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


Its father came from Canada.
Poor man! his last fond hope is gone
His child shall never see the dawn;
We've fastened down the heavy lids,
And nailed them well with Copperheads.
Wen leave him now to vain regret.
While checks with salty tears are wet,
Grief be forever to him v no puts
His hopes in vot S of ButternutS.
--iNia Taion.
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
General sIeade's Official Report
HEADQUARTERS ARMY or THE PoroMAc
Nov. IL, 1S63.-GENERAL: ! have the
honor to submit herewith a report of the
operations of this army during the month
Of July, including details OF the battle of
Gettysburg. The report has been detained
by nay failure to receive the reports of the
several corps and division commanders,
who were severely wounded in the battle.
On the 9th of June, I received orders
from the President, placing me in COM
fairs was briefly as follows: The Confed-
crate army, commanded by Gen. r. E.
Lee, estimated at over 100000 strong, all
| arms, had crossed the Potomac River, and
advanced up the Cumberland Valley
Reliable intelligence placed his advance
(Ewell's corps) on the Susquehanna, be-
tween Harrisburg and Columbia, Long
Hills between that place and Cashtown.
The 26th Of June was spent in ascertain
ing the position and strength of the differ
ent corps of the army, but principally
in bringing up cavalry, Which had been
covering the rear of the army in its passage
over the Potomac. and to which large in
crese had just been made from the force
previously attached to the defenses of
Washington. Orders were given on that
day to make Gen. French, commanding at
Harper's Ferry, move with 1000 men to
occupy Frederick and the line of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, and the balance
of his force, estimated at 1900, TO remove
and escort the public property 10 WASH
ington.
On the 29th the army was put in motion,
and on the evening of Chat day WAS ip po-
sition, IFS left at Enlnlitt>burg and its right
at New Windsor. Buiord's division of
cavalry was on the left flank with its adj
vance at Gettysburg. Kilpatrick's divi-
sion was in front at Hanover, where he
encountered this day Gen. Stuart's Confed-
crate cavalry, which had crossed the Poto-
mac at Seneca Creek, and passing our
right flank, was making its way towards
Carlisle, having escaped Gregg's division,
which was delayed in taking its position on
the right flank by the occupation of the
roads by columns of infantry.
On the 50th, the right flank Of the army
being at Emmitsburgh, in the vicinity of
which place three corps-the lst, 1,th and
3d-were collected, under orders of Major
General Reynolds. Gen. Buford having
reported from Gettysburg the appearance
Of the enemy on the Cashtown road, in
some force, Gen. Reynolds was directed to
occupy Gettysburg. On reaching that place
on the lst OF July, Gen. Reynolds found
Bufords cavalry warmly engaged with the
enemy, who had debouched his infantry
through the mountains on the Cashtown
road, but was being held in check in a
most gallant manner by Gen. Buford's cav
airy.
Major Gen. Reynolds Immediately mo-
we'd around The town OF Gettysburg, and
advanced Oh the Cashtown road, and with
out moments hesitation, deployed his
advance division and attacked the enemy,
at the same time sending orders for the
1lth corps Gen. Howard to advance as
promptly rs possible. Soon after making
his dispositions for the attack, Major Gen.
/, Reynolds fell mortally wounded, the COM
mand OF the lst corps devolving on Major
Gen. Doubleday. and the command of the
field on Major General Howard, who ar
rived about this time II.30 u. H.. with the
4 18th corps, then commanded by Major
Gen. Schurz. Major Gen. Howard pushed
forward two divisions Of the ll,h corps to
support the lst corps, now warmly engaged
with the enemy on the ridge to the north
Of the town, and posted his Sd division
with three batteries of artillery on Gene
terry Ridge, on the south side Of the town
Up TO this time the battle had been with
the forces Of the enemy debouchlng from
the mountains on the Cashtown road
known to be HIS corps. In the early
part of the action success was on our side
Wadsworth's divisions Of the Ist corps
having driven the enemy back some dis.
tance, and capturing numerous prisoners
among them Gen. Archer. OF the ConfeQer.
ate army.
: The arrival of reinforcements TO the enc
my on the Cashtown road, and the june
ton with Ewelfs corps. coming on tht
York land Harrisburg roads, which occur
! red between and . o clock, p. m., enabled
the enemy 10 bring vastly superior force:
against both the lst and I4th corps, out
thanking our line of battle and pressing j
[, so severely that at about p. III. MaiO
: Gen. Howard deemed it prudent 20 with
draw tho two corps to Cemetery Ridge OF
the south side of the town, which operation
was successfully accompiished-not, how
r ever without considerable loss in prison
8 ers, arising from the confusion incident Il
portions of both corps passing through tn
town and the men getting confused IN tn
= streets.
e About the time of the withdrawal, Majo
Gen. Hancock arrived, whom l had dis
: patched to represent me on the heid OF
hearing oil the death of Gen. Reynolds. Il
c conjunction with Major Gen. Howard, Gen
+ Hancock proceeded to post troops on Gem
q etry Ridge, and to repel an attack that tn
= enemy made on our right flank. This at
G tack was not, however, very vigorous
: The enemy, seeing the strength of the posi-
ton occupied. seemed to be satisfied Will
: the success ne had accomplished, desistini
e from any further attack this day.
About p. M, Major Gems. Slocum an
Sickles, with the 18th corps and part OF th
e Sd, reached the ground and took post on tn
: the right and left of the troops previousl.
t posted.
e Being satisfied, from reports receives
: from the field, that it was the intention c
j the enemy to osupport, with his whole army
: the attack already made, and reports from
: Major Gems. Hancock and Howard. on th
character Of the position being favorable