Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-07-13
The Fight Renewed at Gettysburg.

Dattle at OettyS0urg 10 the morning OF THURSDAY, the
Cd instant, when the fighting ceased, for the time, 'on
both sides. 1t appears that on Thursday about half
past four o'clock in the evening, the battle was re-
newed, our forces making the attack on the enemy
with terrific force, and the fight had been continuous
and was still going on. up to the latest advices, the
battle having ragged for three successive days-Wed-
nesday, Thursday and Friday. A correspondent of
the New York Times, writing from the battle field
near Gettysburg, thus describes the battle ofThursday:
The position OF our forces after the fight of We'd
nesday was to the eastward and southwark of Get
tysburg, covering the Baltimore Pike, the Taneytown
and Emmittsburg roads, and still being nearly paral.
lei with the latter.
On Thursday morning there were strong premo-
nitlons of an early engagement with the enemy in
force, but the day wore away and no positive exhibi-
ton was made by the enemy.
At 81 o'clock, General Meade had received sufi-
cent assurances to justify him in the belief that the
rebels were concentrating their forcesOn our left flank,
which all felt to be secure under the protection OF the
i~nvinciblc Third corps. Our line was Immediately
strengthened on that flank, Gen. Sickcls' corps be
ing sent to its support, and several batteries from the
reserve being brought out and placed in position.
At44 O'Clock, P. NJ, the enemy sent his first COM
pliments by q salvo of artillery, his first shells fall
ing uncomfortably near General MeadGs headquar-
tiers From this hour forth to 81 o'clock, occurred
by all odds the most sansuinary engagements yet
chronicled in the annals of the war, considering it's
short duration. The artillery attack which was made
by the enemy on the left and centre, was rapidly fol
lowed by the advance of his infantry. The Third
corps received the attack with great GOODNESS. The
rebels at once made for our flank, and kept moving
heavy columns in that direction. This necessitatcd
support, which was quickly given by the Fifth corps.
The division of General Barnes being sent to the right,
and that of General Ayres, regulars, to the left, with
General Crawford in reserve.
The battle became perfectly fearful. The armies
engaged each other at very short range, and for three
long hours the war of musketry was incesSant. | have
heard more noise, louder crashes, in other battles,
but [ never saw or heard of such desperate, tenacious
fighting as took place on this flank. The enemy
would often bring up suddenly q heavy column of
men, and force our line back, only to be in turn forced
back by our own line Of %glttering steel. The dis
positions of the enemy were very rapid, for look where
you would on that field a body of rebels would be
advancing. Our dispositions were equally rapid. At
half past six General Slckles was struck in the right
| leg by a piece of shell, and borne from the field. The
1 injury was so great that amputation became necessa-
, ry, and it was performed successtully-the limb be-
ing taken off below the knee.
II The struggle grew hotter znd. hotter. Thc Second
7 corps was called on for aid, aad though its own posi-
8 ton was strongly threatened, yet the First division,
r formerly General Hancock's, flung themselves Into
the fight with desperation, and after a long and OBJ
4 stinate conflict, the enemy slowly and sullcnly gave
Il way. In this last charge the brigade of General
r Caldwell, Second corps, and that Of Colonel Switzer,
G from the Fifth corps, won great honors. The charges
: made by our men deserve mention, but want of time
e forbids. The rebels made frequent attempts to cap
ture our artillery, and at one time had Watson's bat
It terry in their possession, but it was retaken in q furi-
!, GUS charge by Briney's Division.
q The battle lasted till fully 81 o'clock, when the en-
s envy fell back to his old position, and left our vcte-
rams the ensanguined victors of that field. Our pick
e cts were thrown out, and our lines covered most Of
y the field, including a great number of the enemy's
dead and wounded.
[ visited some portions of the line by moonlight,
a and can bear personal witness to the terrible fcrocity
= of the battle In front Of General Webb's was found
the body of General Barksdale, that once hauqKty
), and v5olent rebel, VhO crG0ed asG dying boon q cup
Of ao0ter and @ stretcher from an ambulance boy
# He is literally cut to pieces with wounds and must die.
A great and magnificent feature Of this fight is the
y splendid use of artillery. Though our line Of battle
Ie was only a mile and a half long, yet almost every
battery belonging to the army Of the Potomac was
moro or less engaged. " Every one Of the reserve bat
teries was brought into action, the positions for use
being numerous, The enemy also used artillery
largely. but not to near SO great an extent rs we did.
N On the next (Friday) morning, the battle was re :
IS newed, and was still going.On up to the date Of our
latest advices from the North. A dispatch dated Get.
4 tysburg on Friday, the Sd, says:
IN The third days battle began this morning at 4 o.
u clock. 1t is now 7 o'clock, and a circle Of fire of
D. musketry and artillery on the south side Of Gettys-
r, burg describes the field of contest. The musketry
lie fight is holy within the woods; the artillery occupies
the cminence shorn Of timber.
S The attack vas commenced by The rebels on our
l. right. The fight there has been unceasing, and the
,rrcgnlarity Of the fre-slack and scattering for
NJ - y II