AKMY OPERATIONS. 



him, extorting such a low, intense cry of mor- 

 tal pain as I pray God I may never again hear. 

 The hill, which seemed alone devoted to this 

 rain of death, was clear in nearly all its unshel- 

 tered places within five minutes after the fire 

 hegan." 



A spectator in the Confederate army has 

 thus described this artillery contest: "I have 

 never yet heard such tremendous artillery fir- 

 ing. The enemy must have had over one hun- 

 dred guns, which, in addition to our one hun- 

 dred and fifteen, made the air hideous with 

 most discordant noise. The very earth shook 

 beneath our feet, and the hills and rocks 

 seemed to reel like a drunken man. For one 

 hour and a half this most terrific fire was con- 

 tinued, during which time the shrieking of 

 shell, the crash of fallen timbers, the fragments 

 of rocks flying through the air, shattered from 

 the cliffs by solid shot, the heavy mutterings 

 from the valley between the opposing armies, 

 the splash of bursting shrapnel, and the fierce 

 neighing of wounded artillery horses, made a 

 picture terribly grand and sublime, but which 

 my pen utterly fails to describe. After the 

 firing had continued for little more than an 

 hour, the enemy's guns began to slacken, and 

 finally all were silenced save some six or eight, 

 which were in a clump of woods a little to the 

 left of the stone fence." After the firing had 

 continued about three hours, Gen. Howard, of 

 the second corps, slackened his fire to allow 

 his guns to cool : it was supposed by the enemy 

 that they were silenced, and that the time had 

 now come to make an irresistible attack. Their 

 storming party was now moved up. The divis- 

 ion of Gen. Pickett, which had arrived since the 

 previous day, led the advance, supported on the 

 right by Gen. Wilcox's brigade of Gen. Ander- 

 son's division, and on the left by Gen. Heth's 

 division, commanded by Gen. Pettigrew. The 

 troops of Gen. Pickett's division advanced 

 in splendid order. On his left, the command 

 of Gen. Pettigrew emerged from the woods, 

 and swept down the slope of the hill to the 

 valley beneath, and some two or three hun- 

 dred yards in the rear of Gen. Pickett. As it 

 entered the conflict, the line wavered, being 

 raw soldiers, and wanting the firmness of nerve 

 and steadiness of tread of the advance. As 

 the advance came under the fire of the first 

 and second corps, the enemy ceased firing from 

 their batteries. Their ammunition was ex- 

 hausted. The advance of Gen. Pickett, com- 

 posed chiefly of Virginians, pressed forward. 

 A terrible fire of grape, shell, and canister 

 from forty guns is opened upon them. They 

 waver not, but cross the Emmitsburg road, 

 and approach the masses of infantry. Gen. 

 Gibbon, in command now of the second corps, 

 walks composedly along the ranks, saying: 

 " Hold your fire, boys they are not near 

 enough yet." They come still nearer then* 

 with bayonets at the charge, sweep up to the 

 rifle pits. A line of fire flashes from the sec- 

 ond corps, and hundreds go down, but they do 



not falter. They charge over the pits. Gen. 

 Gibbon orders his men to fall back to the rear 

 of the batteries. It is done without confusion, 

 to allow the artillery to use grape. Still on 

 they press, up to the muzzles of the guns. 

 Meanwhile, the hot fire has thrown the divis- 

 ion of Gen. Pettigrew into the utmost confu- 

 sion. Their line is broken ; they are scattered 

 over the plain, and flying panic stricken to the 

 rear. Gen. Pettigrew was wounded, but still 

 retained command, and vainly strove to rally 

 his men. The moving mass rushes to the rear, 

 and Gen. Pickett was left to contend alone. 

 Strong flanking bodies were moved round to 

 gain his rear. His officers were falling on 

 every side, and he gave the order to fall back. 

 In doing this they were pressed with great 

 vigor, and a large number were made prison- 

 ers. Their retreat was finally covered by a 

 brigade under Gen. Wright, which was moved 

 forward by Gen. Lee for that purpose. "While 

 this assault was made, the extreme right and 

 left were threatened by Gens. Ewell and Long- 

 street. Nothing further transpired during the 

 evening and night. 



*The following despatch was, soon after the 

 conflict, sent by Gen. Meade to Gen. Halleck: 



HEADQUARTERS ABMT OF THE POTOMAC,? 

 NEAR GETTYSBURG, July Zd 8.30 p. H. $ 



To Major- General Halleck , General-in-Chief: 



The enemy opened at one o'clock p. H., from about 

 one hundred and fifty guns. They concentrated upon 

 my left centre, continuing without intermission for 

 about three hours, at the expiration of which time he 

 assaulted my left centre twice, being, upon both occa- 

 sions, handsomely repulsed with severe loss to them, 

 leaving in our hands nearly three thousand prisoners. 

 Among the prisoners are Maj.-Gen. Armistead, and 

 many colonels and officers of lesser note. The enemy 

 left many dead upon the field, and a large number of 

 wounded in our bands. The loss upon our side has 

 been considerable. Haj.-Gen. Hancock and Brig.-Gen. 

 Gibbon were wounded. 



After the repelling of the assault, indications lead- 

 ing to the belief that the enemy might be withdraw- 

 ing, an armed reconnoissance was pushed forward 

 from the left, and the enemy found to be in force. At 

 the present hour all is quiet. 



The New York cavalry have been engaged all day 

 on both flanks of the enemy, harassing ana vigorous- 

 ly attacking him with great success, notwithstanding 

 they encountered superior numbers, both of cavalry 

 and artillery. The army is in fine spirits. 



(Signed) GEORGE G. MEADE, 



Major-General Commanding. 



On the next day, Gen. Meade issued the fol- 

 lowing address to his army : 



General Order No. 68. 

 HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, ? 

 NEAR GETTYSBURG, July 4f A. $ 



The Commanding General, in behalf of the country, 

 thanks the Army of the Potomac for the glorious re- 

 sult of the recent operations. Our enemy, superior 

 in numbers and flushed with the pride of a successful 

 invasion, attempted to overcome or destroy this army. 

 Utterly baffled and defeated, he has now withdrawn 

 from the contest. 



The privations and fatigues the army has endured, 

 and the heroic courage and gallantry it has displayed, 

 will be matters of history to be ever remembered. 



Our task is not yet accomplished, and the Command- 

 ing General looks to the army for greater efforts, to 



