Year: 1863




.7sa of The Battle Oh Fridry.


~ s1 GETTYSBURG, July 4: 1863.


PREPARATIONS Fer FRIDAY BATTLE.


During Thursday night our army was
all brought up, and most admirably dis.
posed OF by General Meade for the appre.
hended battle of Friday. At midnight a
council of war was held at which it was
determined that the enemy would proba-
bly, renew the attack at daylight on the
following morning, and that for that day
we had better act purely on the defensive.
Dispositions were therefore made with
this view for the Eleventh and Twelfth
corps to hold the right, with reinforce
ments of fresh troops expected during the
day to act as a reserve; the First and
Second the centre, and the Fifth and
Sixth the left, with the Third as q reserve.
FORMATION OF THE LIFE sssss sa.ss-i


The line was formed in this manner
during the night, the left resting on the
mountains between the Tarrytown and
Emmitsburg roads, and the left at the
base of the mountain, opposite the Cense-
terry Hill; the line eucirciing the cemetery
and embrasing the upper portion of the



was largely reinforced from the artillery
reserve and earthworks thrown up in
front of it. Batteries were also planted on
all the commanding positions within the
lines, and such of the reserve as was not
thus disposed of was held for use in the
field where and as occasion demanded it.
The dispositions were most admirably
made, and reflected the highest credit on
the Commanding General


REAPPEAE4NCE Oh TIE ENEMY.


Scarcely were these dispositions perfect
ed, and the wearied soldiers thrown them
selves upon the ground TO catch an hour 5
repose when, al the first dawn OF morning,
the enemy opened on our left with mus
kerry and al t!llery. Our men sprang TO
their arms with promptness, and In the
gray light Of morning the contest opened
To a casual observer fierce and determined,
but the critical could discern that it was
much less vigorous that the assault of the
previous evening, thus clearly showing
that it was neIe demonstration TO cover
movements elsewhere. Still, it was an
obstinate assault, and ragged with much
pertinacity. But II deceived no one; and
though the battle ragged for several hours
with great fury, our chief attention was
wisely directed toward the right.


OPENING OF OUR BATTERIES.


One of our batteries opened, and kent
up a continuous and heavy Smelling OF the
" oods to the north and east OF the town
in front Of our lines. through which it was
conjectuYcd that the enemy was crOwdiuc
his columns 10 faux that wing The con
lecture was partly correct, as subsequent
developments proved 1t ultimately was
saoTn that l.ougstrcet had been with
drawn from the cucmy's right, where hg
had fought on the previous day, aud was
moving around 10 reinforce Ewell on their
left against cur right. oar fierce cannon
al!ng retarded Their movement, some
what, but still they pressed On, and be-
tween nine and ten o o'clock, engaged our
infantry IN earnest.


THE SEINE OF THE CONFLICT


The western slope of this mountain is
precipitous and covered with dense grow Ia
OF heavy timber, rendering observation of
Inc HghUug IN tnIs IocaHJy extremely
d!:hcult, and the position of the contend
ing parties could only be discerned by the
curling wTcaths OF smoke. This Indication,
which showed the enemy position, caused
u to place half = dozen batteries in posi-
ton and these were kept ut play, cover
ing the line with spitiui shells burning in
air and among tree tops, spreading con
stcrnation and d!smay throughout the
rebel ranks Still they were held up 10
their work and fought like demons, gam
iug some ground IL first, though our men
Welded only by the inch, and fought al
close hand AT first the line, as Indicated
by the smoke, ran perpendlcularly up the
mountain but as the battle progressed
lis regular form was broken. First the
right, then the left. anon the centre yield
ing tritie or gaining u slight advance
though in the main We were forced back
At this time the tight was raging both OIL
left and right, and nearly the whole ot oui
heavy artillery, as well as that attached
70 the several corps, was engaged.


ARTILLERY II FULL FORCE


We had more artillery at work than
have known at any time In the operations
of this army. The enemy, too, had a large
number OF batteries IN play IN different
locations, though throwing principally solio
shot with which they endeavored NOR,
faithfully to silence our batteries. Thu:
the roar of cannon was unparalleled
drow ming completely the less noisy though
no less continuous rattle of musketry tina
RACED along the line The demonstration
was grand and awful Not less than thre,
hundred cannon were be!ching forth the
tilunders, while nearly two hundred thou
sand muskets were being discharged a
rapidlv as men hurried with exctemen
and passion could load and discharg
them.


! ARRIVAL OF REINroRCEMESTs.


At this critical juncture, when our ri Oh
was severely pressed and the fate Of tn
day seemed Tavering, 4 considerable de
tachment OF fresh troops arrived and wer
Immediately put into line on the right
| Where these reiniorcements came from o
what they were | have not been able t
learn. They were recruits, wearing un
tarnished uniforms and bearing arms tha
were unsuilied by use, But they wheeled
into line like veterans, and corps engage
in this heroic and deadly struggle unit
the tale ofpersonal herolsm displayed, an
noble rnaltyrdom suffered


TERRIFIC NATURE OF THE COMBAT.


only relate the general result, we tlrov
the enemy back with terrible slaughtel
The woods on the steep slopes OF that loft
mountain are crowded with mangle
corpses to tell of the fiercen@ss of the CO,
test and in their piles of fallen men lik
national and rebel troops intermixe
fought like heroes Their coming wa
fortunate, and their aid determined th
event of the battle. No sooner did the
commence their work than the enem
began to fall back, and ilom that momer
we steadily crowded them until fal!in