The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-03-02

On the 1st day of July we crossed the State
line of Pennsylvania and noted the event by
loud cheering and much enthusiasm. And here
ON the border OF Tie State we learned that our
cavalry under General Buford, and our old
First corps under General Reynolds, had CT
that day encountered the rebels at Gettysburg,
and that on the morrow the great battle would
be fought. Night came on, but we halted not.
We knew that our comrades on the distant bat
tie field needed our aid, and we fastened on. 1t
was beautiful evening. The moon shone
from cloudless sky, and flooded our way with
its glorious light. The people rushed from their
homes and stood by the road side to welcome
US. Men, women. and children all gazing on
the strange spectacle. Bands played, the sol
ders and the people cheered, banners waved,
and white handkerchiefs fluttered from doors
and windows, as the blue, dusty column surged
on That moonlight march will always be re-
membered by its survivors \ staff officer sat
on his horse by the road side. In low voice
he spoke to our colonel as he passed. ''What
did he say!" anxously inquired the men. NC
Clellan is to command us on the morrow" Me
Clellan, our first commander; he had been re-
moved, criticised, and we thought he was for
gotten; but our old love for him broke out
afresh He had never seemed one-half so dear
to us before Men waved their hats and cheer
ed until they were hoarSe and wild with excite
ment II is strange what Il hold little Mac
had on the hearts of his soldiers. At mid
night we halted, having marched over thirty
N,,,
themselves upon the ground to get little rest
and sleep. Sleep on, brave fellows. for the NOR
rows struggle will call for both strength and
courage. While they are sleeping we will step
across the country for a few miles and view
Gettysburg in the moonlight, that we may bet
ter understand the battle ground of tomorrow.
1t has been a bloody day i'll this little country
village. Our troops have been severely handled
by the superior forces OF the enemy. Our brave
boys had fought desperately to hold the foe I'M
til reinforcements came, but late III the after
noon they had been OyerpOwered, and We're
hurled. bleeding and broken, through the streets
of Gettysburg, and up the slopes of Cemetery
hill. The village is now filed with the rebels,
who are highly eated, and loudly boast that
they can easily whip the Yankees tomorrow
Things look a little desperate on Cemetery hill.
Reynolds and thousands of his gallant men have
fallen, but their desperate courage SAVED Gene
terry bill for the Union army, and on that hill
our line of battr Is being formed. Howard, the
one-armed hero has arrived with the Eleventh
corps. At midnight came General Meade, and
with him came brave Dan Sickels with the
Third Corps. and General Slocum with the
Twelfth Hancock, the brilliant commander
of the Second corps, is here giving excellent
advice as to the formation of lines, while Sykes
and StdgWick with the Fifth and Sixth are near
at hand. 1t is evident at glance that the old
Army of the Potomac is ION deck" and that if
General Lee expects to win Gettysburg by fight
ing few brigaGcs of raw militia, he is very
much mistaken. The ridge ON which our line
of battle is being formed. somewhat resembles
horse shoe in shape. Cemetery hill, facing
the northwest, is the point nearest Gettysburg
and Lees headquarters, and that point we will
call the toe calk of the horse shoe. TO the left
and rear is Round Top. which represents one
heel calk. while Wof's hill to the right and rear
represents the other. Howard with the Eleventh
corps is stationed at Cemetery hill The First
and Twelfth corps under Generals Socum and
vad,,,o,t, for,,,,I ann. ,.i,,ht ro,.,;r,, fron,
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the left of Howard is Hancock and the Second
.o,.,. on,1 at ii. loft siol,.l. ,virh +ho ,rIird
raorbin,, ,nto loft ,ao,. littlo ponnd
r,n Il ho 1,,, ,Io,;,I,.1 +I,o+ C,,,o..,1 S,-l-o,
and s4J.,vick shall Ia hold in reserve to roin-
force any part of our line upon which Lee may
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