Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-07-21
The Great Pennsylvania Campaign.

The Great Pennsylvania Campaign.
We make some extracts below from letter in
the Richmond Examiner, written by Virginia Of
hcer, which gives connected, intelligent and reli-
able account of the Pennsylvania campaign -
"0n Friday, 26th, we took up the line of march
through Chambersburg on the Harrisburg road
The splendid band in the 4th Louisiana brigade,
Colonel Williams, preceded the column, playing
Dixie " and the Marseilase, whilst our red
banners faunted proudly over the dark columns of
our gallant troops The scene sublugated that
town. We passed through Shippensburg to the
sound of martial music again, and went on to Car
isle. The troops were not allowed to pLuRder.-
Horses were taken and recepted for by authorized
agents. So with cattle and -four. "Foraging"
was tolerated, but the soldiers were expected to
pay for their supplies. 1t thought, and per-
haps rightly, that licensed plunderng would de-
moraize the army, and render it useless for great
achievements.
We staid long enough at Carlisle to get what we
wanted Harrisburg was in panic--and some of
our engineer officers went to the banks of the Sus-
quehanna and found them fortifyng the enormous
heights on the southern side. Early and Jenkins
were at York and beyond, seeing after the bridges
up as far as the river, all of which destroye ed.
On the 30th, Johnston marched back from Carlisle
to Fayetteville, leaving Rodes at Carlisle. On
Wednesday, July 1st A. P. Hill marched from
South Mountain to the neghborhood of Gettysburg
followed by Johnston. Early reached the same
vicinity on the same day from York, and Rodes
from Carlisle. Meade's advance of three or four
army corps disputed tie occupation of the town,
giving battle to the north and east of the town,
from 10 A. NJ. to about P. NJ. The result was a
glorious victory to the Conederates The invinci-
BILE and gallant EARLY, who ought to be q Lieuten-
ant General, drove the forced opposed to him for
miles, and occupied the town. The 11th corps of
Charlottesville memory, gave themselves up by
thousands. Gordon's brigade made what is regard
ed a most brilliant charge. 1t could but be sue
cessful with such men and such q leader. The
Fayetteville road was "cleaned out" by Hill
ROdes swept down the Carlisle road, and Early
down the York turnpike. The loss of the Confed.
crates in killed and wounded was probably 6O0-
The Yankee loss in killed probably reached 400,
and his wounded 1000 We captured most of his
wounded and $3.50 additional prisoners
Gettysburg is in Adams county, Pennsylvania
some where near 8 miles from the South Mountain,
which is the eastern boundary of the Cumberland
Valley 1t is a beautiful town of some ., 900 in
habtants, and the centre of the following roads a
road from Frederick both the southern side of
the town, and the three roads just mentioned be-
tween these two former roads and about three quar-
terS of mile from the town were two tall hills
wooded and detached, the other the front of
range that swept backward to the South. These
positions boldly commanded the town and vicinity,
and Meade occupied them Wednesday, heavily en-
trenchng during the night. On Thursday morn
and near the Baltimore road A. p. Hill occupied
position to the of the town and near it. Long
street not yet up. During the morning, occa-
sional artillery and infantry skirmShng alone broke
the silence that hung over the expectant hosts -
The day ard beautiful The enemy's
cavalry stretched up to the south of the York road
threatening rear, but closely watched by
the indeiatigable Stuart whose recent seven days
and nights marcn from the vicinity of Washington
was the most wonderful cavalry achievement of the
war.
At last, Longstreet having passed to the south of
A. P. Hill, opened at four p. NJ, followed by Hill
and Ewell. Then ensued undoubtedly the fiercest
cannonade Of the This terrific fire lasted till
night About dark Ewell charged the position on
the wooded hill The enemy had several lines on
this eminence and cannon in position, with abattiS
and planted sticks in rows to prevent our advance
! The sides of the hill were rocky and precptouS
almost an inaccessible degree Our lines, however,
| gallantly marched up under fearful fire Of mu>ket
| balls and grape. partial advantage gained
| by Johnsons troops, and lost by accident But it
was beyond mortal endurance to stand before that
! terrific blast of shot, and the men withdrawn,
| after suffering heavy loss. During the afternoon,
| the other corps had attacked the positions on the
| south without success. On Friday, July Sd, the
battle was renewed early in the morning, and with
the exception of lul from ten o'clock, A. NJ, to
one o'clock, P. NJ lasted all day. The Confederates
| did not succeed in holding any of the crests, al.
|
| closed on the smoke-wrapped field. From 81 to
p. NJ, General Stuart succeed in driving back very
handsomely the enemy's cavalry threatening our
rear. The fight was quite severe and loss unknown.
Thus ended the great battle of Gettysburg the most
remarkable conflict of the war; The loss of the ene-
my was probably $4,000 men-perhaps 10000 du-
| ring the three days He was severely handed-for
it is believed that he fell back with the greater por
| ton of his force Friday night towards Boons-
boro'. What their papers say you know better than
/. 1t is reported with that they claim little
| nothing but don't believe it. When turn from
this to our own loss my heart sickens. 1t was
frightful.
| All our wounded that could be transported were
| removed beyond the Potomac. Those severely
wounded had to be left The Confederate loss in
killed. wounded and prisoners (of which there are
| few must be t1oensty thousand
All day long of July 4th, our army lay in line of
battle, in a new position overlooking the town.
Scarcely picket shot broke the day long quiet Meade
| was Withdrawing, but we did not know it Our
| trains were quietly moving back to Williamsport,
and are now safely parked there, with the loss of
| but twenty vehicles, of various kinds, and teams
! This was brilliantly executed.
On the night of the 4th the army began quietly
! to fall back by Fairfield towards Hagerstown. We
marched slowly, for the whole army took one road.
| About 2 A. NJ, July, 5, halted with some men
near Confederate hospital, where found several
unburied dead-one noble form lying between Two
wounded men-and several others dead on the straw
They were North -Carolinans-many severely
wounded All needed water and other attentions.
One poor fellow lay there with his bowels out and
some fingers off, in the last agonies, with no GOV,
ering and no water. Another was dellrious and
smoke seusibIy on but one subject-he wanted wa
teri water which he drank with fresh thirst as L
held his head Not nurse nor surgeon in all the
building was left All gone, cowardly gone There
these poor manned men were left to wait for hours,
nay, it might have been days, for some Yankee at
te5tion-pcorly supplied, when twenty five thous-
and parchcd tongues demanded food and water in
Yankee hospitals.
The march back to Hagersown some twenty
four miles, occupied three days! The army took
one road most of the way, and marched quietly and
with dignity back No defeat othe OSnlenerates
was shown in that proud nvincble tread, that spir-