Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-10
The Battle Of "wednesday.

brain teens with rushing memories of
conflict so recent and SO vast, may vel
pause before attempting to indicate it
magnitude or describe It's progress. Rasl
as the advance of General Reynolds ha!
been pronounced by many brother officer:
who now lament his death, question
whether it was not after all for the best
It served at once as q reconnaissance show
ing the euemy's exact position and proba'
able force, and as a check upon any o5en-
sive movement which that enemy might
have been intent upon. 1t secured the
Army of the Potomac the commanding
position on Cemetery Hill from which the
battles of the two succeeding days were
chiefly fought, aud which, had the rebel
commander anticipated the engagement,
he would doubtless have secured for him.
self. Not less, perhaps, than the skill of
the generals who directed the battle on
our side, gave US the victory. When,
therefore, the heroic First corps and its
fated commander placed themselves in the
terrible dilemma of Wednesday morning,
they won knowledge by their sacrifice
worth all the world to US thereafter. The
corps marched in the following order ::
First division under General Wadsworth;
Third division under General Doubleday;
FIVE full batteries under Colonel Vain
right; Fourth division under General Rob-
inson. "rf-.
A portion of our artillery took position
half mile south of the seminary. The
enemy opened Ere upon it with such fierce
ness as forced the batteries to retire, which
they commenced doing in good ORDER
GeAeral Wadsworth Immediately came to
their aid ; two of his regiments, the Second
Wisconsin. and the TWeuty fourth Michi
gan, charged the rebel infantry, forcing
them in turn to retire. The batteries as
sumed an excellent position further in the
rear, which they held during the day
General Reynolds now rode forward to in-
spect the field and ascertain the most faV
orable line for the disposal of his troops.
Oue or two members of HE staff were with
him. The enemy at that instant poured in
a cruel musketry fire. upon the group Of
officers a bullet struck General Reynolds
in the neck, wouudiug him mortallY. Cry
ing out, with voice that thrilled the hearts
of his soldiers, "Forward for Code sake,
forward r. be turned for an instant, be-
held the order obeyed by line of shouting
infantry, and falling into the arms of Capt.
Wilcox his aid, who rode beside him, his
life went out with the words, "Good God,
Wilcox, am killed"
The command of the corps devslyed upon
General Doubleday, who hurried to the
front nlsoed IL in nosition. and awaited a
charge which it was seen the rebels were
about to Make An eminence whereon
stood piece of woods was the important
point thenceforth TO be defended. The
rebels advanced and opened fire from
their entire line. They were instantly
charged upon by Meredith's Western bril-
gade, who, without firing a shot, but with
",,oS .,S;f,nas as - snrronnd yearly son
oF nc 10 ,yho ,,are ,aksn nrisoners.S A
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rso aifn ,.,s ,oonsad ;n.o ShsI1 Aid
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.rers shot b.vonetaa and driven "a nartial
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fsorfniiv in ,5;s demonstration- and r. was
sv;dsnt that srsb fgbtino could mot long
s Tts E,o,,o.st nos,s 80 rn,de i,s
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was StueFeI tu 70 noiu ue o;I NnS ,saJ u
.ely n'' ...:.l al OSs P'-S' -
Tue s,i' LA'teL POsltloI 80 ,t,s 11,.,.,. ~
hue o1uer tmo Sn,,. -J :, -, ~ 49, '.,,,.
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porteu tne rltst Up, ,iiss % 80. rss. hv
r-enSs ,s,o". ,bir5 charge vas now
made nv tbs entire rebel force in front,
which :omnrised the corps of Hill and
EweII. sixty.two thousand strong. The
sbork was awful. The superior numbers
of the foe enabled them TO overlap both
our tanks. threatening MS With surround.
mo and canture. Their main effort was
diseeted cams. our left wing, and notwith.
standinp the gallant fighting doue by ouI
soldiers at that point, they at last obtained
! such advantage that Gen. Howard wat
forced to retire with his command through
the Town to the east. which was done il
ooo5 ordar the comDliments of the rebel.
9ssnwhiIe falling thick among il, in tht
| ,ss'st LsII. tvo,a ,nd caniStsr Th,