drive from our soil every vestige of the presence of the invader.

It is right and proper that we should, on suitable occasions, return our grateful thanks to the Almighty Disposer of events that, in the goodness of His providence, He has thought fit to give victory to the cause of the just.

By command of Major-General MEADE. S. WILLIAMS, A. A. General.

superintend the entire movement. Gen. Smith, with his troops shoeless and living upon the country, joined the Army of the Potomac; and Gen. Dana pushed forward, and had reached Greencastle when Gen. Lee crossed the Potomac. Other reënforcements were sent to Gen. Meade. The entire Federal loss at Gettysburg was 2,834 killed, 13,790 wounded, and 6,643

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 4th, 1863-10 A. M. The President of the United States announces to the country, that the news from the Army of the Potomac, up to 10 o'clock P. M., of the 3d, is such as to cover the army with the highest honor-to promise great success to the cause of the Union-and to claim the condolence of all for the many gallant fallen; and that for this he especially desires that on this day, "He whose will, not ours, should ever be done," be everywhere remembered and reverenced with the profoundest gratitude.

(Signed)

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

On Saturday, the 4th, Gen. Ewell's division was withdrawn from its position in the town and the hills southeast of it, and placed behind the defences on the Seminary ridge, and both armies were engaged, with strong working parties, in burying their dead and taking care of the wounded. The morning was hazy, and from noon until night the rain fell in torrents. During the whole day the enemy sent forward such of their wounded as could bear removal, toward Hagerstown. Late in the afternoon their artillery and wagon trains also commenced moving in the same direction. At dark their whole army was put in motion, taking the road to Fairfield, and crossing South Mountain at Waterloo Gap. The position of Gen. Meade's army was now looked upon by the enemy as almost impregnable. The fighting for three days had nearly exhausted the ammunition of the Confederate army.

On Monday, the 6th, Gen. Lee reached Hagerstown, and took position with his army. On Tuesday the advance of Gen. Meade reached Funktown, six miles south of Hagerstown.

Meanwhile, Gen. Couch, who was in command of this department, had proceeded to organize the raw troops which had been called out, as they came in. His nucleus for this provisional army was the troops from New York. The first division organized was put under the command of Gen. W. F. Smith, and placed opposite Harrisburg, to resist an attack. Upon the retreat of the enemy from the neighborhood of that place, Gen. Smith immediately followed them with about six thousand men, a small number of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery. He advanced to Carlisle, where he was met by W. H. F. Lee, who expected to find Gen. Ewell there, and attacked with artillery. Gen. Smith was so strongly posted, that Lee soon retired and Gen. Smith followed. Meantime, Gen. Couch organized another division, and placed it under the command of Maj.-Gen. Dana. Before this was on its way, Gen. Couch moved his headquarters to Chambersburg, to

of his dead were buried by the Union soldiers, 26,500 wounded fell into their hands, and 13,621 prisoners were taken; also three guns, forty-one standards, and 24,978 small arms.

Meanwhile, Gen. Lee's forces fell back toward the river at Williamsport. On the 11th, Gen. Lee issued the following address to his troops:

General Order No. 16.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORThern Virginia,
July 11th, 1863.

After the long and trying marches, endured with the fortitude that has ever characterized the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, you have penetrated to the country of our enemies, and recalled to the deinvasion of ours. You have fought a fierce and sanfences of their own soil, those who are engaged in the guinary battle, which, if not attended with the success that has hitherto crowned your efforts, was marked by the same heroic spirit that has commanded the reand the admiration of mankind. spect of your enemies, the gratitude of your country,

Once more you are called upon to meet the enemy, from whom you have torn so many field names that will never die. Once more the eyes of your countrymen are turned upon you, and again do wives and sisters, fathers and mothers, and helpless children lean for defence on your strong arms and brave hearts. Let every soldier remember, that on his courage and fidelity depends all that makes life worth having-the freedom of his country, the honor of his people, and the security of his home. Let each heart grow strong in the remembrance of our glorious past, and in the thought of the inestimable blessings for which we contend; and, invoking the assistance of that higher Power, which has so signally blessed our former efforts, let us go forth in confidence to secure the peace and safety of our country. Soldiers, your old enemy is before you. Win from him honor worthy of your right cause, worthy of your comrades dead on so many illustrious fields. R. E. LEE, General Commanding.

The pursuit by Gen. Meade is thus stated in his report: "The 5th and 6th of July were employed in succoring the wounded and burying the dead. Major-Gen. Sedgwick, commanding the sixth corps, having pushed the pursuit of the enemy as far as the Fairfield pass and the mountains, and reporting that the pass was very strong-one in which a small force of the enemy could hold in check and delay for a considerable time any pursuing force I determined to follow the enemy by a flank movement, and accordingly, leaving McIntosh's brigade of cavalry and Neil's brigade of infantry to continue harassing the enemy, I put the army in motion for Middletown, and orders were immediately sent to Major-Gen. French, at Frederick, to reoccupy Harper's Ferry, and send a force to occupy Turner's Pass, in South Mountain. I subsequently ascertained that Major-Gen. French had not only anticipated

these orders in part, but had pushed a cavalry force to Williamsport and Falling Waters, where they destroyed the enemy's pontoon bridge, and captured its guard. Buford was at the same time sent to Williamsport and Hagerstown. The duty above assigned to the cavalry was most successfully accomplished, the enemy being greatly harassed, his trains destroyed, and many captures of guns and prisoners made.

After halting a day at Middletown to procure necessary supplies and bring up trains, the army moved through South Mountain, and by the 12th of July was in front of the enemy, who occupied a strong position on the heights near the marsh which runs in advance of Williamsport. In taking this position, several skirmishes and affairs had been had with the enemy, principally by the cavalry and the eleventh and sixth corps. The 13th was occupied in reconnoissances of the enemy's position and preparations for an attack. But on advancing on the morning of the 14th, it was ascertained that he had retired the night previous by the bridge at Falling Waters and ford at Williamsport. The cavalry in pursuit overtook the rear guard at Falling Waters, capturing two guns and numerous prisoners. Previous to the retreat of the enemy, Gregg's division of cavalry was crossed at Harper's Ferry, and, coming up with the rear of the enemy at Charlestown and Shepardstown, had a spirited contest, in which the enemy was driven to Martinsburg and Winchester, and pursued and harassed in his re

treat.

"The pursuit was resumed by a flank movement of the army, crossing the Potomac at Berlin and moving down the Loudon Valley. The cavalry were immediately pushed into several passes of the Blue Ridge, and having learned from servants of the withdrawal of the Confederate army from the lower valley of the Shenandoah, the army (the third corps, Maj.Gen. French, being in advance) was moved into Manassas Gap, in the hope of being able to intercept a portion of the enemy in possession of the Gap, which was disputed so successfully as to enable the rear guard to withdraw by the way of Strasburg. The Confederate army retiring to the Rapidan, a position was taken with this army on the line of the Rappahannock, and the campaign terminated about the close of July." On the 14th, Gen. Meade sent the following despatches to Washington:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 14th-8 P. M.

H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief:
My cavalry now occupy Falling Waters, having
overtaken and captured a brigade of infantry, 1,500
strong, two guns, two caissons, two battle-flags, and a
large number of small arms. The enemy are all across
the Potomac. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 14th-8.30 P. M.

Major-Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief:
My cavalry have captured five hundred prisoners,
in addition to those previously reported. Gen. Petti-
grow, of the Confederate army, was killed this morn-

ing in the attack on the enemy's rear-guard. His body G. G. MEADE, Major-General. is in our hands.

The first of these despatches was subsequently denied by Gen. Lee, as follows:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
July 21st 1863.

Gen. S. Cooper, Adj't and Inspector-General C. S. A.: GENERAL: I have seen in the Northern papers what stating that he had captured a brigade of infantry, two purports to be an official despatch from Gen. Meade, pieces of artillery, two caissons, and a large number of small arms, as this army retired to the south bank of the Potomac on the 13th and 14th instant. This and as its official character may cause it to be believ despatch has been copied into the Richmond papers; ed, I desire to state that it is incorrect. The enemy did not capture any organized body of men on that occasion, but only stragglers and such as were left asleep on the road, exhausted by the fatigue and exposure of one of the most inclement nights I have ever known at this season of the year. It rained without cessation, rendering the road by which our troops marched toward the bridge at Falling Waters very difficult to pass, and causing so much delay that the last of the troops did not cross the river at the bridge until 1 A. M. on the morning of the 14th.

While the column was thus detained on the road, a number of men, worn down with fatigue, laid down in barus and by the roadside, and though officers were sent back to arouse them as the troops moved on, the darkness and rain prevented them from finding all, and many were in this way left behind. Two guns were left on the road; the horses that drew them be came exhausted, and the officers went back to procure had passed the guns so far that it was deemed unsafe others. When they returned, the rear of the column to send back for them, and they were thus lost. No arms, cannon, or prisoners were taken by the enemy in battle, but only such as were left behind, as I have described, under the circumstances. The number of stragglers thus lost I am unable to state with accuracy, but it is greatly exaggerated in the despatch referred

to.

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General. This despatch of Gen. Lee was subsequently contradicted by Gen. Meade in the following statement, which is important, as containing the details of some of the operations to harass the retreat of the Confederate army across the river:

August 9th, 1863.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief: My attention has been called to what purports to be an official despatch of Gen. R. E. Lee, commanding the rebel army, to Gen. S. Cooper, Adjutant and InspectorGeneral, denying the accuracy of my telegram to you, of July 14th, announcing the result of the cavalry affair at Falling Waters.

I have delayed taking any notice of Lee's report until the return of Brig.-Gen. Kilpatrick, absent on leave, who commanded the cavalry on the occasion referred to, and on whose report from the field my telegram was based. I now enclose the official report of Brig.Gen. Kilpatrick, made after his attention had been called to Lee's report. You will see that he reiterates and confirms all that my despatch averred, and proves most conclusively that Gen. Lee has been deceived by his subordinates, or he would never in the face of the facts now alleged have made the assertion his report claims.

It appears that I was in error in stating that the body of Gen. Pettigrew was left in our hands, although I did not communicate that fact until an officer from the field reported to me he had seen the body. It is now ascertained from the Richmond papers that Gen. Pettigrew, though mortally wounded in the affair,

was taken to Winchester, where he subsequently died. The three battle flags captured on this occasion and sent to Washington, belonged to the 40th, 47th, and 55th Virginia regiments of infantry.

Gen. Lee will surely acknowledge these were not left in the hands of stragglers asleep in barns. (Signed) GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION CAVALRY CORPS,
WARRENTON JUNCTION, VA., August 7th.

To Colonel A. J. Alexander, Chief of Staff of Cavalry
Corps:

COLONEL: In compliance with a letter just received from the headquarters of the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, directing me to give the facts connected with the fight at Falling Waters, I have the honor to state that, at 3 A. M. of the 14th ult., learned that the enemy's pickets were retiring in my front. Having been previously ordered to attack at 7 A. M., I was ready to move at once.

At daylight I had reached the crest of hills occupied by the enemy an hour before, and, a few minutes before 6, Gen. Costar drove the rear guard of the enemy into the river at Williamsport. Learning from citizens that a portion of the enemy had retreated in the direction of Falling Waters, I at once moved rapidly for that point, and came up with this rear guard of the enemy at 7.80 A. M., at a point two miles distant from Falling Waters. We pressed on, driving them before us, capturing many prisoners and one gun. When within a mile and a half of Falling Waters, the enemy was found in large force, drawn up in line of battle on the crest of a hill, commanding the road on which I was advancing. His left was protected by earthworks, and his right extended to the woods on our left. The enemy was, when first seen, in two lines of battle, with arms stacked, within less than 1,000 yards of the large force. A second piece of artillery, with its support, consisting of infantry, was captured while attempting to get into position. The gun was taken to the rear. A portion of the 6th Michigan cavalry, seeing only that portion of the enemy behind the earthworks, charged. This charge was fed by Major Webber, and was the most gallant ever made. At a trot he passed up the hill, received the fire from the whole line, and the next moment rode through and over the earthworks, and passed to the right, sabring the rebels along the entire line, and returned with a loss of thirty killed, wounded, and missing, including the gallant Major Webber, killed.

I directed Gen. Costar to send forward one regiment as skirmishers. They were repulsed before support could be sent them, and driven back, closely followed by the rebels, until checked by the 1st Michigan and a squadron of the 8th New York. The 2d brigade having come up, it was quickly thrown into position, and, after a fight of two hours and thirty minutes, routed the enemy at all points and drove him toward the river.

When within a short distance of the bridge, Gen. Buford's command came up and took the advance. We lost twenty-nine killed, thirty-six wounded, and forty missing. We found upon the field 125 dead rebels, and brought away upward of fifty wounded. A large number of the enemy's wounded were left upon the field in charge of their own surgeons. We captured two guns, three battle flags, and upward of fif teen hundred prisoners.

To Gen. Costar and his brigade, Lieut. Pennington and his battery, and one squadron of the 8th New York cavalry of Gen. Buford's command, all praise is due. Very respectfully, your ob't servant,

J. KILPATRICK, Brigadier-General.

On the 7th of July, despatches were received at Washington announcing the surrender of Vicksburg, and, on the 14th, further despatches announcing the surrender of Port Hudson. The news of the surrender of Vicks

burg was welcomed with salutes of artillery in a large number of the principal cities in the Northern States.

On the 15th, the President issued the following proclamation:

By the President of the United States of America:

A PROCLAMATION.

It has pleased Almighty God to hearken to the supplications and prayers of an afflicted people, and to vouchsafe to the army and the navy of the United States, victories on the land and on the sea so signal, and so effective, as to furnish reasonable ground for augmented confidence that the Union of these States will be maintained, their Constitution preserved, and their peace and prosperity permanently restored. But these victories have been accorded not without sacri rifices of life, limb, health, and liberty, incurred by brave, loyal, and patriotic citizens. Domestic afflic of these fearful bereavements. It is meet and right tion, in every part of the country, follows in the train Father, and the power of His Hand, equally in these to recognize and confess the presence of the Almighty triumphs and in these sorrows.

Now, therefore, be it known that I do set apart Thursday, the 6th day of August next, to be observed as a day for National Thanksgiving, Praise, and Prayer, and I invite the people of the United States to assemble on that occasion in their customary places of worship, and, in the forms approved by their own consciences, render the homage due to the Divine Majesty for the wonderful things He has done in the nation's behalf, and invoke the influence of His Holy Spirit to subdue the anger which has produced and so long sustained a needless and cruel rebellion, to change the hearts of the insurgents, to guide the counsels of the Government with wisdom adequate to so great a national emergency, and to visit with tender care and consolation throughout the length and breadth of our land all those who, through the vicissitudes of marches, voyages, battles, and sieges, have been brought to suffer in mind, body, or estate, and finally to lead the whole nation-through the paths of repentance and submission to the Divine Will-back to the perfect enjoyment of union and fraternal peace.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and sixty-three, and of the Indepen[L. s.] dence of the United States of America the eighty-eighth.

By the President:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. The movements of Gen. Meade in pursuit of Gen. Lee were in detail as follows:

On the 18th, his headquarters were moved across the Potomac; on the 19th, they were at Lovettsville; on the 20th and 21st, at Union; on the 22d, at Upperville; on the 23d, at Markham Station; on the 24th, at Salem; and on the 25th, at Warrenton, with the army occupying the same line which it did two months previous. Active operations now closed, and on the 30th, Gen. Meade issued the following proclamation to the inhabitants:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 30th, 1863.

The numerous depredations committed by citizens, or rebel soldiers in disguise, harbored or concealed by citizens, along the Orange and Alexandria railroad, within our lines, call for prompt and exemplary pun

ishment.

Under the instruction of the Government, therefore,

every citizen against whom there is sufficient evidence of his having engaged in these practices, will be ar

rested and confined for punishment or sent beyond the lines. The people within ten miles of the railroad are notified that they will be held responsible in their persons and property for any injury done to the trains, road, depot, or stations, by citizens, guerillas, or persons in disguise; and in case of such injury they will be impressed as laborers to repair all damages. If these measures should not stop such depredations, it will become the unpleasant duty of the undersigned, in the execution of his instructions, to direct that the entire inhabitants of the district of country along the railroad be put across the lines, and their property taken for Government purposes.

GEORGE G. MEADE, Maj. Gen. Commanding. Some movements were made during the advance of Gen. Lee into Pennsylvania, which were important, being intended to serve as diversions. One made by a portion of the forces under Gen. Dix, from Fortress Monroe, up the peninsula toward Richmond, is mentioned in the correspondence between Mr. Davis and Gen. Lee, on a preceding page. The effect of this movement is there stated. Gen. Getty, of the seventh corps, was sent by Gen. Dix to the White House, at the junction of the Pamunkey with the York river. In this position he threat ened both Richmond and the communications of Gen. Lee. From the White House a force was sent out to occupy Tunstall's Station, on the railroad to Richmond. Lanesville, on the other side of the Pamunkey, was also occupied, and an advance was made to Hanover, by which several prisoners were captured, among whom was Brig.-Gen. H. F. Lee, a son of Gen. R. E. Lee.

The advance of Gen. Rosecrans against the army of Gen. Bragg commenced at this time. It is hereafter stated. On the Confederate side a "raid" was made by the Partisan Ranger, John Morgan, into the States of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, in which he designed to sweep everything before him, attracting the public attention entirely to himself, and breaking all the railroad communications by which reenforcements for the defence of Louisville, Kentucky, could be sent. Immediately upon this, Gen. Buckner, from Tennessee, was to dash into Kentucky with the force under his command, which was very considerable, capture Louisville, and then, in coöperation with Gen. Morgan, make an attack upon Cincinnati. By the advance of Gen. Rosecrans sooner than was expected, Gen. Buckner could not be spared for this movement.

Gen. Morgan, with about four thousand men, was in Tennessee at this time, south of the Cumberland river, and making a feint upon Tompkinsville, just over the line in Kentucky. Tompkinsville is the capital of Monroe county, 140 miles south of southwest of Frankfort, the capital of the State, and 10 miles from the Cumberland river. A small Union force was stationed at Columbia, the capital of Adair county, Kentucky, an important position to defend the State from a threatening enemy on the south bank of the Cumberland. On the 20th of June, Brig.-Gen. Hobson was ordered by Gen. Judah to move to Tompkinsville, then

apparently threatened by Gen. Morgan. This opened the gate for Gen. Morgan, who immediately crossed the Cumberland at Burksville, the capital of Cumberland county. Thus having the start, Gen. Morgan moved rapidly on to Columbia, where a brave defence was made by Capt. Carter, with one hundred and fifty men of Col. Wolford's Kentucky regiment, who were, however, forced to retire with the loss of their leader. Thence Gen. Morgan attacked, on July 4th, Col. Moore, posted with a few hundred men at Green river bridge, who made a firm resistance. He next marched, on the 5th, to Lebanon, and demanded the surrender of the place by Col. Hanson, who, with his regiment, the 20th Kentucky, was stationed there. This was refused, and an attack was immediately made and bravely resisted for seven hours, when the enemy began to set fire to the town, and Col. Hanson surrendered to save its entire destruction. Lebanon is the capital of Marion county. It is 60 miles south by west of Frankfort. All the northern portion of the town, with the county clerk's office and the records, was burned. The soldiers who surrendered were marched in front to Springfield, and compelled to keep pace with the cavalry. The distance was ten miles, and passed in an hour and a half. The Union loss was five killed and several wounded; the Confederate loss was six killed and ten wounded. From Springfield, Gen. Morgan moved to Shepherdsville; thence to Bardstown, on the 6th.

On Tuesday, the 7th, the advance of his force reached Brandenburg on the Ohio river, forty miles below Louisville. During the day, the steamer McCombs, bound up the river, stopped, as usual, at Brandenburg, to take on passengers and freight. As soon as she touched the shore she was boarded by a number of the enemy and seized. Everything was taken that would serve the purpose of the captors, and the boat was run out into the river and anchored. Some time afterward, the steamer Alice Dean approached, when signals of distress were raised on the McCombs, and the Dean was induced to come alongside without a suspicion of the actual circumstances. She was then boarded and seized. On the next day, Wednesday, the force of Gen. Morgan, consisting of eleven regiments and over four thousand men, with ten pieces of artillery, including two howitzers, were taken across the river in these boats. The Dean was then burned, and also the wharf at Brandenburg, but the McCombs was given up.

In the mean time, Gen. Hobson, after some delay, commenced the pursuit. He started on the 4th, but being encumbered by a wagon train, and the roads being bad, he advanced only ten miles in five hours. On the next morning, the infantry, wagons, and artillery were left behind, and the pursuit made with cavalry. From 4 P. M. to 11 P. M. a halt was made. The march was then continued during the remainder of the night, and, on the next morning, Brig.-Gen. Shackelford was met with cavalry