Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-06
Account of Fria avs Battle.
Estimate of the Losses, &c.


New YORK, July 5.--The Heralds account
of Fridays battle says the attack on our left
was made tiercely for three hours, when the
enemy fell back, yielding to us the whole OF
the battle field OF that morning as well as OF
the previous day. At the same time Il ire
mendous effort was made by the rebels to turn
our right and gain our position on wooded
mountain commanding our position Oh Gene
terry Hill but the untlinching bravery Of the
18th corps, aided by the terrible fire of our ar
tiilery, checked them.
About II in the forenoon, at Il critical june
ture, one or two New Gork brigades arrived
and were thrown into position on our right
This determined the fate of the day. The
rebels quailed and retreated slowly, fighting
a every step, the battle raging for hours until
i'll the afternoon, when the rebels abandoned
the attack in that direction. The rebels soon
after massed their troops in our front, when
an assault opened along the entire line; but
our victorious forces drove them back.
AT o'clock after y hours Of ince9Sant
fighting, the contest terminated. Our troops
were victorious at every point, with the entire
battle field in their possession. We took
az ti9 cl0se OF the action Lee had the i'm
pudence to send in flag of truce, asking
suspension of hoStilities to bury his dead and
exchange prisoners. Gen. Meade repiedthat
he intended to recapture all the prisoners, and
would bury their dead for them. Failing in
this attempt to gain time, the rebels precipi-
lately retreated to the mountains, leaving
their guards and sentinels.
This Saturday morning upwards of 100
stragglers were taken in Gettysburg, besides
our wounded who fell into the enemy's hands
Wednesday.
Gen. Pleasanton started at daybreak Sat
urday with artillery in pursuit Of the rebels,
ana at last accounts was pressing them hard.
Both sides lost heavily. Probably the ag
gregate is so, 000-20,000 Union men and 3d.,
900 rebels. We have captured from $1,000
to 10000 prisOners-more than quadruple
what they have captured.
Frederick dispatch of July 4th to the Her.
aid states that a few rebel cavalry dashed
into that place at noon, seized few horses,
and skedaddled. Our horses pursued and
captured three of them. The same dispatch
states that an expedition, under Maj. Fuller,
to Failing Water, five miles below Williams
port, destroyed the pontoon bridge and an am"
munition train there, and number of wagons
loaded with supplies. In the skirniSh l6 pris-
onerS were taken and number were killed
FRIDAYS BATTLE-sEMI-OFFIC REPORT.
Headquarters ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,
July I'd 1863 Egening.- THE decisive bat
tie has been fought to-day, and the enemy have
been repulsed with terrific loss. AT daylight
Lees right wing batteries opened upon our
LETT and shortly after those OF his centre fol-
lowed. After half an hours cannonading,
doing but little damage to us, the fire slack
ened, and only occasional shots were eX-
changed
Shortly afterwards the enemy's left, COM
posed entirely of infantry and sharpshooters,
made an attack on our right wing. So sud
denly and impetuously was it accomplished,
that our skirmishers and front line were driY-
en- back from their intrenchmentS but by the
aid of the batteries in the rear, and the in
domitables bravery of the 18th corps, they re-
gained the first position, capturing Il conSid-
cradle number Of prisoners. Several hours
of ominous silence followed this repulse.
AT one O'Clock the enemy fired two shots,
apparently as signals for the grandest artille-
ny fight ever witnessed on this continent be.
fore After moment had elapsed, it is esti-
mated that at least eighty guns opened upon
us. Our batteries returned the compliment
with interest. The air seemed literally filled
with iron, and for more than an hour it seemed
impossible that either man or beast could live
through it. Strange to say, the eneny's ac-
curacy of range, as exhibited on the two pre-
viouS days, was wanting on this occasion, as
most of their shells exploded far IN the rear
Of our front, generally entirely missing our
batteries.
Under coverof this feW denfer Gen. Lee ad-
vanced his columns OF infantry from the cover
and made some desperate attempts to carry
the lines by assault, but each successive at
tempt was repused with terrible havoc to their
ranks. After an hour of incessant cannonad.
ing the fire grew less intense for short time,
but was then renewed for while with great
spirit
During this time some of the batteries
whose ammunition was expended and the men
exhausted, ceased to fire, and on the approach
of the reserve batteries withdrew to the rear.
The enemy on seeing the batteries withdraw,
and installing this for retreat, made rapid
infantry charge up the hill and obtained po-
sltlon, cutting them to pieces and almost an
Initiating the small infantry supports; but
before they had time to rejoice at their imagi-
nary success, the fresh batteries poured in
deadly fire of canister and case shot. The
infantry joined on either flank of the gap,
charged them and added greatly to their de-
struction.
They were completely surprised, and hun
dreds threw down their arus and asked for
quarter. Nearly the entire brigade of Gen.
Dick Garnett surrendered, and Garnett him
self was wounded and barely made his escape.
Longstreet was MORALLY wounded and cap