CONTENTS.

miles west of the town - Positions occupied by the various Corps

of the Army during the night before the Opening Engagement-

The Two Armies almost Face to Face-The Distance of each Corps

and Division of each Army from the Field of Strife.........

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234

CHAPTER VI.

The First Day's Engagement.

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Buford's Cavalry engages Heth's Division of Hill's Corps - Buford

sends word of the Presence of the Enemy to Reynolds - Reynolds

leaves Doubleday to bring up the balance of his Corps and presses

forward with Wadsworth's Division - Reynolds in advance of his

men dashes into and through Gettysburg-Forms his Lines and is

Killed by a Sharp-shooter — Desperate Fighting — Howard reaches

the Field and takes Observations from the College Cupola-

Cemetery Hill Chosen as the Place to make a Stand, and Stein-

wehr's Division Ordered into Position there-Contradictory Claims

to the Discovery and Selection of Cemetery Hill-The Body of

Reynolds borne from the Field and sent to Lancaster, Pennsyl-

vania - Capture of Archer's Brigade-Arrival of Howard's Corps

and the Federal Line extended to the Right - Arrival of Rodes'

and Early's Divisions from Heidlersburg-Slocum, who was at

Two Taverns, but Five Miles away, repeatedly Solicited to come

to the Rescue, but Refuses - Meade's Order to Concentrate at Pipe

Creek in the way-Sickles receives Howard's Dispatch, and with

part of his Corps rushes to the Rescue - Buford's Dispatch to Gen-

eral Meade-General Hancock sent to take Command and report

as to the Advisability of making a stand at Gettysburg-Reaches

Cemetery Hill just as the Broken Ranks of the Federals reach

it-Perceives the Value of the Position and Assists in Rallying

and Placing the Troops-Arrival of Slocum and Sickles - Han-

cock leaves Slocum in Command and hurries to Taneytown to

Report to General Meade-The order to concentrate at Pipe Creek

rescinded, and instructions sent to all the Corps Commanders to

move to Gettysburg - Arrival of the Commander-in-Chief- The

night spent in Preparations for a Renewal of the Battle — Failure

of the Confederates to follow up the advantages of the First Day's

Engagement by seizing Cemetery Hill-Reasons assigned by

Southern Writers - Advance of General Smith from Harrisburg

to Carlisle-Stuart's Cavalry comes upon the scene at the latter

place-Demand upon Smith to Surrender-Demand refused, and

Carlisle shelled and the United States Barracks burned-Stuart

falls back toward Gettysburg.....

259

CHAPTER VII.

The Second Day's Engagement.

-

The Position taken by the Federals - Position of the Confederates -
Superiority of the former-Arrival of Troops, and their Positions
assigned them - Contemplated Attack upon the Confederate Left-
Generals Slocum and Warren oppose it and the purpose abandoned,
and a defensive attitude determined upon- Both sides Preparing
for a Renewal of the Conflict-Silence along the Lines-Confed-
erates Less Sanguine and Boastful - Providential Inactivity of the
Confederates-Their Failure to make an Early Attack gives Time
for all the Federal Troops to Arrive - Lee Confronted by Difficul-
ties, abandons his Purpose of a Tactical Defensive, and resolves to
attack Meade Reconnoitering the Federal Position and Consult-
ing with his Generals A Simultaneous Attack upon both Flanks
determined upon, and Orders Issued accordingly - Inexplicable
Delay of General Longstreet in Opening the Battle-Expected to
make an Earlier Attack-Statements of several distinguished
Southern Officers - Advanced and Exposed Position taken by Gen-
eral Sickles-Furious Attack upon him by Longstreet - Meade,
seeing that Sickles could not hold his Position, posts the Fifth
Corps upon the Line originally intended — Desperate Fighting and
Fearful Slaughter-The Historic Peach Orchard and the Wheat
Field-Sickles' Line Broken at the Angle and Driven Back-Hum-
phreys Driven and the Federal main Line Pierced-Failure of Hill
to Support this Charge and Hold the Position Gained — Large Cap-
tures of Federal Artillery - Stannard's Vermont Brigade to the
Rescue The Enemy Driven Back and Guns Recaptured - Efforts
of the Enemy to Out-flank Sickles' Left and Seize Little Round
Top-Strange Oversight of the Federals in failing to perceive the
Importance of this Key to the whole Field-Its Value accidentally
Discovered - Troops and Cannon rushed up to its Summit, and a
Determination to Hold it at all Hazards-Terrific Fighting and
Great Slaughter-Eminent and Distinguished Officers Slain-De-
scription of the Terrific Struggle, by a Confederate Participant-
Brilliant Charge by Barnes' Division and by the Regulars under
Ayers in Front of Round Top-The Ground in front a Seething
Whirlpool of Blood and Fire - The Enemy Penetrates between Big
and Little Round Top and Attacks the Federal Rear - Heroic Re-
sistance by the Twentieth Maine under Colonel Chamberlain —
Reinforcements from the Sixth and Twelfth Corps Ordered-Gal-
lant Charge by the Pennsylvania Reserves and Repulse of the
Enemy - Longstreet seeing part of the Sixth Corps in Line, be-

-

Page.

CONTENTS.

comes Discouraged and Withdraws his Men-Numbers Engaged

upon the Federal side-Confederate Estimates Considered - At-

tack of Early upon the Confederate Center-Terrific Hand to Hand

Fighting-Temporary Success of the Confederates-Their final

Repulse with Great Slaughter-The Louisiana Tigers meet their

Match-Great Numbers of them Slain-Attack of Johnson's Di-

vision upon the Federal Right-The Line having been Weakened

to Reinforce the Sorely-pressed Left, is Pierced and Occupied dur-

ing the Night-Ignorant of the Importance of the Position gained,

the Confederates fail to take Advantage of it-Results of this

Day's Engagements - Positions of the Respective Armies at the

Close of this Day-Errors of the Confederates - Errors of the

Federals - Scene in General Meade's Head-Quarters-A Council

of War Held-Decided to Remain and Fight the Battle Here-

Scene in General Lee's Head-Quarters........

CHAPTER VIII.

The Third Day's Engagement.

Readjustments of the Lines during the Night-Pickett's Division,
which had only Reached the Field during the Afternoon before,
Placed in Position-The Twelfth Corps Returned to its Position,
and Preparations made to drive Johnson from the Position within
the Federal Line he had gained-Shaler's and Wheaton's Brigades
of the Sixth Corps and Lockwood's Maryland Brigade sent to As-
sist Slocum-Johnson Reinforced by Daniels' and O'Neill's Bri-
gades of Rodes' Division-Opening of the Engagement at Early
Dawn— Terrific Fighting and Fearful Slaughter-The Enemy
finally driven out and the Federal Line Re-established after six
hours' Desperate Fighting-Lee's Plans again Defeated-The At-
tack upon the Federal Left Center to have been Simultaneous with
the Attack upon the Right-Longstreet again not Ready - Ominous
Silence Reigns for Two Hours - Both sides Preparing for the Last
Desperate Effort - Renewal of the Fight-Terrific Artillery Prelude
— Great Destruction of Life in both Armies — Graphic Descriptions
by both Federals and Confederates-Cessation of the Firing-The
Assaulting Columns Appear-Imposing Appearance and Admira-
tion of the Federals - Statement by a Confederate Officer as to the
Length and Depth of this Great Assaulting Column, and the Distance
by Actual Measurement it had to Traverse to reach the Federal
Line-Opening of the Federal Artillery upon the Advancing Troops
-Their Lines Ploughed Through and Through-Still Pressing
Forward until within Reach when the Infantry Fire upon Them—
The Federal Lines a Sheet of Flame-Their Line Pierced-Des-

-

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295

-

-

perate Fighting-Stannard's Vermonters again to the Front-

Deeds of Heroism-The Attack Repulsed-Large Captures of

Prisoners - Retreat of a Few Survivors-Graphic Description of

the Memorable Assault by Eye-witnesses and Participants, Feder-

als and Confederates - Stuart's Attempt to get into the Federal

Rear Great Cavalry Engagement Simultaneously with the Assault

in Front-Graphic and Thrilling Account by Colonel William

Brooke Rawle - Repulse of Stuart-Numbers Engaged in this

Cavalry Fight- Estimate by the Count of Paris - Cavalry Engage-

ment upon the Federal Left-The Fall of General Farnsworth-

Brilliant Charge of the Pennsylvania Reserves and close of the

Battle of Gettysburg-Failures of the Confederates this Day-

Lee's Plans not Carried Out- Somebody to Blame-Remarks of

Colonel Taylor, Lee's Chief of Staff-Longstreet's Defense and

Reply to Colonel Taylor - Longstreet Expresses his Disapproval of

the plans of Lee and his Reluctance in Executing Them-Import-

ant Historical Papers Relating to this Subject-Condition of

things within the Confederate Lines after the Failure of Pickett's

Great Assault-Descriptions by Colonel Freemantle of the British

Army and Captain Owen of the Confederate - Should General

Meade have followed up Pickett's Repulse by a Grand Counter

Charge Opinions of Distinguished Confederate and Federal Offi-

cers-The Rebellion receives its most Damaging Blows in the East

and West at the same time, for about the time Lee received his

Crushing Defeat at Gettysburg, General Pemberton was negotiating

with Grant at Vicksburg for the Surrender of his Army - Federal

and Confederate Losses during the Three Days of Battle..........

Page.

357

CHAPTER IX.

Retreat of the Confederate Army.

Relative Strength of the two Armies after the Battle-Federal Troops
Available and within Reach - Combinations that could have been
made- Why was it not Done - Strange Dereliction of those in Au-
thority Failure to Pursue and Attack the Retreating Confederates
Emboldens Confederate writers to Question the Victory Won-
Statement of Colonel Taylor-Dispositions made by Lee after night
closed upon the Scene - Troops Withdrawn and placed behind
Seminary Ridge - Breast-works thrown up-An Immediate Retreat
to Virginia Decided on The Wounded placed in Wagons and sent
on their way
Large Numbers Unable to be Moved and Left Be--
hind-Withdrawal of the Army - Discovery of the Flight of the
Enemy by General Birney and his Desire to Attack - Is Forbidden

CONTENTS.

by General Meade - The Sixth Corps, Accompanied by Cavalry, in

Pursuit Overtakes the Confederate Rear at Fairfield, but is For-

bidden to Attack-General Howe's Statement-Independent Move-

ments Elsewhere and Excellent Results Gained-Turner's Pass of

the South South Mountain Seized, and Confederate Pontoon over

the Potomac at Falling Waters Destroyed by General French-

Daring Dash by Kilpatrick upon the Enemy in the Mountain, and

Terrific Night Assault—A Perilous Ride — Description by a Partici-

pant-The Pursuit of Lee Slowly Conducted by way of Emmitts-

burg, Frederick, Middletown, and Turner's Pass-Daily and

Leisurely Movements of the Federals—Lee reaches Hagerstown

in Two Days-Incessant Rains cause the Potomac to Rise - Line

of Battle Selected and Breast-works thrown up-Advance of Militia

under Generals Dana and Smith-General Couch Removes his

Head-quarters to Chambersburg - After an Eight Day's March the

Federals reach the Confederate Line-Commanders Anxious to

take Advantage of Favorable Opportunities for Assaulting the Foe

Forbidden, as a General Engagement was not Desired-Statement

by General Howe - Meade calls together his Corps Commanders

and Considers the Question of Attacking Lee in the Strong Posi-

tion he had taken and Fortified-The Majority Opposed to an

Attack-Too Late, the Opportunity Lost - Urged by President

Lincoln, Meade, on the following Evening, issues Orders for an

Attack the next Morning - Daylight appears, but the Enemy Gone

-Pursuit by Kilpatrick - Comes up with the Confederate rear at

Falling Waters, and after a Severe Engagement, the Enemy Suc-

ceeds in Escaping after the Loss of General Pettigrew and many

others Killed and Wounded, and a large number of Prisoners-

Should General Meade have Ordered an Attack - Hampered with

Instructions as to the Safety of Washington—Dispatch from General

Halleck - Testimony of General Meade before the Congressional

Committee on the Conduct of the War-Opinions of Thomas

Robins, jr., and General McLaws......

CHAPTER X.

The Great Wagon Train of Wounded.

Departure of the Great Wagon Train with Wounded - The Train not
less than Twenty-five or Thirty Miles Long-Over Ten Thousand
Wounded Men With and In It-Unparalleled Scenes of Suffering-
Description by General Imboden who had it in Charge-Graphic
Descriptions by Eye-witnesses who Resided Along its Route
Statements of Jacob C. Snyder, Rev. J. Milton Snyder, Rev. J. C.
Smith, and Mr. David Z. Shook-Losing their Way in the Night

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446