Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-08
Though the First Corps still continued 10 retire, the
Rebel advance vas broken after this and General

were massing troops appafen 90 lake the First Corps
in its To guard against an advance from that o.
reetOn Gen. Howard sent forward the first and third
divisions Of the Eleventh Corps, which moved across
the rear of the First Corps and through the town, and
took up position with the first division the right
Gen. Stenwehrs division, the second was held asa re-
serve.
Meantime, two or three Of our batteries held sharp
parey with the rebel batteries posted on the hills that
encrce the town. and their balls 0vershot our batteries
somewhat and threw several shot in among the solid
people of Gettysburg. Whether frightened them or
not hardly say doubt if they could experience
emotion ivel, that Of fear but they began TO
get out of the way, not the and children parc-
ulary but stalwMt ableboded wretches in mems gar
ments what principally on the road to the
rear
At about hafpast two O'clock while the batteries eX-
changed q heavy fire and some sharp musketry woke
up the echoes the right the rebels advanced in heavy
force against the First Corps which slowly etreae1
from the hills beyond the valley to high ground near
the seminary, where it prepared TO make all the st-
it capable of 1t rel forced there by some
dismounted Dragons and fought in the open field for
though some rail fences thrown down across the
| front of our line, they afforded cover. From the
| woods beyond the farm houses aud the opeu
space rebel force of perhaps three large brgAdes ad
vancad handsomely III line of battle, while the rebel
batteries the general centre sbeed or position
| hotly to cover the advance.
On came the line right up within short range of
position, when it opened upon with fire sharp
and well served TO stagger and then completely
pulse it. Backward went line that came forward in
tnch good order, mere mass of stragsers, each Of
| whom made the best Of his way across the plain
While the musketry very hot in front OF General
Doubleday, party of about one hundred Rebels stole
through the woods well up on Doubleday'a left flank,
and fired large barn, of those immense magazines
% breadstus that in Pennsylvania overpeer the
parayey small farmhouses. An immense black column
OF smoke began ascend from the roof breaking
out presently into white, sulphurous cloud, and then
into fierce red blaze. Under cover of this FIRE the Re-
bel skirmishers exchanged numerous shots with line
Of skrmishers from the cavalry extreme left
Repused but not vanquished the Rebel line was re-
formed and reiniorced and now for Il second time,
force nearly twice great at frat. Once
more, also the batteries threw shells answered by
batteries the left and also by batteries Of
the right which at this time threw shell ut the
position OF the enemys centre. Once the packed,
rapid rattle OF our file fire broke out, and the
Rebel line WAS broken and to the right about in
rout.
There is mysterious fatality connected with the third
time; and SO, after lu and period of comparative
quiet Of twenty minutes, onward for third time
the Rebels, quite orderly before their line Of
skirmishers firing they In great force
this line that it completely overlapped the line of
the FiIs; Corps on both TANKS. Two brigades on the
right quite out Of ammunition, and the order
gwen the town; and boys accordingly
retreaed in good order, while the Rebels rushed for
fourth line further to the right Of the third good
order skrmshers ahead until the position at the Semi
nary reached when they came forward with rush,
and occupied hill we had deemed it worth while not to
hold after the other taken On also came another
line in support behind this and cavalry on the
/ treme left began TO retire.
At this moment the field presented true picture.
Across the fields to the right the Rebel line with
coors which huttered in the pleasant breeze; in the
centre two farm-houses oHthouses aud barns in
fhp laft Tho If In
while beyond al the rays Of the beat down through
the shoWery clouds and gilded every object with pc
cuarly golden light and over the heavens the east
| ward stretched magnificent rainbow.
The new position of the Third orps was at q line of
stone wall southwest Of the town, the slope of hill on
which is a cemetery When the First Corps retired to
the town the left OF the Eleventh uncovered and
heavy advance completely on its right faux at the
time compelled it 10 retire. 1t affords pleasure to
say that this corps reported to fought well and
lost many As Was our extreme left did not
see the fght of the Eleventh Corps.
After retirement on the town the rebel advance
was pressed further. And so ended battle that
was brought in the Lost rash Manner yet which
wehfough against largely superior force and gotten
out at last much better than could have expected TO
Let out.
The rebel force fought by US the corps of Gen
Ewel and that of A. z. Hill South of the town is
high Lil which is cemetery, and this became the
headquarters. Its slope the west held by the
the east was held by the Eleventh, while the Twelfth
Corps was placed hold both tanks, III first d.
vision, under General Williams, being on the extreme
right and the second DIVISION under General Geary on
the extreme left The Third Corps, which came on,the
fed Just at nightfa in the centre reaG7 20
be used whenever occasion might require. Gen. Slocum
of the Twelfth Corps had assumed the command upon
his arrival.
Another correspondent of the Herald gives the fol-
lowing incidents Of the Yankee retreat through oys
burg:
As we passed through town, shot, shell and bullets
were VIII sting unsteady around u.s. sometimes striking
the houses. shot ricochetted regiment in front
of me and pierced the wall of an inhabited house
bullet grazed the of Captain NeWcomb, with whom
I was riding, and struck house near u.s.
The ladies of Gettysburg deserve especially honorable
mention. While were retreatng they came out upon
the sidewalks with composed though anxious faces and
offered soldiers everything needu in the way of re-
ireshments The shot Whisting meanwhile hut
they appeared elevated by noble impulses above the
sentiment of fear They took the most tender of
our wounded as well those of the rebels who
captured during the d y. How We grieved to leave
this interesting town in the possession OF the rebel
so diers.
We fell back to position south of the town GENE
terry which General Howard had first selected az the
only good position that could The rebels did
not see n to think il best to attempt to dslodge
The enemy occupied the town on our retirement and
their shapsnoOter we're stationed on the houses near
u.s.
The battle of to-day well fought. We had 20 900
against $4,000.
General Howard distinguished himself for bravery
and composure while directing the details of battle.
The Eleventh Corps did more than all others IL lost
900 men, and double the loss Of the First Corps which
fought braVey.
THE BATTLE OF THURSDAY.
The special correspondent Of the New York Times,
writing from the battlefield Gettysburg July 3,
gives the following account of Thursdays battle:
The position of our forces, after the fight Of We'd
nesday was the eastward and southwark Of Gettys
burg, covering the Baltimore pike the Tapeytown and
Emmittsburg road and still being nearly parallel with
tine latter. Our right extended along range OF bills
short distance north Of the CITY, Our centre was mme-