest possible position. 4
flank movement on our left is impossible
At about 8 o'clock last night the Flori.a brig
ade of Gen. Longstreet's division, advanced t.
within our lines and gave themselves up, will
their colors. A bearer of dispatches iron
Jeff. Davis to Gen. Lee has been captured
The dispatch orders Lee promptly to return
to Richmond, and states that the movemen
into Pennsylvania was wholly against hi
wishes. We have captured 5000.
! lsemi-Oficisl Report.]
HEADQUARTERS ARMY PoToMAc, !
July Sd, 1868.
The decisive battle has been fought to-day
loss.
At daylight, Lees right wing batteries
opened upon our left, and instantly after
those of his center followed. After half al
hours cannonading, doing but little damag'
to us, the fire slackened, only occasiona
shots were exchanged. Shortly afterwards
the enemy's left, composed entirely of in
| fantry and sharpshooters, made an attack or
our right wing so sudden and impetuously
that our skirmishers and front line were
driven back from their entrenchment, but by
aid of the batteries in the rear and tn,
bravery of the 18th corps, we regained the
first position, capturing a considerable mum
Der of prisoners.
Several hours of ominous silence followed
this repulse. At one o'clock the enemy fired
two shots, apparently the signal for the
grandest artillery fight ever witnessed on this
continent. Before moment elapsed, it is
estimated that at least 80 guns opened upon
US. Our batteries returned the fire, and fol-
more than an hour it seemed impossible that
man or beast could live. Range, as exhibited
on the two previous days, was wanting on
this occasion, most of their shells exploding
far in the rear of our front, and generally
missing our batteries. Under cover of this
Lee advanced his columns of infantry from
their covers and made several desperate at
tempts to carry the lines by assault, bu,
each successive attempt was repulsed with
terrific havoc to them.
Some OF our batteries, whose ammunition
being expended and the men exhausted
ceased to fire, and on the approach of the
Reserve batteries withdrew to the rear The
enemy only seeing the batteries withdraw,
and mistaking this for retreat, made rapid
infantry charge upon the hill and obtained
position in our lines, cutting to pieces and
almost annihilating small infantry supports,
but before they had time to rejoice at their
imaginary successes, the breach batteries
poured in deadly fire of canister and case
shot, The infantry reserves joined on either
flank of the gap, charged them and added
greatly to their destruction. They were com.
pletely surprised, and hundreds threw down
their arms and asked for quarter. Nearly the
entire brigade of Gen. Dick Garnett surren-
dered, and Garnett himself wounded, barely
made his escape.
Longstreet was mortally wounded and cap
tured. He is reported to have died in an
hour afterwards.
About 4:30 P. NJ. the artillery slackened
and had entirely ceased at o'clock. TIE
last shots they fired were far beyond their
original position, and the infantry column
had withdrawn to their cover.
We took upwards of 10000 prisoners
The enemy captured but few if any of our
men.
The rebel prisoners reported that Gen. A.
P. Hill was killed outright upon the field, and
that their officers suffered far greater casual
ties than in any previous engagement.
So terrific was the firing that the small
house where Gen Meade and staff were
quartered was perforated by several Shots
Many Of the staff horses were killed around
the house.
Gen. Butterfied was struck in the breast,
and it is feared internally injured, by piece
of shell that exploded in the buildings Sew
eral Of our general officers were wounded in
the engagement. Gen. Hancock was wound
ed in the leg. Gems. Gibben, Warren and
Hunt were wounded.
In consequence of the excitement and diff
Guilty in ascertaining their locations, the
names Of many prominent officers reported
as killed or wounded cannot be ascertained
tonight.
Too much credit cannot be gwen to our
gunners, which for hours stood to their guns
under bu' ming sun and surrounded by the
missiles of death, retiring only to give their
positions to others when their caissons were
exhausted.
The infantry engaged also nobly did their
duty, and the enemy to-day at their hands
have received the greatest disaster ever ad-
ministered by the Union forces.
All officers award the highest honor to
Gen. Meade for able generalship since he as
sumed command, and particularly for cool
ness, decision and energy on this memora-
BILE Sd of July.
Last night believing it to be his duty to
the cause, and to learn how far he would be
supported in the approaching conflict, he
summoned his corps and division command
ers for consultation.
FIRST DISPATCH.
WASHINGTON, July 81 P. NJ.
The latest official dispatch received here
up to this hour from Gen. Meade is dated
Headquarters, Z o'clock A. NJ, 4th, which
merely states that the enemy has withdrawn
from his positions occupied for attack on
Friday.
The information in the possession of Gen.
Meade at that hour did not develope the char
acer of the enemy's movement-whether it
was a retreat or maneuver. Reliable infor-
nation received her to-day asserts that Gen.
Lees Headquarters were at Ashtown, yester.
day afternoon, and further represents that the
rebels were terrifying at Newland's Cut in
the South Mountains, apparently to cover a
retreat.
SECOND DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS, July Moon.
To Maj. Gen. Halleck
The position of affairs is not materially
changed since my dispatch of Am. We
NOW hold GettvshIlro The enemu has ahar