Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-07

err" Nor were they disappointed. The
general in command was possessed with de.
| gree of calm deliberation truly wonderful, and
seemed intuitvely to know what was necessa.
ry to be done, and to be endowed with SUI
| perior genius in the distribution and handlino
of his forces.
AT o'clock on Friday afternoon Lee OPEN
ed a line OF artillery fire from about one hun
| dred guns, concentrated against Cemetery
HI and the position along the cent. aeld by
| the second and part of the first corps. The
firing was responded to by all the batteries on
the NIL, and then ensued three hours of can
nonadlng unsurpassed in incessant fierceness
by any artillery battle on this continent. The
sight and sound were awfully sublime. The
nils trembled beneath the percussion. The
sound filled the heavens, and nature as it were,
stood still to contemplate the scene.
Horses were shot down by scores, gun.car-
rlages were demolished, pieces dismounted,
calSSons exploded, whole batteries were swept
away, and cannoniers and officers killed and
wounded In numbers almost Incredible No
less IMAM fifteen calssons were exploded on
the nights, and two regular batteries on the
right OF the cemetery were completely demo-
lshed Much Of the enemy's firing was wild,
and scattered near and far over the field Gen.
Meade's headquarters were forced to take
refuge behind the rocks near Gen. Slocum's
headquarters. The non-combatants were
especially alarmed, but the fighting members
thought 1t good Joke to see the associates
nee the wrath to come, pent up in rebel
shells.
Gen. Towards headquarters were in the
cemetery, and were raked in a fearful man
ner; men fell all around him, but himself and
staff escaped. The silent abode of the dead
was made the theater OF deadly conflict
Tomhstones and beautiful monuments were
demolished; great holes were torn in the
earth by the explosion of shells, and the rur-
face checkcred with burrows. The artillery
lire continued till four o'clock, when the solid
columns Of rebel infantry were again seen
moving in the wood in front of the center,
held by the LIST and ID corps.
During the fierce cannonading the men and
officers were ordered to shelter themselves
behind the hills and rocks. When, however,
the rebel infantry was seen in the woods, sew
eral officers came to Gen. Doubleday, volun-
teerlnS to carry messages to Meade and ask
that the center be strengthened Doubleday
replied to the officers that they might trust
to Gen. Meade; that he would keep his eve
on the movements of the enemy, and have
his forces ready to meet his attacks. Out
they came, and rushed rapidly over the fields
In solid mass, but evidently with less fury
than before.
The head of the column was directed
against position held by Cen Webb, com
handing I'd brigade, I'd division, % corps.
His troops were old, and steadily and bravely
without the charge. The steady fire of the
national troops staggered the enemy, and the
rebel Gen. Armistead, who lead tile charge.
wishing to steady his colu nm, halted it for IA
moment at fence.
Gen Webb seeing, called QUITO his brigade,
Charge the enemy is ours." And true
enough he was The commanding Gen. An
instead and $500 men we're captured bv the
closing in of the Second corps on the rigHtand
the FIRST on the left, The enemy was driven
back over the fields with great slaughter. The
enemy then withdrew from the field and the
battle ended