Year: 1863




and sixth the left; with the Sd as a reserve.


FORMATION OF THE LINE


The line was formed in this manner during the
night, the left resting ON the mountains between
the 1arrytown and Emmttsburg roads, and the
right the base of the mountain. opposite the
Cemetery hill, the line encircling the cemetery
and embracing the upper portion of the town.
Our artillery on Cemetery hill was largely rein
forced from the artillery reserve and earthworks
thrown up in trout of it. Batteries were also
planted on all the commanding positions within
the lines. and such of the reserve not
thus disposed of was held for use in the field
where and AS occasion demanded IT, The dspo
sitions we're most admirably made. and reflected
the highest credit on the Commanding General.


REAPPEARANcE or THE ENKMY


Scarcely we're these dispositions perfected and
the wearied soldiers thrown themselves upon the
ground to catch hours repose, when, at the
first dawn of morning, the enemy opened on
left with musketry and artillery. Oar men
sprang to their arms with promptness, and in the
gray light of morning the contest opened. To a
casual observer the attack seemed fierce and de-
termined, but the critical could discern that
much less vigorous than the assault of the previ-
evening, thus clearly showing that it was
mere demo Pastratlon to cover movements else
where. Still it was an obstinate result, and





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 kept up con-
tinuous and heavy shellng of the woods to the
north and east of the town in front of our lines,
through which il was coniectured the enemy was
crowding his columns 10 9ank that wing The
flp s,t,k,sa
developments proved. 1t ultimately was shown
that Longslreet had been Withdrawn from the
enemy's right, where he had fought on the prev-
Gus dav, and was moving around tO reinforce
Ewel on their left against right. Our fierce
cannonading retarded their movements some
what, but still they pressed on, and between
nine and ten O'Clock engaged our infantry in ear
nest.


THE SCENE or THE CONFLICT.


The western slope of the mountain is precipit
Gus and covered with dense growth of heavy
timber. rendering observation of the fighting in
this locality extremely difficult, and the position
of the cOntending armies could only be dscerned
by the curling wreathes of smoke. This ndica-
tion, which showed the enemy's position, caused
to place half a dozen batteries in position, and
these were kept at play, covering the line with
spteiul shells burning in air and among tree
tops, spreading consternationand dismay through
out the Rebel ranks. Still they were held up to
their work and fought like demons gaining some
ground at first, though our men yielded only by
the inch, and fought at close hand At first the
line, as indicated by the smoke, ran perpendicu-
larly up the mountain; but the battle pro-
gressed its regular form was broken. First the
right. then the left anon the center yielding
trifie gaining slight advance, though in the
main we were forced back. At this time the
fight was raging both on left and right, and
nearly the whole of our heavy artillery, as well
that attached to the several corps. was en-
gagged.


ARTILLERY IN FULL FORCE


We had more artillery at work than l have
known at any time in the operations of this army.
The enemy, too, had large number of batteries
at play, in different localities though throwing
principally solid shot, with which they endeavored
most faithfully to silence our batteries. Thus
the roaf of cannon unparalleled. drowning
completely the less noisy though no less continu-
rattle of musketry that ragged along the line
The demonstration grand and awful. Not
less than three hundred cannon were belchng
forth their thunders, while nearly two hundred
thousand muskets were being discharged as
rapidly as men hurried with excitement and
passion could load and discharge them.


ARRIVAL OF RESFoRcENESrs.


At this critical uncture, when our right was
sorely pressed and the fate of the day seemed wa
vering u considerable detachment of fresh troops
arrived and we're Immediately put into line on the
right. Where these reinforcemenrs came from or
what they were | have not been able to learn
They were raw recruits wearing nntarnished uni
forms aud bearing arms that were unsullied by
But they wheeled into line like veterans
and engaged IN tits heroic and de e,dly struggle
until the tale Of personal heroism displayed and
noble martyrdom suffered


TERRIFIC NATURE or THE COMBAT.


only relate the general result We drove the
enemy back with terrible slaughter The woods
on the steep slopes of that lofty mountain are
crowded with mangled corpses to tell of the
ferceness of the contest, and in their piles of
fallen men like national and Rebel troops inter
mixed fought like heroes. Their coming was
fortunate, and their aid determined the event of
the battle No sooner did they commence their
work than the enemy began to fall back, and
from that moment steadily crowded them
until falling back became retreat, and retreat
rout.


THE ENEMY COMPLETELY CHECKED


The effort TO Surn our right thus failed as sig
naly Ms had failed the effort on the left, and
again gloriously victorious. Let your
correspondents with the particular showing how
the contest swayed and how closely il was urged.
But the thickest and deepest are the piles of the
Rebels. It struggle for life or death with
them, and they fought men only will fight
when existence is the stake TOR which they con-
tend But they did not yield the victory with
this repulse on the right. They had tried both
our Aanks and had failed in each attempt


THE ATTACK on OUR CENTRE.


The centre was vet untried. Seizing few
moments for rest, they again mustered their for.
ces aud prepared assail us in the centre. Here.
thou0h we had not fresh trOOns we had those
who had days rest


THE SECOND CORPS


had assisted to some extent in the engagement on
the left the previous day but the lst corps had
been idle since the battle of Wednesday, and AL
though greatly reduced i'm numbers, were fully
rested and anxious once more to show their PROV
ess. when the attack came there were two corps
fully prepared for il. and having an open field in
which o fight. did noble work You have COR
respondents with these corps that will fully mar
rate their deeds of herUism. and the noble man.
ner in which they drove hack their assailants.


TIE ATTACK


was Of shorter duration but of no less ferceness
than that upon the left right. Bat the enemy
was too much demorazed aud too badly pun
ished to enter into the engagement with much
earnestness and were easily driven hack


They marched up the hill aud speedily marched
down again sadly worsted by the encounter
leaving the field strewn all with their dead
and dying. Yet again they rallied, and ranging
their three corps along our line prepared for a
final assault, as IL determined 10 discover a weak
point somewhere; and soon the attack came. At
every point they assaed and at every point
met earnest men and frowning batteries. dealing
death and destruction without stint Their
ale was broken and their assault was but weak
Tad hx DE- fhar