After the battle of this day, General Lee established his head-quarters in a stone-house on the Chambersburg road, about a quarter of a mile from the seminary, in front of the division of General Heth. The position gave him a full view of Gettysbur, of his own army, and the Federal line of battle. Th General, during the succeeding two days, took observations from the cupola of the college. This building was occupied as a hospital, and had the flag denoting that service at the time he so used it. Having given the details of the first day's engagement, as well as stated the condition existing when night fell upon the scene, we next turn our attention to another point and note what transpired there. As soon as it was known at Harrisburg that the Confederates, who had been threatening that place, had fallen back in the direction of Gettysburg, General Smith, with several regiments of New York and Pennsylvania militia, advanced to Carlisle. Shortly after the arrival of these troops at that place, and when the men were in the act of preparing their supper, about three thousand cavalry - men of Stuart's Corps, under command of General Fitzhugh Lee, advanced upon the town from the direction of York. The militia- men at once fled to arms, and cannon were planted to meet the coming foe. Fitzhugh Lee was evidently disappointed in finding that General Rodes had left the place, and much disconcerted in finding himself confronted by a Federal force, and at once, without any notice, opened a fire of shell, round shot, and grape and canister upon the town. After keeping this up for some time a flag of truce was sent in, demanding the surrender of the place, to which a most decided negative was given. The flag FEDERAL MOVEMENTS. 293 had hardly left when a second shelling was commenced, which lasted until midnight. At ten o'clock the several buildings upon the outskirts known as the United States Barracks, were fired and entirely destroyed. After this unwarranted act of firing into a town filled with helpless women and children, with previous notice, the Confederates withdrew and again, set out in search of their Considerable damage was done by the shot and shells thrown into the town, but no lives were lost. army. Leaving that part of the Federal army which had reached the field during this day and up to a late hour in the night, actively engaged in preparation for the renewal of the conflict, we turn to those parts of it which had not arrived, and note their location. The Second Corps marched from Uniontown, where it had remained since the evening of Monday, 29th, and passing through Taneytown reached the vicinity of Gettysburg, where it bivouacked until morning. The two brigades of the Third Corps, which General Sickles had left to hold Emmittsburg, when he marched at the call of Howard for the field of battle with the remainder of his command, remained at that place until an early hour in the morning; the Fifth Corps marched from Union Mills by Hanover and McSherrystown to Bonaughtown, five miles from Gettysburg, and there encamped over night; and the Sixth Corps was on its way from Manchester, marching all night. Gregg's cavalry division, having left the same place, encamped over night at Hanover, fourteen miles from the field, while IIuey's brigade returned to Manchester. Kilpatrick's division moved from Hanover by Abbottsville to Berlin. sixteen miles from Gettysburg; and Kenly's and Morris' brigades, of French's division, from Maryland Heights, reached Frederick, where they remained as a reserve until Saturday, July 4th, when they marched to Turner's Pass in the South Mountain. The Confederates were all in position that night except the divisions of Hood and McLaws, which reached the vicinity of Marsh Creek, four miles west of Gettysburg, about midnight; and Pickett's division, which remained about three miles above Chambersburg. Imboden's cavalry were about Greenwood; the brigades of W. E. Jones and Beverly Robertson were below Shippensburg, and Stuart was about Carlisle. Thus the curtain of night fell upon the scene, hiding from view the thousands of dead, wounded, and suffering men of both armies, who lay scattered over the field. The telegraph, meanwhile, carried the news of the sad results to the national cause all over the loyal North, producing gloom, anxiety and fear. Here we close this chapter, proposing to resume the narrative with the incidents of the morning. CHAPTER VII. THE SECOND DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG JULY 2D, 1863. THURSDAY, Norder to a correct understanding of the details of the two days' battles which are yet to be given, it is essential that the reader have an idea of the positions occupied by the two great contending armies. They may be described as follows: Approaching Gettysburg from the south-east, by the Baltimore pike, we ascend by a gradual slope a high ridge, which is in shape somewhat like a horse - shoe, with its left side or flange longer than the other.* Upon this ridge, and conforming to its natural outline, the Union line was established. The toe of this horse-shoe reaches the southern outskirt of the town, and rests upon what is called Cemetery Hill, because upon it the local cemetery of the town is situated. Its right side, or flange, extends somewhat eastward and then curves sharply to the south, ending with Culp's Hill- a wooded and rocky eminence.† Rock Creek, a stream of some considerable size, runs by its eastern base, and passing south, at length enters the Monocacy. This flank was well protected by the nature of the slope, which is high *The Federal line was somewhat in the shape of a fish hook-its point resting upon Culp's Hill; its curve, Cemetery Hill, and its heel, Round Top. †A view of this place was given in the previous chapter. |