The New York herald., 1863-11-20


lines from Hedlersberg and taking post extremc
sht turned the fortunes Of tho day Our army after
oonestng mo ground for five hours obliged 10 yielt
10 the enemy whose force them two 10 ons
and toward the close OF the afternoon General Howard
aeemeo " prudent 10 withdraw the two corps 10 the
heens where we are now assembled The greater part
the First corps passed. through the outskirts OF tho town
and reached the hill without loss or molestaon
Tho Eleventh corps and portions the First not bong
aware that the enemy had aoaiy entered the from
the north attempted 10 force their way through Wash
ingoo and Baltimore streets which, ia the crowd aud
Confusion Of tho scene, they did with heavy loss in
prisoners
General Howard was DOT unpropared for this turn il,
the fortunes OF the day Fairy In tho morning he had
caused Cemetery Hill TO be occupied by General stem.
wehr with the Third division of tho Eleventh corps
About the time OF the withdrawal OF troops 10 tho
hill General Hancock arrived having been sent by Gene
raj Meade hearing Of the death OF Reynolds to assume
tho command 0! the Aed until he himself could reach the
front In conjunction with General Howard. General
Hancock Immediately proceeded to post troops and
repel an attack on our right flank. This attack
feebly made aud promptly repused. Al nghtfall our
troops on tho hill who had calamity sustained them
selves during the toll and peril of the day
10y thc arrival of General Slocum with the Twoh CORPS
and of General SicS,cs with part OF the Third
Such the fortune OF tho FIRST day commencing with
decided success to our arms followed by check but
To you fellow citizens Of Gettysburg need attempt
10 portray the anxieies of the ensuing night. Witness
ing a. you had done with sorrow the withdrawal OF
army through your Streets with cons tersbe ioss OF
prisoners mourning as did the brave who
had fallen. shocked with tho widespread desolaton
around you o. which tho wanen burning OF the Hrman
House ia the morning had givca the signal ignorant Of
tho near approach of Cenora@ Moado, passed. the
wcary hours q the night IN painful expectation.
ioax be'o4 tho dawn Of the I'd of July the new
commandment chief bad arrived at the f.oat. HAY
ing received intelligence OF tho events ia ptogre,s
and Informed by the reports Of Generals Hancock
and Howard Of the favorable character OF tho posi-
ton, he determined to give battle 10 the enemy at
this point He accordingly directed the remaining c6ry
OF tho army to concentrate at Gettysburg h all posi-
bio expedition. and breaking up his headquarters al
Tsneyiown at ten r b. he arrived on The 6eld
O'Clock in tho morning OF the I'd OF July Few were
tho moments given TO sleep during tho rapid watches or
,I.f hvA
II OF troops exhausted by the conflict o. the
day. and the residue weariet by tho forced marches
Which had brought thero 10 the The fun moon
veiled by thin clouds. shcDe down tina, night
strangely unwop.ed the silence OF the graveyard
ncgh OF the horse tho harsh rattle Of the wheels OF
artillery barrying to heir stations, the OF tho
ble'c. the roll OF the drum and all the ndescribabc
tunut OF preparation The corps O Tho
they arrived, wore moyad 20 their pr silioDs tho
srot where we are assembled. and tho ridges that
extend southeast and southwest batteries woro
paried and brcastworxs thrown ap. The second
and Fifth corps with the rest of ths Third
had reached the ground by O'Clock 4. NJ but II
until two clock in the Afternoon that seJg wick
arrived with the sixth lie had marched thirty
two miles since ninc O'Clock in tho morning OF the day
beore. u was only on his arriva! that the Union
attained equality Of numbers vita that OF he rcoels
posted upon tho opposite and parallel ridge dsau from
milo TO milo and half and overlapping our position
either wing
And hero cannot bat rcm,r on tho previtea.i, aac
ton of th" robei army Had tho contest been re~ ID by
at daylight en- too aecond OF July with tho First and
evenh corps exhausted 10y tho battle and tba rctest
the Third and Twelfth weary from their !orred march.
aad the Second Fifth and Sixth not yet arrived nohng
but miracle could have saved the army froT destruc
ton Instead Of this. the day dawned tho sun rose. the
cool hours of tho morning passed., the forenoon
away without tho slightest aggressive movement on
the part Of the Thus time gwen FOR hall of
ouf fooes to arrive ana take their place IA the ine.
while the rest OIL tho army enjoyed much ueeded half
t length between three aud four O'Clock in tho aftsr
the work OF death began. sigusi gun from ths
hostile batteries followed by tremendous cannon
ads along the rebel lines and t5 by heavy advance or
infantry brigade after brigade, commencing the
mys right against tho left Of our army and onward
~ tho left centre A forward movement, Of General
sckes, to gain commanding position fro which 10
e tho robe attack, drcw upoa him destructive hre
from the oncmys batteries. sud Curious assault from
oagstreet 8 and Hs advancing troops Aztec bravo
Resistance the part OF his corps he was forced back
him -olf falling seg ercy wounded This the critical
momcOt OF tho second day but the Fifth aud part OF
the sixth corps With portions OF the First and sccoaa
wero promptly brought TO the support the rhrd
struggle xas fierce and marderous. bnt by sunset
our Success was decisive snd the enemy was
vtce rendered toward ths cosA Of the day IN the
memorable advance betwcen Round Top and Little
Round Top by General Crs Words division OF the Faith
ssss: ~ssS St was rom the as
lghborhood Tho rebel General f'arksdalo fell in this
enc6nnler and has force driven back with grest loss
in killed and prisoners Al eight O'Clock in the evening
dospo,ate attempt was made BY the enemy 70 storm
herc TOO, after terrible conflict ne rcpused with
immense loss Ewel', on our extreme right, which had
weakened by the withdrawal OF the troops sent
to support lest had saccc ded gaining fcothoi
within portion OF our iines Spang,crs Spring rbs
was the only advantage obtained by the rebes ~ com.
poo ,te tbom Tor the disasters the day and o h as
we shsll sec, they were soon deprived
such Tho result OF the second act OF this eveniuI
drana-a day hard fought aud At moment anxious,
and with the exception OF the sigh, reverse inst named
crowned with dearly earned but uniform success to
struggle On these good omcns the night leli
At dawn of tho ID. General Gcary returned to his
day botorc 10 strengthen the lett Hc was Immediately
attacked by tho enemy whom. bowovcr, after sharp
and decisive sc'on be drove out OF our lines recovering
the ground which had been lost tho preceding day.
spirited contest was kes all the morning this
part OF the inc but Gen Gcary ren'crced by whescns
brigade OF Tho sixth corps msintained his position and
Inflicted very severe losse' on the enemy.
Such was the cheering commencement of the third
Days work with ended si serious attempts OF tho
enemy right. As tho preceding day, his efforts
mainly directed against our lett centre
and lot wing. From eleven ti h,fpast one O'Clock.
all still; solemn pause Of preparation, NJ
IL both parties nervipg Themselves tor
the supreme effort. A. length the awful silence more
terrible than the widest iumut OF battle bren by
tho OF two hundred mud flty pieces O artillery from
the opposite ridges oinne csnnonade Of unsurpassed
volencehe rebel batteries along two thirds or their
ae pouring their Are upon Cemetery Hill and the
and left wing OF army. Having attempted in ihis
way Tor two hours but without success. t. shake toe
Of lincs the rallied his forces
last grand assault. Their attack principally directed
against the position of our second corps Successive lines
OF rebel Infantry moved forward with equal spirit and
seadncss from their the wooded crest Of Semi
nary ridge. crossing the intervening plain snp
ported right aud LETT by their choices, brgades,
and charged furiously 10 % our batteries Our
own brave troops Of the Second corps, supported
bv DoubIedays division aud sannard's brigade Of
the First, received the shock with 6rmness, The
ground both sides was long and hercey con
tested and covered with the killed and tho wounded TIL
after ia determ nod and gallant struggle. Is pro-
by General Lee the rebel adv ance consisting OF
thirds OF INNS corps and the whole Of Lonestrcets,
inciudn Pickets division, the e'e of his corps which
had not vet under IRE, and depended upoa
to decide the fortunes Of this last eventui day, was
back with prodsions slaughter, diseomn,ed and
broken While these events iD progress a left
centre tho enemy driven by the Peunsy sylvsns Re-
serves from strong position on our extreme left. from
which he ives annoying force Little Round Tor"
h bstery taken aud three hundred prisoners captured
In the terrific assault centre, Generals Hancock
and Clbbon were wounded. In the rebel army Armis-
tead Kemp~r, Petgrew and Trimblc were wounded. the
arst named morsly the latter ALEC made prisoner while
General Garnctt Killed, aud thirty i've hundred
officers and men made prisoners.
Close oy rux avySrsuL couLIcr-RsfRrAr of fsg
These we're expiring sgonies ~ the three days con
fct and with them the battle ceased " wss fought by
be Union army with aud skin, from The brst
cavalry skirmish "wednesday morning 60 the fearful
rou, OF the enemy Friday afternoon by every arm
aud every rank OF the servce by Officers and men, by
cavalry artillery and infantry. The two armies after
The Hrst day were numerically equal the Union force
the aayant,ge strong position the Confedcrates
naS that of cboosipa place. the