New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-02

Toward noon | rode over TO General
Headquarters. which had been estab-
lished in a little. square one-story,
whitewa SHED frame house. TO the Left
and rear Of the Cemetery and just
under the low hill where our Left
Joined the Center. No part Of the line
was visible from the spot. and II had
been chosen. | suppose. because while
within a three minutes gallop OF the
Cemetery, or the hither portion Of the
Left. il seemed comparatively protected
By its situation. The choice was bad
one. Next to the Cemetery. it proved
the hottest point on the feld.
General Meade had finished his ar
rangement OF the lines. Reports of the
skirmishing were coming in, the facts
developed by certain reconnaissance
were being presented; the trim. we'll
tailored person Of Major General Pleas
anton was constantly passing in and
out the cavalry seemed to he in IN
cessant demand. General Williams
and Major Barstow. the adjutant gen
erals, were hard at work sending out
the orders: aides and orderlies were gal
Looping off and back, General Warren,
acting Chief OF staff, was with the
General Commanding. porting over the
maps OF the field which the engineers
had just finished; most of the stan
were stretched beneath an apple tree,
resting while they could.
It seemed that heavy pressure had
been brought to bear for an attack on
the enemy by the heads Of columns in
division. pouring the whole army on
the enemy's centre and smashing
through 1t after the old Napoleonc
plan, but Meade steadily resisted. The
enemy uds 10 tight him rhere he stood,
wds to come under the range OF this long
chain Of batteries on the creSts; wisely
decided, as the event proved.
The afternoon passed on in calm and
cloudless splendor. From headquar-
ters I rode down the Left, then back to
Slocum's headquarters. on high mill,
half or three-quarters OF a mile south
from the cemetery. on the Baltimore
pike. Everywhere quiet, the men
stretched lazily on the ground in line
OF battle. horses attached TO the Gals
sons, batteries numbered and the gun
ners resting on their guns.
The thunderbolts were shut up. like
Eolus's winds. 1t seemed as IL the sun
might set in peace over all this mighty
enginery of destruction, held in calm,
magnificent reserve.
The Rebel Attack on tho Left.
But unseen hands We're letting loose
the elements. General Meade had not
failed to see the comparatively exposed
position of our Left, and between 3 and
the order was sent out for the ex-
IRENE Left--then formed by Sickle's
(Third) Corps-to advance. II the en-
envy was preparing to attack us there
our advance would soon .unmask his
movements.
1t did. The corps moved out. spirit
eddy, OF course-when. even in disas-
trous days. did 1t go otherwise to bat
tle?-and by o'clock had found the
rebel advance. Longstreet was bring
ing up his whole corps-nearly a third
OF the rebel army-to precipitate upon
our extreme Left. The fight at once
opened, with artillery first, presently
with crashing roars OF musketry, too.
Rebel batteries were all ready in posi-
ton, and some OF them enfiladed Sick
less line. Our own were hastily set 10
work, and the most dangerous OF the
rebel guns were partially silenced
There came a rebel charge. with the
wild yell and rush; 1t is met by a storm
OF grape and canister from our guns,
depressed TO rake them in easy range
,, The line is shattered and sent whirling
/ back on the instant. Long columns
almost Immediately afterward begin to
debouch from the woods to the rear OF
| the rebel batteries-another and a
grander charge Is preparing. General
Warren, who as acting Chief Of STAFF
Is overlooking the fight for the Com
manding General, sends back for more
troops. Alas! Poor Sedgwick's corps
! is not yet available. We have only