The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-07-15

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troyed the enemy's poutoou bridge over
the Potomac at Williamsport
We captured the guard-a lieutenant
aud thirteen men.
W. H. FRENCH, Maj Gen.
Below we give a succinct narrative Of
the bloody battles which occurred on
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Of last
week:
<HE BATTLE ON WEDNESDAY.
At 9 o'clock, A. NJ. the First and
Eleventh army corps reached Gettysburg,
entering from the east side Of the town,
and marching quietly through to the west
side, the cavalry force of the enemy In.
the town galloping back as we advanced.
On passing out of the west end of the
town the enemy was observed advancing
rapidly from the Chambersburg turnpike
in line Of battle toward the town. The
First Corps, under Gen. Reynolds, which
was IN the advance, pushed forward at
double quick to secure an advantageous
position. The enemy; under Longstreet
and Hill, advanced steadily, and In few
minutes a heavy fire from both artillery
and musketry was opened along the whole
Union and Rebel lines The Eleventh
Army Corps, under Gen. Howard, was
also soon in position, and for a time
heavy battle ragged. Several charges were
made by the enemy to dislodgc our forces,
all Of which were unsuccessful At )
o'clock, the enemy massed his entire
forces, and endeavored to turn our right
wing. Gen. Reynolds advanced to meet
them, and heavy Infantry fight ensued,
in which both suffered severely, volley
after volley Of musketry being poured
into the approaching columns with deadly
effect
In this charge, Maj j,-Gen. Reynolds
fell, mortally wounded, and died soon
after being conveyed to Gettysburg. He
was, as usual, leading his Corps, and in
the thickest of the fight.
THE BATTLE ON THURSDAY.
Line Of battle was formed about I
o'clock A. NJ, our center occupying the
nights on this side of Gettysburg, at and
} near the cemetery The Second and
Third Corps, Gen. Sickles, formed the left
wing; the First and Eleventh were on
the right.
! Skirmishers were Immediately thrown
forward along the whole line, in order to
feel the enemy's position. Our batteries
also shelIeG the nights and woods, in or
yder, if possible, to deveIope the place
where the enemy intended to mass his
forces. We could elicit no reply from
the rebel batteries.
Their skirmishers were active, and very
otter reinforced The silence Of the en-
envy was ominous Shortly after ter
: rife cannorade was opened on our center
: and left from the rebel batteries, which
had been quietly placed in position, hav
ING been masked by woods and grain fields.
Our riael guns replied with telling ef-
: feet. Fer two hours the air seemed filed
7 with fying missiles. Old soldiers, who
had heard the roar Of cannon at Gaines
5 Mill, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg and
: charlottesville, declared the cannonad-
ing to be equal, if not greater than that
10 of any OF those engagements
Suddenly wild, demonlac yell arose
from thousands Of rebel threats near the
extreme left of our line, where the enemy
. were to make their great attack. Sick
D., less Corps sustained the first terrific on
= set of the rebel forces which had been
e massed on our right.
e AS soon as the design Of the rebels
q became evident. a large number of pieces
b of the reserve artillery were massed in a
5 splendid position to oppose the rebel in
fantry.
: 1t this time, the center aud left center
= advanced with loud cheers, pushing the
rebels from point to point, through the
G valley and up the nights beyond.
u The enemy was secieted behind trees,
rocks and lodges. and in many cases they
: were bayoneted by our troops or taken
d prisoners.
|. a space of several hundred yards ex-
/ isting between the left of the Third corps,
/ FIRST division, and the right of the next
) corps on the left, the rebels threw forward
e heavy columns Of infantry, overpowering
). the skirmishers and filling the gap. deliv-
ering at the sane time deadly flank fire.
Y Our forces at this point were compelled
q to retire, but only for short distance, as
t they were soon relieved by fresh troops.
/. Meanwhile, the rebels were slowly gaining
V ground on the left, advancing in line of
battle by brigades, delivering volley after
volley.
At that moment it seemed that our
decimated and dispirited ranks would be
forced back, when suddenly the Fifth
corps came pouring forward on the Balti-
Y more turnpike, and threw themselves into
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