Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-23
THE THREE DAYS BATTLE
IN PENNSYLVANIA.

resulted in their suffering and defeat
and damage far exceeding anything
yet known in the present war, and
covered the Union army with imper-
ishabie glory. This success, with the
capture Of vicksburg, clears the Un.
ion sky, and reveals the dawning of a
day of certain success.
The history Of the rebel invasion OF
Pennsylvania is thrilling in the ex-
treme. The first movement in this d.
rection was met and gloriously turned
back, soon after the battle Of Chan
cellorville, by Gen. Pleasanton, about
the first of June. ...
On the 18th of June, the advance of
Lees army attacked Gen. Milroy, at
Winchester, and the latter retired to
Harper's Ferry, abandoning his stores
and cannon to the rebels. This open.
ed the way for the rebel army to cross
the Potomac. Another rebel cavalry
force crossed the Upper Potomac on
the 18th. causing great alarm in Ma
ryland and lower Pennsylvania. 9th
er rebel advances we're made, and by
the 26th, the whole rebel army under
Lee was across the Potomac, and
moving northward in different COL
umns in the direction of Philadelphia
and Baltimore.
Gen. Meade took command of the
Union army on Sunday. the 2sth, his
headquarters being at Frederick, and
Lees at Hagerstown. Gen. Meade
was thus in the rear of Lee, imminent
ly threatening his line Of retreat.
The army Of the Potomac began its
campaign from that moment. Orders
were issued to the several corps to
move early in the evening, and on the
morning of the Goth our whole bril-
liant and hopeful host was in motion
toward Pennsylvania. The lst Sd and
Ilth Corps encamped on Tuesday at
Emmctsburg the 2d and l2th also
pitched their tents near by. The 9Th
Corps marched to Carlisle on Wcdnes-
day morning, the first day of this
month, forever memorable.
The lst Corps. under Maj. Gen. Rey-
nolds, and the lth under Maj General
Howard, started for Gettysburg, Rey-
nolds in command, where they arrived
at ten o'clock A. NJ. The LIST Corps,
in the advance, marched directly
through the town. The enemy was
discoverd posted in a wood to the
westward, near the. Lutheran Theo-
logical Seminary. The beginning of
the three days conflict was at hand.
THE BATTLE ON WEDNESDAY.
The heroic lst marched in the fol-
lowing order lst division under Gen.
Wadsworth ; Sd division under Gen.
Doubleday five full batteries under
Colonel Wainwright the 4th division
under General Robinson.
A portion Of our artillery took posi-
tion half mile south of the Seminary.
The enemy opened fire upon it with
such fiereercss as forced the batteries
to retire, which they commenced in
good order. Gen. Wadsworth imme-
diately came to their aid two of his
regiments, the Cd Wisconsin and the
Gath Michigan, charged the rebel in
fantry, forcing them in return to retire.
The batteries assumed an excellent
position further in the rear, which
they held during the day.
Gen. Reynolds rode forward to in
spect the field. aud was killed by a
rebel bullet striking him in the neck
The command Of his corps then devel-
oped upon Gen. Doubleday, who pla-
ced it in position and awaited the reb-
el charge about TO be made. The reb-
els advanced and opened fire from
their entire line. They were Instant
ly charged upon by Meredith's West
ern Brigade, who dashed forward,
and without firing shot, surrounded
and took 600 prisoners. A strong
rebel column Immediately advanced
from the woods, aud though met by
volley after volley, they did not wa
ver.. Another charge was made by
the brigades of the I'd division. who
shot and bayoneted the rebels, driv-
ing them into partial retreat and
capturing more than two regiments.
Our ranks suffered severely in this
demonstration. -
The llth Corps now made it's APP
pearance, and it's General (Howard)
assumed command ofthe forces. Stein
wehr was ordreed to hold Gettysburg
and Cemetery Hill--alI his artillery
being placed in the latter position.
The other two divisions of the llth
Corps, under Schurtz and Barlow, then
supported the first Corps, on. the
right, in time TO resist two desperate
charges by EwelPs troops. A third
charge was now made by the entire
rebel force in front, which comprised
the Corps of Ewell aud Hill. sixty-two
thousand strong. The shock was aw-
ful. The superior numbers Of the foe
enabled them to overleap both of our
1anks, threatening ms with surround
ing aud capture. Their main effort
was directed against our left wing.
and Notwithstanding the gallant fight
ing done by our soldiers at that point.
they at last obtained snch advantage
that Gen. Howard was forced to re-
tire his command through the town
to the east, which was done in good
order, the compliments Of the rebels
4 c,ll:n.. thicE IN