The New York Herald Newspaper, July 6, 1863, Page 4

4 brought around to the right to reinforce Early, | The enemy left many dead upon the fleldend and as the scheme was developed it appeared | @ large number of wounded in our hands. that the early attack on the left was intended The loas upon our side has been considera- merely as a diversion to cover this movement. | ble. Major General Hancock and Brigadier From a distance the progress of the fight | General Gibbon were wounded. could be observed by the curling smoke rising After the repelling of the assault, indications above the woods, marking the line of the fierce | leading to the belief that the enemy might be contest, withdrawing, an armed reconnoissance was In this’ struggle our reserved artillery was pushed forward from the left and the enemy brought into play, and did most excellent ser- | found to be in force. vice from impromptu positions on the elevated At the present hour all is quiet. points back of Cemetery Hill, shelling the face My cavairy have been engaged all day on of the mountain where the enemy were suppos- | both flanks of the enemy, harassing and vigor- ed to be. This reserve fire of shell, added to the | ously attacking him with great success, notwith- steady and unflinching ardor of the glorious standing the encountered superior numbers, Twelfth corps, ultimately checked the vastly su- | both of cavalry and infantry. perior force of the enemy, who for an hour or two The army is in fine spirits. had been gradually advancing. At the critical GEORGE G. MEADE, juncture, about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, Major General Commanding. one or t ‘ades of New York troops, sup- posed to be tia from Pennsylvania, arrived, and were immediately thrown into position to reinforce right wing, which was being so badly pressed. This assistance determined the fate of the day. The enemy quailed before it, and soon the curling smoke that marked the line of the contest began to recede, surely indicating that the enemy were falling back; but if they gaye away at all it was bnt slowly, fighting at every step; and thus the battle raged for hours, and until afternoon, when the enemy abandoned the field in that direction. But they did not yet yield the day. For a ‘period hostilities seemed to be suspended; but the suspension was very brief. The rebel columns seemed to be moved as if by magic, and within a n hour their whole force was massed directly in our front, and once more the fierce and deadly contest opened. This time it was an assault along the entire line—a last resort, the forlorn hope of the enemy. They were weakened in numbers and dispirited and utterly demoralized; yet Lee had a reputa- tion to save and a name to make, and at any sacrifice of life he seemed bound to win the day; but hé@strove in vain. The {Union troops were fighting at home and among their own people. They fought like herges, and, inspirited by success, they had no thought of de- feat. They could have withstood three times the force the enemy hurled against them. It was mere play for them to drive back the columus of. the rebels, and so they did drive them back, and at five o’clock, after more than twelve hours constant fighting, the contest ter- minated, the national troops victorious at every point, and having nearly the entire battle field in their possession. Time fails me to dwell upon the de- tails of this brilliant and glorious bat- Wasainaron, D.C., July 4—10.30 A. M. tle. It would be interesting to state The President announces to the country that how wo took thousands on thousands of | newsfrom the Army of the Potomac up to ten prisoners, how the enemy were slaughtered, |} P. M. of the 3d, is such as to cover that army how our men fell by thousands, heroically de- | with the highest honor; to promise a great suc- fending their national emblem; but let all this | cess to the cause of the Union, and to claim the « be deferred : the day is ours, the victory is won, | condolence of all for the many gallant fallen, the country is saved. and that for this, he especially desires that on At the close of the action General Lee had | this day, He, whose will, not ours, shouid ever the impudence to send in a flag of truce asking ] be done, be everywhere remembered and reve- seuspension of hostilities, to give him time for | renced with the profoundest gratitude. the burial of the dead and an exchange of ABRAHAM LINCOLN. prisoners. General Meade replied that he in- Cae THE DETAILS tended to recapture all the prisoners the enemy had taken, and that he would OF THE bury their dead for them. Failing in this at- tonnpt to: golly tien;-end-badigy womnied stall THREE DAYS BATTLES. hands, the rebels had no other recourse but to avail themselves of the fast approaching night to fall back to the mountains. So precipitate was their retreat last night that their guards and sentinels in town were not relieved, and reached the heights overlooking the town we heard th were captured. guns, which told us that Buford’s cavalry and howitzers This morning upwards of eleven hundred | wore skirmishing with the enemy's advance, about three aggle taken yeburg miles to the weetward of the town. Our information is, ote Ke bacgne in Gott ; besides that the enemy is there in force, with the prospect of M4 our wounded who had fallen into the enemy’s | gnarp engagement, if not » decisive battle. hands on Wednesday. At early daybreak Geae- . cabin haan tilta, ba se byt Pane ‘i came ly nn, hoping Je to despatc! ral Pleasanton was started in pursuit of the letters or mesaages, bat learn thet a few Gays since the rebels with his artillery, and at last accounts | railway was torn up and bridges burned by the rebels nd the Velegraph poles cut down for some miles. If no ‘was pressing them hard. mails leave to-day we shall be obliged to send couriers to The summary of this battle it would be diffi- | the nearest telegraph station. IN Position. cult to give at this time. Both sides have lost The First and Eleventh corps have got into position and heavily. The countryy about Gettysburg is crowded with wounded men. Every house THE REBEL ARMY WITHDRAWN FROM OUR FRONT. Wasuivaton, July 5, 1863. Despatohes from General Meade, dated yes- terday morning (4th), state that the rebel army had withdrawn from bis front, but whether as @ retreat or as a manceuvre was not then known. Nothing has been received here up to this time(Sunday noon), as far.as can be ascer- tained, conflicting with this intelligence. The importance of the despatches from Jeff. Davis and the rebel Adjutant General Cooper to General Lee cannot be overrated. They re- veal the objects of Lee’s campaign and the cause of its failure, and also the present views of the rebel government. General Sickles arrived here to-day. His left leg has been amputated ; but it is thought that he will recover. The report concerning the death or capture of Longstreet and A. P. Hill, are still oon- flicting. The Potomac is very high. HIGHLY IMPORTANT. REBEL PONTOON BRIDGE AT WILLLAMS- PORT DESTROYED, DESPATCH FROM GENERAL FRENCH. Frepenios, Md., July 4—8 PM To General Hatxce :— An expedition sent out by me last night has just returned, having entirely destroyed the enemy’s pontoon bridge over the’ Potomac, at We captured the guard—a lieutenant and thirteen men. W. H. Frencu, Major General. THE PRESIDENT TO THE COUNTRY. THE OPENING FIGHT.. MR. N. DAVIDSON'S DESPATCH. First ARMY Corrs, GurrrspurG, Pa. , July 1—12 o'clock. } We left camp this morning for this place, and before we ‘Whe firing has ceased for the moment. Haapguantans, July 11 P.M. and barn is « hospital. Probably in the THB FIRST CORPA ENGAGED. Ihave just returned from the front, There bas bec aggregate of both armies at least | some of the moat galiant fighting by our boys ever thier 50,000 men have been placed Aors | to warriors. Gen. Jas. 8. Wadsworth’s division, the first of the First corpe, was the first engaged, and Sol. Mere- de combat. The apportionment of this 1088} gins oid ‘iron’ brigade was the first 0 get into action, would probably be twenty thousand Union and | The boys walked into the fight just as they would into a thirty thousand rebels. In addition to this, | D**¥6 Meld, and mowed down the enemy like gras. CAPTURE OF ARCHER'S BRIGADB—DRATH OF REYNOLDS. we have captured from twelve to twenty thousand They have captured the famous Light Brigade of the 8, which ts more than quadruple what rebel army, commanded by Genera! Archer, a native of they have taken from us, including our wounded | their favorite commander, Major General John F. Rey- Maryland, who is also a prisoner; but they have lovt who fell into their hands on Wednesday, and | ®elds, who was killed at the commencement of the action. As yoo will get all the particulars of his death and career who wore recaptured by us in Gettysburg this | by telegraph, I will not elaborate upon them here more morning. than to say that bis troop: had every confidence in him and will revenge his loss. It is exceedingly doubtful if we have taken eens Haavgeanraes, July 1—6 P.M, either Longstreet or Hill, as reported, though | sry ama scam attack tr—tme rust rary wraacen, the report is based upon statements of rebel Tm the brilliant little action mentioned in my previons ve letters, our troops were victorious, having driven the wisoners. Other reports say that Longstreet is | sicay’ yack trom thelr position. They were renting Srdly wounded, and some say that he is dead. } on their arms when about two o'clock the enemy, A. P. Hills corpe having been reinforced oy portion of Ewell’s (formerly Stonewall Jackson’ GENERAL MEADE’S DESPATCHES. | Cocye mado an attack on oar lines tay whole of the First corps was now flercely engaged, Ge. sera) Robinson commanding the Second division aud Ge neral Rowley the Third. The enemy massed his whole force (iret upon our right, then upon our centre and Inatly upon our left, and the iron bail and missiles fell upon us . The enemy opened at one o'clock P. M. from | 9 unparalleled fury. Our boys never winced or flinched, about one hundred and fifty guns, concentrated face soe ot pontine Satay no ala upon my left centre, continuing without inter- partie reenter After two houre of unprecedented ry aimet mission for about three hours, at the expiration force ot four times our numbers, and port Poems es of which time he assaulted my left centre bh were obliged to fall back hpon the town, and through it “mice, being upon both occasions handsomely | '@ the Beight4, on the southern and eastern side, leaving wpulsed with severe loss to him, leaving in oar dead on the field and our wounded, both there and in the town hospitals, who wero uvable to walk, in the mir hands nearly three thousand prisoners, bands of the enemy. Our ambulance train was not Among the prisoners are Brigadier General Armisted and many colonels end officers of yet up. besa sil. cae Heapquarrens, Army or THR Potomac, Near Gerrrsnvro, July 3—8:30 P. M. Major General Hattecx, General-in-Chief:— WOR PNGAGEMENT PREMATURE 1 do not suppose that it was Coneral Reynolds’ inten. tion to bring on a general engagement when he went to Dutved's eyowyrt. He yrobably did aot suppers that tho arms, we can now calmly look before us, and trace by the heaps of dead the path of the charging columns which for fourfours yesterday after- L copier eectemasioahup lies: . \tepllimgeonagtline ds 4. tillery isXhundering on the flanks; but the enemy is strangely silent. Down upon the meadows we hear the sharp crack of rifles, and the Minie bullots occasivoally whistle unploagantly near our heads; but the change since last eVening is s0 great that one feels impressed NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JULY 6, 1863—TRIPLE SHEET. enemy wore in such strong force at that point. Hadhe | rapid and very effrotive. One gun seemed tehuri sort | Afeight P.M. the tremendous battle on our left was contemplated a great battle he would have skirmished | of bolt, which came with a dismal whir-r,and was di- until the rest of our forces reached supporting distance. GENKRAL WADSWORTH’S STAFF. General Wadsworth speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of the members of his staff. None of them wore injured, but Major Meueely aud Lieutenant Carrington had horses shot under them, Two of his orderlies also lost their hordes. By the way,1 discover that these orderlies are very important personages in a battle, They hold positions of great responsibility, requiring the greatest bravery and tact. BRIGADIFE GKYBKAL SOL. MEREDITH Bebaved with the greatest eoolness during the action. His horse was killed under him, and, falling upon him, severely injured his leg and breast. He lies at a farm- house two or three miles this side of Gettysburg. Cvlo- nel John G. Stephenson, of the Indiana Legion, and libra- Tian of Congress, was volunteer aid to General Mero- dith during the battle and rendered very important ser- y Captalon Wood and Richardson, of Meredith’s staff both had their horses killed, but escaped injury themselves. Captain Wood’s horse was shot in the main street of Gettysburg, as the ‘old iron brigade” was covering the retreat to, the heights. Toe rebels skirmishers followed our boys dlopely, and poured vollies of musketry ‘nwo them as they marched Mowe, the narrow streets. Meredith’s brigade was the first engaged, andthe last to leave the field. Lieutenant Woodward, of General Meredith’s staff, was wounded in the rightarm. He re- ceived high commendations from his. general for his con- duct. George R. Mitchel, Third Indiana cavalry, orderly to General Meredith—a brave fellow—had two horses shot while carrying orders. COLONEL MORROW, OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN, was wounded inghehead, and lost his horse. He met Colonel Stephenson, with his head all covered with blood, in the heat of the action, and said—Colonel, help mo rally my regiment.” Stephenson replied, “Get on my horse and go to the rear, and I will rally your boys ’’ After much persuasion Morrow went from the fleld. THE WOUNDED. Ta the hospital, while taking the names of the Brooklyn Fourteenth boys who were wounded, I chanced upon two who brightened up when thoy found I wanted their names for the Hxcau, and said they used to “stick type” on that paper. Charles F, Webber was standing in front of the hospital, holding his hand, from which the nds of ali four of the fingers had been shot, smoking his pipe with the most provoking non chalance. I asked him why he did not go in and have is wounds droased, there worse than him to keep Dr. Farley busy. “The hooks have got to come off and I can wait. nothing but sore flogers.”” I went in, and sure enough there was Surgeou Farley cutting off the leg of James Woodward, of Co. C, There wero over fifty of tne Four- teenth boys there wounded, many of whom fell into the hands of the enomy when we loft the town. He guvased there was ouough in ‘They are THE BATTLE ON THURSDAY. Toe Further Particulars of the Advance Against Our Right in Thursday’s Battle. MR. S. M. CARPENTERS DESPATCH. Heapquakrers, ARMY OF THE PoTOMAO July S10 A. M. ’} With our infantry in line of pattie, resting on their upon the bloody field with the comparativesilence, The battle did not com- mence yesterday “until nearly five o’clock. The attack was expected, boweyer, in the morning, andthe most, strenuous exertions were made to our forcés all up at the front. “fhe First and Eleventh corps, having suffered heavily in the engagement of the previous day (details of which have already been furnished you), had fullen back behind the ridge this side of Gettysburg, and as our fresh Aroops came up they took their position at once along the heights commanding the town. OUR rosimoNn was admirably adapted for defensive operations, and we felt confident that if all our troops could get up before Lee attacked us succese was certain. Gettysburg lies in a valley, bounded on the cast side by Round Top Moun- tain and Long Ridge, and on the west by South Mountain and Wolf Hill, Ihe Second corps formed upon the crest of Long Ridge, its right resting on the Cemetery, and ite left stretchi: way towards Round Top, before which the Third corps was stationed, in tho woods at its base. ‘The Fitth, Sixth and Twelfth corps moved off to the right, and wore partially held ia reserve, to be thrown upon any point where their services: might be most needed. Artillery was planted in every avatiable position; the wagon trains were moved off to the rear, ambulances parked close at hand, under cover of the woods, and bat- tories of reserve artillery stationed in tne hollows, ready for service op any portion of the field. Communication was established by Geueral Meade with Baltimore by moans of relays of swift messengers. Signal officers were posted at different points to notify the Commanding General of any sudden movement ov the part of the enemy, and at twelve o'clock noon we wore ail ready. ‘THR SPECTACLE from the Cemitery was magnificent beyond conception. Here upon’ this little bluff, in and around the city of the dead, forty-six cannon stood, their muvzies pointing threateningly towards the hills beyond the town, snd ‘ar to the left, and down along the ridge, and in the waving grass, stretched the firm lives of infantry, their arms gleaming like @ river in the summer sun. How quiet, and yet how sad, everything was. Here, among the monuments and flowers above the dead, lay our wounded and dying, and behiud the iron railings of the burial places all the engines of war waited for the conflict. Ia one of the enclosures a marbie slab marked the resting place of an orderly sergeant killed at Fair Oaks. Alaa! how little did his mother think, when she laid him there to rest by his peaceful home, that his comrades would ever do battle above bim, and crimson with their blood the myrtle on bis grave. Now and then a soldier would wilt down among the hendstones, pierced by the rifleman’s bullet, and occasionally a shell flew screaming overbead, to frighten the groups collected in the-rear; but borides this all was quiet. Gettysburg, like @ doomed city, lay beneath us, silent as the grave. Not a voice came up ‘from ite deserted aifeets; ‘bat the swallows and the pigeous swepi above the houre tops, and the song of the larke on the meadows rang clear and mellow, as though no deuger threatened. As the afternoon wore on the skirmishers became hotly engaged, Dut three o'clock came and passed, and yet there was Lo sign of rebel infantry. Out on the bill beyond the town the enemy's batteries were visible, and in the shadow of the trees Jittle groups of horsemen were collected; but these were al) that we could see. Occomonaily we caught glimpses of a wagon train moving off, far beyoud the forests, and now and theo @ horseman would dash along the akirt of the woods west of Gettysburg; but no one could tell whether the night would settle down with quietness or upon the carnage of a battle field JUET AYTRR THYME O'CLOCK the Third corps commenced advancing, aud 1 left the Cemetery for the western slope of Round Top mountain, where General Warren, Chief of Topographival Engineers, wee stationed, to note the movements of the enemy. Upon prriving at my destination I was struck with the apparently exposed condition of onr left. ‘The Third corps was moving straight out from the centre, in line of battle acrons the plain, like the eweep of a crested wave. Grandly the columns passed on towards the ‘woods where the enemy lay, and all eyes were turned to the magnificence of the scene, when suddenly a rebel battery opened fire to the left and poured an enfilading fire along the whole line. Just below us, at the base of the mountain, we bad @ rifled battery. This alone pro- tected our position, the Third corps baying advanced pearly two miles in front of us, while ‘here was mot & maa t check an attack from the left. Presently the sheils began to fly about our heads. Our group hed at tracted the enemy's Gre, and be aimed his pieces well. Shelia burst around us, round shot shattered the rocks, and sometimes the bullet of the rifleman whistled uncom. fortably near; bat Gen. Warren remained at bis post, cool and undisturbed, watching with his gine the distant woods, and anxiously scanning the forests at our left. All at once a battery came out into the fold still farther to the left, moving at a walk, and deliberately advancing to « kool! within abort range of our guns beneath us, Our artillery officers saw it too, and their guns fashed faster than before. The shell burst in among the picees of the onemy, ploughed up the soil around him, dashing a cloud of dirt and slate into the air; bat stilt bis guns came nearer, wheeled ronnd into line, unlimbered, and the six pioces opened at once, Their firing wag exceedingly over, Many had already lain down—the woary to sleep ‘and the wounded to die.” Details were out in search of those on the field still alive. Surgeons were as busy a possible in attendance on their duties, and artillerymen were doing what they could to got thoir disabled guns out of the way, lest the enemy should; come again. Around General Meade’s headquarters scores of officers bad begun to assemble, and the corps commanders, summoned for a council, arrived ene by one: There was the gallant Sykes; the reserved Sedgwick, whose Simple appearance inspires confidence; Slocum, sméalj, sloven, clear sighted and able. There was Ban- cogk, large and handsome, with shaven face and wide irt collar turned dowa—an absolute American. There ‘was Howard, with his serious face and quiet manners— brave as any Howard of the olden time; and there was Newton, ready and eager as ever, and whose joy that he had been put in commmnd of a corps was probably quali- fied considerably by the fact that the corps had done 80 mueh fighting yesterday that it would not probably be called upon again very sou. All, indeed, was as it usually is on the field in the night after a battle, when the fire of musketry suddeuly broke out on the line held by General Greene. Against that po- sition @ heavy rebel advance was made in two lines. General Greene's pickets were driven in, and almost im- Biediately fire was opened along his whole front. ‘there ‘was 06 artillery at this point, as it could not have been ‘worked, and the advance was repulsed by musketry valome. “Driven to the foot of the hill, the enemy’s men were rallied there and advanced again, and thus their charge”»was repeated for a -soeond, third and fourth time, and’ repulseg eich time by musketry. Had it been made fora fifth time the fight must have been closed with the bayonet for the ammu- nition of the brigade was very pearly gone. ‘So densely wooded is the sceneof this fight that the light is very dim there at noonday, apd at this time it was barely possible to see aman at half a dozen yards distance,“ And in this.gloom it seems that a party of the enemy stole around the extreme right of the line, where we had no men at all, ana these fellows sent some shots into our rear, Greene’s men thus got the idea that the enomy was behind as well as in front of them, and that they must fight both ways; and so when, twenty minutes later, the Second brigade, under Colonel Cobbam, came to their support, they opened fire upon it, and resisted its advance. Some men were knocked over be- fore this error was cleared up. Then Col. Cobham took his place in the line, and ammunition was sent into Gen. Greene, and the whole command made ready for what- evor might happen. Great punishment was inflicted upon the enemy at thi point, aad Gen. Greene lost but very few men.” THE GREAT BATTLE ON FRIDAY. The Culminating Conflict of Thursday and ‘ Friday. MR. T. M. COOK’S DESPATCH. Gerry sora, July 4, 1863, UTTER ROUTE OF THE RKBEL ARMY. After a series of the most desperate and fearfully con- tested battles that the world has known, it is my plea- sure to report to you that the proud army of invasiop— the rebel host led by the renowned Lee in person—is com- pletely vanquished, and its demoralized parts flying to the mountains in the wildest disorder, utterly coufounded and routed, with no hope of ever escaping to the South of the Potomac. J Te victory of General Meade is complote, beyond Parallel iu the history of the war. But the victory so Glorious bas been won by a terrible sacrifice of noble ‘blood. — rected exclugively towards our signal flag upon the rock; but we could hear it coming, and, by crouching behind abuge boulder, avoid its offects. At one time the fire grew so hot that our artillerists were compelled for a moment to lic down; and just then a rebel vrigade broke out of the woods bohind their battery and dashed down towards us on &ruD, yelling like demons, General War- ren despatched an aid to General Meade for troops, and we anxiously awaited the cof@ug of the enemy. Swiftly theyawept down over the field; but as they came in front of their owa pieces our artiilerists depressed their guns and poured iuto the rebels a tempest of ease snot that checked them, thea broke their line, and compelled them to fall flat bebind @ Jittle ridge, Hardly had we recovered from our trepidation whom the entire Geld behind the rebel batteries soemed alive with troops. Three long lines of rebels, one byhiad the other, came out, at rightangle with our own Ine, and silently but swiftly moved down upon us. Gar condition was frigntfully critical. General Meade could not be found, Gencral Sickles was fighting desperately in front with Hill, and could not spare & man. Longstreet was sweeping down upon us with his whole corps, and not: brigade was up to check him. The fre in front gre hotter, The Second corps went in, and all along the ridge from Round Tep to our right, the lines ed toand fro beneath the canopy of sinoke,; which gleamed) in thé, setting sun like a flery furnace; and still the enemy pressed nearer on our left, commg down upomus with fearful ra- pidity, Will assistance never come? Down under us on the little knoll our rifled pieces are still playing; but ifthey do not have help'goon they are lost. General Warren’s ids are aligone for reinforcements; the bullets be- ain to whistle about us, and the euemy, reashes the base of the mountain, just as we discover the colors of the Fifth corps coming up through the woods behind us, How our hearts Jeaped as wo saw the stripes and heard the rush of our men over, the leaves and rocks; and ag we crouched in the cleft we wondered which would reach us first, the reyels or our men, There is a rumble down below there, and battery comes up at a gallop, bounding over the boulders, away up upon the peak, and, almost before one can speak, @ shower of canister rains down upon the rebels on the other side. Tho Firat division of the Fifth reaches tho top, glides down among the limestone blécks, and the musketry grows terrible. The encmy is too strong. Slowly he preazes up the hill, and his right swings round the mountain to our view; but the Second division arrives, then the Third, and the battle rages awfully, while the rebels falter, struggle for a foothold, and then, with one grand.rush of desperation, strike for the orest, where we lie watching thom; but it is too late, and their shattered regiments drift slowly back upon the tide of battle down into the valley. All this time the fighting on the centre is fearful. A roar like that of Niagara deafens us, and the air seems filled with fiends, contend. ing with the fierceneas of fallen angels. The sun sinks down behind the mountains, and still the battle rages. Darknoss gathers over us, the infantry still keep up their murderous fire, and the cannon shako the hills with their thundor; but the din seems to be lessening, and as the enemy moves away the firing dies out, the artillery opous spasmodically, and the woary columas sink upon the qund for rest. We are successful. The encmy has as- saw ‘Us, and been repulsed with terrific slaughter. Hill and Longatrect have for hours hurled their masses upon our lines, and are pow reno the bitter cost of their experiment ; but where is” Nearly fifteen hundred prisoners have been captured; ‘but not one is of kwell’s corps. Has he gone off upon an- other expedition,or is he moving round upon our rear? No onecan tell. Prisoners are crdss-questioned; but no information concerning the oid ‘J: ‘corps”’ ¢sn-.bo obtained. Cavalry are sent out on the flanks, the artil- lery is planted go as to protect the rear, aud infantry dis- Posed in positions that will euable the troops to eupport any portion of oar line, The hours slip by, and our rear is quiet; the riebiaets left are undisturbed; bat eens q@iomy aésiults the centre again; prisopers are , and among them is oné from Fwell’s command. We begin to breathe easier. By and by another comes in, then half a score, and we know that the whole rebc! army is before us. No more aoxioty for our rear. The firing in front ceases, the in- fantry sleep by their muskets, and the cannoniers slum- ber beneath their guns, disturbed now and then bya random shot from the enemy's batteries or the scattering fire of the skirmishore. This morning the artillery opened on the right, and the cannonading is quite heavy. The battle will undoubtediy be renewed to-day, and may perhaps be more fierce than that of yesterday. So far we have been eminently suc- cessful. All feel confident of victory,and the men will go into action flushed with the prospect of destroying the rebel army. GREAT SACRIVICR OF LIFE. ‘The loyal sons of the North have not shrunk to fay ‘down their lives by thousands and tons of thousands to drive back the impudent invader off sacred soil, and their sacrifice has been signally favorable and acceptabie. DESTRUCTION OF THR REBEL, ARMY. The rebel army is virtually annihilated. The frag. ment remaining of it, scarcely half the original band that crossed the Potomac, with banners and shouts of defiance now remains; and that half is a disor- ganized mob, calling upon the rocks and the mountains to hide them from the face of their pursuers. No anniversary of our nation’s independence has ever been half so glorious as that of to-day, which witnosses such a proud success to the nation’s arms, and 80 severe ‘a punishment to those who would rend the country in twain. The particulars of the first and second day’s battles and the sevore contest that has been raging in this vicinity, have been communicated to you. ‘THE GREAT BATILE was fought on Friday. Jt was, beyond all question, the hardest fought and most desperately contested engage. ment of the war. It lasted with unabated ‘fury from four o’clock in the morning until nearly five o’clock in the afternoon, when the enemy, repulsed at every point, and frightfully punished, withdrew bis forces and abandoned the contest. The day was nobly won by our heroic army, and their victory is beyond contest. What remains of the enemy has fied to the mountains west of Gettysbarg. Pleasanton’s cavalry amd artillery are already annoying them, and gathering in the scattered fragments by hundreds and ‘thousands. OUR casvaLrins cannot yet be determined. We have lost heavily; but we knew that we have suffered much less than the enomy. The rebel General Barksdale is killed, and it is reported that Longstreet and Hill are wounded. Geveral Sickles has loat bia right leg and General Graham is wounded. Gonerals Weed, Willard and Zook are killed. Lists of casualtics will be forwarded at the earliest opportunity ; but 1am now only able to send a meagre account of the fight, owing to the short space of time allotted me before the departure of the mail, and the limited conveniences for writing on the field. Yesterday Captain Dahigren captured a bearer of des- patches from Jeff. Davis to Lee, in which the latter ts told that he cannot have reinforcements; that the rebel affairs on the Mississippi are in a critical condition, and that he (Lee) must take Washington if possible. Geueral Couch is believed to be advancing upon the enemy from Harrisburg, and Lee caunot expect to remain north of the Potomac long. Indecd, we already have a report from a reliable source that the enemy's pontoons are being laid down at Williamsport, aud that all stragglers of the rebel army have been ordered down the valley. {t is not im. probable that the enemy is preparing already to evacuate Pennsylvania, and my next communication may be the announcement of the defeat and utter overthrow of Loe. Should be attack us to-day he will find us ready, and is sbatterred columas may decm themselves fortunate if one-huif their number ever gets back to Virginia, MR. GEO. W. HOSMER’S DESPATCH. Axwy of tux Potomac, July 4, 1860. On Friday 1 wrote you an account of Tharsday’s battle, in which, whatever eiee 1 may have done,! did not do justice to the stubborn manner in which our men held their position in the night battle on our right; for, ex- hausted by labor on the field, by a subsequent ride of fifty miles in tbe saddle, and by loss of sleep, 1 was un- able to write more than I did at that time. ‘THE FIELDS ABOUT GETTYAUURG are strewed with the dead and dying of both armies, and every farm house and barn for miles about is a crowded hospital. From these sanguinary fields and overflowing hospitals, from the throats of mangled and tortured loyal soldiers, there arises one common shout of triumph, and im the enthusiasm of the mo- ment all pain and torture is forgotton. On every hand glad voices join in the song of “where is the rebel army?’ ‘Where, oh where, is the rebel army? Where, oh where, is the rebel army, flying away to the mountain laird?” Bye and bye we'll complete the victo ty; bye and bye we'll complete the victory; bye aud bye we'll complete the victory; they ne'er snail reach fair Dixie again. THE DRCMIVE BATTLE OF FRIBAY was so extended and continuous that it is impossible that any one man should be able to describe it in full I was awakened at the first dawn of day by the spiteful explosion of bell over and about me, indicating that the enemy hed begua the fight. This ‘was on the extreme left of the live, and about a mile ana @ half south of Gettysburg, on the road leading to Taney- town. At this point the above rond gkirts along the im- Karly in the day on Thursday our right | mediate eastern base of a range of rocky aud woody bills, was regarded as (he critioal point in our | rising precipitously to an altitude of four or five Vine. Opposite to it the enemy was thought | hundred feet. On the west of these hills is @ to have massed bis forces, and his approach to the Balti- more iurmpike was easiest and shortest by that way. Con- sequently considerable paine were taken to strengthen our positon there. From the eastern side of Cemetery HD to Rok creek, and along Rock creek to the Baltifhore road, rans a ridge, vatorally dificult of access from the northera or castern side; for from approach io either of these directions it is covered by the creek, and its sides, rocky and precipitous In many places, are densely wooded everywhere, The dofence of this line had been entrusted to the gallant Twelfth corps, under General Slocum, and for three or four hours on ibureday the men of that com mand did their utmost to strengthen the piace, and by two o’cloek P. M. bad constructed, with timber, stones and earth, a good breastwork, which extended the whole length of the ridge, and which sumerous officers ot the corps affirmed they could hold against any force. Now the ‘Twelfth is not a large corps, Up to Thursday jt contained only two divisions, and these, let it be said to the shane of the military part of our government, wore eommanied by brigadiers; for neither General Geary nor General Williams bas yet received the proper recognition of bis services, though many men infinitely less worthy siready wear their two stars on each shoulder. The Twelfth is not « large corps; but it is made ap of regiments that have fought and will fight ‘as well ae any in the world; so when they said they could hold the place there wor no doubt but what they would hold it. Thus, in confident anticipation of a bard fight on their front, the two divisions of the Twelfth corps did wonders with axe and spade, but the day wore on, and the rebew did not come. Noon came, almost insufferably sultry; bat still there was no rebel advance, and between three asd four P. M. the great battle broke out elsewhere, For over an hour (be Twelfth corps remained where it was op the right, while the musketry fire io the mountain on our left roared like million devils. Then, when the magnificent Fifth was pushed with so much fury, the Twelfth was taken from the position on the right and sent over to the loft, and the line it bad held on the right was left in charge only of Greene's brigade, This brigade— composed of five New York regiments, under Cotonels Goddard, Hamerstem, Lane, Ireland and Barnom—was then stretched out #0 ag to oconpy the whole of the Ine previously beld by the corps, Though this made a very thio Une, the regiments were good ones, and great cont. dence wag Galurally revored in Geog, Grevme, broad and bly cultivated piain, more than a mile in width, acroms the western portion of which the road from n Gettysburg & Emmotteville rons, It was here thai the fearful batile of Thursday évening was fooght, in which we bad #uffered eo heavily MOVEMENTS OF GEN, SICKLES. The enemy had sought to gain possession of this range of hills, and thus, with their artillery, command the pori- thom on the left. In this they had been defeated by the fortitude ad military akil) of General Sickles, who saved the army and day by assuming the dility of chang ing the front of bis corps, tne valiant i—« movement ‘Vat was barely executed in time to meet the rapid ap. proach of Longstreei’s and Hill’s united corps, making a force of not lees than fifty thousand men. Birney, commanding the First division of this corps, consisting of the brigades of Grabaio, Ward and De Tro briand, the heroes of Chanceilorsville, with Ciark’s New Jersey battery, were first in position, and wore compelied to meet the first asrault alone and unsupported, although completely overwhelmed, and subjected to « fire of musketry and artillery that never was equalled jo thie or any other war. This latter division held their ground bravely, and fought as vetorans only can fight; but they could not be expected 40 stand long against such fearful odds,and soon were forced to fall back. They were then joined by Syke's division of the fifth corps, and Humphrey's of the third, old division, formerly Hooker's; and be- jug heavily reinforced with artillery, again ad. vanced and renewed the contest. the battle raged even flercer than before. Clover and closer the lines drew together, until the engage ment became an actual band to band encounter, the ‘payonet and sabre playing ® conspicuous part, strewing the ground with national and rebel troops in one common moss THR TACTION OF THR ENEMY, At this juncture a novel manwuyre was displayed by the enemy in order to gain possession of the mountains on the right of their line. By moving up a regiment they would deploy it in line of battle, and while that was engaged move another along its rear to the right and Geploy it there; but, steadily advancing thoir line of battle in that direction, though really gain- ing in advance im this way, they fought to the base of the hills aod then on to tho crest, faally moving over to tbe rentorn slope, ARRIVAL OF OLD SIXTH CORFE, At thie juncture the noble Sixth corps, jus arrived by forced marches from Westwinster, came into service. They were formed in line at the eustora base of the mountain. As tbe enemy pushed his way across the ridge, they were enabled to open an enfilading fire upon him that determined the fate of the day. Not expecting this fire when they received it, they were thrown into the wildest disorder and fell back in con- fusion. e THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES then advanced and took possession of the mountain crests, which terminated the fighting for that day, and left us masters of the situation; but in gaining this advantage wo had made great sacrifices. Our men had been com- Pelled literally to charge up to the cannon’s mouth to contend against vastly superior numbers. On all sides, Our losses were very heavy, and the proportion fm field and general officers that fell, was beyon@ Precedent. It was in this deadly struggle that General Sickles was wounded, and also General Graham of the same corps, and here, too, Generals Zook and Weedboth sacrificed their lives Teading their respective commands up to the fight. The record of the Third corps shows numberliess chief officers sacrificed in this flerce encounter, witnessing the dosperation with which it was fought. Outof this little corps nearlf three thousand men were placed hers dws combat in this short engagement. | ‘TRE 11st OF CASUALTIBR ‘Isend with this, embraces the names of scores of oole- nols, Heutenant colonels and majors; who fell tm this struggle, You will notice how ngsny fell from the ranks Of the old Excelsior and the Jersey brigades. The other commands of the corps, iuclading Ward’s brigade espe- cially, suffered equally, Even the division commanders ro Sndgepttnc onic atenincrn few escaped ua- jure, ‘THE GALLANT BIRNEY was twico strvck by the bullews of the enemy, though happily but slishtly injured. It is but proper to mention that this single action saved us the day, : EFFORTS OF SICKLES, And for this credit is due to Genoral Sicklos, who alse saved us at Chancellorsville. Repeatedly he notified Gon- eral Meade tbat the enomy were pressing to enflade owr left. flank, which the Third corps formed; but still he was required to hold ® position facing the wést, whem he was convinced the attack was coming from the South. Against this he protested, without avail, until throe o’clock in the afternoon, when a Council of corps com- manders was called. While this counoil was in session, and before it had docided upon a planof battio, the at- tack came. PROMPTNESS OF GENERAL MEADE. General Moade at once said to General Sickles, ‘Your loft flank ts attacked; that determines our plan; make your dispositions to moet it.”’ SIOKLES 10 SrHR FRONT. Gen. Sickles galloped away to the field, and, in less than ten minutes, and in the face of a gniling fire, changed tho front of bis corps, and advanced to an elevation a little in his front, to meet the attack. But for thisiman- euvre, 80 opportunately executed, the enemy would have enflladed and destroyed us. Tho instance signal!y iilas- trates the wonderful readinoas ond resources of General Sickles as @ military commander, Had he boos Permitted: to make the change earlier in the day, and secure positions for his troopa befere the attack came, we shouldMoubtiess havo had less san - guinary though no less glorious record. In this engago- ment General Sickles remained with bis command close in theaction, directing every manouvre and movement. His staff, particularly Lieutenans-Colone! Hart, Adjitant- General and Chief, Lieutenant-Colonel | Hayden, Inspect- or General and Acting aid, Major Tremaine; .Chiet aid Captain Randolph; Chiet of “Artillery, Captain Webster; ‘Of the ambulance corps and aoting aid Captain Fry, and Captain Moooe aid, and others, were in the thickestof the fray, and nobly supported their be- loved General. Nearly all of thom ‘suffered the loss of horses, Captain Randolph,early in the action, was struck by a muskot ball in the shoulder, but refused to leave the struck just below the’ his log so badly shattered that shred. He was carried to « where amputation was performed under chloroform, as previously described, ‘BBD LAD ON THE PTELD, | him to remain insensible {or some time, but on rallying he discovered your correspondent by his side and recognized him with a “God bless you,” and again sank away. Rallying again, be looked in my face, and said foebiy, “Cook, in this wara man is bata cypher, God rules and directs all for tho vest.” After another short stu- por ho rallied nud noticed Father O’Tagan, the worthy chaplain of the Kxcelsior brigade, by his side, and took his band, thanking him for his attendance, and recei; from the prelate some words Of consolation and sym- pathy. The doctor then that he was dog remarkably well; to which he by thanking the surgeon, and again sits horse. On being assured that he smiled his satisfaction, Soon after his old Exoolsior Major Tremain, Captains ¥ry and Moore, Cutha, the director of his military bousehold, body servants. On Saiurday a special train of sent to Littlestown by the War Department for CONCLUSION OF THE FIGHT OF TRURSDAY, I have described the affair of Thursday up nearly to tte - conclusion. I bave only to add, that at the close of the fight, which terminated at dark. We held substantially the same position ag at the commencement ef the battie. PREPARATIONS FOR FRIDAY’S MATHS, During Thursday night our army wasall brought up, and: most adinirably dispored of by General Meade for tho ap- prehended battle of Friday. At midnight @ countil of war was bold, at which it was determived that the enemy would probably 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 reinforcements of fresh troops ex- pected during the day to act an a reserve; the First an@ Second the centre, and the Fifth and Sixth thé left; with the Third as a reserve. ‘The line was formed in this manner during tho night, the Jeft resting on the mountains between the Tar. tytown and Epmitis Toads, and the left at ao oun © Gt Coa lea dine Hill; the tine encireling the cemetery and embracing the upper portion of the town, Our artillery on Cometery ‘Hill wae largely reinforced from the artillery reserve ‘and earthworks thrown up ig front of it. Batteries were also planted on all the commanding positions within the lines, and such of the reserve as was not thus die. posed of wag held for use in the fleld where and as occa- ing, the enemy opened on our left, with musketry and artillery. Our men sprang to their arms with prompt- ness, and in the gray light of opened. To @ casual observer flerce and determined, but the that it wae much less vigoroug than of the previous evemiog, thus clearly showing that it & mere demonstratioi to cover Still it was an obstinate assault, and raged with much pertinacity. Bat it deceived no one; the battie raged for several hours with groat fury, our chief attention was wisely directed toward the right. OPENING OF OUR RATTERIKS, One of our batteries opened, and kept up » continuous hd Reavy shelling of the woods to the north and east of the town in front of our lines, through which it was conjectured that the enemy was crowding bis columns to flank that wing. The coujectura was perfectly correct, as subsequent It ultimately was shown that Longsirees retarded their movements somewhat, but stiil they proased on, and betwoon nine and ten o'clock engaged curj tofantry ee 5 ‘The western slope of this gountala io precipitous sat a a