Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-07-22

is cA2Eai stdIiOu, llGES Is Tie GAtT6lUS
lett of Mesde's line.
Looking now along the western alope Of
the ridge, you see the Emmetsburg turn
pike running southerly, Willie the ridge
itself, as | have said, runs q little to the
east of south. Our skirmishers are west
of the Emmettsburg road, our batteries
are on the ridge. and the Third corps il
lying in the meadow along the east side of
the Emmettsburg road.
Looking now, once more, into the north
west, to the Theological Seminary, you see
a counter ridge of land, lower At the SEM
mary than at the cemetery, also running
south, with groves, hedges, single trees,
hillocks and undulations, not so abrupt as
on the eastern ridge. Here Is the rebel
line. Let Us start now at the hill on cur
rght-the hill we noticed as we came up
the Littletown road-tor a walk along the
entire line. We go half mile little
south of west to the town, then southeast
for mile and half, the line being almost
two miles long. Behind this Is concen-
trated Meade's entire army, with the ex-
ception of cavalry. Lee being outside, of
course has aionger line, but in its general
direction Lees conforms to Meade's, the
cemetery being Meade's angle and the SEM
mary Lees. l epeak now OF the position
On Thursday and Friday.
FIRST DAYS ENGAGEMENT.
Gen. Reynolds had received information
taat there were reoels in The vicinity of
Gettysburg. He was encamped several
miles south of the town, on Marsh creek,
| one of the ailments of the Monocacy. He
| was moving from Emmetsburg, starting
at A. NJ, aud reaching the town at 10.
II p,c. 10, haf
| ahead, and found the enemy in force west
of the town, near the theological Semina
| ry, approaching by the Cashtown road,
which leads to Chambersburg, west.-
Cutters brigade, of Wadsworth's division,
was leading the column, and moved into
| the open field near the seminary, on the
double quick Meredith's brigade of the
same division also came up rapidly and
| formed on the left. This is called the
Western Iron Brigade, composed wholly
OF western troops.
Skirmishing commenced, and Reynolds
| ordered the divisions to advance, which
| was done, and the rebels driven from
their position.
Finding them in strong and increasing
| force, Robinson's division was brought up
on the right of Wadsworth. The sharp
shooting still continued. Gen. Reynolds
| rode over the field toward the house OF
| DIR. Schmucke to recOnnoitre, when he
received the fatal shot through the head.
He had sent q note early in the morn
ing to Gen. Howard, who was behind
with the Eleventh. Gen. Howard taking
another road, that there might be no in
reference of trains with troops, made q
rapid march of thirteen miles, and arrived
on the field at half past one. Gen. Dou-
bleday WAS then in command. Gen.
Howard assumed command of the two
| corps, Gen. Schurz taking command of the
| Eleventh.
Meanwhile Ewell's entire force OF
twenty-five thousand men was pouring in
from the northeast on the York and
Carlisle road, and there was imminent
danger to the First. The arrival of the
| Eleventh was most opportune. Gen
| Howard sent A messenger to Gen. Sic
| cum, who was few miles behind, inform
ing him of the condition OF affairs, and al
| once made disposition of his tried force
to meet the onset OF Eweli.
Gen. Howard, with a quick eye, on his
advance had noticed Evergreen Cemetery
as a strong position. Seeinf also that
the enemy was superior to hun, and tina!
he might be forced to retire, he sent
serve artillery to hold it. He sent Schur2
and Barlow to the aid of the First corps
TIE troops went through the town Oh
tie run. They were eager to etace the
stain OF Charlottesville upon their honor
They came into position on the right O
the First corps, along the Carlisle road
| They had hardly got into line when Ewel
came down the hill with his entire corps
in four lines upon the extreme right flank
of the 18th, as il intending to work biz
way into the town and cemetery. The
18th held its ground manfully, bat gradu
ally the flank began to bend. At the same
| time. A. P. Hill moved south of Rev DIR
| Schmucker's house through a grove anC
orchard, over the ground where Reynold:
fell, and attacked the First corps IN flank
1t was an attempt On the part of the enc
my to fold up the wings of Howard, gair
| the town on both sides and have him i'm
| prisoned. ......
After resisting the overpowering force
from one till four 2. n, the order wa:
given to fall back. ....
During the three hours fighting a large
number of prisoners were taken, but wher
the order came for falling back, the regi
ments became exposed in filing through
the town, and the enemy improved the
| opportunity ~ tdA6 dDOUb ultSeu uUhUTSu
Col. Howard, a brother OF the General
was sert to urge Slocum to advance with
the 18th. He was then five miles distant
When he arrived he took position on the
hill by Rock Run, the position he held
during the two succeeding days engage
menrs. The Third corps, Sickles, came
up and took position on the Emmettsbure
pike. The enemy, evidently well pleased
with what they had done, and perhaps mis-.
trusting trap, or that the entire army
was lying behind the cemetery, or perhaps
also waiting for Longstreet and Lee, made
no attempt to push their advantage that
night. The town was occupied by the
pickets OF both parties.
Messengers were sent to the corps which
had not yet arrived, and from all quarters
Union and rebel troops were fastening
Wednesday matchmaking in the clear
light OF the full moon toward that pleas
ant town for one of the greatest conflicts
of modern times.
There is no doubt that this engagement
was prematurely brought on by Gen. Rey.
nolds. Gen. Meade desired to find the
enemy, and compel Lee to make the at.
tack. But perhaps, after all, it was the
very thing needed. The enemy was flushed
1 10,