The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-12-13
The First 30 Open GIse Battle ni
GettySburg.

GeffySbur2.
The Metropolitan Record, by re
quest makes the following inquiry:
What Confederate Brigade opened
the battle Of Gettysburg; and on the
third days fight, what Brigade sue
cccded in getting into the Federal
works ~
We take pleasure in giving the 70
quircd information or as near II as
possible.
The Battle was opened by Heths
Division Of a. r. Hills corps. This
command arrived at Cash Town on
Sunday night preceding the engage
ment, and on Monday, Brig. Gen !
Pctiigrew was ordered 10 move for
ward with his Brigade, and occupy
Gettysburg II the occupation could be
made without fight, it being under
stood at the time, that the garrison
was entirely composed Of militia.
Gen'l Pcttigrcw returned in the ey-
ening, reporting the enemy in the city
and commanding the approaches, in
superior force.
On Tuesday morning the entire Di-
vision moved upon Gettysburg, and
the line Of battle was formed within
four miles Of the place with its center
resting on the Pike, Pcttigrew on the
right, in command Of North CAROLYN
ians, and Davis on the left in com
mand Of Mssissippians the other two
Brigades, Archers composed of Ten
ncssec and Alabama troops, were in
reserve, or rather support Moving
forward they encountered the enemies
line within mile, and the fight at once
opened the Federal line commanded
by Major General Howard was charged
broken and driven within two miles Of
the city, whore they rallied upon their
reserves. The fight then become gen
eral, Pettigrcw was out.hank2d, and
Archer depfoycd to extend the line
on the right, but the enemy still over
tapping, the Division retired, to await
rcinforcements the necessity for which
had been 50 evidently demonstrated by
this rccognisancc.
Rcinlorccmcnts arriving, consisting
of pcndcrs Division Of Hills corps and
Rhodes Of Ewells corps, GALL the
troops within supporting distance)
the line was established, the enemy
attacked and driven beyond Gettys
burg, with heavy loss. Thus ended
the first DAYS fight. The enemy were
heavily reinforced during the night,
and the Confederatcs retired unmoles-
ted and in good order, to await the
most terrible battle that the sun of
modern history has dawned upon
It's impossible at this late day to
say which of the two Brigadcs that led |
the charge first struck the enemy, or
which fired the first Confederate bull
let in the great third days fight
TO the second inquiry; "What Con
fcderatc Brigade succeeded in getting
into the Federal works on the third
lay," we would reply--Corse's Brig
gade of Picketts Division, consisting
Or Virginlans and Maryinndcr% ana !
North Carolina Brigade in
Command of Col, Ecventharp Of the
It'll North Carolina, which formed
he right Of Heath's Division, and
made the charge under Gen. Petit
rev, Gen Heath having been woun-
ted tie day before, if we remember
lightly,
Speaking of this charge reminds us
hat great injustice has been done to
Ieath's Division, by those who have
pokcn lightly Of its action in this
barge; the reason Of this lies in the
act Of their not understanding the pc
ilion Of the cnemy's line, and the rel
tive difficulties to be overcome by
'ickett and Heath