Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-07-18
CANP AT IdrrLKrowS, PAL
July 9th, 1893. Z


aes $50 CAMP AT IdrrLkrowS, PA, !,
- July 9Th, 1893. 5
EDiroR OF TELEGRArH, ,--Thinking that q
few items of news from the Army OF the Poto.
mac might not, at this time, be uuinteresting to
your readers, with your pcrmiss ion will give
them slight account of the late terrible battle
at Gettysburg. You must know fist, that the
army, for the past two weeks, had been making
long and rapid marches. good deal Of the
time necessarily on short rations, both for man
and beast, aud that they were not 10 the best
condition TO contend with superior free Of
the enemy, flushed with victory aud fattened
with plunder, on ground Of his own choice.
Yet they faltered not. Never did this army
march so mauy miles 10 so short time, and 10
such good spirits as they did on their mission
TO drive the enemy from the soil of Penusylva.
MIA. They have sometimes marched thirty
miles in day. and bivouacked 10 the fields,
without any supper and started in the morning
again without any breakfast. This, however,
has been the exception, AMI not the rule, for
we have usually been well supplied. We
marched from the Rappahannock by way Of
Dumfries, Fairfax Court House, II lwards Fer
ry, Frederick City aud Taneytown thence to
Gettysburg, where we encountered the enemy
10 large force, on July lst.
Only the lst and 1lth corps were engaged
on the FIRST day, and they fought bravely and
well against overwhelming numbers for long
time, but finally gave way, and fell back to a
position about two miles from the town. Here
the balance of the Army Of the Potomac came
up on the night of the lst and during the day
of the 2nd of July. Not much fighting took
place on the 2nd, until about clock in the
afternoon, when vigorous attack was made
upon our left wing by both infantry and artiI- !
lery. TIE troops here consisted of the 3-d and
5th corps, and they fought splendidly. and held
their ground firmly, suffering terribly, espec-
ally in their artillery Never, in any battle OF |
record, did, batteries suffer so severely as here, |
some losing two-thirds of both men and horses, |
thus rendering them unable to take their guns
on the Geld when the infantry were pressed
back. The guns, however, did not fall into
the hands of the enemy for just as the line
was wavering and had commenced rctreating,
the 9Th corps came up with such shout and
cheer for the old flag, that it Infused new
courage into the hearts Of the brave boys OF
the Bird and 9Th corps, and they dashed at the
rebels again and repalsed them. and regained
the ground they had previously lost, and the
guns were retaken. During this fight, Captain
S;eye, Of the 4th u S. Battery, K, was Sc
verely though | understand not dangerously
wounded. His battery has tie reputation of
being the best in the service, aud believe it
fully maintained its reputation in this copfict
AS an officer and a gentleman Capt. Seelye
cannot be exceeded. The fighting ceased here
at dark, and the night was occupied by the
different ambulance corps iu gathering up the
wounded. a etas 7a
On the morning of the 81, the battle was
again renewed by the rebels making another
desperate attack on our left, but they were
again repulsed with heavy loss. both 10 killed,
wounded and prisoners. Failing to turn our
left, they moved their forces round to the right,
and tried to force that but here also they
failed for not only was their attack repulsed,
but Gen. Socum assumed the offensive, and
attacked their position and carried it at the
point Of the bayonet after an obstinate fght
Of nearly three hours by this time it was near
10 o'clock, and every attempt OF the enemy
had signaly failed to make any impression on
our lines but we all felt snrc that another at
tack would be made at some point, but where
we could not tell The different commanders
held their men 10 readiness TO mass them at
any time on the most dangerous point The
cessation of hostilities as it were, lasted about
three hours, when all of sudden a couple Of
guns were fred, which appeared to bo signal
for the whole artillery of the euswy, for an
immense firing was at once opened upon our
centre from at least ore handred guns 1t was
as promptly replied to by ours, and such a
thunderiog OF artillery as then to ok place was
never before heard on this continent and
doubt if there was oD any other, We knew at
once that this was to decide the fate of the
battle, for had the enemy succeeded 10 piercing
our centre, he would have thrown his whole
army on each wing separately, aud beaten US
fortunately, not known to him. Ills artillery
firing was nei er before so destructive. Foe
two honrs the blowing up Of caissons, the
smashing Of carriages and killing Of horses and
men, was the order of the day. Battery after
battery VAS disabled and sent to The rear, aud
replaced from the reserve artillery. At the
time we took our place in The front, there were
four batteries relieved at the same time. The
two on the right Of us was charged upon by
one Of Lorgsircels divisions. and they actually
got their hands. on the guns and our Infantry
supports we're giving way. when they saw two
fresh batteries coming into their place. This
gave the infantry new courage, and they stood
and fought footto foot wiih the bayonet until
the batteries got into position. when the rebs,
seeing .henselyes in q bad tx. dropped their
arms and ingoriousy surrendered. Nota man
or officer Of the whole division went back 10
tell Ne story. Over sixteen hundred able