Year: 1863

Friday, July 3.


About It.. o'clock this afternoon, the en-
emy sent his first compliments by salvo
of artillery, his first shells falling uncom-
tortably near General Meadc's headquarters
From this hour forth to 81, o'clock, oc-
CURED by all odds the most sauguinary en-
gagcments yet chroniclcd in the annals Of
war, considering its short duration. The
artillery attack which was made hy the en-
emy on the left and center was rapidly fol
lowed by the advance of his infantry. The
Third Corps received the attack with great
coolness. The rebels at once made for our
flank, and kept moving heavy columns in
that direction. This neccssitatcd support,
which was quickly given by the Fifth
Corps. The division of General Barnes
being sent to the right, and that of General
Ayres, regulars, TO the left, General Craw-
ford was held in reserve.


The battle now became perfectly fearful.
Tho armies engaged each other at very
short range. and for over three hours the
war of musletry was inccssunt | have
heard moro noise, louder crashes in other
battles, but never saw or heard of such
desperate and tenacious fighting as took
place on this flank. The enemy would bring
up suddenly heavy column of men, and
force our line back, only TO be in turn forced
back by our own line of glittering steel.
Our gallant columns covered themselves
with glory over and over again. They
fought superior forCo in numbers. The
dispositions of the enemy were very rapid,
for look where you would on that field, a
body of rebels would be advancing. Our
dispositions were equally rapid, and the
enemy found more than their equal in such
gallant veterans az Sicklcs and Brney and
Humphreys. At half-past six Gen. Siclllcs
was struck in the right leg by piece Of
shell, and borne from the field The injury
was so great that amputation became neccs-
sary, and 1t was performed successfully
the limb being taken off below the knee.


The struggle now grew hotter and hotter
The Second Corps was called on for aid, and
though its own position was strongly
threatened, yet the first division formerly
General lIancocks, flung themselves into
the fight with desperation and after long
and obstinate conflict, the enemy slowly
and sullenly gave way, In this last charge,
the brigade of General Caldwell, Second
Corps, and that of Colonel SwitZer, from
the Fifth Corps, won great honors. The
charges made by our men deserve mention,
but want of time forbids. The rebels made
frequent attempts to capture our artillery,
and at one time had Watson's battery in
their posaossion; but it was retaken in a
furious charge by Birney's division.


The battle lasted till fully 8h o'clock,
when the enemy fell back to his old posi-
tion, and left our veterans the ensangrined
yictors Of that field. Our pickets were
thrown out, and our lines covered most Of
tho field including great number of the
enemy's dead and wounded


visited some portions of the line by
moonlight and can bear personal witness
to the terrible ferocity of the battle. In
front Of some of our brigades, who had
good protection from stone walls or fences.
the rebel dead laid piled in lines like win.
rows of hay. In front of General Webb's-
the Philadelphia-brigade, they lay so
thick as to literally cover the ground.


Not far from here was found the body of
General Rarksdale, that once naughty and
violent rebel, who craved as a dying boon
cup OF water and a stretcher from an am
IUance-boy. lie is literally cut to pieces
with wounds, and must die


A great and magnificent feature of this
severe fight is the splendid use of artillery.
Though our line of baltic was only a mile
and a-half long, yet almost every battery
belonging to the Army of the Potomac was
more or less engaged. Every one of the
reserve batteries was brought into action.
the positions for use being numerous. The
enemy also used artillery largely, but not
to near SO great an extent as we did. From
this they suffered immensely, and especially
on the left, where canister was largely
used believe we lost no artillery, unless
IL was two or three disabled pieces, though
1t was very wonderful we did not.