The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-30

July 1--we did not leave our camp Till
noon, as nearly all Gen. Hills Corps had
to pass our quarters on its march to-
wards Gettysburg. One division OF
Ewell's also had to join in little beyond
Greenwood, and Longstreets Corps had to
bring up the rear.
During the morning made the &C
quaintance of Col. Walton, who used to
command the well-known Washington
Artillery, but he is now Chief of Artillery
to Longstreet'S Corps d'Armee. He is a
big man, ci-devant auctioneer in New
Orleans, and ] understand he pines to re-
turn to his hammer.
Soon after starting we got into pass in
the South Mountain, a continuation, be
lieve, of the Blue Ridge range, which is
broken by the Potomac at Harper's Ferry.
The scenery through the pass is very
we rode, belonged to Johnson's Division of
EwellS Corps.
Among them I saw, for the first time,
the celebrated "Stonewall'' Brigade, for
merly commanded by Jackson. In APP
pearance the men differ little from other
Confederate soldiers, except, perhaps,
that the brigade contains more elderly
men and fewer boys. All Except, think,
one regiment are Virginians. As they
have nearly always been on detached
duty, few of them knew Gen. Longstreet,
except by reputation.
Numbers of them asked me whether the
General in front was Longstreet; and
when | answered in the affirmative, many
| would run on a hundred yards Yin order to
take good look at him. This / take to
| be an immense compliment from any SOL
dicr on long march.
| At p. m. firing became distinctly audi
bic in our front, but although it increased
as we progressed, it did not seem to be
very heavy.
A spy who was with us insisted upon
there being "a pretty tidy bunch" OF
Yankees in or near Gettysburg, and he
declared that he was in their society
three days ago.
After passing Johnson's Division we
came up to a Florida brigade which is
now in Hills Corps, but as it had formerly
served under Longstreet, the men knew
him we'll. Some of them latter the Gen
eral had passed) called out to their com
rades Look out for work now, boys; for
here's the old bulldog again.
| At p. M. we began to meet wounded
men coming to the rear, and the number
OF these soon increased most rapidly,
| some hobDlIng alone, others on StretcherS
| carried by the ambulance corps, and
| others in the ambulance wagons. Many
| OF the latter were stripped nearly naked,
and displayed very bad wounds. This
| spectacle, so revolving to a person unac
| customed to such sights, produced no i'm
preSSIon whatever upon the advancing
| troops, who certainly go under fire with
the most perfect nonchalance. They
show no enthusiasm or excitement, but
| the most complete indifference. This is
| the effect OF two years almost uninter-
rupted fighting.
We now began to meet Yankee prisoners
coming to the rear in considerable num-
bers. Many of them were wounded, but
they seemed already to be on excellent
terms with their Ca ptors, with whom they
had commenced swapping canteens,
tobacco, etc. lrn0ng them was a Penn
sylvanian Colonel a miserable object from
wound in his Gace.@ In answer to ques-
ton, heard ORG ofsthem remark, with
laugh, Were pretty nigh whipped al
ready" We next came to a Confederate
soldier carryingxa Yankee color belong
ing, think, to a Pennsylvania regiment,
which he told us he had Just captured.
At 4:3O p. m. we came in sight of Gettys-
burg, and Joined Gen. Lee and Gen. Hill,
who were on the top of one of the ridges
which form the peculiar feature Of the
country round Gettysburg. We could see
the enemy retreating up one of the OPP
posite ridges, pursued by the ConfedeFtes.
with loud yells. The position into which
the enemy had been driven was evidently
strong one. His right appeared to rest
on cemetery on the top of high ridge
to the right of Gettysburg, as we looked
at it.
Gen. Hill now came up and told me he
had been very unweII all day, and in fact
he looks very delicate. He said he had
two OF his divisions engaged and had
driven the enemy four miles into his
present position, capturing a great many
prisoners, some cannon, and some cOlOrs.
He said, however, that the Yankees had
fought with determination unusual to
them.
He pointed out railway cutting in
which they had made good stand; also
a field, in the center of which he had seen
al. r.t tl., 4
which the regiment had fought for some
time with much obStinacy, and when at
last it was obliged to retreat, the color
bearer retired last of ALL turning round
every now and then to shake his fist at
the advancing rebels. Gen. Hill said he
felt quite sorry when he saw this gallant
Yankee meet his doom.
Gen. Ewell had come up at $3.50 on the
enemys right with part of his corps), and
completed his discontinue. Gen. Rey-
nolds, one of the best Yankee Generals,
was reported killed. Whilst we were talk
ing, message arrived from Gen. Ewell
requesting Hill to press the enemy in the
front, whilst he performed the same opera
ton on his right. The pressure was ac-
cordingly applied in mild degree, but
the enemy were too strongly posted, and it
was too late in the evening for a regular
attack.
The town of Gettysburg was now oc-
cupied by Eweil, and was full Of Yankee |
dead and wounded. I climbed up "a tree |
IN the most commanding place | could |
find, and could form pretty good general |
idea OF the enemy's position, although the |
tops OF the ridges being covered with pine |
woods, 1T was very difficult TO see any |
thing OF the troops concealed in them.
The firing ceased about dark, at which |
time ] rode back with Gen. Longstreet |
and his STAFF to his headquarters at Cash
town, "A little village eight miles from
At that time troops were |
pouring along the road, and were being
towards the position they are to |
occupy Tomorrow.
In the fight to-day nearly 5000 prisoners
had been taken and 10 guns. About 90
600 men must have been on the field on
the Confederate side. The enemy had
two corps d'arhieei engaged. All the
prisoners belong, think, to the First and
Eleventh CorpsH This days work is
called "brisk little scurry," and all an
ticipate "big battle" to morrow.
observe that the aItillerymen in charge
OF the horses digetlemselves little holes
like graves, throwing up the earth at the
upper end. They.ensconce themselves in
these holes whensqntIer fire.
AZ supper this evening, Gen. Longstreet
spoke OF the enfmN'S position as being
very formidable He also said that they
would doubtless b intrench themselves
strongly during fhet night. II have the
best reason Tor sHpposing that the fight
Lee nor Longstrest intended that it should
have begun that day. l also think that
their plans Were demnged by the events
OF the first.1 The staff officers spoke of
the battle as a certainty.
July I've all got I'D at $3.50 n. M and