The Portland daily press., 1863-07-06
THE ENEMY's RETREAT CUT OFF.
Gen. Meade i'm Hot Pursuit Of the
Rebels.
Loss Of the two Armies $4,000.
New YORK, July 5.

enJlre army is cut on from reIrcab Ny large
body of Federal troops, which marched from
Bloody Run yesterday to cooperate with Gen.
Kelley's increased force for that purpose.
A Baltimore dispatch to the Mercury dated
on the 4th, says, when the firing ceased on
Thursday night our victorious army covered
the enemy's ground, holding command of the
battlefield. A rebel flag of truce was denied
and Friday morning found our army reinforced
by the 9th and 18th corps. On Friday morn
ing the ball was opened by Gen. Gray, 10 TAX
ing some rifle pits from the rebels ON our ex-
tremc right. Tine firing was general up to /
o'clock, when Ewell concentrated all his artil-
lery upon our left and centre, which was COM
handed by Gen. Hayes.
The rebels followed their artillery assault
by tremendous infantry assault, coming up
in masses ia close column by divisions. Our
men stood like serred hosts, and on came the
rebels rushing like demons towards our guns,
while the canister from our batteries told
fearfully among their ranks. They reached
within 20 yards of our guns, while vollies went
crashing among them, dealing death and scat
tering them. The slaughter was fearful. Our
Sd and 9th corps now Joined one of our di-
visions, and alone took ten battle flags from
the rebels. In this move of the enemy panic
seemed to seize them They laid down on the
ground to escape our fire, and supplicatingly
held up white pieces of paper in token of sur
render. We took several Thousand of them
prisoners, and crowds of stragglers came into
our lines, giving themselves up.
Hancock's corps now flanked the field, when
crowds of disorganized rebels threw up their
arms and surrendered, while the field fell into
our possession, strewn with wounded and bat
tie flags and arms. The result amounted to
rout, and cavalry was sent out TO harvest the
stragglers.
dispatch dated Hanover 4th, says the bat
tie of the Sd ragged with varying fortunes until
IL o'clock, when our force commenced driving
the enemy. They fought desperately during
every foot of their retreat, hurting themselves
against our columns with savage perseverance,
which was resisted by immortal courage.
Up TO O'Clock last evening Gen Meade
had driven the rebels about 3 miles northwest
from the position of the morning. and is still
following them up. 1t is thought both armies
will soon cease fighting from mere exhaustion.
The battle will certainly be resumed on the
4th.
The Mercury has the following:
Washington, July 4.-Highly important in
telligence reaches us tonight from the Army
of the Potomac. The rebel forces have fallen
back from the position which they took in the
rear Of the battle field yesterday, and are be-
lieved to be in full retreat towards the Poto-
mac. Gen. Meade's army is in rapid pursuit
The probabilities are very decided that he will
not reach the Potomac without meeting with
opposing forces.
The same dispatch that brings us this news
states that Gen. Longstreet is not killed, but
is prisoner in our lines, together with A. r.
Hill, both being wounded. Nothing but the
capture of the rebel army would cap the eli
max of the present well earned and brilliant
victory.
The Herald has just issued the following In
an extra:
The fighting yesterday was beyond all par
allel. The enemy attempted to turn both our
right and left fianks and afterwards attacked
our centre, but was repulsed on all hands
They then made a general attack along our
whole line, but was defeated terribly. The
victory of the Union army is complete. The
enemy is in full retreat, and is pursued by the
Union troops.
The Herald's account of Fridays battle says
the attack ragged fiercely for three hours, when
the enemy fell back, yielding to US the whole
of the battle field of that morning, as well as
the previous day. At the same time tre-
mendous effort was made by the rebels to turn
onr right and gain position on a mountain
commanding our positions of Seminary Hill,
but the unainching bravery of the 18th corps,
aided by the terrible fire of our artillery, check
ed them. Aboat IL A. NJ. at a critical juno
ture, one or two New York brigades arrived,
and were thrown into position on our right.
lHic uttEt tuC idit vi Tic way. lbc leu
els quailed and retreated slowly, fighting at
every step. The battle ragged until the after
noon, when the rebels abandoned the field in
that direction.
The rebels soon after massed in our front,
when the assault opened along the entire line,
but our victorious forces drove them back.
AT o'clock, after IL hours incessant fighting,
the contest terminated, our troops being vic
torions at every point, with the entire battle
fsa11 s., w. tAnl- .lc
of prisoners.
At the close Of the action Gen. Lee had the
impudence to send in flag of truce, asking q
suspension Of hostilities TO bury his dead and
exchange prisoners. Gen. Meade replied that
he intended TO recapture all the prisoners, and
would bury their dead for him. Failingin hi.
attempt to gain time, the enemy precipitedly
retreated to the mountains, leaving their guard
and sentinels.
This Saturday morning upwards Of l10t
stragglers were taken at Gettysburg, beside.
our wounded who fell into the enemy's hands
on Wednesday. Gen. Pleasanton started al
daybreak Saturday with artillery in pursuit o.
| the rebels, and at last accounts was pressing
them hard.
Both sides have lost heavily, probably ag
| gregatng 100000, 10000 Union and 30,09t
rebels We have captured from $1,000 to 20,00'
prisoners. More than quadruple that the reb
| els have returned.
New YORK, July 5.
The Tribune prints the following:
Baltimore, Jnae 5.--News has been receiv
ed from Meade's army up to IL o'clock To- day
The late victory gets brighter and brighter
The enemy were in full retreat toward Cham
bersburg and Greencastle. II is thought tina
Lee will strain every nerve to reach Hagers
town, and it is thought his aim is to reac
Willamsport and thence to escape into Viz
ginia.
Intercepted dispatches give the info rmatio
that Beauregard is in Richmond, and perhap
on his way 10 Culpepper.
Gen. Meade is harrasing Lee with cavalr
and artillery, and following close in pursuit.
PHILADELPHIA, July 5.
The Journal publishes the following in a
extra:
baltimore, July 5, 80 A. M-The jour
nal correspondent has Just arrived from yes
terday's battle field. He states that the rout
of Lee was complete. Gen. Meade has nc
only captured 10000 rebels, but reeaptured a
who were held as prisoners.
3 p. MI is really true that Lee has bee
totally routed and is trying to escape. Ger
Pleasanton has cut off his retreat in the Ga
leading to Chambersburg. We took llS pie,
es of artillery, and some $4,000 to 10000 pri.
oners. We hold the town of Gettysburg.
The Pirate Alabama Again.
| LII, r