The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-07-17

exploded piece! And the time measured
on the sluggish watches was one hour and
forty minutes.
CHARGE OF THE REBEL INFANTRY.
Then there was lull, and we knew
that the rebel infantry was charging. And
splendidly they did this work-the highest
and severest test of the stuff that soldiers
are made Of Hills division, in line of
battle, came first on the double-quick.
Their muskets at right-shoulder SHIFT"
Longstreet's came as the support, at the
usual distance, with war cries and a say
age insolence as yet untutOred by defeat.
Ihey rushed in perfect order across the
open Held up to the nuzzles of the guns,
winch tore lanes through them as they
came. But they met men who were their
equals IN spirit and their superiors in tena-
city. There never was better fghtiDp
since Ihermopyl;o than was done yester-
day by our infantry and artillery The
rebels were over our detences. They had
cleaned cannonlers and horses from
one of the guns and were whirling it
around to use upon US. The bayonet
drove them back. But so hard pressed
was this brave infantry that at one time
from the exhaustion Of their ammunition
every battery upon the principal crest Of
attack was silent, except Cowen's. His
service OF grape and canister was awful.
1t enabled our line, outnumbered two to
one, first to bear back Longstreet, and
then to charge upon him, and take a great
number OF his men and himself prisoners.
Strange sight. So terrible was our mus
kerry and artillery fire, that when Armi-
stead's brigade was checked in it's charge.
and stood reeling, all of it's men dropped
their muskets and crawled on their hands
and knees underneath the stream of shot
till close to our troops, where they made
signs of surrendering. They passed thro'
ourranks scarcel y noticed, and slowly went
down the slope to the road in the rear
THE CHARGE FAILURE
Before they got there the grand charge
of Ewell, solemnly sworn to and carefully
prepared, had failed.
The rebels had retreated to their lines,
and opened anew the storm of shell and
shot from their 100 guns Those who re-
mained at the riddled headquarters will
never forget the crouching, and lodging,
and running, of the butternut- -colored cap
tives when they got under this, their
friends, fire. 1t was appalling to as good
soldiers even as they were.
What remains to say of the fight? It
staggered surlily on the middle of the
horse shoe on the west, grew big and an
CRY on the heel at the southwest, lasted
there till S o'clock in the evening, when
the fighting 9th Corps went .joyously by as
reinforcement through the wood, bright
with coffee pots on the fire
TIE REBEL LOSSES.
Rebel officers with whom have con-
versed frankly admit that the result of the
last two days has been most disastrous to
Il cir cause, which depended, they say,
upon the success of Lees at; ;empt to trans
fer the seat of war from Virginia to the
northern border States. \ wounded rebel
colonel told me that, in the first and
second days fight, the rebel losses were
between ten and eleven thousand. Yes
terday they were greater still. In one
part Of the field, in space not more than
twenty feet in circumference, in front Of
Gen Gibbons division, / connted seven
dead rebels, three OF whom were piled on
top of each other; and close by. in spot
not more than fifteen feet square lay fifteen
" graybacks, stretched in DEATH Tia, SC
were the adventurous spirits, who in the
face or the horrible stream of canister,
she'll and nusketry, scaled the fence
wall III their attempt upon our batteries.
Very large numbers OF wounded we've
also streWn around, not TO mention more
who had crawled away or been taken
away. The field in front Of the stonewan
was literally covered with dead and
wounded, q large proportion of them were
rebels. Where our mU>lletry and artillery
took effect they lay in sWaths, as if mown
down by & scythe. This field presented
horrible sight-such as has never yet been
witnessed during the war. Not less than
one thousand dead and wounded laid in q
space Qf' .tDt tess i<aa .I01r ucres i'll eX-
tent, and that, too, after numbers had
crawled away TO places Of shelter.
The enemy's infantry. saving 4 small
force OF sharpshOoters, was wholly ont Of
sight at daylight on Saturday morning.
There was talk On Friday night, after the
battle, Of organizing q column Of pursuit
GEN. MEADE's DESPATCH
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF Por0MAC,1
July $3.50 p. NJ.
10 .Ndioy' Gcneru! UaIlec&:
The enemy opened at one T. II. with about
150 guns on my left and centre, continuing for
about three hours without intermisolon. At
the expiration Of that time he assaulted my
left and centre twice, being upon both occa-
siOns handsomely rcpuscd with severe loss
to him, leaving in our hands nearly 5000 pris-
OnerS.