==
WO at the 'crikifixiOn, given by the Em-. ,
press Helena, the alleged discoverer of . ,
the cross, to . her son Constantine, as a
miraculouS protection from the fingers.-,
of the battle field. The - ecclesiastics who
exhibit-the :crown . . point' out as a Ter
matient'miracle; that there is not a sin
gle speck of rust upon the iron, though it
has now been exposed more than fifteen
hundred years. The earliest quasi , his . -
tbrical notice of the iron.crown la; that' it'
was used at the coronation . of Agilulfus,
Kingof Normandy; in the , year 591.
Bonaparet; after his coronation at Milan,
instituted a new order of knighthood for
Italy, entitled' the Iron Crown, on the
same principles aethat of the Legion of
Honor of France:
Cljt
WREN DISSOCRATIO PRINCIPLES CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE
TO HOLLOW."
WM. M. BRESLIN, Editor and Proprietor
LEBANON, PA.
VVELINESDAY . , JULY 8,1863
The Preservation of the Constitution
The Restoration of the Union.
And the Supremacy of the Lams.
DE'SIOCRATIC STATE TICKET
FOR GOVERNOR,
GEO. W. WOODWARD,
OF, LUZEUVE
FOR JUDGE OF TEE SUPREME COVRT,
WALTER 11. LOWRIE
OF ALLEGHENY.
tlection on Tuesday, October 13th, 1863
F,iorn Mexico we have news to the
effect. that the Mexicans have evacua
ted the pity of Mexico, and that the
French are how the possessors of that
country.' " -This is the result of years
.of civil war.
sE2Plir. Vallandigham reached Bur-
Inuda, on the 28d ult., on his way to
Clanada. He left the Southern States
with the consent of the authorities,
and safely ran the blockade.
ser The 4 'Copperheads " of Illinois,
in State Convention, a week ago, con.
tributed $47,500 for the wounded and
sick soldiers of that state. The Leg
islature had been dissolved by the
Governor and the abolitionists to pre
vent an appropriation of sloo,oop for
thesarne purpose. - The true friends
of the soldiers are the Democrats.
ri'''‘'venty thousand of the new
State volunteers aro to rendezvous at
"Beading,l7,ooo at Harrisburg, 3,000
at Huntingdon.
(Kr ONE CONWAY, an abolition
member of Congress from Kansas, has
recently been' sent - to Europe on a
mission by the abolitionists. It was
extensively announced as a mission of
&eat:importance, and now, in a pub,
lished correspondence between him
and Mr. Mason, the Confederate Min
ister in England, we discover what it
is. This, agent of the abolitionists
proposed to - Mr. Mason that "if, the
States calling_ themselves the Confed
erate States of America will consent
to emancipate the negro slaves in
those States; then the abol Lion ists will
_initaediately oppese the further pros.
ecution of the war, and that they will
cause the war to cease by the with,
drawal of every kind of support. ,
This proves that the abolitionists
would dissolve the Union for the sake
of the negro, and yet they have the
hardihood to charge upon Democrats
symPathy with the• rebellion.
Kr- Major General JOHN F. R.
Norms was killed in the battle at Get
tysburg, on Wednesday last, while gal
lantly - fighting at the bead of his corn•
mand. General REYNOLDS was a
brave and accomplished officer. He
was, born in Lancaster in 1820.
seVic- The Provost Marshals have
struetions from Washington to hurry
.up-thetoroliment i and a call for 300,
000 Men; it is said, will be made some
time this month.
Rear Admiral Andrew 11. Foote,
of the Unite,d States Navy, died last
Friday. evening a week at the Astor
Houie, 'New York, where be had for
some'tune been suffering from apals.
ful
THE ,NEW COMMANDER.-Major
Grtneral_lli.eade is described as .a tall,
slim, gray-bearded man, wearing
glasso,, `an old slouched hat, a blue
blouse with Corduroy pants tucked
into his long jack boots. He is un
gainly in looks and actions, plain of
speech and familiar and free in con•
versation when not occupied with
business. The whole style of the man
is unassuming and plain even to se
verlyt.
THE MILITIA GLORIOVSLY AT WORK
—There is.cmc matter in the account
of the great battle at Gettysburg, on
Friday, which is.deserving of marked
attention. This account says 'that
when the enemy massed his whole
force for an overwhelming,Attack on
the rightof General Meade's osition,
and ,bad success almost within: his
grasp, a . column of new troops ap.
peered on our side : and determined
the fate of the day. These troops
were the PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA.
Fur the Advertiser.
Mitxsachusetts and Peunsyl.
' nia
Enrrott , :—Since the invasion of
our State, I have 'been closely watching
the conduct of the New England States,
and more particularly that of Massachu
setts, and I find that I have not been de.
ceived in her. She has been foremost in ,
her counsels to Lincoln in the advocacr!
of measures calculated to aggravate the I
South, and destroy what Union feeling I
had existed there ; she has failed to put
her quota of men in the field to battle for
the extreme measures she instituted, and
in order partially to-fill up the deficit, she 1
steals Pennsylvania negroes. In her se- I
curity from invasion, Tier public journals )
are filled with abuse of our. State, charg,
ing us with 'the . desertion of our soil,
leaving it in the hands- of the merciless I
invader. .One of her eons introduced the I
levying of
in
and general;
plundering in a - Southern city, knowing
that retaliation would not be likely to fail
upon his distant • State: She has not sent
a.man to assist us in this hour of trial;-
but her coal Merchants' claim - to - have
raised the price of coal to twelve dollars
per ton.
Lincoln . is under the contra! of . the ex
tremists of the Massachusetts 'school, who
would sacrifice the whole State- Of, Penn-1
sylvania that a few negroee might - be
• freed. B. F. Mier was sent .to New
• Orleans, ostensibly to bring
• Louisiana
back into the Union, but his printipal.oc
cupation seemed to be stealing of negroes,
levying Contributions, and appropriating
the private property of citizens. • day
for retaliation has come,.not on Massa
chusetts, - but on • Pennsylvania. The
counties of York, Adams, Franklin...and
Cumberland - are laid waste, men, women
and children fleeing in all directiffrts, their
homes and firesides left to the mercy of
the invades. Has New England came
for Ward to our assistance in this trying
emergency': No, but her journals are
filled - with abuse for our apathy... What
resistance could Pennsylvania make, not
a single organized regiment in the State;
all sent forth to the - borders of NOrth 'and
South C:'arialina, to watch the negre - , while
the noble- States of New YOrk and • Ne*
Jersey, who .tobk the precaution to - retain
a militia force under .the immediate con
trol of their own Governors; came
promptly forward to our assistance.
It is a well known fact that• Pennsylv
ania has'more men in the field than .any
other State in the Union, propOrtion
to her population.. Where are-the.. fifteen
thousand Pennsylvania - Reiervee, who
were Organized for State defence. Alas!
a.many a hard fought battle . en,the Soil of
Virginia has left but few to defend their •
State now, yet Lincoln :calls.l..men us to
defend ourselves. How., many thousand
men from our border counties - are now in
different parts of the South, looking after
the interests of the poor black man,. When
their own homes and 'firesides are :invaded,
and their wives and families drive.n-before
the rebel hordes. But a just retribution .
awaits the present adniinietration.. . Penn
Sylvania should say, defend yourselves, we
requireour men to defend ourselves. • Tf
we are to be subject to annual invasions o f
this kind, when untold millions - of pro
perty are destroyed, it is time we put a
stop to dispatching - all our available forces
to different parts of the country. When
the State was, called upon to furnish fifty
, thousand troops, to be' under the control
I of Lincoln, for six months, she •refused,
not knowing but :that - they too,:mkjht, be
used for some other purpose than' State
defence ; but how different . when the. call
i for three -months men was' made under
I State authority thousands rushed to her:
I defence, and are continuing to Palm in.
It is.ill4,imed for the journalists of -Mas- .
suchusetts to talk of the apathy of , •Pennr.
sylvaniaria; When she has . i_done . :: . 'so little
herself to quell the stormshe. had a proini ,
nent part in • raising:- It true she. sent
her abolition - -agents, iota, this State,--and
• carried off fiiteen.•_ hundred. negroes - and--
enlisted them, receiving • cred it against the
draft, and no doubt she -has . her agents
along- the borders of. our State now, col
lecting all the contrabands she can get, to
do the • same with them. It seems her
I I white population
.have no disposition •to
carry on the war on their own accounti
and, therefore; send negroes from ether
'States to do the work for them. .
Has Massachusetts' .no interest .in
fending Pennsylvanial . I should suppose
she could at least have
,sent us. two or..
three kegiments, thereby doing us some
practical good, instead - •of heaping ablise
upon us for ,Mir 'apathy. • But .there is
still a plan open for her, to show her Jibe.,
rality towards the sufferers in our border
counties. I' understand .the coal mer
chants have resolved to raise the price of
coal to twelve dollars per ton. I would
1
1. suggest that the heavy profits they .make
out of the coal on hand. When the invasion
I was first made; be distributed to the suf.
I ferers in Cumberland, York,-Adams and
Franklin counties. This would •-be
dering some practical , sympathy at least:
LEI 3 11 , icks, July 60868.; • •
A Bearer of .Despatches
, A strange affair:nceurrodJa York
county on Wednesday night. A
soldier awakened a farmer near
Rockville, and demanded that be,
should instantly get up and give
him a horse, as his had :given out.
This the farmer refused to do,
and
the,soldier, then threatened to burn
his barn and"house if: he did not
comply. The farmer's .wife then
blew a horn (supposed to be a sig
nal to awaken the neighbors,) and,`
thereupon, the soldier said he would
shoot both the farthetand his wife,
and while draWing bia_revolver was
shot and killed by the farther. By
this time a number of the neighbors
had congregated, and upon exam
ining the body of the soldier found
that he was. a member of a :New
York cavalry cothpany.• They
found upon. his persen a number
despatches
,and papers, which
were brought to Gen. Schenck yes
terday. These were found to 'be
highly irriportant despatohes froth
Major General Meade,COrnita,rider
of the Army of the Potomae, to
Gen. Halledc.,Cemmander-in-Chief,
at Washington. - It appeal's that
the soldier was :the hearer - of these
deSpatches, and that;_ hie horse:
giving out, he 'bad made the de-
nand for one of the farmer, who,
not knowing whohe was, shot him.
The despatches were immediately
transmitted to General HaHeck.—
The name of the farmer or soldier
did not transpire. Colonel Donn
Platt, chief of General Schenck's
staff, has the affair under investi:
gation. ,• •
Gen. Meade graduated at
West : Pnint as an engineer in 1835.
He has - been in the army during
the whole war.
'lle was . Major of the Corps of
engineers on McClellan's staff on
the Peninsula. He succeeded
Gen. McCall in command of the
Pennsylvania Reserves after the
latter was captured at the battle of
Glen Dale and was appointed a
Major General of Volunteers on the
29th of November, 1862. He was
born in Spain under our flag, while
his father, a representative of . this
Government, Was abroad. He is a
brother of Capt. Richard W. Meade,
S. N., now in command octhe
receiving .ship North Carolina .at
New York.'-'
He is.a,,son-in-law of Hon. Geo.
M. Dallas.
. [Prom the Tin* Gazette.]
Occupation of York by the
Enemy.
News of the advanee of the forces
of the enemy upon York reached this
place on Friday last, and although it
was . believed to be - only a cavalry
raid, on Saturday it was discovered
by a Union scout that the force was
large, numbering some ten thousand.
Mr. Arthur Farquhar; a citizen of this
place, entered their • lines. some dis
tance from town, and Obtained. - per.
mission to inform the citizens of York
of their approach, on the condition
that he should return to their coin.
mand and inform them whether or
not our forces would make any resis
tance to the occupation of this place.
A meeting of the Safety Committee
was called, and it was then deterrnin
en, on occount of the strong force of
the enemy, to make no resistance;
and Chief BurgesS Small and George
Hay, Thomas White and
_W. Latimer
Small, members of the committee, ac
companied by Mr. Farquhar, went
out to meet the advance, to inform
them of the decision of the commit
tee, and ask the protection of the pri
vate property and unarmed citizens.
They met General Gordon, of Ear
ly'aDivision, and
.informed Jim that
having no- stifficient force to . -resist
their advance they were authorizeed
to ask that no injury he done the cit
izens, in their persons or private prop
erty. General
,Gordon heard their
request, and assured them that no
injury should be done to either.
On Sunday morning about ten o'-
clock the vanguard of the enemy ap-:
proaelied in threecolumns, the centre
through Main street. Gordon's Brig
ade passed through town and encamp
ed on the turnpike about two miles
east of town. General Early .next ar
rived with another brigade of his di
vision, - and after an interview with
the Chief Burgess, took possession of
the Fair ground and Government-hes
pital.. Thither the forces were sta
tioned with their - artillery, consisting
of some - fotirteen pieces, together
with their infantry, mounted riflemen,
cavalry,;&e. Headquarters were *es
tablished in -the Court House: Gen
eral' Early Occupied the Sheriff's of,
flee, the Provost Marshal the Regis
-ter's office, and other members of the
'staff of the general commanding, o
ther offices.
The following requisitions were
made upon the citizens by General
Early
Required the Use of Early's Divi
'on
Onlbundred and 'sixty.five barrels flour, or
twenfs , eigbt thoueand pound's baked bread,
Thirty-five hundred pounds sugar,
Sixteen hundred and fifty pounds coffee,
Three hundred gallons molasges,
Thirty-two thousand pounds fresh beef, or
twenty-one tbousond pounds )aacon or pork.,
The above articles to be delivered at the Mar
ket House on Main - street, at 4 o'clock, P. M
Wm. W. THORNTON,
•
Capt. and A. 0. S.
Required for the Use of Maj. General
Earlys 'Command.
Two thousand pairs Fboes or boots,
One thousand pairs socks, •
One thousand felt bats,
One hundred - thousand dollars irr money.
C. E. SNODORiSS ,
Maj. and Chf. Q. M. Early'si Div.
June 28th, 1863.
Approved, and the authorities of the town of
York will furnish the above articles and the
money required, for which certificates Will be
given.
S. A. EARLY,
Maj . Gea '1 Comnianding
A meeting of the'citizena was call
ed and-every effort was made to fill
the requisition. Upon the represen•
tition-of the committee appointed to
see to the obtaining of the required
articles, that they had done the best
in their power to do, General Early
signified his satisfaction and agreed
fo accept their offer.
Limit evening General' Early visited
--the railroad property and machine
shops in this borough, in company
with the Chief Butgess and other cit
izens, to see what should be destroy•
ed, but upon their urgent request ab
stained from burning them, because
their destruction would have endan ,
gered the safety of the town.
Beyond the destruction of switches,
portions of the track and of the tele.
graph, and some company cars yet re
maining here, no- public property, as
far as we are inform.ed, was destroy.
.ed. Several cars, the property of cit
izens, were not -disturbed. Last eve
ning Gordon's Brigade returned
through town and encamped several
miles froth the, borough on the Car
lisle 'road. This morning the other
brigades followed westward, ; with
their artillery and munitions. 'The
town is now no - .longer occupied by
the enemy-in force.; but a few pickets
and .scouts are passing through town
As we write, and:they are no doubt
yet in theeurrounding country . Let
- us' hope that they are on the, retreat,,
and that 00-invasion of our fair State
by the enemy may soon be at an end
and never again be repeated.
While the enemy was •in °coups,
Lion of the town the citizens were :
lett free to pass through the streets
unmolested from place to place,
though passes were required to ;
go out of town. Many horses and
cattle were taken, and the losses of .
our farmers are .heavy, though dur
ing the whole of the latter part of;
last week large droves with wagons
were passing through across the river.
In several cases the_ horses were
turned on identifietttil and demand
of the owners-. Guar s were placed
at the hotels stores, &e., and-the town
was kept comparatively quiet,—the
; soldiers being-under Very strict disci
;pline. Places of business being getter
.
ally closed, though in many cases
were.on request open& and articles
purchased, the soldiers and officers
paying for them in Ctilfederate mon
ey. So far as we are4nformed, their
promise to respect the rights of person
and property was kept.' •
The-time the eneruFsmained hero
in force was nearly two days,on.d long,
weary days they wer*rendered; - more
dark by the glootny'4eatlier. Which
prevailed. The apprehension, excite
ment and humiliatiowat the preitence
of the enemy, togetherAvith the vital
.suppression of business; cast a aniver•
sal gloom over the Vape, which, we
pray we - maybe sparan from ever be
holding again. But:the people sub
mitted withbecomilesigriatjou to
-n
mperious ebessi ty.
.. hat sliffll yet
be our fate ; dr the fare ;Of our beloved
country, must be- deYeloped by. the
future. God grant us a'happy deliv
erance. •
•
The rebel force in.and.:around York
.
consisted of Early!spivision, madaup
of -Gordon's, Beyets,
Smith's ("Extra Billy" recently elec.
ted Governor of Virginia) brigades,
and n umbered about - jen thousand
men in cavalry, artillery and infantry.
Theirpannon sere part. of those cap
tured fro.rn Milroy at Winchester, and
consisted of heavy:, hl'. nss. pieces - and
five•ineb-Parrot rifled guns. 'Some of
these'were planted on the hills -com
manding the borough early on Sun
day morning. . .
The amount of money received on
their requisition or demand for .5100,
000, was about $28,000. The com
pliance,-in part, of their demand, be.
yond alt doubt, saved , the burning of
all the shops and buildings of the rail
way Company and machine shops
where Government work is done, the
burning of which )votild have involv
ed the destruction a. an immense a
mount of private property An..t..he im
mediate neighborhood of these 'shops.
'important from,Cuber
land Vatle m
r.
BATTLE AT CARLISLE
1 93
HARRT . UR°, July 2.
..Yesterday morns„ :the last of the
rebel infantry move - throrgh Oar
lisle. Our forges tinder Gen. W. F.
Smith slowly but ste4dity advanced,
driving in their outpo s, :
Skirmishing took •oe along -the
whole line, with det4hed portions of
the rebel cavalry and4rtillery, gener
ally resulting in their being driven
back. Our forcOs,th . ) cavalry being
in advance, entered Marlisle at 9 A.
M., thejnfantry-at 4P. M., and con
tinued to come in
.up . e 8 P.M.'
Between six zindse. en a lar,ge col
umn of :dast antionnt,d theapproach
of the enemy on= the, Oact -reading to
Yorl4,in the rear of tarlistia7'=- '''.
Soon after a flag of truce appeared
and a demand Was sq tin for an un
conditional surrender . ' by Gen. W. F.
H. Lee. General Smi b promptly re
fused to entertain it,: , nd the enemy,
haVing placed their I.rtis -(a battery
of six pieces)in posit on to the left of
the barracks, common ed to shelf the
town; Smit , replied from
his gtinfi, . which
in the main street n
of the town.
During the > shellini a detachment
of the enemy made detour around
the read; fired :the
The gas 'i.VOrlts- were n -fi
Ise. set ore,
the sparks 'from ,wh y '
::are said to
have burned "several: - lumber yards,
one private &rain : and several
barns. The -shelling
,reentinued from
seven until after ten in the evening.
Some of the eitizen4 are known to
be injured. The 03hrt " .Rouse was
damaged and several - shells fell upon
the college building arid grounds
Our loss is stated a, ten wounded;
the enemy's is not kikiwn. After the
bombardment ceased; Gen. Lee sent
in anottferflit„cr.of truce, notifying the
women and children to leave the town
by ten ceolo*this tow ng.,-- : ,
• A telegraph operstiir,:"whe left the
town this, morning-ay-half-past seven,
states that the excitement of the cit
izens during the boinbardment was
very great, and that they were leav
ing on foot this morning in every di
rection. "
The enemy fell back on, the York
road, - after sending in-the flag of truce
and their pickets weriseen this morn
ing in the rear of the town . •
Up to noon there lissbeen no intel
ligence of the renewal of the attack
upon the town, but every confidence
is had in General Smith's ability, not
only to hold the ,place, but, unless the
enemy rapidly _retires, his flanks and
rear _will be obstructed, And
. his force
•
probably captured.
The citizens in tie -vicinity give
Lee's force 3,000 cavalry and one
battery of six guns, light 12 pounders
' HARRISBURG, July 2—Midnight.--
The rebel
,force which
,:was in the
neighborhood of Carllsle, thii; morn
ing, has fallen back in , the direction of
the main body. of Lee's army.
First Battle• Nein- sGettys-
hurgl
Near Gettysburg, Pa July 1: The
,
first heavy engagement on Pennsyl
vania soil was commenced at 9 o'clock
this morning jbetween the rebele, !le
der Generals Longstreet and Hill, and
the First and Elevnth Corps, un
der Generals Meade a nd Iteynelds.
Tbo locality of the battle is beyond
Gettysburg, on the Cha.mbersburg
pike.
Portions ofthe fight have been very
severe, and attended with heavy loss.
Thus far the (mot of the enemy has
been successfully resisted by the two
Corps mentioned
The• Third 'and TWelfth Corps are
now coming up.
I regret to say that Major• General
Reynolds was mortallyWonaded, and
has since died.
Later A 0c0m,48 Of ,the-,BattlesHear Get
! ' tositry.
BALTIMORE, July 3.
We learn from= officers - ofltaiyaolds i
staff that our forces passed through
Gettysburg at 'lO o!clock yesterday.
morning, and when a quarter of a
' mile west of town encountered the
command of Longstroet and Rini - and
Rcyriold's corps was in the advance.
lit stood the force of the attack until
relived by the 3d corps, and a com
manding position was secured.
The rebel's made strong attempts
to flanit our position ; but were ro
,
pulsed, and, while repelling th e m Ma
jor General Reynoldsf_and 'Brigadier
General PauFfell, under a vollny from
the rebel -infantry. They were
i mounted and at the head of their
troops.
In the course of the conflict our
troops: changed -to a -stronger' posi tion,
rand the fight ceased Tor the day at 4
o'clock
At-the close - Of -the evening,..the
whole Army of the Potomac* bad
reached the field, and General Meade
bad all his corps strongly. posted for
the renewal of the b 4 le this morn: .
ing.
The loss of the enemy was consid
ered fully equal to ours. Our loss in
officers was severe.
Colonels Stone and Wistar aro
both 'wounded and taken - prisoners.
Col. Wistar commanded a Pennsylva
nia regiment, (the Bucktails) and the
2d brigade of the lat Army . Corps,
and was acting Brigadier of the 21st
brigade. General Newton took com
mand of the let Army Corps ; at the
fall of Major-General Reynolds.
During -the, night of Wednesday
Gen. Meade arrived and commenced
fortifying the
. by constructing
abattia and throwing up earthworks
for a distance . of over a mile, in the
form of a crescent, his left, resting
upon the hills east of town. There
was no fighting on the morning of
Thursday. We occasionally threw
shell into' the woods north and west
of the town ae.feelers, but developed
notilfig but pickets *and skirmiSiiVrs.
Gen. Meade, however 3 -knew 'that he
had a cunning eneiny,' and relaxed
none of his vigilance : and caution.
About twelve o'clock skirmishing
commenced bn our left es.ntre, and
was kept Up on both Sides quite brisk
ly by the sharpshooters. About four
o'clock cannonading and shelling com
menced moderately on our extreme
left,Where the 3d Corpse Gen. Sickels
and 2d Corps, Generallfancock, were
,posted, and in the course of an hour
increased to the most „terrific degree,
accompanied by repeated onslaughts
from their infantry, who yelled like
so many hyenas.
. . ,
Their intention win undoubtedly to
turn our left, to accomplish which
purpose they had, as usual, massed
their full firee upon our extreme left.
Gen. Lee conjectured that our ammu
nition train was parked in that quar
ter, and wished to capture , it; but
0-en. Meade had - taken theprecaztion
to place his old 7
ceipsthe sth—there
in reserve - to guard:against any such
surprise. -
Between five and six o'clock the 3d
Corps, haviit withstood with fright
ful loss 'many successive charges of
the enemy's infantry, began to show
signs of weakness, and the sth were
ordered to charge in and relieve them
which theydid with
.a will, forcing
the enemy back a mile and a half and
making Many prisoners. Persons
who have- never witnessed a battle
can have no conception of the grand
eur of the scene. • The air was per
fectly LI) ick with the bOrsting
and the firing of the musketry filled
the 'space with bullets, like hailstones
in a summer's shower, seattering de
struction. and . death. on every side.
This'was, UndOubtedly '
the fiercest
contest of the war, and the loss on
both sides must 'be terrible. The en.
emy were most desperate in the at
tacks. Brigade after brigade were
marched up against Sickle's and Han
cock's columns with the most demo
niac fury., and having delivered their
fire till their 'strength was spent, they
would full down and let,.another .line
march .over them, and perform the
same manoeuvre, while they would
deploy and recruit for a repetition of
the same role.
ere..mounted
r the centre of
Meanwhile, our boys stood like
walls of stone, and received theirfire,
returning it with interest, while our
light batteries mowed the enemy
down with grape and eannister, till
the sth Corps came to their support,
and delivered their fire. Then it was
that with one magnifieent,combined
enthusiastic charge they dispersed
the rebels and drove them back from
their designs upon our left.
•
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TEE POTOMAC,
~.Friday, July 3, 1863.
The decisive battle of the war
has been fought to-day, and the
enemy have been repulsed with ter
rific loss. At daylight Lee's right
wing batteries opened upon our
left, and shOrtly after those of his
centre foll Owed. After half an
hour's cannonading, doing but lit
tla damage to us, the - fire slackened
and only
. occasional shots were ex
changed.. Shortly after Wards the
enemy's left, composed entirely-of
infantry,and Sharpshooters, made
'an attack on our right wing. So
suddenlY and impetuously was it .
accomplished that our skirmishers
and front line were driven back
Thursday's Battle.
The Battle of Friday.
from their entrenchments, but by
aid of the batteries in the rear and
the indomitable bravery of the 12th
Corps we regained the first posi
tion,capturiug a considerable num
ber of prisoners.
Several hours of ominous silence
followed-this repulse. At 1 o'clock
the enemy fired two shots, appa- I
rently as signals for the grandest
artillery fight ever witnessed on 1
this continent. Before a moment I
had elapsed it is estimated that at
least eighty guns opened upon us. I
Our batteries returned the compli
ment with interest. The air seemed ,
literally thick with iron, and for
more-than an- hour it seemed im
possible, that man or beast could
live through it. - Strange. to say,
the enemy's accuracy of range as
.exhibited on the two previous - days
was wanting
,on this occasion.—
Most of . ltherri Shells exploded far
in the rear of our front, and gene
rally missing our batteries. -
' Under cover of this fete d'enfer
Lee advance . his columns of in
fantry for Overs, and made
several de .attempts to carry
ourlinfs jr - ' Ault, but each . sue
i Os
cessive atte ' was repulsed with
terrible havolto their ranks. Af
ter an Boni incessant cannon.
ading the rew less intense for
itg
a short ti ut.was again renew
ed for a short period • with equal
spirit.
During this period some of our
'batteries, whose ammunition had
been exhausted, ceased to fire, and
on the approach of the . reserve
batteries, withdrew to the rear.—
The enemy only seeing - the batte
ries withdrawing, and mistaking
I ibis for a retreat, made a rapid in
fantry charge up the hill, and ob
tained a position in our line, cut
ting to pieces and almost annihi
lating, the small infantry supports;
I but before they had time to rejoice
at their imaginary success, the
fresh batteries poured -in a deadly
fire of cannister and case shot.—
The infantry reserve joined on ei
ther- flank 'of the':' gap, . charged
I them, and added- greatly to their
I destruction. They - Were complete
!iy surprised, and hundreds threw
:down their arms and asked- for
quarter. Nearly the entire brigade
lof Gen. Dick Garnett surrendered,
and Garnett himself was wounded
1 an& barelwa,ade his-..escape.
About:4.3o P. isi. the artillery of
the enemy slackened, and bad en
itirely ceased at
.5 o'clock, the last
I shots which they fired being far
lbeyond their original position, and
i the infantry volumes had with
! drawn to their. covers.
We captured upwards- of 8,000
prisoners, while the enemy took
but few of ours. -
So terrific was the enemy's fire
that the small house where Gen.
Meade and staff Were quartered
was perforated by several shots.—
Many of the , staff's horses were
killed around the house.
~Several of our general officers
were wounded in the engagement
Gen. Hancock was wounded , in
the leg. Generals Gibson, War
ren and Hunt were wounded. In
consequence of the excitement and
difficulty in ascertaining their lo
cation, the names of .many promi
neat officers reported as killed or
wounded cannot be ascertained to
night.
Too much credit cannot be given
to our batteries, the men attached
to which for hours stood to their
guns under a.boiling sun, and sur
rounded by. the missiles of death,
retiring only to give their position
to others when their caissons and
limbers were exhausted of ammu
nition.
The infantry engaged also nobly
did their duty; and the
.enemy to
day at their hands have received
the greatest disaster ever adminis
tered by the Union forces.
Al]. the officers award the high
est honors to Gen. Meade for the
able generalship he has displayed
since he assumed the command,
a.mu particUlarly for his coolness,
deciSion . and energy, on this mem
orable third of July.
HANovEa, Pa., July 4-5 P.
There has been - no fightitieup'to this
time to-day. Last evening we drove
the enemy back to Gettysburg. Our
lines this morning extend eight miles
around Gettysburg, our batteries be
ing on all the bills looking on the
town from the South. We occupy
Round Top Ridge, commanding the
Chambersburg turnpike, and have cut
off all the lines of retreat. Our forces
hold the strongest possible position,
A flank movement on our left is im
possible. At about 8 o'clock last
night the Florida brigade of General
Longstreet's Division, with a briga
dier General in con.treand, advanced
to' within . , our lines and gave them
selves up with their colors. A bearer
of dispatches from Xeff..DaVis to Gen.
Lee has been captured. The dispatch
es order General Lee peremptorily to
return to Richmond, and state the
movement into Pennsylvania was
wholly against his Wishes.
BALTIMORE, Inly s.—The American
has information that the rebel army
is in full retreat, having eomm eneed
on Friday night. Many thousand
prisoners and a large number of can.
non captureed. Eight hundred and
fifty rebel prisopers, largely compos
ed'of Alabama troops, cap turod from
Longstreet's corps in Wednesday's
fight, arrived here this morning.
More prisoners are announced at
the depot, and accounts from up the
road say there are large trains at va.
rions points on their way down, while
there are said to be acres of them
waiting transportation.
A messenger who left headquarters
on Friday night, states that General,
Meade advanced and occupied Gettys
burg during . the night without oppo
sition. Firing was heard early on'
Saturday morning towards Grettys- -
burg, and it was supposed to proceed
from our forces pursueing Lee.
The Retreat of the Rebels.
NEAR GETTYSBURG, Silly 5,
VIA WARRINGTON, July 6.
The enemy have retreated towards
the Potomac.
Their skirmishers were drawn in
last nightand a small cavalry force,.
(probably the -rear guard,, passed
through Emktsburg this morning at•
about daylight.
Onr troops have been engaged all
day in burying the dead; relieving
the wounded, and collecting arms—
many thousands of which belonged to
the rebels.
General Lee yesterday paroled
bout 2,000 Union prisoners. T_ hey"
were-received'by Gen. Couch. It is
not
,true as stated that. Longstreet
was captured or killed. Genf: Hunt,
Chief of Artillery was not wounded,
Both of these reports were-at first ap
parently well authenticated and fully
believed.
The rebel pontoon bridge at Dam
No:4 .has been destroyed by our cav
alry, who were almost, entirely unop-,
posed, and the Cavalry, at the lasted
vices, had gone up to. Williamsport to
destroy the two bridges there.
Other preparations are in progress
to intercept Lee'e passage of the .Po
tomac, and our army is already in mo
tion.
So much time; however, - has elaps
ed since Lee _commenced - to, withdraw
from our front, that his advance may
hate reached Williamsport in 'time to
cross before we can prevent it.
The Rebels in Full Retreat.
HARRISBURG, July 6-1.. A.
Official information leaves no
doubt that Lee's army is in full re
treat. The line of retreat is not
definitely known. It is either
through Cashtown or Fairfield,
Whichever way it is Gen. Meade
appears to have the advantage,
he is posted at Gettysburg, and is
pushing out forces both towards
Newman's Cut, directly west, and
to Fairfield, southwest. Nothing
is known as to the exact situation.
Lee is probably trying to retreat by
both routes.
It is supposed :hat he does-not
know of the destruction of the pon
toon bridge.
The position of the rebel army
last night was, with his left near
Ilunterstown and his right across
the Emmetsburg road, thus .form
ing a semi-circle around Gettys
burg. General Meade operates,
frbm the centre and Lee on the are
of a circle.
No information can be sent_ as to
the movements of our army, but
all our Generals are vigilant and
the troops in the best of spirits..
Thereis no truth in the report of
the capture of Longstreet or Mil.
There is a dead major general in
on hands--name miknown.
The rumor of the capture of
25,000 rebels and 118 pieces of ar
tillery seems to be unfounded-
A dispatch was received/ .-.ons
Monday night by the Governor,.
stating that Gen. Gregg's- cavalry
captured 4,000 of the enemy, at -
F - ayettville, Franklin county;, yes
terday. -
'HARRISBURG, July 6.---In answer- to Fa
ng inquiries concerning General Couch's
movements, it must be stated that:lie - has
pushed forward all his - effective force to
co-operate and join with the Artny of the
Potomac, and is; by order of Gen.. Meade:
pushing the regiments forward as rapidly
as they are organised. 'The country may
rest assured that he is doing
.all in his
power. His advance is contact with the
enemy and aiding in the glorious results_
Gen. Lee so far as known holds all the
passes in South Mountain leading'into the
Cumberland Valley from Gettysburu.—
This is done for the purpose of removing
his trains which are now pushing for Vir
ginia.
The mountains are full of disorganized
trams belonging to Lee's army, _who are
coming within our lines every hour. No
accurate estimate of the number can be
made, but it is very large.
The troops under Gen. Pierce, formerly
Milroy.'s, arrived yesterday at Chambers
burg, and pushed on to Greencastle; where
they captured 500 prisoners, 10 wagons
loaded with plunder, and Three pieces of
artillery. The prisoners were Strawlers,
who were making their way to the Poto
mac, in company with the wagon train.
A dispatch from near C'hambersburg
this morning, states - that heavy Bring is
heard in the direction of Hagerstown.
It is- believed that General French has.
made an attack in that vicinity on the
trains moving towards Virginia.
The order requiring passes to cross the-
Susquehanna was this morning tempora—
rily revoked.
The Intercepted Diqpntehes
ofJeft: Davis in Gen- Lee.
NEW Youx., July 6.--The Times
says the contents of Jeff. Davis' dis , -
patches to General Lee, which *rem
captured on Thursday, are in sub
sthnce as follows:
A peremptory order to withdraw
from Pennsylvania. -
An order for Ilia transportation to
fall back to Hagerstown forthwith,
assigning its a reason thm Lee's posi
tion is too hazardons; and- the condi
tion ofßichmond ix too defenseless to
warrant his remaining any longer,
that the Advantages to be gained'are
not sufficiently great- to.commsate
for the risk he runs.
lie also refuses Lee's- request to al
low Beauregard to reinforce him, and
orders him South of th.e Potomac forth
with.