The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-03-09
REVIEW OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CAMPAIGN
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, |
February 24th, 1864.

February 24th, 1874
Resuming the narration of the first days
fight at Gettysburg, will endeavor as briefly
as due regard for intelligibility will permit,
to give te-day some accouEI CT rEss pzru
borne by the divisions of Major Generals
Heth and Pender, of Lieut.-0en. A. p Hills
corps, in that days engagement. And here
it may not be improper to say that have
somewhat inverted the mutual sequence of
events In speaking Of the operations Of
Ewell's corps in advance of Gen. Hill's, in
asmuch as IIeth's division, cf the latter
corps, first became engaged with the enemy;
but as the history of each corps Is complete
in itself, hope tho reader will pardon the
method l have chosen to pursue In the re-.
cital.
On the morning of the SOsh of juno, 1868,
Mai Gen. Heth, who was then lying at Cash
town, Pa, with his division, ordered Brig
Gen. Pettigrew to march his brigade to Get.
tysburg and search tho town for supplies,
especially shoes. On reaching the suburbs
of Gettysburg, however, Gen. p. found the
town occupied by large force of cavalry
supported, it was said, by considerable
body of infantry. Under these circum-
stances, Gen. p. did not attempt to enter the
town, but returned to CAMP near Cashtowu.
On the morning of the lst of July, Heth's
division Of infantry, accompanied by Pc
grams battalion of artillery. broke up camp
near Cashtown, and at 5 A. NJ. began to move
in the direction Of Gettysburg blythe turn
pike road. As the division neared Gettys-
Il h1oo Ian hat ho
In the vicinity of the town in some force.
but in what numbers was as yet unknown to
the commanding General When Heth,
however, reached the second ridge Of hills
west of Gettysburg, it became clear that
there were infantry, artillery, and cavalIy =
around the town. Draxton's battery, of
Fredericksburg, Virginia, formerly COM
manded by Maj. c. NJ. Braxton, OF that
town, q brave and accomplished officer,
and now by Capt. Marye,) was placed in
position, and few shots were fired, scatter
ing the enemy's cavalry videttes and killing
Major-General Reynolds, then commanding
the Yankee forcea at Gettysburg, Meade not
having arrived. This, be it remembered,
was the opening Of the ball. Ewell did not
come into action until some time later in
the day.
The division was now within one and alf
miles Of Gstsyeburg, and wa: disposed as fol
. AuAhsOOcVS@AAc
tie right Of the turnpike. DAvis's brigade Of
Mississippians, except one regiment, was in
Inc on the left of the came road Petit
CREWS N C. brigade and Heth Q told) Virginia
brigade. under Col JJhn M. Brocksnbrough,
were held In reserve Archer and ID avis were
s,on ordered to advance, in order to fesl the
enemy, make forced Reconnaissance, and
d-ts, nias what force the enemy had, and
whether or no they were m assinR forces IN
Gettysburg Heavy columns OF the enemy
were soon encountered. .Davis's brigade, on
the lefs, drove the enemy back aud captured
his batteries, bus was unable to hold the posi-
ton he had obtained, ~ ths enemy ooucentra.
ted in over whaImin& numbers on bis front and
nA,k. The brigade, however, calamity main
tanned its position under . raktng hre until
every 6eld and most Of Ito compShy ofhesrs
L. Col Smith, Of the 55:h N G. T. being
here killed, and Col. Connolly, Of the 55 n.
G.; Col. Stone. Of lhs ~ Niss Il. Col 4 ':by
aud Major Eiuney. were esvsreiy wounasd.
The bravery of the brigade and liz gallant
conmaudsr wsrs lnsurpasssd ~ any Of the
many acts Of signal galoHstry snd daring which
% richly illassassd sAess three days OF ssfri0's
individual acts OF heroism might men,
ton vithout stint. but there IS scarcely room
for them in the limited space Of daily
joGnnnl. One exhibition Of manly nerve and
highstrupg purpose hes como 20 my know
ledge, Mhlch Ido not feel at liberty 20 "
n0net 1nAsmuch Aeik Was uitneoeed o9 Lieu
tSoant 0snesal HIN, and called for the high
.appr0vaa Of 4hst omcse.s i UoesuFsed during
he6tHs whom the Granny having been forced
back losing sosne Of their aFtlll9y, which Z.
befcrs nsatieaea wsrs ten Po.s.tly csPenssa cs'
sxsitise s. - sssivnt a a rsisiofcensafs thss
fne,1Alr hea1n nana - fNear IA n 0no th11