The day wore on full of anxious suspense. It was not until four o'clock in the afternoon that the enemy gave voice in earnest.

artillery frowned, and away on either side, in a umn. The battle then grew fearful. Standing graceful and majestic curve, thousands of infantry firmly up against the storm, our troops, though moved into battle line, their bayonets gleaming still outnumbered, gave back shot for shot, vollike serpents' scales. The roofs of Gettysburgh ley for volley, almost death for death. Still the in the valley below, the rifts of woodland along enemy was not restrained. Down he came upon the borders of Rock Creek, the orchards far down our left with a momentum that nothing could on the left, the fields green and beautiful, in which check. The rifled guns that lay before our inthe cattle were calmly grazing, composed a scene fantry on a knoll were in danger of capture. Genof such peace as it appeared was never made to eral Hancock was wounded in the thigh, General be marred by the clangor of battle. I strolled Gibbon in the shoulder. The Fifth corps, as the out to the Cemetery ere the dew was yet melted First and Second wavered anew, went into the from the grass, and leaned against a monument breach with such shouts and such volleys as to listen to the singing of birds. One note, milder made the rebel column tremble at last. Up from than the rest, had just broken from the throat the valley behind another battery came rolling to of an oriole in the foliage above me when the sul- the heights, and flung its contents in an instant len rattle of musketry on the left told that skir- down in the midst of the enemy's ranks. Crash! mishing had begun. Similar firing soon opened crash! with discharges deafening, terrible, the along the entire rebel line, and although no nota- musketry firing went on; the enemy, re-forming ble demonstration was made during the forenoon, after each discharge with wondrous celerity and it was apparent that the enemy was feeling our firmness, still pressed up the declivity. What strength preliminary to some decisive effort. hideous carnage filled the minutes between the appearance of the Fifth corps and the advance to the support of the rebel columns of still another column from the right, I cannot bear to tell. Men He then began a heavy fire on Cemetery Hill. fell as the leaves fall in autumn before those horIt must not be thought that this wrathful fire rible discharges. Faltering for an instant, the was unanswered. Our artillery began to play rebel columns seemed about to recede before the within a few moments, and hurled back defiance tempest. But their officers, who could be seen and like destruction upon the rebel lines. Until through the smoke of the conflict galloping and six o'clock the roar of cannon, the rush of mis- swinging their swords along the lines, rallied siles, and the bursting of bombs filled all the air. them anew, and the next instant the whole line The clangor alone of this awful combat might sprang forward as if to break through our own well have confused and awed a less cool and by mere weight of numbers. A division from watchful commander than General Meade. It the Twelfth corps on the extreme right reached did not confuse him. With the calculation of a the scene at this instant, and at the same time tactician and the eye of an experienced judge, Sedgwick came up with the Sixth corps, having he watched from his headquarters on the hill what- finished a march of nearly thirty-six consecutive ever movement under the murky cloud which en- hours. To what rescue they came, their officers veloped the rebel lines might first disclose the saw and told them. Weary as they were, bareintention which it was evident this artillery firing footed, hungry, fit to drop for slumber as they covered. About six o'clock P.M., silence, deep, were, the wish for victory was so blended with awfully impressive, but momentary, was permit- the thought of exhaustion that they cast themted, as if by magic, to dwell upon the field. Only selves in turn en masse into line of battle, and the groans, unheard before, of the wounded and went down on the enemy with death in their dying, only the murmur-a morning memory-weapons and cheers on their lips. The rebel of the breeze through the foliage, only the low camel's back was broken by this "feather." His rattle of preparation for what was to come, em- line staggered, reeled, and drifted slowly back, broidered this blank stillness. Then, as the smoke while the shouts of our soldiers lifted up amid beyond the village was lightly borne to the east- the roar of musketry over the bodies of the dead ward, the woods on the left were seen filled with and wounded, proclaimed the completeness of dark masses of infantry, three columns deep, who their victory. Meanwhile, as the division of Sloadvanced at a quickstep. Magnificent! Such a cum's corps on the extreme right left its post to charge by such a force-full forty-five thousand join in this triumph, another column of the enemen, under Hill and Longstreet-even though it my, under command of General Ewell, had dashthreatened to pierce and annihilate the Third ed savagely against our weakened right wing, corps, against which it was directed, drew forth and as the failure to turn our left became known cries of admiration from all who beheld it. Gen- it seemed as if determination to conquer in this eral Sickles and his splendid command withstood part of the field overcame alike the enemy's fear the shock with a determination that checked, but of death, and his plans for victory elsewhere. could not fully restrain it. Back, inch by inch, The fight was terrific, and for fifteen minutes fighting, falling, dying, cheering, the men retired. the attack to which the three divisions of the The rebels came on more, furiously, halting at in- Twelfth corps were subjected was more furious tervals, pouring volleys that struck our troops than any thing ever known in the history of this down in scores. General Sickles, fighting despe- army. The Sixth corps came to their support, rately, was struck in the leg and fell. The Sec- the First corps followed, and from dusk into darkond corps came to the aid of his decimated col-ness, until half-past nine o'clock, the battle raged

with varied fortune and unabated fury. Our est assaults, but only fell back a short distance troops were compelled by overpowering numbers before fearful odds, to reädvance, to reästo fall back a short distance, abandoning several sume and to hold their places in company rifle-pits and an advantageous position to the en- with Sykes's division of the Fifth corps and emy, who, haughty over his advantage and made Humphrey's (Berry's old division) of the Third, desperate by defeat in other quarters, then made when, judiciously reënforced with artillery, they a last struggling charge against that division of renewed and continued the contest until its our right wing commanded by General Geary. close. It seemed as if the gray uniformed General Geary's troops immortalized themselves troops, who were advanced and reädvanced by by their resistance to this attempt. They stood their officers up to the very edge of the line of like adamant, a moveless, death-dealing machine, smoke in front of our infantry, were impelled by before whose volleys the rebel column withered some terror in their rear, which they were as unand went down by hundreds. After a slaughter able to withstand as they were to make headway inconceivable the repulse of Ewell was complete, against the fire in their front. It was hard to and he retired at ten o'clock P.M., to the position believe such desperation voluntary. It was before referred to. The firing from all quarters harder to believe that the courage which withof the field ceased soon after that hour, and no stood and defeated it was mortal. other attack was made until morning.

THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY.

The enemy gradually drew forward his whole line until in many places a hand-to-hand conflict raged for minutes. His artillery, answered by As one who stands in a tower and looks down ours, played upon our columns with frightful reupon a lengthy pageant marching through a sult, yet they did not waver. The battle was thoroughfare, finds it impossible at the close to in this way evenly contested for a time, but at recall in order the appearance and the incidents a moment when it seemed problematical which of the scene, so I, who sit this evening on a side would gain the victory, a reënforcement arcamp-stool, beside the ruins of the monument rived and were formed in line at such a position against which I leaned listening to the robin of as to enfilade the enemy and teach him at last yesterday, find it impossible to recall with dis- the futility of his efforts. Disordered, routed, tinctness the details of the unparalleled battle and confused, his whole force retreated, and at just closed. The conflict, waged by one hun- eleven o'clock the battle ceased, and the stillness dred and sixty thousand men, which has occu- of death ensued. This silence continued until pied with scarce an interval of rest the entire two P.M. At this moment the rebel artillery day, from four A.M. until six o'clock this evening, contains so much, so near, and such voluminous matter of interest as one mind cannot grasp without time for reflection.

from all points, in a circle radiating around our own, began a terrific and concentrated fire on Cemetery Hill, which was held, as I have previously stated, by the Eleventh and Second corps. This last engagement has been the fiercest and The flock of pigeons, which not ten minutes most sanguinary of the war. It was begun at previous had darkened the sky above, were daylight by General Slocum, whose troops, mad- scarcely thicker than the flock of horrible misdened by the loss of many comrades, and eager siles that now, instead of sailing harmlessly to retrieve the position lost by them on the pre-above, descended upon our position. The atceding evening, advanced and delivered a de- mosphere was thick with shot and shell. The structive fire against the rebels under Ewell. storm broke upon us so suddenly that soldiers That General's entire force responded with a and officers-who leaped, as it began, from their charge that is memorable even beyond those tents, and from lazy siestas on the grass-were made by them yesterday. It was desperation stricken in their rising with mortal wounds and against courage! The fire of the enemy was died, some with cigars between their teeth, mingled with yells, pitched even above its some with pieces of food in their fingers, and clangor. They came on, and on, and on, while one at least a pale young German, from Pennthe National troops, splendidly handled and well sylvania-with a miniature of his sister in his posted, stood unshaken to receive them. The hands, that seemed more meet to grasp an arfire with which they did receive them was so tist's pencil than a musket. Horses fell, rapid and so thick as to envelope the ranks of shrieking such awful cries as Cooper told of, its deliverers with a pall that shut them from and writhing themselves about in hopeless agosight during the battle which raged thencefor-ny. The boards of fences, scattered by exploward for six dreary hours. Out of this pall no sion, flew in splinters through the air. The straggler came to the rear. The line scarcely earth, torn up in clouds, blinded the eyes of hurflinched from its position during the entire con- rying men; and through the branches of the flict. Huge masses of rebel infantry threw them- trees and among the grave-stones in the cemeselves into it again and again in vain. Back, tery a shower of destruction crashed ceaselessas a ball hurled against a rock, these masses ly. As, with hundreds of others, I groped recoiled, and were re-formed to be hurled anew through this tempest of death for the shelter of against it with a fierceness unfruitful of success-fruitful of carnage, as before. The strong position occupied by General Geary, and that held by General Birney, met the first and hard

the bluff, an old man, a private in a company belonging to the Twenty-fourth Michigan, was struck scarcely ten feet away by a cannon-ball, which tore through him, extorting such a low,

intense cry of mortal 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 unsheltered places within five minutes after the fire began.

mouth; and the instantaneous removal of the thousands of sick and wounded from the corps hospital at Potomac Creek, called for an unusual amout of labor from its relief corps.

and continued unceasingly until Monday night, the fifteenth. Coffee, bread, hot beef-soup, lemonade, were provided in quantities to meet the demands of all, and on the arrival of the boats, each invalid was questioned as to his wants, and his wishes complied with. The continuous labor of these two days severely taxed the strength of those engaged in it.

I have already reported, in a communication Our batteries responded immediately. Three to the executive committee, dated June sevenhours of cannonading ensued, exceeding in teenth, that all our stores had been safely refierceness any ever known. Probably three moved to this city from Acquia, by means of our hundred cannon were fired simultaneously until transport the steamer Elizabeth, and that we had four o'clock, when the rebel infantry were again furnished substantial food to over eight thousand seen massing in the woods fronting our centre, sick and wounded soldiers at Lodge No. 5, of formed by the First and Second corps. General the Commission, situated at Sixth Street wharf, Doubleday's troops met this charge with the where all of the transports brought the inmates same heroic courage that had so often repelled of the corps hospitals on their way to the genthe enemy in his desperate attempts. The eral hospitals of this District. This work of charge was made spiritedly but less venomously transportation began Saturday, June thirteenth, than before. General Webb, commanding the Second brigade, Second division of the Second corps, met the main fury of the attack with a steady fire that served to retard the enemy's advance for a moment. That moment was occupied by the rebel General Armistead in steadying his troops behind the fence. General Webb immediately ordered a charge, which was made with such eagerness and swiftness, and supported by such numbers of our troops, as enabled us partially to surround the enemy, and capture General Armistead and three thousand of his men. The carnage which accompanied this charge, and the terror inspired by it, were so great as to reduce numbers of the foe to actual cowardice. They fell upon their knees and faces, holding forward their guns and begging for mercy, while their escaped comrades, panicstricken, and utterly routed, rushed down across the ditches and fences through the fields and through Gettysburgh. Not a column remained to make another start. The triumph sought for during these three terrible days belonged at last to the noble army of the Potomac.

With a pen that falters, with a hand and a heart heavy even in the presence of this great conquest; saddened by the death of not a few friends, and sick of the sights and sounds that have so long shocked my eyes and numbed my thoughts; with a vision deceived, perhaps, in many instances, by the mere tumult of the conflict; and with ears filled by divers reports and estimates of officers and surgeons, I cannot, I dare not attempt to give you an account or opinion of our losses. They are great. But compared with those of the enemy they are like as pebbles to grains of sand along the shore. BONAPARTE.

REPORT OF DR. DOUGLAS.

F. Law Olmstead, General Secretary Sanitary
Commission.

While a portion of our force was thus occupied in removing the stores, and another portion in dispensing refreshments to the arriving thousands, a third party was engaged in following the marching columns, ready to lend assistance whenever it might be needed.

The short halt made by the army in the vicinity of Fairfax Court-House permitted us to accumulate stores at that point. When the march was again resumed, our wagons with a replenished stock continued to follow in the rear of the column.

Dr. Alex. McDonald, who was temporarily in charge of our station at Acquia, as soon as he had reported the removal of our stores from that point, rejoined the corps in the field. I quote from his report a résumé of our operations with the army, until it crossed the Potomac at Edwards's Ferry.

"On Monday, the twenty-second instant, (June,) two wagons loaded with hospital stores, in care of Messrs. Bush and Scandlin, and accompanied by Mr. Bellows, were sent to Fairfax Court-House; on Tuesday, another load, accompanied by Messrs. Hoag, Paige, Holbrook, and myself, proceeded to the same point, arriving at four P,M., and on Wednesday, a mule train with forage was sent in charge of Mr. Clampitt.

"Our intention was to leave one wagon with relief agent and storekeeper at Fairfax, to send a similar force to Centreville and Thoroughfare Gap, and another to Gum Springs and Aldie ; but on arriving at Fairfax, we were advised by General Sedgwick to remain where we then were, as the roads were not safe without an escort. Acting on this advice, we remained at Fairfax, issuing stores to the hospitals of the Sixth and cavalry corps, which were much in need of such supplies as we then had.

SIR: When the army of the Potomac broke camp at Falmouth, to commence the campaign which terminated in the battle of Gettysburgh, the operations of the Commission in connection with this army again assumed a most active and laborious character. The evacuation of Acquia "Found the cavalry hospital located on a necessitated the withdrawal of its large stock of slightly elevated hill, well shaded, with good stores, accumulated at that place and at Fal-water, though not in large quantity, well drained,

clean, raised beds, and the men in a very com- tomac, the enemy had attacked and routed Genfortable condition; but few severe cases; camp eral Milroy's command at Winchester, and the was well policed and neatly laid out; surgeons forces at Harper's Ferry and vicinity had been active and efficient; good nurses; clean, well- withdrawn into the intrenchments on Maryland ventilated tents; every thing in good order, but Heights, where they were in some respects bein want of supplies. leaguered.

"The hospital of the Sixth corps was established on a new plan-the men being kept in the ambulances, ready for immediate transportation. This plan was still an experiment, and had not been fully tested, but so far as one could judge from observation and the experience and statements of surgeons in charge, should deem it a good one, and well worthy a more extended trial. Ambulances were well parked on a gently sloping piece of ground, kept in good order, and the men seemed to be very comfortably situated, except that they needed more blankets.

"We supplied each of these and some of the regimental hospitals from our stock, and at a time when there were no other means of their obtaining the much-needed articles. The issues at Fairfax were to such an extent as to enable us to pack nearly all the remaining stock in two wagons, and send one nearly empty with the mule train to Washington to be reloaded.

.

“Thursday morning visited headquarters, and was there advised to send empty wagons and mules to Washington, to start with loaded wagons, and follow in the train of the reserve artillery. Moved with train and camped at night on top of a hill this side of Edwards's Ferry, placed a guard over our stores and horses, and lay down to rest, most of us having been on the road thirty-one hours without food or sleep, except such as we could catch during the halts.

"Saturday, moved on to Poolesville, where we arrived at ten A.M. This point having been designated as a good one for an issue-station, a room was engaged, and before the wagons were unloaded two requisitions came in, the surgeons being very glad to get something for their men. All stores in the town were closed by order of the General Commanding, and the Commission was the only source from which they could obtain any thing."

"On the eighteenth of June," writes Dr. L. H. Steiner, our Chief Inspector with the army of the Potomac, "I received a telegram from Dr. C. F. H. Campbell, Surgeon U. S. Vols., Medical Director, General Kelley's command, stating that he needed 'lint, stimulants, and bandages.' This telegram was sent in answer to an inquiry made by me, whether I could aid him. Securing the use of a wagon and mule team from Alfred F. Brengle, of Frederick, I despatched, June nineteenth, quite a large quantity of brandy, sherry, whiskey, chocolate, condensed milk, tea, lint, and bandages, to Maryland Heights. James Gall, Jr., relief agent, accompanied the stores, and Mr. Brengle drove the team. They reached their destination safely. Mr. Gall remained on the Heights with his stores. Mr. Brengle was seized by some of the enemy's cavalry on his return, his team and wagons were confiscated, and himself seized as a prisoner, and sent to Richmond. He still remains a prisoner."

The menacing attitude of the enemy, pointing toward another invasion of Maryland, and possibly of Pennsylvania, necessitated a rapid concentration of an opposing force in its front. The President called for one hundred thousand militia for this purpose. The first troops under this call left New-York on the seventeenth June. In anticipation of the accumulation of a large body of troops in the neighborhood of Harrisburgh, I despatched, on the seventeenth, Dr. Wm. F. Swalm, Inspector of the Sanitary. Commission, with Mr. Isaac Harris, relief agent, to that point. They arrived at Harrisburgh before any troops, and made diligent preparation to lend such assistance as might be required. They remained on the ground till the enemy had recrossed the Potomac into Virginia, and the militia had been recalled to their several States. They advanced with our advancing columns to Carlisle, Shippensburgh, Chambersburgh, and For the purpose of keeping our stock up, Boonsborough, visiting camps and hospitals, and another wagon-load was sent up from Washing-pushing forward such extra governmental supton Friday afternoon, to intercept our train at Poolesville, Dr. McDonald having informed us from Fairfax that he should make that point. This wagon succeeded in getting through safely, although the road was very insecure, a long government train being seized a few hours after our wagon had passed a certain point in the road by a body of Stuart's cavalry. It reached Poolesville, accompanied by Major Bush and Mr. Clampitt, Saturday afternoon. One wagon was then returned to Washington for repairs. Sunday morning, the army and trains moving on rapidly, our stores were again packed, and the wagons proceeded together to Frederick, arriving there the same evening.

It will be remembered that just previous to this time, before our forces had crossed the Po

plies as were found wanting. The accompanying reports exhibit the activity, and the relief afforded by Dr. Swalm and Mr. Harris to the hurriedly constructed hospital organizations of the militia forces.

The main body of the enemy having crossed the Potomac near Williamsport, about the twentyseventh of the month, the design and direction of the movement began to be apparent. Our own army was at this time in the vicinity of Frederick City, Maryland, and was moving northward, as rapidly as possible, to meet the equally rapid advance of the opposing forces.

Our Chief Inspector, Dr. Lewis H. Steiner, was at Frederick. Dr. Alexander McDonald had joined him. The wagons of the Commission, which had followed in the train of the army, had reached,

Frederick and reported to Dr. Steiner. It was still doubtful where the collision between the opposing forces would take place. We were prepared to do our work in the front and in the rear, but the emergency might arise in an unexpected point, and we wished to be prepared.

A demonstration of the enemy upon the Northern Central Railroad (Baltimore and Harrisburgh) determined me to send out a relief agent in that direction. Accordingly, Mr. James Gall, who had returned from Maryland Heights, was, on the twenty-seventh June, ordered to proceed along the line of that road, to push forward in whatever direction he should learn that a conflict was impending, to acquaint himself with the position of affairs, and to keep the Central office informed of the necessity of forwarding supplies and agents. Mr. Gall was enabled to proceed only to Parkton by rail, from thence he walked to York, a distance of twenty-eight miles. Upon entering the town, he found it, to his surprise, in possession of the enemy. The following observations, made by Mr. Gall, upon the condition and appearance of the soldiers composing the division of the rebel troops occupying York, I quote from his report:

off the levied articles. About four P.M., Gordon's brigade returned from Wrightsville, bringing with them some horses and cattle which they had picked up on the way. They had about eight supply and ammunition wagons, and twelve ambulances with them. Many of the latter were marked U. S. The ambulances were all filled with men, who had apparently given out on the way. Physically, the men looked about equal to the generality of our own troops, and there were fewer boys among them. Their dress was a wretched mixture of all cuts and colors. There was not the slightest attempt at uniformity in this respect. Every man seemed to have put on whatever he could get hold of, without regard to shape or color. I noticed a pretty large sprinkling of blue pants among them, some of those, doubtless, that were left by Milroy at Winchester. Their shoes, as a general thing, were poor; some of the men were entirely barefooted. Their equipments were light as compared with those of our men. They consisted of a thin woollen blanket, coiled up and slung from the shoulder in the form of a sash, a haversack slung from the opposite shoulder, and a cartridge-box. The whole cannot weigh more than twelve or fourteen pounds. Is Believing that a battle would take place at it strange, then, that with such light loads they or near York, I determined as there was no should be able to make longer and more rapid other means of getting there-to push forward marches than our men? The marching of the on foot. I started from Parkton at nine o'clock men was irregular and careless; their arms were on Sunday morning, and reached York at four rusty and ill-kept. Their whole appearance was o'clock in the afternoon, and found, to my sur- greatly inferior to that of our soldiers. prise and regret, that the city was already in the During Monday I visited the 'Fair Grounds,' possession of the rebel troops. The force occupy-as also the camp of a Louisiana brigade, situated ing York was General Early's division, of Ewell's about a mile from the city. The supply wagons corps, consisting of five brigades of infantry, three were drawn up in a sort of straggling hollow batteries of artillery, and part of two regiments square, in the centre of which the men stacked of cavalry-in all about nine thousand men, and their arms in company lines, and in this way eighteen pieces of artillery. Gordon's brigade, formed their camp. There were no tents for the accompanied by a battery of artillery, and part men, and but very few for the officers. The men of a regiment of cavalry, passed through the city, were busy cooking their dinner, which consisted and pushed on in the direction of Wrightsville. of fresh beef, (part of the York levy,) wheat gridPost's brigade, composed chiefly of North-Caro- dle-cakes raised with soda, and cold water. No lina men, was quartered near the barracks, and coffee or sugar had been issued to the men for a did guard duty near the city. Two batteries of long time. The meat was mostly prepared by artillery were parked in a field called the Fair frying, and was generally very plentifully salted. Grounds.' The other three brigades were camped The cooking is generally done in squads, or outside the city, and commanding the various messes of five or six, and on the march the labor roads leading to it. of carrying the cooking utensils is equally divided "On entering the town, General Early made a among them. The men expressed themselves levy upon the citizens, promising in the event of perfectly satisfied with this kind of food, and its being complied with promptly, to spare all said they greatly preferred the bread prepared in private property in the city; otherwise he would the way they do it, to the crackers issued to the allow his men to take such things as they need- Union soldiers. I question if their bread is as ed, and would not be responsible for the conduct healthy and nourishing as the army biscuit. I of his men while they remained in the city. The asked one of the men how he got along without beef, flour, and other articles, and twenty-eight a shelter-tent. His answer was: 'First rate.' 'In thousand dollars in money were speedily collected, and handed over to the rebels. The General expressed himself satisfied with what he had received, and scrupulously kept his word in regard to the safety of private property. Nothing belonging to any citizen was touched; no one was molested in the streets; all was as quiet and orderly as if there were no soldiers there.

"On Monday the rebels were busy in carting

the first place,' said he, 'I wouldn't tote one, and in the second place, I feel just as well, if not better, without it. 'But how do you manage when it rains?' I inquired. 'Wall,' said he, 'me and this other man has a gum-blanket atween us; when it rains we spread one of our woollen blankets on the ground to lie on, then we spread the other woollen blanket over us, and the gum blanket over that, and the rain can't tech us.'