The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-30

aeIlon, a 4E ~ dawn il was discovered that
4be anarn y had evacuated Winchester, retreat
Inc in the direction o. MafuusDutg', Uen
Ewel had dispatched y }gtereept him WbcR
xgaa ggIlantlv accomplished, after some hard
fghti1p, though MilrOy escaped with small
escort OF cavalry The fruits OF this, victory
were $500 prisoners 20 pieces OIL artillery, $50
well filled wagons and a vast amount Of mill
+arv stores. 1t was universally conceded that
ffe eapt1lre of Winchester was mainly due to
The charge Of Hays Brigade, and Gen. Bwel
announced that in honor of that action he
1yo1Id order that the hills west of the town
should be called on the field maps Louisiana
Ridge"
GEN. EARLY
was Indirectly complimented by Federal
colonel, q prisoner, who, referring to his
Ranking Nilroy so quietly and effectively, de-
cared that the Johnny Rebs" had lied IN
reporting that StUnewall Jackson was dead
that there was no officer in either army who
could execute such movement but "Old
Jack"
On the seventeenth Of June we continued
the march towards the North, fording the Po-
tomac at ShephCrdstOwn on the tWenty-thlfd,
and passing through Sharpsburg B00nsbQr-
ouEh, and Wayne5bOrOugh, reached the DO
mains OF the notorious abolition Congressman,
Thad. Stevens. on the twenty-fourth. Here we
remained two days uxuriating on the old fell
lows provender and good things generally,
When we were ready to resume the march,
Oil Iuhl > bNb JdlEb lItil Lbl1iS bhu niiC W.
Joining warehouse were by order OF Gen.
Early burned to the ground. These mills
had furnished the Federal government with
large quantities of Ordnance-hence their de-
struCtiOn. This was the only occasion during
the campaign In Pennsylvania when private
property was destroyed by our troops.
into camp near f. t5 twe%ntysxth we reached
the Continental Congress held its sessions,
during the occupation Of Philadelphia by the
British.
THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY
was In high state Of cultivation and from
our elevated camp presented a beautiful APP
pearance, with its immense fields Of golden
grain that flashed in the sunllght-dOtted
here and there with little white cottages and
large red barns, which were literally bursting
with grain.
During the march of our army the inhabi-
tants were treated with the greatest kindness
and consideration, Gen. Lee having issued
the most stringent orders against the moes-
bation Of their persons or property, Every
thing that was taken for the use of the army
was paid for except In some few cases when
the tender of Confederate money was refused
StfagRlets would sometimes make predatory
excursions into barn yards and diaries be-
longing to persons disposed to be inimcal
and accommodating; such occurrences
were rare and unavoidable; but did not
hear oil a single instance Of citizen being In
suited or his property wantonly damaged.
The fOrbearance Of our troops in this re-
were under; hundreds OF them from the
far South had had their own houses and
farms despoiled by vandals Tin blue and
their families turned out of doors to starve,
or live on the meagre charity OF their more
Fortunate neighb0rs
THE PENNSYLVANIA FARMERS
had sent most of their horses and mules TO
the other side of the Susquehanna, to prevent
their falling into our hands. AS the army
was in great need of animals for transpOrta-
ton purposes, quartGrmaSterS were instruct
ed TO scOur the country in quest of them and
10 pay for the same in Confederate money.
Horses were found in bedrooms, parlOrs, lofts
of barns and other Out-Of-the-way places.
The acting Qua1tCrmaSter of our brigade
called at q large imposing residence, the
owner of which he had learned was possessed
of splendid horse. The proprietor stOuty
denied that he had such an animal; but, I'M
fortunately for him, a neigh from an adjoin-
ing room gave the nay to his assertion and
revealed the hiding-pace of the desired qua
druped. The Major quietly opened the door,
an there in an elegant parlor, comfortably
stalled In close proximity to costly rose
wood piano, stood fine horse; though net of
the ukraine breed" he was one of the best
specimens of the Pennsylvania "Connestoga"
With some difficulty the Major led his prize
forth from his novel stable, and paid for him
In the current funds of the Confederate
realm.
June 3O-Gen. Lees objective point was I'M
derstood to be
HARRISBURG,
the capital OF the State and two divisions of
EweIPs Corps We're at Carlyle, while Long
street was at Chambersburg. AS Cen Lee
descended with Hills Corps the eastern slope
Of South Mountain, six miles distant from
Gettysburg, he unexpectedly encountered the
head OF the Federal column. Gen, Jeb. Stuart
instead OF marching his cavalry corps on the
flank of Meads army, had made an extensive
detour to capture q train OF wagons, and had
thus failed to keep Gen. Lee advised Of the
position and movements OF his antagonist
Hence the unlocked for meeting. The posi-
tiOn OF the Federal army menacing his COM
munications, Gen. Lee resolved to concentrate
his army and give battle where he then was.
Accordingly LongStTeet came down in hot
haste from Chambersburg and Ewell from
CarIyle. Early's Division left York at day
light, and marched by way OF Berlin in the
direction OF Gettysburg.
From this retrOgrade movement 1t was
manifest to the dullest comprehension that
great battle was imminent and 1t was in
spring to see the spirits of the men rise at
the prospects of fight. All realized that
were Meade's army defeated the roads to
Washington, Baltimore and PHILADELPHIA
would be open to the advance OF the COnted-
July AT early dawn the march was re-
sumed. When within a few miles OF
GETTYSBURG
the heavy booming Of cannon announced the
commencement of the conflict and the divi
SlOH DuSUGu On IdFliIys IA I'LL udA oGI uCh
the enemy at 10 a. M, and driven him to the
range of hills west of the town. Soon after
Ewell came up and placed Rodes' Division on
Hills left. After severe lighting the Federal
General withdrew large portion of his force
and massed it in front of Rodes, and the fight
began in good earnest, While Rodes was con-
tending against these fearful odds, the enc
my's artillery entilading his line, and the
danger was imminent that he would be
thanked and forced back, our division came up
and gave him the much needed relief Gen.
Early promptly formed his line of battle
across the Berlin road two miles from the
town. with Gordon on the right. Hays in the
centre and Hoke on the Ieft-Smith being left
in reserve with the artillery.
Gordon was the first to advance Crossing
a small stream under heavy fire, he en-
countered a large force moving to turn ROdes'
flank The musketry was very severe, and
there were fears that Gordon would be borne
back; but in a few minutes the heavy firing
ceased, and the smoke lifting from the field
revealed to our sight the Federals in disorder
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