Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-08

The Great Battle OF Friday LasI.s.16ni
Engagement.
The great battle of Thursday, which WAS
regarded as the severest and
most bloody contest of this most sanguina-
~ war, was far eclipsed by that of Friday.
The enemy advanced on our columns with
a wild desperation that indicated deter
minatiou to win at all hazards, but most
signally failed at each renewed attempt.
During the morning, from daylight 10
one o'clock, both armies were in battle ar
ray, and there was occasionally light skir-
mishing and artillery duels all along the
lines. Each of the contestants seemed 10
be watching the movements OF the otnef'
and expecting development OF the Pur,
poses of their antagonists. Dead men ana
horses, from the battle of the preceding
day, strewed the field, between the con-
in9 armies, the wounded only having been
removed during the preceding night II
was a period of intense anxiety to the spec
rators present, intermingled as it was win
the occasional booming of cannon anu
whistling of shells, aud now and then
Volley of musketry.
As the officers rode along the lines
daring sharpshooter from either SIDE Woulo
test bis skill, aud often with success as
the many wounded brought to the rear on
sLretchers indicated.
The enemy was evidently waiting, IN ex-
pectation that Gen. Meade would make an
assault on his lines in force, but he waited
IN vain. We could afford to wait, but with
the enemy, time was important. we were
on our own soil, with hosts OF friends IN
the rear aud around US, whilst Gen. Lee
found his communications threatened, with
ont any base of operations, and far from
auv means of succor or ass stance. He
had his entire army massed before US. vi
this we bad abundant assurance. To US
time gave rest, refresh ment and strength to
our troops. We feared no enemy In the
rear, whilst the approach of the Pennsyl.
vania militia, whose presence he WcuId
scorn were our army defeated, hourly be-
came to him a source of anxiety, so long as
his powerful opponent was massed in his
front.
Under these circumstances Gen. Meade
wisely determined to remain on the deten-
sive, and to await the movements OF his
willy antagonist, even if the day should
pass without any renewal OF the battle he
| could not be induced to make an assault
| by any of the numerous means of invita-
! ton employed by the enemy during the
morning. In all battles fought in Virginia
the enemy had this advantage of US, that
he could afford to wait for our attack.
Whilst we were compelled to assume the
offensive, he always stood on the defensive
and prepared to meet our assaults to the
best of his ability. II was not his mode Of
fighting, but Gen. Meade was determined
to make the enemy fight US in PennsylVa
MIA as we had been compelled to fight hin
in Virginia.
General Lee waited until half past one
o'clock in the afternoon, expecting an at
tack, aud then began to show symptoms o
uneasiness. Squadrons and divisions were
moved from his left to his right, and to th'
inexperienced observer grand attack or
our right wing seemed imminent. General
Meade had, however, strengthened his
whole line by the posting of his most reli'
able corps at all exposed points, confident
that the enemy would meet a wall of stee
wherever he might elect to make his open
ing demonstration. Sickles and Slocum
stood in solid phalaux at the right, oppo
site to which was Ewelrs "Stonewal" di'
vision. The enemy's centre presented
Longstreers grand division in solid pha-
lanx, and the gallant Hancock stood in bat
tie array before him.
The first demonstration of the enemy wat
on the right, with cannon from an emf.
nence and musketry from the woods
Gradually the number of guns were aug
mented, still pouring their shot in on the
right, which were responded to by our ar
tillery from Cemetery Hill with great eff
feet. 1t soon became evident that this at
tack ON the right was a feiut, the infantry
: movements of the enemy in that direction
being too light for general assault. AT
ter about an hour of heavy cannonadiu(
the enemy's guns were gradually coucen.
trated on the centre and was soon followed
by grand assault by Longstreet's corp
on Gen. Hancock's corps. This was thu
most terrific demonstration that the enc
my had yet made, and was undoubtedly
one of desperation and determination tc
win at all hazards.
The enemy o lred in shetland she'll from
: one hundred and sixty guns, and werl
responded by nearly two hundred Fedora
guns, admirably posted to command thei
advance. How it was possible for ihosl
within the range of this concentrated FIRE
: intermingled as it was with deafening vol
ieys of musketry, to escape destruction or
either side, was marvel to the inexperi
enced. AT times the field was SO envelopeC
with smoke that the contending armies
could scarcely be seen, though sufficient
could be discovered to distinguish tbs
! dense mass of Longstreet's command ap.
preaching the lines of General Hancock
with the determination of piercing oul
centre, each rebel yelling and screaming
with frantic rage. ~
General Hancock's legions stood firm
loading and firing with great rapidity into
the approaching columns, whilst our can
non poured into them volley after volley OF
grape and canister. Scores of men fell
from the ranks, great gaps were made in
the moving mass of humanity, but they
faltered not until the fury of the battle
became so great that they were almost
threatened with aunihilation. The gallau,
Hancock charged on them and finally
drove them back, capturing large num-
Der of prisoners, but the fury of the men
on both sides was so great that all were
bent on killing rather than capturing, and
many poor fellow who would gladly have
surrendered was bayouetted in cold blood.
1t was terrible sight, and as the two ar
mics seuaratad the faId hatvaan 80