AKMY OPERATIONS. 



105 



On the ridge occupied by Gen. Meade, a hun- 

 dred guns were in position facing the enemy. 

 The reserve artillery wa8 in the rear, about equi- 

 distant from the extreme points of the line. The 

 Union cavalry was east of the creek on the road 

 to Baltimore. The artillery of the enemy in 

 position was nearly one hundred and fifty guns. 

 During Thursday forenoon some skirmishing 

 took place, but no movement of importance was 

 made. On the Confederate side, about the mid- 

 dle of the afternoon, Gen. Lee issued orders for 

 the commanders to prepare for a general attack 

 upon the Federal centre and left. The move- 

 ment was to be commenced by Gen. Longstreet 

 and followed up on his left in quick succession 

 by the respective- divisions of Gen. Hill's corps. 

 The movements in consequence of these orders 

 were in progress when sharpshooters were sent 

 out by Gen. Sickles, being one regiment, under 

 command of Col. Berdan. They advanced in the 

 woods about a mile beyond the Emmitsburg 

 turnpike, reconnoitering, and reported that the 

 enemy were moving large masses to turn the 

 Union left. On this report Gen. Sickles moved 

 up to a ridge in front, which he deemed a more 

 commanding position to repel the attack. On 

 this ridge, which he considered as commanding 

 to a great extent the position he previously oc- 

 cupied, he formed his line. His right rested in 

 the peach orchard, which is in the angle form- 

 ed by the Emmitsburg road and a cross road 

 running about southeast and connecting the 



Emmitsburg road with the road to Taneytown. 

 The rest of the line extended in a southerly 

 direction, with the left resting on the Round 

 Top Hill. He had hardly got into position 

 when the enemy made their anticipated at- 

 tack. After resisting it about two hours, 

 and the fifth corps failing to come to his sup- 

 port as promptly as was expected, he fell 

 back to his original position upon the crest 

 of the hill, where a most desperate assault 

 was made by the troops of Gen. Longstreet. 

 The line was strengthened by Gen. Meade, by 

 ordering up the fifth corps to the position 

 it afterward occupied on the left of the third. 

 Two divisions were also sent from the twelfth 

 corps, as no attack was threatened on the 

 right. This formidable opposition and the 

 precipitate and rugged character of the slope 

 effectually repulsed all the efforts of Gen. 

 Longstreet, with great loss, however, on both 

 sides. According to the order of Gen. Lee, the 

 advance was to commence from the right and 

 be taken up along the whole line. With the 

 advance of Gen. Longstreet a part of the divis- 

 ion of Gen. Anderson moved upon the centre 

 of Gen. Meade. As Gen. Sickles fell back, the 

 second corps, under Gen. Hancock, came to his 

 aid on his right, assisted by a portion of the 

 first corps. These troops encountered a part of 

 McLaws's and Anderson's divisions. The battle 

 grew fearful. The enemy pressed forward un- 

 restrained. Gen. Sickles was wounded in the 



