Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-07-24
Altbn!nno Enquirer.
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY %, 1868
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, PA.
f.rr,r,L CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ENQUIRER
Is CAYr. NEAR IAGERsrowN, MD.,
July Sth, 1868.
RY TYLER n ALLEGR E.


lyCAyr NEAR UAcERsrowN, Mp,
July Sth, 1868.
Iproccei to-day to give YOU !. hasty sketch,
,i the movements of this army since we
crossed the Potomac. As was not with our
advance under Lieut.. Gen. Ewell. | shall not
be able to give you as full and reliable re-
,o7,s OF the movements OF his corps up to the
battle Of Gettysburg as of the pain body of
the army. which crossed the Potomac two
tays after his corps. learn that Ewells
c,rps crossed on the 22i Juuc-one portion at
Sh-pherds!own and anotLcr ut Williamsport,
a1i that the two columns united at IIagerS-
town. From the latter place, one division
,Rheies, I think, was pushed on through
Cleencastle and Chambersburs to Carlisle,
making Il; all three Of these places considera-
Ne captures Of army supplies-hats, shoes,
clothing and medical stores. Another divi-
sion iEarly's) turned to the right from Cham.
te.sturs and moved on York, on the North
srn Central Railroad, when, after short and
incon>dersble engagement with body of
Pennsylvania militia, in which quite mum
bsr were taken prisoners, the town surren-
lersl. Fairly then pushed on to Wrightsyille,
III the south side of the Susquehanna, where
Was posted small body of militia, who fed
P'eeipi'ately, at his approach, across the river,
and burnt the bridge. Some few prisoners
we're taken at Carlisle, two or three hun
i!el.i all militia, and they as also those cap
;urel at York and Wrightsvillc were im,ne-
dia:sly paroled and discharged.
On The morning of the 24th June \. P.
ll;l.: corps 1.-THE 3d) crossed the Potomac at
Bteler's Mill, one mile below Shepherds
nwn tnicrson's division being in the ad-
aucc. That night the head OF Hills corps
rea:hel Eoonsboro', which latter place was
occupied by Wright's brigade of Auderson's
division. From this place we moved On
Caambersburg, via Funkstown, Hagerstown
and Midilcburg, reaching the former ON the
9th. Passing through Chambersburg on tho
9Th, We pushed on to Fayetteville. five miles
from Chambersburg, on the Baltimore and
Philadelphia turnpike. Hero we halted until
Tuesday. tue 10Th, waiting for the rear of. the
corp. and our supply trains to come up. In
the meantime Longstreet's corps had turned
up The river from Millwood, and, passing
through Martinsburg. crossed the river at
Williamsport, and, falling into our line of ad-
vance at llagerstown, followed it to Tayette-
tln lo..a ntn
the 9th. Having now concentrated our
army, except Ewells corps, whose operations
nave already been given, on Tuesday, the
be tai Ken up Cor Gettysburg, twenty miles dis
iani III an casterly direction. In this move
m:ut Hills corps was in the advance, and in
The following order: lIeth's division, Pender's
DIVISION AnderSon's division; then Long
street corps. McLaws' division. Hoods divi-
-a4n-licketts division being left at Cham
'e'saurg 10 protect our rear and convoy the
:Hsrr'e trains. Two miles from Fayetteville
W. Crossed the South Mountain at Stephens
llhsldeuS) Iron Works, all Of which were
completely destroyed. Owing to the narrow
!laa through the Mountain pass, only two
divisions ofliill's corps crossed the mountain
Cit The "oth. Early on Wednesday, Hills re-
naming division (Anderson's. and Long
s.Fee. corps moved on after Hills advance.
A. ~ o'clock, 4. NJ, on the lst inst, Heth's
DIVISION being ahead, encountered the enemy's
siyance line. the llth corps, about 3 miles west
Huc!iv>burs. Here sharp engagement began,
our men steadily advancing and driving the
SnSay before them to the town ,and to q range of
niiis or low mountain running out a little east
oi south from the town. Late in the evening
;So odiSsions-Early' and Rhodes of EwclPs 8
s'ps-came up ON our left from Carlisle and
loTk.and falling upon the enemy's rig ght-fank,
I've him with great slaughter upon and
"psh the town to the heights on the
sniI. In the meantime, Pender's division,
&lliil's corps, had moved up to the support
d ileih on the right, and opened hot fire
sE9a the enemy, which drove them back upon
lie low mountain range, already alluded to-
aate!son's division got up too late to partici-
la;:: i'll the days engagement, owing to its
Marin: been unnecessarily halted for more
Shan three hours, on the eastern slope of the
>Nh Mountain, alta small village called Cash
""n. This halt was made while the division
VAS ~, only hearing the fire Of the battle, but
S',aciuallyin sight. From its position the men
"o.i see each discharge of our own and the
S,!snIy ; suns-could see that Heth was driving
MN slowly but steadily. If Anderson had
!G'nel IN. it is more than probable that the
whole Yankee force would have been captured;
.'IF I" ;hs time "Wednesday evcnin g. the
'%sAi llal not brought up his main force
M n; addition Of -Anderson's force, 10 that al
'i!S 10y engaged on our side, would have enabled
10 get possession of the mountain range upon
.sh sl'ch The subsequent battles were fought by
.; vt. enemy. Had our army succeeded in get
S-'S Possession of this range, there can be no
i.I i.uOI that the whole Yankee army would
,'s ,.S Deem destroyed. As it was, the delay of
LL.SFson ,L:N prevented lIeth and Pender from
,.S ASins possession Of this important position,
i' permitted it to fall into the cnemy's hands.
nnsS nr.'s no hesitation in saying that this fatal
,a.s' .4sf Was traugEt with the most disastrous
H. p4uehceS 10 our arms. learn that all of
i", nrlsadier commanders in Andcrson's divi-
i;sno" were anxious to advance, but the Major
sss.' s,"i would not consent. l have heard no
Gen G'T q gwen for this delay, and presume that
nsi Lee e Will have the whole matter invssti-
Gn ;,' :, IL Is due to himself and his noble army
Inv ;, - ssno1d be done-that the country and
sJ snould know why seven or eight thou
i imno,, 0n were kept idle; in sight of terrible
b. Important ap battle, without Being allowed to