Year: 1863

THE BATTLE OF WEDNESDAk Il.


The battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylva-
MIA. which was fought on Wednesday, was
precipitated by General Reynolds, who
lost his life early in the engagement 1t
is said, too, that it was fought by $4,000
men on our side, against $4,000 rebels.


General Buford's cavalry had previously
driven the rebels to the west of the town,
beyond the seminary, and between nine
and ten O'Clock, A. NJ, the rebels gave the
pickets pretty sharp brush and drove
them in. General Reynolds, with the
first corps, was on the road from Emmets-
burg to Gettysburg, en- route to the latter
place, which the road approaches through
the very scene of the conflict.


General Reynolds at once threw for
ward the first division, under General
Wadsworth, which began to drive the en-
envy from the start. Very soon after the
second division of the same corps went on
the right of the first division, the third di-
vision on the left of the first, and the
whole line began to advance. Nearly
west of the town, just in the outskirts,
near the seminary of which l have spo-
ken, is large brick edifice. Southwark
from this runs piece of woods, and the
seminary stands on ridge which slopes
to the west into little open valley of
ploughed fields and meadows, rich with
grass and grain. Beyond the valley is
ridge of high land, thickly wooded. The
valley runs in a southwesterly direction,
and at its lower extremity stands a large
farmhouse, near which the Eighth Illinois
cavalry was drawn up in the field, and
formed our extreme left. Several farm
houses dotted this same little valley
Across this valley General Reynolds line
advanced somewhat hastily, almost before
it was we'll formed, and in that condition
did not 60 far until against it heavy force
of the rebel infantry was Immediately
thrown, and General Reynolds was in
turn driven. But his troops retired step
by step, and in excellent order Forward
with the utmost enthusiasm pressed the
rebel line, eager now to turn Reynolds
retirement into rout. Some of the rebels
had too much energy and got too far for,
while they pressed too closely on the right
of the centre division, the left of the same
division was suddenly swept around, and
then enclosed in the handsomest manner
an entire rebel brigade under General
Archer.


General Archer and his whole staff
were taken. About fifteen hundred OF
the enemy's men thus fell into our hands
and went u the rear. Small regiments
were the order of this brigade; and when
an Alabama Colonel was asked where
the rest of his regiment was, he laconically
responded, "Gone to hell, sir


One of these prisoners said to another,
with some astonishment, o Hey! Jakey's
we're fighting the army of the Potomac
now" They seemed to think they
had hold of the militia The regiment
which made this capture were the 9th
Wisconsin, the Brooklyn 18th ard the 95th
New York.


Though the First corps still continued
to retire, the rebel force was broken soon
after this, and Gen. Reynolds now pre-
pared TO go forward in earnest. Appar-
emily forgetful that he had at first only
gone in to support cavalry, he was very
like to bring on a general engagement with
onlv one corps Formed as before, his
line went forward and drove the enemy
across the valley and over the ridge at the
further side; but it was at great expense
to us, as the fire with which they receiy-
ed our fellows was terribly severe. From
the hill the line of skirmisherS was thrown
out some distance, and Gen. Reynolds
went out to the line to reconnotre, when
he was hit by musket ball in the baci,
of the neck, and killed instantly.


In rather les. than an hour after the
fight began, the Eleventh corps came NJ
the same road by which the first had ap-
preached, and Gen. Howard at once as
sumed command of the whole field, while
Gen. ScburZ assumed command Of the
Eleventh corps. Gen. Doubleday had al
ready assumed command OF the First corps
Across the north side Of the town runs
creek, on which shortly after noon it wa:
reported the els were nassing troops
| apparently to take the first corps in it>
rear. To guard against an advance from
| that direction, Gen Howard sent forward
the First aud Third divisions OF the Elev-
enth corps, which moved across the rear
of the First corps and through the town,
and took up position with the First divis-
ion on the right. Gen. Steinweir's divs-
ion-the Second-was held as reserve.
Meantime two or three OF our batteries
held sharp parley with the rebel bate


ries posted on the hills that encircle ths
town, and their shells overshot our bate
rles somewhat and threw several shot in


among the solid people OF Gettysburg


"hether II frightened them or not | Cal


hardiy say doubt if they could cxpe


rehce an emotion so lively as that of fear


but they began to get out of the way, moi


the women and children particularly, bu


stalwart, able bodied wretches in men,


garments were what prinoi ally saw Oh


the road to the rear


At half-past two O'Clock while tho hat.


teries exchanged a heavy FIRE and som,
sharp mnsketry woke up the echoes on tl,s
right, the rebels advanced in heavy force,
against the first corps, which slowly re-


treated from the hills beyond the valley +,
high ground near the seminary, where i
prepared to make all the resistance it Wa