Franklin Repository 1863 Newspaper Transcriptions

Franklin Repository, July 8, 1863, p. 1, c. 1

Franklin County has had a full week of rebel guerilla rule, and is now, in the Southern portion, plundered of all horses and cattle, excepting the few successfully secreted in the mountains.

The Alarm

On Sunday evening, the 16th inst., the dark clouds of contrabands commenced rushing upon us, brining the tidings that Gen. Milroy's forces at Martinsburg had been attacked and scattered, and that the rebels under Gen. Rhodes were advancing upon Pennsylvania. With due allowance for the excessive alarm of the slaves, it was manifest that the rebels were about to clear out the Shenandoah Valley, and, that once done, the Cumberland, with all its teeming wealth, would be at rebel mercy. On Sunday night our people were much excited, and the question of protection became one of paramount interest. To inquiries the authorities at Washington answered that the aspect of the war just at present rendered it unwise to divide or weaken the army of the Potomac, and that Pennsylvania must furnish her own men for her defence [sic]. A call from the President was issued to that effect, which is noticed elsewhere.

On Monday morning the flood of rumors from the Potomac fully confirmed the advance of the rebels, and the citizens of Chambersburg and vicinity, feeling unable to resist the rebel columns, commenced to make prompt preparation for the movement of stealable property. Nearly every horse, good, bad and indifferent, was started for the mountains as early on Monday as possible, and the Negroes darkened the different roads Northward for hours, loaded with house hold effects, sable babies, &c and horses and wagons and cattle crowded every avenue to places of safety. About [illegible] o'clock in the morning, the advance [illegible] Milroy's retreating wagon-train dashed in town, attended by a few cavalry, and a [illegible] affrighted wagon-masters, all of whom declared that the rebels were in hot pursuit that a large portion of the train was captured, and that the enemy was about to enter Chambersburg. This startling information, coming from men in uniform, who had fought valiantly until the enemy had got nearly within sight of them, naturally gave fresh impetus to the citizens, and the skedaddle commenced in magnificent earnestness and exquisite confusion. Men, women and children who seemed to think the [illegible] so many cannibals rushed out the turnpike, and generally kept on the leading thoroughfares as if they were determined to be captured, if the rebels were anywhere within range and wanted them. We watched the motley cavalcade rush along for a few hours, when it seems to have occurred to some one to inquire whether the rebels were not some distance in the rear; and a few moments of reflection and dispassionate inquiry satisfied the people that the enemy could not be upon us for several hours at least. The railroad men were prompt and systematic in their efforts to prepare for another fire, and by noon all the portable property of the company was safely under control to be hauled and moved at pleasure. The more thoughtful portion of our people who felt it a duty to keep out of rebel hands, remained until the cutting of telegraph communication south, and the reports of reliable scouts rendered it advisable to give way to the guerilla army of plunderers.

The Rebels Advance on Greencastle.

Greencastle, being but five miles north of Maryland line, and in the direct route of rebels, was naturally enough in the high-state of excitement on Sunday night and Monday morning. Exaggerated rumors had of course flooded them, and every half-hour a stampede was made before the imagined rebel columns. Hon. John Rows at last determined to reconnoiter and he mounted a [illegible] and started out toward Hagerstown. A little distance beyond, he was captured by a squad of rebels, and held until Gen. Jenkins came up. Jenkins asked Rows his [illegible] and was answered correctly. He subsequently asked Mr.___________, who was with [illegible], what Rows's name was, and upon being told that the name had been given to [illegible] correctly, he insisted that the Major [illegible] been an officer in the United States [illegible] Mr.____assured Jenkins that the [illegible] had never been in the service, and he [illegible] satisfied. (Jenkins had evidently [illegible] Major Howe with his son, the [illegible] Leutenant [sic] Colonel Rows of the 126th.) [illegible] then asked Mr._______whom he had [illegible] for at the last Presidential election. [illegible] answered that he had voted for Lincoln. D[illegible] Jenkins gave the following chaste [illegible] reply --"Get off that horse, you [illegible] Abolitionist." The horse was surrendered, and the same question was pro-[illegible] to Major Rows, who answered that he had [illegible] for Douglas, and had scratched every Breckinridge man off his ticket. [Note: Folds down the middle of this column makes much of the text illegible.] Jenkins answered--"You can ride your horse as long as [illegible] like --I voted for Douglas myself." [illegible] He then demanded to know what forces were in Greencastle and what fortifications. [illegible] Roy told him that the town was defenceless, but Jenkins seemed to be cautious [illegible] might be caught in a trap. He advanced cautiously, reconnoitered all suspicious buildings and finally being fully satisfied [illegible] there was not a gun in position and not a [illegible] under arms, he resolved upon capturing [illegible] town by a brilliant charge of cavalry. [illegible] accordingly divided his forces into two [illegible] charged upon the vacated streets, and reached the centre [sic] of the town without [illegible] man. This brilliant achievement [illegible] soon after entering Pennsylvania seemed to encourage the gallant guerilla chief [illegible] more daring deeds, and he immediately [illegible] to empty stables and capture every article within his reach that seemed [illegible] fancy of his men. He announced [illegible] for ears polite that he had come [illegible] burn and destroy, and that he would be at Greencastle. Maj. Rowe informed [illegible] that he could burn Greencastle, but that would end his depredations and his [illegible] at about that point. Jenkins [illegible] as he blustered, and Jenkins didn't [illegible] destroy. He probably forgot to apply the torch. Generous teaching of memor[illegible].

The rebels [illegible] evidently under the impression that [illegible] would be thrown in their way at an [illegible] they pushed forward for Chambersburg. About 11 o'clock on Monday [illegible] they arrived at the Southern end of the [illegible] the same intensely strategic movement exhibited at Greencastle were displayed [illegible] Several were thrown forward [illegible] to reconnoitre, [sic] and a few of our brave [illegible] captured them and took their horses. [illegible] taste of war whetted the appetite of Jenkins and he resolved to capture the town [illegible] brilliant dash, without so much as a demand for surrender. He divided his forced into [illegible] columns--about two hundred in [illegible] as a forlorn hope, to whom was assigned the desperate task of charging upon empty and undefended streets, store-[illegible] beds &c. of the ancient village of Chambersburg. Every precaution, that [illegible] could invent was taken to prevent [illegible]. Men were detailed to ride along the [illegible] before the charge [illegible] to plant artillery [illegible] the redoubtable Jenkins had not so much as a swivel in his army. The women and children having been sufficiently frightened by the threatened booming of artillery, and all things being in [illegible], the forlorn hope advanced, and the most desperate charge ever known in the history of war--in Chambersburg at last--was made. Down the street came the iron clatter of hoofs like the tempest with a thousand thunderbolts; but the great plan had failed [illegible] one particular, and the column recoiled before it reached the Diamond. A mortar [illegible] on the street, in front to Mr. White's [illegible] building, had not been observed in the reconnoitering of the town, nor had willing Copperheads advised him of it. His force [illegible] hurled against it; down went some men [illegible] bang went a gun. To strike a mortar-bed [illegible] have a gun fired at the same time, was more than the strategy of Jenkins had bargained for; and the charge was broken and fell back. A few moments of fearful suspense, and the mortar-bed was carefully reconnoitered, [illegible] the musket report was found to be an accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of one of his own men who had fallen. With boldness and dash worthy of Jenkins, it was resolved to renew the attack without even the formality of a council of war. Again [illegible] steeds of war thundered down the street and, there being nothing in the way, over [illegible] all opposition, and the borough of Chambersburg was under the rule of Jenkins. Having won it by the most determined and brilliant prowess, Jenkins resolved that he would be magnanimous, and would allow nothing to be taken from our people--excepting such article as he and his men wanted.

Jenkins Encamps With the Editor

Jenkins had doubtless [illegible] the papers in his day, and knew that there were green fields in the "Green Spot" and what is rather remarkable, at night he could start for a forty acre clover patch belonging to the Editor of the Repository without so much as stopping to ask where the gate might be found. Not even a [illegible] called to find it; but the march was continued until the gate was reached, when the order "file right" was given, and Jenkins was in clover. Happy fellow thus to find [illegible] and extensive clover as if by [illegible]. By way of giving the devil his due, it [illegible] be said that, although there were over sixty acres of wheat, and eighty acres of [illegible] and oats in the same field, he protected [illegible] most carefully and picketed his horses so [illegible] it could not be injured. And equal care [illegible] taken of all other property about the [illegible], excepting half-a-dozen of our fattest [illegible] sheep which were necessary, it seems, to furnish chops, &c. for his men. [illegible] fences were wantonly destroyed, poultry [illegible] was not disturbed, nor did he compliment our blooded cattle so much as to test the quality of their steak and roasts. Some of his men cast a wistful eye upon the gleaming trout in the spring; but they were protected by voluntary order, and save a few quarts of delicious strawberries gathered with every care, after first asking permission, nothing in the garden, or about the grounds was taken. Having had a taste of rebel love for horses last October, when Gen. Stuart's officers first stole our horses, and then supped and smoked socially with us, we had started to the mountains slightly in advance of Jenkins' occupation of the town, and, being unable to find them, we are happy to say that Gen. Jenkins didn't steal our new assortment.

However earnest an enemy Jenkins may be, he don't seem to keep spite, but is capable of being very jolly and sociable when he is treated hospitably. For prudential reasons, the Editor was not at home to do the honors at his own table; but Jenkins was not particular, nor was his appetite impaired thereby. He called upon the ladies of the house, shared their hospitality, behaved in all respects like a gentleman, and expressed very earnest regrets that he had not been able to make the personal acquaintance of the Editor [illegible] beg to say that we reciprocate the wish of the General and shall be glad to make his acquaintance personally --"when this cruel war is over." Col. French and Surgeon Bee spent much of their time with Mrs. McClure, and the former showed his appreciation of her hospitality by taking her revolver from her when he left. An order having been made for the citizens to surrender all the guns and pistols they had, Col. French took the pistol of his hostess. How many rifles he didn't get that were in her keeping, we "da'na choose to tell."

Jenkins Buys Out the Town

Horses seemed to be considered contraband of war and were taken without the pretence [sic] of compensation; but other articles were deemed legitimate subject of commerce even between enemies, and they were generally paid for after a fashion. True, the system of Jenkins would be considered a little informal in business circles; but it's his way, and our people agreed to it perhaps to some extent because of the novelty, but mainly because of the necessity of the thing. But Jenkins was liberal--eminently liberal. He didn't stoop to haggle about a few odd pennies in making a bargain. For instance, he took the drugs of Messrs. Miller, Spangler, Nixon and Heyser, and told them to make out a bill, or if they could not do that, to guess at the amount, and the bills were paid. Doubtless our merchants and druggists would have preferred "green-backs" to confederate scrip that is never payable, and is worth just its weight in old paper; but Jenkins hadn't "green-backs" and he had confederate scrip, and such as he had he gave unto them. Thus he dealt largely in our place. To avoid the jealousies growing out of rivalry in business, he patronised [sic] all the merchants, and bought pretty much everything he could conveniently use and carry. Some people, with the antiquated ideas of business, might call it stealing to take goods and pay for them in bogus money; but Jenkins calls it business, and for the time being what Jenkins called business, was business. In this way he robbed all the stores; drug stores, &c., more or less, and supplied himself with many articles of great value to him.

Jenkins Regulates the City Fathers.

Jenkins, like most doctors, don't seem to have relished his own prescriptions. Several horses had been captured by some of our boys, and notice was given by the general commanding that they must be surrendered or the town would be destroyed. The city fathers, commonly known as the town council, were appealed to in order to avert the impending fate threatened us. One of the horses, we believe, and some of the equipments were found and returned, but there was still a balance in favor of Jenkins. We do not know who audited the account, but it was finally adjusted by the council appropriating the sum of $900 to pay the claim. Doubtless Jenkins hoped for $900 dollars in "greenbacks," but he had flooded the town with confederate scrip, pronouncing it better than United States currency, and the council evidently believed him, and desiring to be accommodating with a conqueror, decided to favor him by the payment of his [illegible] confederate scrip. It was so done, and Jenkins got just $900 worth of nothing for his trouble. He took it, however, without a murmur, and doubtless considered it a clever joke.

Jenkins Calls for Arms.

Sore was the disappointment of Jenkins at the general exodus of horses from this place. It limited his booty immensely. Fully five hundred had been taken from Chambersburg and vicinity to the mountains, and Jenkins plunder was thus made just so much less. But he determined to make up for it by stealing all the arms in the town. He therefore issued an order requiring the citizens to bring him all the arms they had, public or private, within two hours; and search, and terrible vengeance were threatened in case of disobedience. Many of our citizens complied with the order, and a committee of our people was appointed to take a list of the persons presenting arms. Of course very many did not comply, but enough did so to avoid a general search and probable sacking of the town. The arms were assorted--the indifferent destroyed, and the good taken along.

Jenkins Takes a Fright.

On Tuesday a few of Milroy's cavalry, [illegible] Martinsburg, were seen by the redoubtable Jenkins hovering in his front. Although thirteen in number, and without the appetite for a battle with his two thousand men, he took on a fright of huge proportions and prepared to sell his command [illegible] early as possible. Like a prudent general, however, he provided fully for his retreat. [illegible] shrill blast of the bugle brought his men [illegible] arms with the utmost possible alacrity; [illegible] were called in to swell the ranks [illegible] horses and baggage, consisting principally of stolen goods, were sent to the rear, [illegible] of the town; the surgeon took forcible possession of all our building, houses, barns sheds, &c., to be used as hospitals, and officially requested that their wounded should be humanely treated in case of their sudden retreat without being able to take them along. The hero of two brilliant cavalry charges upon undefended towns, was agitated beyond endurance at the prospect of a battle; [illegible line] than the State Capital, over fifty miles distant, and there the same scene [illegible] being presented. Jenkins in Chambersburg and the militia at Harrisburg, [illegible] momentarily expecting to be cut to pieces by the other. But these armies, alike [illegible] in their heroism, were spared the dead [illegible] of arms, inasmuch as even the most [illegible] ordnance is not deemed fatal at [illegible] fitfy [sic] miles. Both armies, as the [illegible] reports go, "having accomplished [illegible] purpose, retired in good order."

[illegible] Houses Plundered.

As a [illegible] believe that private houses were not [illegible] by Jenkins' forces; but there were some exceptions. The residences of Messrs. [illegible] and Gipe, near Chambersburg, [illegible] entered (the families being absent) [illegible] plundered of clothing, kettles, and other [illegible]. Bureaus and cupboards were all emptied of their contents, and such articles as they wanted were taken. We have not [illegible] of any instances of the kind in town.

Rebels Snub the Copperheads.

Negroes Taken South.

Quite a number of Negroes, free and slave--men, women and children--were captured by Jenkins and started South to be sold into bondage. Many escaped in various ways, and the people of Greencastle captured the guard of one negro [illegible] in and discharged the negroes; but, perhaps a full fifty were got off to slavery. One negro effected his escape by shooting and seriously wounding his rebel guard. He forced the gun from the rebel and fired, wounding [illegible] in the head, and then skedaddled. Some of the men were bound with ropes, and the children were mounted in front or behind the rebels on their horses. By great exertions of several citizens some of the negroes were discharged.

The Southern Border Plundered.

The southern border of this county has been literally plundered of everything in the stock line, excepting such as could be secreted. But it was difficult to secrete stock, as the rebels spent a full week in the county, and leisurely hunted out horses and cattle without molestation. The citizens were unable to protect themselves, and owing to the [illegible] of promptness of [illegible] citizens elsewhere [illegible] respond to the call for troops, aid could [illegible] be had. We have [illegible] sufficient data to estimate the loss sustained by the county; but it cannot fall short of a quarter of a million of dollars. It is a fearful blow to our people, coming as it does in the throngest [sic] season of the year, and many croppers, who had little else than their stock, have been rendered almost if not entirely bankrupt by the raid. If the people of Pennsylvania will not fight to protect the State from invasion, the sufferers have a right to claim compensation from the common treasury of the State. The State professes to protect its citizens in the enjoyment of all their rights, and there is no justice in withholding the common tribute from individual sufferers. Among the many unfortunate, perhaps the greatest sufferer, is ex-Sheriff Taylor, from whom the rebels captured a drove of fat cattle in Fulton county. His loss is some $7,000.

Jenkins' Route.

The route of Jenkins was through the most densely populated and wealthiest portion of the county. From this point he fell back to Greencastle and south of it, thence he proceeded to Mercersburg, from where a detachment crossed the Cove Mountain to McConnellsburg and struck down the valley from there. The main body however was divided into plundering parties, and scoured the whole southern portion of the county, spending several days in and about Greencastle and Waynesboro, and giving Welsh Run a pretty intimate visitation.

Panics.

The rebels seemed omnipresent according to reports. They were on several occasions since their departure from this place just about to re-enter it, and the panic-stricken made a corresponding exit at the other side. On Thursday the 18th, they were reported within two miles of here, in large force, and a general skedaddle took place; and again on Sunday, the 21st, they were reported coming with reinforcements. A few ran off, but most of our people, knowing that there was a military force to fall back upon between this and Scotland, shouldered their guns and fell into ranks to give battle.--Prominent among these were noticed Rev. Mr. Niccolls, whose people missed a sermon in his determination to pop a few rebels.

Scotland Bridge Burned.

One of the first acts done by the rebels here was to march down to the railroad bridge at Scotland and burn it. The warehouse of Mr. Criswell and several cars, were spared upon satisfactory assurance that they were private property. As soon as the rebels fell back, the Railroad Company commenced to rebuild the bridge, and on Sunday evening the 21st, trains passed over it again. The only other instance of firing property that has reached us, was the warehouse of Oaks & Linn. It was fired just as they left the town, but the citizens extinguished it.

Gen. Jenkins.

We had not the felicity of a personal interview with the distinguised [sic] guerrilla chief but our special reporters took his dimensions and autobiography with general accuracy. He was born of his mother at a very early age, and is supposed to be the son of his father. He was flogged through school in his boyhood years much as other children and may have startling traditions touching his early character, such as the hatchet and cherry tree which proved that Washington could not lie; but it is for the present regarded as doubtful. He subsequently graduated at Jefferson College in this State, in the same class, we believe, with J. McDowell Sharpe, Esq., and gave promise of future usefulness and greatness. His downward career commenced some five years ago, when in an evil hour he became a member of Congress from Western Virginia, and from thence may be dated his decline and fall. From Congress he naturally enough turned fire- eater, secessionist and guerrilla. He is of medium size, has a flat but good head, light brown hair, blue eyes, immense flowing beard of a sandy hue, and rather a pleasant face. He professes to cherish the utmost regard for the humanity of war, and seemed sensitive on the subject of his reputation as a humane military leader. He pointed to the raids of the Union troops, who left in many instances wide-spread and total desolation on their tracks, and expressed the hope that henceforth the Union raids would do no more damage to citizens than he does. He takes horses, cattle and articles necessary for the army, as both sides treat them as contraband of war, and help themselves on every occasion offered. He pointed with bitter triumph at the raid of Montgomery in South Carolina, and at the destruction of Jacksonville, Fla. and Jackson, Mississippi, by our troops, and reminded us that his actions were in accordance with civilized warfare, while those referred to of our troops were barbarous.

Jenkins' Forces.

We do not learn of any one who was able to count Jenkins' forces accurately, but from the best information we can gather, he had about two thousand men. They were clad, as rebel soldiers usually are, in the southern butter-nut cloth, and without any regard to uniformity. They caried [sic] pistols, rifles and sabres, and are classed as mounted infantry, or independent guerillas, although they are recognized as part of the rebel army. We believe that the plunder became their own private property, instead of the property of the rebel authorities, as is the case with their regular troops. They have thus a double incentive to plunder.

Delay in Arming.

We have heard much complaint of our people for not rushing to arms and driving the invaders away. It must be remembers that the entire southern half of our county, embracing two-thirds of our population, was occupied by the rebels, who had heavy supporting columns at Williamsport. Every man of ours was threatened hourly at his own door, and concentration was impossible. Our people generally did their duty, but they were required in their respective neighborhoods to picket and protect, in some degree, their stock. A concentration of our men at Chambersburg, or Greencastle, or Mercersburg, would have left 25,000 people with their property entirely defenceless. In the Valley the citizens were under arms, and had the roads barricaded for defence, but the Southern portion of the county is open and unsuitable to defence by small parties.

Arrival of New York Troops.

On Sunday, 28th, the 8th New York Militia arrived here, having marched from Shippensburg, and they were received with the wildest enthusiasm. Considering that they are on our border in advance of any Pennsylvania regiments, they merit, as they will receive, the lasting gratitude of every man in the Border.

The Venerable Greys.

The old men of the town organized a company, headed by Hon. George Chambers, for the defence of the town. None were admitted under forty-five. On Monday every man capable of bearing arms had his gun and was in some organization to resist the rebels.

Franklin Repository, July 8, 1863, p. 4, c. 2

The material and subscription list of the Dispatch have been united with this office, and the subscribers to that journal will henceforth be furnished with the Repository. We believe that the arrangement will be acceptable to the readers, as it must be advantageous to all parties interested, and the public generally. Persons who have paid their subscription in advance to the Dispatch, will receive this paper without additional charge for the full period for which they have paid. Many of the readers of the Dispatch will doubless [sic] miss its sprightly little face, but with the increased facilities afforded by the union of the two papers, we hope to meet [illegible]

Franklin Repository, July 8, 1863, p. 4, c. 1

At length the two great opposing armies have met in an open field with the firm resolve to conquer or be destroyed, and the God of battles has given victory to the Union arms.

It was no drawn struggle--no doubtful triumph. After three days of the most deadly strife, marked by a heroism on both sides before which Roman story pales, the rebel columns reeled back upon their mountain base defeated, routed, decimated, without heart or hope.

Under cover of the night their shattered legions commenced their retreat, hugging the mountains closely for protection, and leaving their thousands of dead to find hospitable graves at the hands of their foe, while other thousands of wounded were left to the humanity of those by whose hands they had fallen. The pathway to their home of desolation and want was marked by the pale and lifeless monuments of their disaster, deserted their ranks and come as suppliants to our doors.

Scarcely half the insurgent army is in battle array to-day. Its sullen steps were turned upon the Potomac only to find that the very elements have risen in terrible vengeance against them. Hopeless and dispirited they find the waters dividing them from safety, defy their retreat and the battle of despair must be fought ere repose can be found from the shock of the discomfiture at Gettysburg.

Their long broken lines filed through Hagerstown toward Williamsport yesterday, and as the Potomac is impassable, the historic ground of Antietam will doubtless be chosen again by the rebel leader for the last desperate effort for existence. It was there that he learned the bitter lesson of the madness of invasion nearly one years ago, when a defeated, disorganized army assailed and dislodged him. Now the Army of the Potomac marches upon him with the victory of Gettysburg streaming on their banners, and their hearts strengthened by the triumph of the Right, and they will strike with resistless fury upon the invading foe.

Mingled with the joy of every loyal heart at this great triumph, will be the deepest sorrow for our fallen heroes. To protect our homes and to preserve our Nationality fifteen thousand of our bravest troops have fallen. They will be mourned as the Republic's noblest sons, and green will be the chaplets woven for them in the memory of every friend of order and government.

To Gen. Meade was assigned the cruel task of meeting an invading foe within three days after the command was assigned him. That he did it wisely, heroically, triumphantly, stamps him to- day as the "Great Defender of the Republic!"

Franklin Repository, July 8, 1863, p. 4, c. 3

Three Days Battles Terrific and Unparalleled Conflict. The Rebels Utterly Routed!! They Retreat to the Mountain. The Culminating Battle on Friday. Official Dispatches from Gen. Meade. The Rebels Repulsed in Every Attack! The President Congratulates the Country. Splendid Conduct of our Army. The Rebel Gen. Armistread Captured. Gen. Sickles' Leg Amputated on the Field. Some of the Results of the Great Victory. The Rebel Pontoon Bridges at Williamsport Destroyed. Rise of the Potomac River.

Headquarters, Third Army Corps,
Near Gettysburg, July 4, 1863.

The battle of Friday was the most desperate, most fierce and decisive of the war. It was commenced at early daybreak on our extreme left by a determined attack by the enemy with musketry and artillery. The attack was met by the Sixth Corps and portions of the First and the Fifth, the Third lying close at hand in reserve. The battle raged fiercely at this point for nearly three hours, when the enemy fell back, yielding to us the whole of the battle field of that morning, as well as of the previous day.

Nearly simultaneously with the opening of the attack on the left, movements were discovered on the right indicating that an effort was making to flank our position in that direction. Our artillery on Cemetery Hill at once opened, throwing heavy vollies of shell over and to the right and east of the town. At this point we had eight or ten batteries in position, covered by earthworks. The enemy responded briskly to our cannonading, but with poor effect, and were evidently much annoyed by our fire. They, however, pressed their columns on to the right, and very soon our infantry poured on that flank and were earnestly engaged. The contest here was even more earnest and continuous than on the left. The Twelfth and portions of the Eleventh Corps withstood the shock, giving never an inch of ground to their assailants.

The fight raged here on the face of a lofty mountain, densely wooded, from the summit of which batteries could command our position on Cemetery Hill. It was evidently with a view of gaining this position that the enemy made the assault. For this purpose Hill's Corps, that had fought on the left on the previous day, was brought around to reinforce Early, and as the scheme was developed it appeared that the early attack on the left was intended merely as a diversion to cover this movement. From a distance the progress of the fight could be observed by the whirling smoke rising above the woods, marking the line of the fierce contest.

In this struggle our reserved artillery was brought into play, and did most excellent service from impromptu positions on the elevated points back of Cemetery Hill shelling the face of the mountain where the enemy were supposed to be. This reserve fire of shell, added to the steady and unflinching ardor of the glorious Twelfth corps, ultimately checked the vastly superior force of the enemy, who for an hour or two had been gradually advancing. At the critical juncture, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, one or two brigades of New York troops, supposed to be militia from Pennsylvania, arrived, and were immediately thrown into position to reinforce the right wing, which was being so badly pressed. This assistance determined the fate of the day. The enemy quailed before it, and soon the curling smoke that marked the line of the contest began to recede, surely indicating that the enemy were falling back; but if they gave away at all it was but slowly fighting at every step; and thus the battle raged for hours, and until afternoon, when the enemy abandoned the field in that direction. But they did not yet yield the day. For a period hostilities seemed to be suspended; but the suspension was very brief.

The rebel columns seemed to be massed as if by magic, and within an hour their whole force was massed directly in our front, and once more the fierce and deadly contest opened. This time it was an assault along the entire line--a last resort, the forlorn hope of the enemy. They were weakened in numbers and dispirited and utterly demoralized; yet Lee had a reputation to save and a name to make, and at any sacrifice of life he seemed bound to win the day; but he strove in vain. The Union troops were fighting at home and among their own people. They fought like heroes, and, inspirited by success, they had no thought of defeat. They could have withstood three times the force the enemy hurled against them. It was mere play for them to drive back the columns of the rebels, and so they did drive them back, and at five o'clock, after more than twelve hours constant fighting, the contest terminated, the national troops victorious at every point, and having nearly the entire battle field in their possession.

Time fails me to dwell upon the details of this brilliant and glorious battle. It would be interesting to say how we took thousands on thousands of prisoners, how the enemy were slaughtered, how our men fell by thousands, heroically defending their national emblem; but let [illegible] this be deferred: the day is ours, the victory is won, the country is saved.

At the close of the action General Lee had the impudence to send in a flag of truce asking a suspension of hostilities, to give him time for the burial of the dead and an exchange of prisoners. General Meade replied that he intended to recapture all the prisoners the enemy had taken and that he would bury their dead for them. Failing in this attempt to gain time, and badly worsted at all hands, the rebels had no other recourse but to avail themselves of the fast approaching night to fall back to the mountains. So precipitate was their retreat last night that their guards and sentinels in town were not relieved, and were captured.

This morning upward of eleven hundred stragglers were taken in Gettysburg, besides our wounded who had fallen into the enemy's hands on Wednesday. At early daybreak General Pleasant was started in pursuit of the rebels with his artillery, and at last accounts was pressing them hard.

The summary of this battle it would be difficult to give at this time. Both sides have lost heavily. The country about Gettysburg is crowded with wounded men. Every house and barn is a hospital. Probably in the aggregate of both armies at least 50,000 men have been placed hors de combat. The apportionment of this loss would probably be twenty thousand Union and thirty thousand rebels. In addition to this, we have captured from twelve to twenty thousand prisoners, which is more than quadruple what they have taken from us, including our wounded who fell into their hands on Wednesday, and who were recaptured by us in Gettysburg this morning.

It is exceedingly doubtful if we have taken either Longstreet or Hill, as reported, though the report is based upon statements of rebel prisoners. Other reports say that Longstreet is badly wounded and some say that he is dead.

First Army Corps,
Gettysburg, Pa., July 1--12 p.m.

We left camp this morning for this place, and before we reached the heights overlooking the town we heard the guns which told us that Buford's cavalry and howitzers were skirmishing with the enemy's advance, about three miles to the westward of the town. Our information is, that the enemy is there in force, with the prospect of a sharp engagement, if not a decisive battle.

Communication Cut Off.

I came directly into town, hoping to be able to despatch letters or messages, but learn that a few days since the railway was torn up and bridges burned by the rebels, and the telegraph poles cut down for some miles. If no mails leave to-day we shall be obliged to send couriers to the nearest telegraph station.

In Position.

The First and Eleventh corps have got into position and the firing has ceased for the moment.

Headquarters, July l--1 P.M.

The First Corps Engaged.

I have just returned from the front. There has been some of the most gallant fighting by our boys ever known to warriors. Gen. Jas. S. Wadsworth's division, the [illegible] of the First corps, was the first engaged, and Sol. Meredith's old "iron" brigade was the first to get into action. The boys walked into the fight just as they would into a harvest field, and mowed down the enemy like grass.

They have captured the famous Light Brigade of the rebel army, commanded by Gen. Archer, a native of Maryland, who is also a prisoner, but they have lost their favorite commander. Major General John F. Reynolds, who was killed at the commencement of the action. As you will get all the particulars of his death and career by telegraph, I will not elaborate upon them here more than to say that his troops had every confidence in him and will revere his loss.

In the brilliant little action mentioned in my previous letter, our troops were victorious, having driven the enemy from their position. They were resting on their arms when about two o'clock the enemy, A. P. Hill's corps, having been reinforced by portion of Ewell's (formerly Stonewall Jackson's) corps made an attack on our lines. The whole of the First corps was now fiercely engaged. General Robinson, commanding the Second division and Gen. Rowley the Third. The enemy massed his whole force first upon our right, then upon centre, and lastly upon our left, and the iron hail and missiles fell upon us in unparalleled fury. Our boys never winced or flinched. It seems that the veterans of the First corps consider fighting one of their regular exercises.

The First Corps Falls Back.

After two hours of unprecedented fighting against a force of four times our numbers, and terrible losses, we were obliged to fall back upon the town, and through it to the heights, on the southern and eastern side, leaving our dead on the field and our wounded, both there and in the town hospitals, who were unable to walk, in the hands of the enemy. Our ambulance train was not yet up.

Position and Plan of the Battle.

The battle of Gettsburg! [sic] I am told that it commenced on the first of July, a mile north of the town, between two weak brigades of infantry and some doomed artillery, and the whole force of the rebel army. Among other costs of this error was the death of Reynolds. Its value was priceless, however, though priceless was the young and the old blood with which it was bought. The error put us upon the defensive, and gave us the choice of position, from the moment that our artillery and infantry rolled back through the main street of Gettysburg and rolled out of the town to the circle of eminences south of it. We were not to attack but to be attacked. The risks, the difficulties and the disadvantages of the coming battle were the enemy's. Ours were the heights for artillery; ours the short, inside lines for manoeuvering [sic] and reinforcing; ours the cover of stonewalls, fences, and the crests of hills. The ground upon which we were driven to accept battle was wonderfully favorable to us. A proper description of it would be to say that it was in form an elongated and somewhat sharpened horseshoe, with the toe to Gettysburg and the heel to the south.

Lee's plan of battle was simple. He massed his troops upon the east side of this shoe of position, and thundered on it obstinately to break it. The shelling of our batteries from the nearest overlooking hill, and the unflinching courage and complete discipline of the Army of the Potomac repelled the attack. It was renewed at the point of the shoe--renewed desperately at the southwest heel--renewed on the western side, with an effort consecrated to success by Ewell's earnest oaths, and on which the fate of the invasion of Pennsylvania was fully put at stake. Only a perfect infantry, and an artillery educated in the [illegible] of charges of hostile brigades, could possibly have sustained this assault. Hancock's corps did sustain it, and has covered itself with immortal honors, by its constancy and courage. The total wreck of Cushing's battery--the list of its killed and wounded--the losses of officers, men and horses Cowen sustained, and the marvellous [sic] outspread upon the board of death, of dead soldiers and dead animals--of dead soldiers in blue, and dead soldiers in gray--more marvellous to me than anything I have ever seen in war--are a ghastly and shocking testimony to the terrible fight of the 2d Corps, that none will gainsay. That corps will ever have the distinction of breaking the pride and power of the rebel invasion.

The Rebel Charge.

Then were was a lull and we knew that the rebel infantry was charging. And splendidly they did this [illegible]--the highest and severest test of the stuff that soldiers are made of. Hill's division in line of battle, came first, on the double-quick, their muskets [illegible] the "right- shoulder-shift." Longstreet's came as the support, at the usual distance, with war cries and a savage insolence as yet untutored by defeat. They rushed in perfect order across the open field, up to the very muzzles of the guns, which tore lanes through them as they came. But they met men, who were their equals in spirit, and their superiors in tenacity. There never was better fighting since Thermopylae than was done yesterday by our infantry and artillery. The rebels were over our defences. They had cleaned cannononiers and horses from one of the guns, and were whirling it around to use upon us. The bayonet drove them back. But so hard pressed was this brave infantry that at one time, from the exhaustion of their ammunition, every battery upon the principal crest of stock was silent, except Cowen's. His service of grape and canister was awful. It enabled our line, outnumbered two to one, first to beat back Longstreet, and then to charge upon him, and take a great number of his men and himself prisoners. Strange sight! So terrible was our musketry and artillery fire, that when Armstead's brigade was chocked [sic] in its charge, and stood reeling, all of its men dropped their muskets, and crawled on their hands and knees underneath the stream of shot, till close to our troops, where they made signs of surrendering. They passed through our ranks scarcely noticed and slowly went down the slope to the road in the rear.

Spirit of the Battle.

The artillery fire continued without intermission for three hours, when suddenly, having formed under cover of the smoke of their own guns, the rebel troops were hurled against our lines by the officers in masses, the very tread of whose feet shook the declivity up which they [illegible], with cries that might have caused less dauntless troops than those who awaited the [illegible] to break with terror. Not a man in the Federal ranks flinched from his position. Not an eye turned to the right or left in search of security, not a hand trembled as the long array of our heroes grasped their muskets at a charge, and waited the order to fire. On and up came the enemy, hooting, [illegible] showing their very teeth in the venom of their rage, until within thirty yards of our cannon. As the turbulent mass of gray uniforms, of flashing bayonets and gleaming eyes, lifted itself in a last lap forward almost to the mouths of our guns, a volley of shot, shell, shrapnel and bullets went crashing through it, leaving it as a scythe. Its overwhelming onward rush was in the next instant turned to the hesitating leap forward of a few soldiers more daredevil than the rest, the wild bounding upwards of more than a few mortally wounded heroes, and the succeeding backward surge of the disjointed remainder, which culminated in a scamper down the slope that was, in some instances, retarded by the pursuing bullets of our men.

The carnage of the assault among the rebels was so fearful that even Federal soldiers who rested on their arms triumphant, after the foe had retreated beyond their fire, as they case their eyes downward upon the panorama of death and wounds illuminated by the sun that shone upon the slope before them, were seen to shudder and turn sickening away.

Then the 3rd and 5th Corps joined in the fight. As the rebels rallied for an instant, and attempted to make a stand, they were met by such combined volleys as threatened to reduce their columns to fragments. The panic which ensued is unparalleled in any battle in which the Army of the Potomac has ever been engaged. The enemy quailed like ewes before a tempest. Their main line again receded, but numbers, palsied by the horror and tumult, fell upon their faces, shrieking and lifting up clasped hands in token of surrender and appeals for mercy. General Dick Garnett's brigade surrendered almost entire, but Garnett himself, by the aid of two of his men, succeeded, though wounded, in making his escape. Longstreet, who led the reinforcements which enabled the rebels to make their second brief stand, was wounded, captured and is now prisoner. The musketry firing slowly ceased and the discharge of artillery continued for a brief period, but even these reverberations died away.

General Mead was not deceived in anticipating another onslaught. Lee's columns were collected and reformed with magical haste. With an hour what seemed to be his whole force was again amassed directly in our front, where the contest once more opened. The assault this time was made with a fury even surpassing that of the first. It would seem as if the entire rebel army had resolved itself to a gigantic forlorn hope, and bore in its collective bosom the consciousness that the effort now made was the last and only one that could be made toward retrieving the fortunes of that army, or preventing the inevitable disgrace which hovered over it.

It is said by rebel prisoners taken in the later part of the engagement that this charge was led by Lee in person. The prestige of his name and his presence could certainly not have added to its power or enthusiasm. Yet the cool and gallant phalanx which, secure in its position and confident in its leader, waited with a silence only broken by the occasional roar of artillery the approach of the foe, and view [illegible] it as calmly and met it as unfalteringly [illegible] before. Back, as easily as a girl hurls the shuttlecock, did the solders of our gallant army hurl into chaotic retreat the hosts that came on and on, over the stones and ditches, over the bodies of fallen comrades, piling its dead in heaps and making the soil over which it trod ghastly and alive with struggling wounded.

The Field After the Battle.

Rebel officers with whom I have conversed frankly admit that the result of the last two days has been most disastrous to their cause, which depended, they say, upon the success of Lee's attempt to transfer the seat of war from Virginia to the Northern Border States. A wounded rebel colonel told me that, in the first and second days's fight, the rebel losses were between ten and eleven thousand. Yesterday, they were greater still. In one part of the field in a space not more than twenty feet in circumference, in front of General Gibbons' division, I counted seven dead rebels, three of whom were piled on top of each other. And close by, in a spot not more than fifteen feet square, lay fifteen "graybacks," stretched in death. These were the adventurous spirits, who, in the face of the horrible stream of canister, shell, and musketry, scaled the fence wall in their attempt upon our batteries. Very large numbers of wounded were also strewn around, not to mention more who had crawled away or been taken away. The field in front of the stone wall was literally covered with dead and wounded, a large proportion of whom were rebels. Where our musketry and artillery took effect they lay in swaths as if mown down by a scythe. This field presented a horrible sight--such as has never yet been witnessed during the war. Not less than one thousand dead and wounded lay in a space of less than four acres in extent, and that, too, after numbers had crawled away to places of shelter.

The record of the 3d Corps shows numberless chief officers sacrificed in this fierce encounter, witnessing the desperation with which it was fought. Out of this little Corps nearly 8,000 men were placed hors de combat in this short engagement.

The gallant Birney was twice struck by the bullets of the enemy, though happily but slightly injured. It is but proper to mention that this single acted saved us the day.

Hancock's Valor.

At 2 o'clock, P. M. on Friday, Longstreet's whole Corps advanced from the rebel centre against our centre. The enemy's forces were hurled upon our position by columns in mass, and also in lines of battle. Out centre was held by Gen. Hancock, with the noble old 2d Army Corps, aided by General Doubleday's division of the 1st Corps.

The rebels first opened a terrific artillery bombardment, to demoralize our men, and then moved their forces with great impetuosity upon our position. Hancock received the attack with great firmness, and after a furious battle, lasting until five o'clock, the enemy were driven from the field, Long street's Corps being almost annihilated.

The battle was a most magnificent spectacle. It was fought on an open plain just south of Gettysburg, with not a tree to interrupt the view. The courage of our men was perfectly sublime.

At 5 P.M., what was left of the enemy retreated in utter confusion, leaving dozens of flags, and Gen. Hancock estimated, at least five thousand killed and wounded on the field.

The battle was fought by General Hancock with a splendid valor. He won imperishable honor, and Gen. Meade thanked him in the name of the army and the country. He was wounded in the thigh, but remained on the field.

Head-quarters Army of the Potomac,
July 3d, 8:30, near Gettysburg.--To Maj. Gen. Halleck, Commander-in-Chief.

--The enemy opened at 1 P. M., from about 100 guns 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 occasions, handsomely repulsed with severe loss to him, leaving in our hands nearly 3000 prisoners, among them being 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 hands.

The loss upon our side has been considerable. Major General Hancock and Brigadier General Gibbon were wounded.

After the repelling of the assault, indications leading to a belief that the enemy might be withdrawing, an armed reconnaissance was pushed forward from the left, and the enemy found to be in force.

At the present hour all is quiet.

My cavalry have been engaged all day on both flanks of the enemy, harassing and vigorously attacking him with great success, notwithstanding they encountered superior numbers, both of cavalry and infantry.

The army is in fine spirits.

(Signed) George G. Meade,
Major General Commanding.

At the present hour all is quiet.

My cavalry have been engaged all day on both flanks of the enemy, harassing and vigorously attacking him with great success, notwithstanding they encountered superior numbers, both of cavalry and infantry.

The army is in fine spirits.

Signed George G. Meade,
Major General Commanding.

Washington, July 5--8 P.M.

--The two following despatches have been received:--

Head-quarters Army of the Potomac, Noon, July 4, 1863.

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

--The position of affairs is not materially changed since my last despatch, dated 7 A. M. We now hold Gettysburg. The enemy has abandoned large numbers of his killed and wounded on the field.

I shall probably be able to give you a return of our captures and losses before night, and a return of the enemy's killed and wounded in our hands.

George G. Meade, Major General.

Head-quarters, Army of the Potomac, 10 P.M., July 4

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

--No change of affairs since my last despatch of 12 o'clock, noon

George G. Meade,
Major General.

Head-quarters Army of the Potomac, July 5, 8:30 A.M.

--To Major General Halleck:

The enemy retired under cover of the night and heavy rain, in the direction of Fairfield and Cashtown. My cavalry is in pursuit.

I cannot give you the details of our captures of prisoners, colors and arms.

Upwards of twenty battle flags will be turned in from our camps.

My wounded and those of the enemy are in our hands.

G. G. Meade,
Major General.

Washington, July 5.

--The following despatch has been received:--

Frederick, MD., July 4, 8 P.M.

--To Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief:

--An expedition sent out by me has just returned, having entirely destroyed the enemy's pontoon bridge over the Potomac at Williamsport, capturing the guard, consisting of a lieutenant and 13 men.

W. H. French, Major General.

Franklin Repository, July 8, 1863, p. 5, c.1

The Whole Rebel Army in Franklin County! 47,000 Pass Through Chambersburg! Longstreet's Corps Passes by Waynesboro! They March Upon Harrisburg! They March Back Again! Eleven Days of Rebel Occupation in Force! They Live Well and Steal Liberally! The Dutch Yanks too Sharp for the Rebels! Lee's Headquarters at Shetter's Woods. He Concentrates and Moves upon his Waterloo at Gettysburg! He Retreats with his Shattered Legions upon the Potomac!

In another part of to-day's paper we give a detailed account of the occupation of this county by the Rebel Chieftain Jenkins. It was written after his departure, and its publication delayed by the occupation of our valley by the entire Rebel Army a few days afterwards.

Gen. Jenkin's Return.

On Tuesday, the 22nd ult., Gen Jenkin's guerrillas returned to Chambersburg, as the advance of Gen. Lee's entire army. He demeaned himself as before and restrained his troops generally from serious acts of wantonness. It was evident, however, that he was but the forerunner of the whole rebel legions, and on Wednesday

General Ewell Arrived.

With him came the first column of rebel infantry that had ever penetrated a free State. Gen. Ewell is a graduate of West Point, and was for some time a civil engineer on the Columbia Railroad in this State. While thus engaged he married Miss McIlvaine of York, who has since separated from him and lives in Eastern Maryland. Soon after the commencement of the Rebellion he joined the rebel cause, and has risen, we believe justly, to the position of one of their first generals. He lost a leg at the second battle of Bull Run, and when he rides on horse-back is always strapped to his horse. His corps is Jackson's old command, and numbers about 20,000 men.

The Rebel Infantry.

There is a marked difference between the character of the rebel infantry and cavalry. The latter are, as a class, superior men in all respects, and generally well-behaved, while the infantry seem to have no conceptions above eating, sleeping, fighting and stealing. Their dress consisted of every style and color. Some had butter-nut cloth, some half Union uniforms, and some every possible mixture of hoes and fashions. Indeed they were not uniform in anything but dirt, impudence, thieving, lice and implacable hatred for the "Yankees."

The Rebels Jubilant.

The rebel rank and file when here were exceedingly jubilant but the officers, in many instances, [illegible] the greatest apprehensions at the [illegible] of the invasion. The men seemed to [illegible] that the Army of the Potomac was in [illegible] rear in the Shenandoah Valley, and [illegible] they had no foe before them but the [illegible] and they were jolly and insolent in [illegible] degree, and gave the widest latitude [illegible] their thieving propensities. They did [illegible] doubt that they would go into Harrisburg without a contest; carry Baltimore and Washington with little loss, and then select [illegible] position in Pennsylvania, and stay until our teeming wealth should be [illegible]. After the fruitless advance upon [illegible], a few returned by this route, bore with sullenness the reminders of people, that they had forgotten to take [illegible]

Ewell [illegible] Supplies.

General Ewell was the rather unwelcome guest of "mine [illegible] of the Franklin House, on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday he transferred headquarters to the Brick Church, a [illegible] North of town. He made the following requisitions in form upon our people, [illegible] it will be seen that me meant to [illegible] wholesale dealers--

Headquarters [illegible Army] Corps,
June 24th, l863.

To the Authorities Chambersburg, Pa:

By direction of Lt. Gen. R. S. Ewell, I require the following articles:
5,000 suits clothing, including hats, boots and shoes.
100 good saddles.
100 good bridles.
5,000 bushels grain, corn, or oats.
10,000 lbs. sole leather
10,000 lbs. horse shoes
400 lbs. horse shoe nails
Also, the use of Printing office, and two printers to report at [illegible].
All articles except grain will be delivered at the Court House [illegible], at 3 o'clock, p.m., to-day, and the grain by 6 o'clock, P.M., to-day.

A. Harmon,
Maj. And Ch.Q [illegible] Corps De Arm.

Headquarters [illegible] Army Corps,
[illegible] 24th, 1863.

By command of Lt. Gen. R. S. Ewell, the citizens of Chambersburg will furnish the following articles, by 3 o'clock this afternoon.

6,000 lbs. lead.
10,000 lbs. harness leather.
50 boxes tin.
1000 curry-combs and brushes.
2,000 lbs. picket rope.
400 pistols.
All the caps and powder in the town.
Also, all the neats [illegible]

Wm. [illegible], M. And C.

Subsequently another requisition was sent in for the following articles:
50,000 lbs. bread.
100 sacks salt.
30 bbls. molasses.
500 bbls. flour.
25 bbls. vinegar.
25 bbls. beans.
25 bbls. dried fruit.
25 bbls. sour kraut.
25 bbls. potatoes.
11,000 lbs. coffee.
10,000 lbs. sugar.
100,000 lbs. hard bread.

A meeting of the citizens was called and it was resolved that the demand would not be complied with for many reasons--but mainly perhaps because the town had not one-third the articles required in it. The rebels then proceeded to help themselves, in some instances, pretending to pay in rebel scrip; but in fact plundering the town relentlessly. An officer, said to be Major Todd, bother of Mrs. Lincoln, took charge of the stealing operations, and well nigh lost his head several times by some of our enraged ladies who resisted his searches.

Hill's Corps Arrives.

The last of Ewell's Corps came Wednesday, and on Thursday and Friday Hill's corps arrived, putting more than half of the entire rebel army in the neighborhood of Chambersburg. They encamped all along the Greencastle and Fayettville roads, and wherever they stopped, the desolation was complete. We hope hereafter to give a most detailed account of the desolation that followed their fatal tread.

Gen. Lee Arrives.

On Saturday Gen. Lee and Staff reached this place, and the Commander-in-Chief seems to think the beautiful grove of Mr. Shetter, a mile East of town, a more healthy location for him than the borough of Chambersburg. He pitched his tent there, and in that heartsome grove was planned the most sanguinary, and to him the most fatal, battle, of this sanguinary war. He spent several days there, as if uncertain what his movement should be; but his original plans were evidently disconcerted by the rapid march of Meade; and he was compelled to call in his force, from every point, to secure a good position of the South Mountain from which he could give battle. With almost incredible haste he summoned his forces to the Gettysburg road from York, Carlisle, Hancock, McConnelsburg, Chambersburg, and by Thursday his infantry were gone to meet the fearful retribution in store for them at Gettysburg. Imboden's Cavalry had passed Thursday, and on Friday the rear guard, under Jones, had passed through to witness the defeat of their chieftain. In all, Lee passed some 47,000 men and 193 guns through this place, and Longstreet's Corps, the largest in his command, went to Gettysburg direct from Hagerstown by Waynesboro. Gen. Lee is about fifty-two years of age, stout built, of medium height, hair gray, and rough gray beard. He is a quiet, thoughtful man, always courteous, and as a commander, seems to aim at restraining the passion and thieving propensities of his troops within the rules of war. He issued two orders on the subject, which exhibited considerable earnestness on his part to maintain the reputation of himself and army. All the orders issued during the rebel campaign will be given in our next issue.

Railroad Bridges Destroyed.

On Wednesday morning the destruction of the Railroad building began; and they were completely demolished by undermining the foundations and battering down the walls. The destruction is complete, and considerable damage is done to the road. The Scotland bridge was burnt [illegible] and the rails have been torn up in many places.

The March North.

Shippensburg, [illegible], Carlisle and Mechanicsburg were successively occupied by the rebel forces, and Gen. Early took possession of York and so threatened Columbia that Col. Frick withdrew his men and burned the bridge. Gen [illegible] threatened Harrisburg for several days and could have captured it with little difficulty had he moved promptly; but he was intimidated by the assurance received on [illegible] hand that Gens. Couch, McClellan, Sigel, and any number of troops were there to defend it. Gen. Couch was there alone, with but few militia; but he never faltered in his determination to defend the capitol to the last. It is now well fortified, and in addition to the army of Gen. Smith that he has sent to swell the columns of Gen. Meade, he had enough left to guard the line of the Susquehanna in any event.

Lee's Second Invasion of Franklin.

On Wednesday Lee gave battle to Mead's advance, and gained a temporary advantage by his superior numbers; but on Thursday and Friday he hurled his battalions against the lines of our troops time and again, only to see them fall back in confusion and decimated by the rich harvest of death. On Friday night, exhausted, defeated, demoralized and the flower of his army numbered with the dead or writhing in the agony of ghastly wounds, and left to the mercy of his foe, for care and spulchre, Lee made his second invasion of Franklin county. With sullen, heavy step his fragments re-crossed the South Mountain and took the shortest route thro' the hills for the Potomac. Once there, we hope to hear again has he met the Union legions he so willingly sought when he landed on the free soil of the North, and that the remnants of his armed traitors have been destroyed [illegible] captured. At the time of this writing we have no word of Meade having reached Lee on the line of the Potomac, but we know that the gallant Meade is pursuing him swiftly, and that he will stroke with resistless fury whenever he reaches the retreating foe. God crown with final victory the great cause of American Nationality!

Stealing Negroes.

Quite a number of negroes were stolen by the army of Gen. Lee, and evidently with the sanction of officers. All ages and condition were taken and carried off to their rear, and as they were taken past rebel encampments, cheer after cheer would go up at the triumph of the negro- stealers. But few were taken off, however, as the negroes in many instances escaped, and so hurriedly did the columns move from here that a number were forgotten.

The Rebel Retreat.

The rebel retreat, notwithstanding the fatal disaster at Gettysburg, was conducted with comparative order, although thousands of dispirited soldiers deserted their ranks and are now concealed in the mountains. Many of their wounded were taken with them. Reliable men report that they took from 10,000 to 12,000 wounded through Greencastle on Sunday and Monday last. Their train commenced to pass there on Sunday morning at 4 A.M., and continued until 11 A. M. Monday. All along the roads, over which their several columns passed, wounded have been found--some helpless, others dying, and many dead. The inexorable laws of war, requiring the lives and care of wounded to be subordinated to the safety of the remnant of the army, left these poor wretches uncared for and apparently unpitied, to die and find hospitable graves in the land they sought to desolate.

Franklin Repository, July 8, 1863, p. 8, c. 1

With this issue we return to the old and time-honored title of this paper adopted by its founder seventy years ago--The Franklin Repository. With this name it was published by George K. Harper Esq., for nearly half a century, and enjoyed a degree of popular confidence and patronage which, in those days, was unparalleled in rural journalism. For many years, we believe that Hon. George Chambers was its chief Editorial contributor, although his name did not appear, nor had he any pecuniary interest in the enterprise. When the Anti-Masonic element became the predominating power opposed to the Democracy, Mr. Raper did not harmonized with it--he being an adhering Mason. The Chambersburg Whig was founded by Joseph Pritts, Esq., we believe, and his erratic but gifted pen made his journal a formidable rival; but as the political elements opposed to Democracy combined, the Whig was prudently united with the Repository, and the title of the paper became the Repository and Whig. Subsequently the Franklin Intelligencer was founded by Mr. Mish, and published for some time with indifferent success, when it was also united with the Repository and Whig. The Transcript was the next candidate for popular favor. It was founded by R. P. Hazelet Esq., with Dr. S. G. Lane as Editor, and was neutral in politics. The American movement appeared on the surface soon after, and it engulfed The Transcript as its organ, with George Eyster, Esq., as its Editor, who infused into it great vigor, and had success been possible would have attained it. In 1855, The Transcript was united with the Repository and Whig, and the paper was issued with the title of Repository and Transcript. In 1861 the Dispatch was founded by G. H. Merklein & Co., as a semi-weekly, and pushed with considerable ability and success. The high price of paper, however, soon rendered a semi-weekly impracticable, and it was reduced to a weekly when the other papers of the town were compelled to diminish in size to avoid bankruptcy. The Dispatch has now been united with this paper, and as it is impossible to preserve any evidence of the existence of all the papers combined with this one, we go back to the familiar old title, and present the Union party to-day [sic] with a journal, worthy, we trust, of their confidence and cordial support. The union is regarded as judicious in every view of the case; and as the Repository has no personal or factious ends to accomplish, but seeks to serve the entire Union party of this section of the State, it will commend itself, by a firm, judicious and independent course, to the intelligent judgment of every lover of the Union cause.

Franklin Repository, July 8, 1863, p. 8, c. 2

--We learn that Mr. Solomon Helser and his son, who were arrested some weeks ago in this place, and by Gen. Schenck sent to Gen. Milroy with orders to send them beyond our lines, have been allowed to return, and are now at home, and have taken the oath of allegiance to the government. It is not publicly known on what specific charges the Helsers were arrested, but we understand that, when with Gen. Milroy, they received a suspension of the sentence of banishment until they could have an opportunity to rebut the charges preferred against them. As they have since been discharged, we infer that the evidence produced either acquitted them, or mitigated the offences materially, and they are entitled to the benefit of a charitable judgment. Mr. Helser should so demean himself now that there may be no question about his loyalty. There can be no neutrals in this war. Neutrality is impossible--indifference criminal.

Franklin Repository, July 15, 1863, p. 1, c.1

The Rebel Orders! Rebel Ideas of the North! Destruction of Stevens' Works! How Rebels Keep their Spirits Up! Mr. Strite Brutally Murdered! Bombardment of Carlisle!

As part of the history of the Rebel Invasion of the North, we have gathered up all the general orders issued by Gens. Lee and Ewell, relating to the treatment of citizens and property, while in the Cumberland Valley. Lee's first order on the subject was issued on the 21st of June, six days before he [illegible] Chambersburg. It was evidently designed to define generally the plan of operations of his army in our county, and as will be seen aimed at a fair standard of humanity and decorum in his ranks. The following is the order.

Headquarters Army Northern Virginia,
June 21, 1863

General Orders No. 72.--While in the enemy's country, the following regulations for procuring supplies will be strictly observed, and any violation of them promptly and rigorously punished:

I. No private property shall be injured or destroyed by any person belonging to or connected with the army, or taken, except by the officers hereinafter designated.

II. The chiefs of the Commissary, Quartermaster, Ordnance and Medical departments of the army will make requisitions upon the local authorities or inhabitants for the necessary supplies for their respective departments, designating the places and times of delivery. All persons complying with such requisitions shall be paid the market price for the articles furnished, if they so desire, and the officer making such payment shall take duplicate receipts for the same, specifying the name of the person paid, the quantity, kind, and price of the property, one of which receipts shall be at once forwarded to the chief of the department for which such officer is attached.

III. Should the authorities or inhabitants neglect or refuse to comply with such requisitions, the supplies acquired will be taken from the nearest inhabitants refusing, by the order and under the direction of the respective chiefs of the departments named.

IV. When any command is detached from the main body, the chiefs of the several departments of such command will procure supplies for the same, and such other stores as they may be ordered to provide, in the manner and subject to the provisions herein prescribed, reporting their action to the heads of their respective departments, to which they will forward duplicates of all vouchers given or received.

V. All persons who shall decline to receive payment for property furnished on requisitions, and all from whom it shall be necessary to take stores or supplies, shall be furnished by the officers receiving or taking the same with a receipt specifying the kind and and [sic] quantity of the property received or taken, as the case may be, the name of the person from whom it was received or taken, the command for the use of which it is intended, and the market price. A duplicate of said receipt shall be at once forwarded to the chief of the department to which the officer by whom it is executed is attached.

VI. If any person shall remove or conceal property necessary for the use of the army, or attempt to do so, the officers hereinbefore mentioned will cause such property and all other property belonging to such persons that may be required by the army, to be seized, and the officers seizing the same will forthwith report to the chief of his department the kind, quantity and market price of the property so seized, and the name of the owner.

By command of Gen. R. E. Lee.
R. H. Chilton, A. A. and I. G.
Lieut.-Gen. R. S. Ewell,
Com'g 2d Army Corps.

On the day following the date of Lee's order, Gen. Ewell issued a general order on the same subject, as follows:

Headquarters 2d. Corp,
Army Northern Va., June 22, 1863

General Orders, No. 49.--In moving in the enemy's country the utmost circumspection and vigilance is necessary for the safety of the army and the success of the great object it has to accomplish, depends upon the observance of the most rigid discipline. The Lieutenant General Commanding, therefore, most earnestly appeals to the gallant officers and men of his command, who have attested their bravery and devotion to the cause of their country on so many battle fields, to yield a ready acquiescence in the rules required by the exigencies of the case.

All straggling and marauding from the ranks, and all marauding and plundering by individuals are prohibited, upon pain of the severest penalties known to the service.

What is required for the use of the army will be taken under regulations to be established by the Commanding General, according to the usages of civilized warfare.

Citizens of the country through which the army may pass, who are not in the military service, are admonished to abstain from all acts of hostility, upon the penalty of being dealt with in a summary manner. A ready acquiescence to the demands of the military authorities will serve greatly to lessen the rigors of war. By command of

Liet. Gen. R. S. Ewell,
A. L. Pendleton, A. A. Gen.

The foregoing was issued before Ewell entered Chambersburg. On the 23d a portion of his command reached this place, and on the 24th the General arrived, and immediately issued the following:

Headquarters 2d Corps
Army of Northern Virginia, June 22.
Chambersburg, June 24, 1863.

General Orders.--1. The sale of intoxicating liquors to this command, without written permission from a Major General, is strictly prohibited.

2. Persons having liquor in their possession are required to report the fact to the Provost-Marshall or the nearest general officer, stating the amount and kind, that a guard may be placed over it, and the men prevented from getting it.

3. Any violation of Part I. of these orders, or failure to comply with Part II., will be punished by the immediate confiscation of all liquors in the possession of the offending parties, beside rendering their other property liable to seizure.

4. Citizens of the country through which the army may pass, who are not in the military service, are admonished to abstain from all acts of hostility, upon the penalty of being dealt with in a summary manner. A ready acquiescence to the demands of the military authorities will serve to lessen the rigors of war. By command of

Lieut. Gen. R. J. Ewell.
A. S. Pendleton, A. A. General.

Notwithstanding the orders of both Lee and Ewell, there were numerous instances of wanton injury to property and outrages committed upon citizens. Gen. Lee reached this place on the 27th, and was doubtless informed that a portion of his army was disregarding his instructions, and he at once issued another order, as follows:

Headquarters Army Northern Virginia,
Chambersburg, Pa., June 27, 1863.

General Orders No. 73.--The Commanding General has observed with marked satisfaction the conduct of the troops on the march, and confidently anticipates results commensurate with the high spirit they have manifested.

No troops could have displayed greater fortitude, or better performed the arduous marches of the past ten days.

Their conduct in other respects has, with few exceptions, been in keeping with their character as soldiers, and entitles them to approbation and praise.

There have, however, been instances of forgetfulness on the part of some, that they have in keeping the yet unsullied reputation of this army, and that the duties exacted of us by civilization and christianity are not less obligatory in the country of the enemy than in our own.

The Commanding General considers that no greater disgrace could befal [sic] the army, and through it, our whole people, than the perpetration of the barbarous outrages upon the unarmed and defenceless, and the wanton destruction of private property, that have marked the course of the enemy in our own country.

Such proceedings not only degrade the perpetrators and all connected with them, but are subversive of the discipline and efficiency of the army, and destructive of the ends of our present movement.

It must be remembered that we make war only upon armed [illegible] and that we cannot take vengeance for the wrongs our people have suffered without lowering ourselves in the eyes of all whose abhorrence has been excited by the atrocities of our enemies, and offending against Him to whom vengeance belongeth, without whose favor and support our efforts must all prove in vain.

The Commanding General therefore earnestly exhorts the troops to abstain with most scrupulous care from unnecessary or wanton injury to private property, and he enjoins upon all officers to arrest and bring to summary punishment all who shall in any way offend against orders on this subject.

R. E. Lee, General.

The only other order issued in this valley relating to the conduct of the rebel army, was issued in the form of an address to the citizens of York, to impress the people of that ancient village of the sublimated magnanimity of the rebel commander. It was as follows:

To the Citizens of York: I have abstained from burning the railroad building and car shops in your town, because, after examination, I am satisfied the safety of the town would be endangered; and, acting in the spirit of humanity, which has ever characterized my Government and its military authorities, I do not desire to involve the innocent in the same punishment with the guilty. Had I applied the torch without regard to consequences, I would have pursued a course that would have been vindicated as an act of just retaliation for the many authorized acts of barbarity perpetrated by your own army upon our soil. But we do not war upon women and children, and I trust the treatment you have met with at the hands of my soldiers will open your eyes to the monstrous iniquity of the war waged by your Government upon the people of the Confederate States, and that you will make an effort to shake off the revolting tyranny under which it is apparent to all you are yourselves groaning.

J. A. Early, Maj.-Gen. C.S.A.

Rebel Court Martial.

The discipline of the rebel army was admirable. No private or subaltern dared to disregard an order in presence of his superior, or where his superior officer was likely to be advised of it. When the rebel columns filed through Chambersburg, they marched with the utmost order and decorum, and laughing, talking loudly or singing was not indulged in. That this was the result of the strictest discipline rather than an indication of the good breeding of the infantry rank and file, is evident from the fact that whenever a squad could get isolated from their officers or commanders, they would rob mercilessly and commit all manner of outrages. When rebel officers behave badly, they do not dismiss them, but reduce them to the ranks, as in the case of Lieut. J. B. Countiss, given below. The following order, issued by Gen. Ewell, exhibits the proceedings of several cases tried by Court Martial at Ewell's headquarters near the Birch Church north of Chambersburg:

Headquarters 2d Corps, Army
Northern Va., June 25, 1863

General Order, No. 51.--I. Before the Military Court, convened at the Headquarters of the Army Corps of Lieut. Gen. R. S. Ewell, and of which Court Col. R. H. Lee is presiding Judge, were arraigned and tried.

The specifications in the following cases being lengthy and minute, are omitted:
lst Lieut. J. B. Countiss, Ga. Regiment.
Charge I. Drunkenness on duty.
Charge II. Conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline
Finding--Of the Specification of the lst charge, Guilty.
Of the lst Charge, Guilty.
Of the Specification of the 2d Charge, Guilty
Of the 2d Charge, Guilty
Sentence--And the Court do therefore sentence the said Lieut. J. B. Countiss, 21st Georgia Regiment, to be cashiered.
2d. Private Charles Smith, Co. C, 45th N. C. Regiment.
Charge--Desertion.
Finding--Of the Specification, Guilty.
Of the Charge Not Guilty, but
Of absence without leave, Guilty.
Sentence--And the Court do therefore sentence the said Private Charles Smith, Co. C. 45th N. C. Regiment, to forfeit three months pay and to be branded on the left hip with the letter 'S' two inches in length, in the presence of his Regiment.
3d. Private Louis M. Waynock, Co. B, 45th Regiment.
Charge--Desertion.
Finding--Of the Specification, Guilty,
Of the Charge, Not Guilty, but
Of absence without leave, Guilty.
Sentence--And the Court do therefore sentence the said Louis M. Waynock, Co. B, 45th N. C. Regt., to forfeit three months pay, and to be branded on the left hip with the Letter S, two inches in length, in the presence of his Regiment.
4th. Private Patrick Herne, Co. C, 5th Ala. Regiment.
Charge--Violation of 9th Article of War.
Finding--Of the Specification, Guilty.
Of the Charge, Guilty
Sentence--And the Court do therefore sentence the said Patrick Herne, Co. C, 5th Ala. Regt., to forfeit his pay for three months, to perform extra police and fatigue duty for two months, and to be bucked two hours each day, for seven days.

II. The preceding, findings and sentence in the case of Lieut. J. B. Countiss, 21st Georgia Regiment, are approved, and the sentence will be carried onto effect; and Lieut. J. B. Countiss ceases, from this date, to be an officer of the Confederate States Army. He will be enrolled and conscripted by his Brigade commander, and will be allowed to join any company in his preseat [sic] Brigade that he may select.

The proceedings, findings and sentences in the cases of Privates Charles Smith, Co. C., 45th N. C. Regt. and Louis M. Waynock, Co. B, 45th N. C. Regt, are approved, and the sentences will be carried into effece [sic], except so much of them as inflict the punishment of branding, which is hereby remitted.

The proceedings, findings, and sentence in the case of Private Patrick Herne, Co. C, 5th Ala. Regt., are approved, and the sentence will be carried into effect.

By command of
Lieut. Gen. R. S. Ewell.
A. S. Pendleton, A. A. General,

Our Ladies and the Rebels.

Our ladies gave the rebels rather a jolly time while they were here. They did not imitate the wives and daughters of the chivalry by spitting in the faces of soldiers, poisoning their meat and drink, flaunting flags in their faces, and unsexing themselves generally; but they did give them rather an unwelcome taste of their heroism and strategy. One lady took her chickens from the rebels after they had killed them, and dined sumptuously at home at least one day under rebel rule. Another arrested Dr. Todd in his insolence by informing him in rather an earnest manner that further searches in her house would result in the splitting of his head with her hatchet. The valiant Doctor subsided. Another amused herself by running rebel deserters out of the lines dressed in hoops and calico; and generally our ladies resented the arrogance of the rebel hosts with such spirit and determination as to astound them. Communication between Chambersburg and Harrisburg was interrupted for ten days, and amongst the many other unreliable reports which reached here was the gratifying information that Gens. Couch, McClellan and Sigel were at Harrisburg with from 80 to 100,000 men, and the intelligence was given to the rebels at every step with all the defiant ardor peculiar to the sex. In many instances our ladies prevented the boldest thieving by resolutely resisting, and shaming the rebels out of their purpose.--Those who shall be so fortunate as to return to Virginia will carry with them the liveliest appreciation of the heroism and intelligence of Pennsylvania ladies.

Rebel Ideas of the North.

Some of the border State, and most of the more southern rebels, have rather peculiar conceptions of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Quite a number were astonished to find our people speaking English, as they supposed that the prevalent language was the German. At first when they attempted derisive remarks, they would imitate the broken English of the Germans; and judging from Ewell's demand for 25 bbls. of sourkraut at a season when it is unknown in any country, even the commanding officers must have considered our people as profoundly Dutch. It would require an intensely Dutch community to supply sourkraut in July. Our farm buildings and especially our large and fine barns all through the valley, at once excited their astonishment and admiration. Quite a number of officers visited the barn of the Editor as a matter of curiosity, although there are many in our valley much larger and quite as well finished. The private soldiers generally concluded that it must be the church of some very large denomination in this community; and [illegible] out-building about it, such as chicken-[illegible], hog-pen, carriagehouse, &c., were generally supposed to be servant's houses, and very neat ones!

Rebel Pretext For Stealing.

Clean as Gen. Lee kept his record by his humane orders, his army did the most gigantic and systemic stealing. They stole everything they could possibly use, or hope to use; and when their little remnant of shame compelled them to offer some apology for it, they invariably answered that our troops had done so and much more in their country. Every rebel who wanted to steal a chicken or a hat, or a watch, insisted that he was a most generous and humane conqueror--that his home had been burned down over the heads of his family by the Yankees, while he generously spared our homes from the torch. Dirty, lousy, thieving whelps who had scarcely ever seen a house at home, much less owned one, and who are despised in the south even by the slaves as "poor white trash" declared with one accord that they had been burned out of house and home by the "d----d yankees." Armed with this excuse, they flung the lie into everybody's face until it became a standing joke of the boys, and was treated with scorn by our people generally. Even the scanty wardrobes of the negro famlies [sic] were appropriated by the chivalry by way of demonstrating their elected and humane views of war.

Keeping Rebel Spirits Up.

Never was an army more confident and jubilent [sic] than were the rebels while in Chambersburg; and the officers evidently appreciated the necessity of keeping their hopes up to the highest point. The Richmond papers were received almost daily during their stay, and the men were inspired by the sensation, lies published representing rebel success in almost every portion of the South; and the universal demand made by the rebel press for a general devastation of the North, induced the soldiers to believe that as soon as their lodgment was made safe, they would be at liberty to occupy or sack our homes at pleasure. One edition of the Richmond papers received here announced that Gen. Johnson had defeated Gen. Grant and raised the siege of Vicksburg. It was read to the army while on parade and they cheered themselves horse over their imaginary triumph. They were inspired by every conceivable falsehood. Not a rebel in the ranks doubted that he had from 125,000 to 150,000 men, while he had not over 80,000 all told; and they were all firmly convinced that they had eluded Gen. Meade's army, and that it was in search of them in the valley of Shenandoah, while nothing but the militia stood between them and Harrisburg, Baltimore and Washington. Their rather sudden retreat from York and Carlisle threw a shadow of doubt over their high expectations, and their confidence was not strengthened any by the defiant and jublant [sic] tone of our people who confronted them at every step with the assurance that they were marching to defeat and many to death.

Burning of Stevens' Furnace.

The only private property destroyed by the order of an officer in this valley was the extensive Iron Works of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, [illegible] miles east of this place. They consisted of a large charcoal Furnace, Forge, Rolling-Mill, coal-house, shops &c. On Tuesday the 23d a portion of Jenkin's cavalry came upon the works by an unfrequented mountain road from Hughes' works, and demanded the horses, and especially the two riding horses, which they described. They threatened that they would destroy the building if the horses were not given up. Mr. Sweeney, who has charge of the works, agreed to deliver up the riding horses if the property would be protected. This they agreed to, but on going for the riding horses they met the teamsters and compelled them to produce all the horses and mules, nearly forty in all with gears, harness &c. They had evidently been minutely informed of the whereabouts of Mr. Steven's horses, as they described them and knew exactly where to go after them. The day after, Gen. Early rode up to the works accompanied by his staff and vowed his intention to destroy them. Mr. Sweeney reminded him that he would inflict a much more serious injury upon some hundred poor laborers who worked there than upon Mr. Stevens. Gen. Early replies that Mr. Stevens was "an enemy of the South, in favor of confiscating their property and arming their negroes, and the property must be destroyed." He then placed a guard around it and gave special instructions that it should not be destroyed until he gave the order. He seemed exceedingly fearful that he might miss the delightful spectacle of Mr. Stevens' works in flames. He then returned to Greenwood, where he had his head-quarters, but returned the next day, and personally detailed Col. French, of Jenkin's guerrillas, with his command to illustrate southern chivalry and humanity by applying a torch to the private property of Mr. Stevens because he was guilty of the crime of defending the Republic of our fathers. The work of destruction was well done, and soon all the works were in ashes. The houses occupied by families were not fired. Some $3,000 worth of charcoal was destroyed, 7,000 lb. bacon stolen, leaving the families of the laborers without food, in spite of the earnest representations made by Mr. Sweeney as to their necessitous condition. Mr. Stevens [illegible] is not less than $50,000. He is the only one in Pennsylvania who has been thus honored by the vandals for his unflinching devotion to Freedom.

Rebel Inquiries Vary.

When the rebel horde first entered the State flushed with the hope of early victories on the [illegible] and boundless plunder in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington they would yell insolently at every man or woman they met--"Well Yank, how far is Harrisburg?" "How far to Baltimore?" "What's the charge at the Continental?" "How do you like our return to the Union?" "Which is the way to Washington?" "How do you like Lincoln's Devils?" These and similar inquiries were made with a degree of arrogance and confidence that clearly betokened their expectations to see, as conquerors, all the cities named during their stay. When, however, their shattered and bleeding columns commenced their retreat on Saturday after battle, there was but one inquiry made alike by officers and men--"How far to the Potomac?" "How far to the Potomac?" And thus their broken, decimated ranks straggled along the mountain passes, grasping for the last hope left them--the Potomac! Three days of deadly strife with the foe they effected to despise, turned their backs upon their homes already desolated by their wanton, wicked war!

Rebel Ideas of Lincoln.

Even intelligent rebel officers insisted that Lincoln was a fugitive in Boston and dare not occupy his capital, and the rank and file were regaled with that and equally absurd falsehoods. Others declared that he was habitually intoxicated and unable to attend to his official duties because of his intemperance. Those men were evidently taught to regard President Lincoln as brutal and barbarous in an eminent degree, and they were amazed to find the loyal of all parties alike respecting him and the Government.

Their Vandalism Falls Upon Themselves.

There was quite an assortment of Hospital goods here when the rebels came, most of which they wantonly destroyed--breaking up the bed frames and tearing the clothes. When they left for Gettysburg they left a number of their sick in the school-house in charge of a young rebel medical student with the charities of the people of our town to depend upon for subsistence, medicines, &c. Subsequently a number of their wounded were captured and brought here and the vandalism of their troops fell upon their own sick and wounded, as we were without the necessary supplies to make them comfortable. After robbing all our drug stores, our physicians had to furnish medicines for their sick and wounded.

Pryor and Piety.

Rev. Mr. Pryor, father of the blustering Gen. Roger A. Pryor, who didn't fight Potter when in Congress, was with Lee as chaplain and seemed to have a general supervision of the piety of the army. He represented the progress of religion as eminently satisfactory, and seemed to regard the rebels as perfectly Cromwellian in morals. True they would steal negroes and from Negroes, and anything else from a ten-penny nail to a six horse team; but they were nevertheless a model army, according to Pryor, in all the attributes of christian character. Our people generally thought that the scale of Zion must be very low down South.

Heavy Loss of Live Stock.

Mr. David Brandt, residing near town, was taken and held prisoner by the Rebels near Williamsport, on Sunday, the 5th inst. Being released on Thursday, he returned home and informed us that the Rebels attempted to drive 700 head of cattle and 1000 head of sheep across the Potomac on Monday, but owing to the great height of the river, all the stock was drowned except 12 of the cattle.

Some Enterprising Doings of the Rebs.

The Rebs performed some exploits while in our town and vicinity of an exceedingly chivalric character. As Ewell's corps was about entering town, a young man was compelled by certain parties to give up his watch. Rev. Dr. Schneck was met near town, while one of the Corps were on the march, by two persons wearing the brilliant uniform of Reb Soldiers, and threatened with instant death if he did not at once surrender his watch and his money. The amount taken was $50, and the watch was of great value, a highly prized gift from some of the Doctor's friends when he visited Germany some years ago. Reb. Father Cullom was also robbed of his watch and a sum of money upon a peremptory demand. As the Rebs didn't seems to be entirely proficient in the command to "make time," they evinced good judgment in stealing watches to "make time" for them. Their hatred of "Abe Lin corn" was exhibited in the alacrity with which they sole "greenbacks," containing the said "Abe's" portrait and certain emblems of the Government over which he presides, and holding on to them with the tenacity of leeches.

A most brilliant performance was stealing a pipe out of the mouth of our venerable friend, Mr. John Noel, with the remark that he had smoked it long enough. The circumstance gave the old gentleman ample opportunity to express his opinion emphatically on the Rebs and Rebeldom, and, with certain threats he succeeded in getting his pipe back.

A number of intelligent and enterprising Rebels declared that the statue of Franklin surmounting the cupola of our Court House was intended to represent "Ole Pete Lincorn," and expressed their determination to destroy it. Their vandalism upon it, however, they failed to execute.

The skill of the Rebs in stealing hats from the heads of citizens was admirable and would be sufficient to establish a high character for any thief in the land. Approaching a citizen, they would steal his hat while in the act of interrogating him, or as he was uttering a reply. It may be also stated that some of our people were compelled to sit down while the Rebels stole boots and shoes from their feet.

These are only a few minor exhibitions of Reb "refinement, gentility and enterprise." For evidence of what they did on a large scale, our readers need but see our depleted stores, the ruins of the railroad buildings, and the miles of torn and burned railroad track. Nearly every farmer in the whole valley sustained losses in stock almost irreparable, and hardly a citizen but has suffered to a more or less extent.

Murder of Mr. Strite.

Mr. Strite, a peaceful and inoffensive citizen was cruelly murdered by some of the Reb soldiers of Hill's corps on his farm located near the Greencastle road, three miles from town. He was standing in his yard, when three of the villains approached him and demanded his money. He immediately surrendered it. Soon after two more men came to him making a similar demand. The murderers buried his body in a dung heap, and then fled. Mr. Strite leaves a large family. The shocking manner of his death occasioned the most profound indignation wherever it becmae [sic] known.

Another Heroic Act.

We learn that Mr. Fisher, residing on the Warm Spring Road, a few miles from town, was shamefully beaten and robbed, and is now in a critical condition.

Paroles.

Major Adams, 1st N.Y. Cavalry, paroled a large number of invalid Rebs here in the School House Hospital on Sunday, the 5th instant.

Rebs in our County Prison.

A large number of Rebs, captured on the road leading from town, were quartered during the last week in our county prison, and removed in parties at times under strong guard to Harrisburg. The party sent off on Friday numbered 214. Many of them expressed an earnest desire to take the oath of allegiance, but the military authorities failed to gratify them. The opportunity will, no doubt, be afforded them to give this evidence of returning sense and loyalty at the proper time and place.

Bombardment of Carlisle.

The only engagement beyond the skirmishing of scouts in the Cumberland Valley was at Carlisle. Gen. Lee had recalled his troops from York, Carlisle and other points North to join him at Gettysburg. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, with his division of Cavalry had crossed from Hanover Station to join Gen.[illegible] at Carlisle, but when he reached that point he found Gen. Smith in the town with several thousand Union troops. Lee was evidently disconcerted, and in order to lead Gen. Smith to suppose that he had purposely advanced to engage him, and thus enable him to make his escape should Smith's force be very large, he at once demanded an immediate surrender of the town. This Gen. Smith emphatically refused; and when a second demand for his surrender was sent him he notified Lee that he would receive no more such communication from him. Twenty minutes were generously allowed by the son of the rebel commander-in-chief for women and children to get out of the town. Of course but few got away as it was after night, and the chivalric Lee opened his guns upon the town. He threw nearly two hundred shells, most of which did not explode, and but little damage was done. Several houses were penetrated, but none of the citizens were injured. Lee then retreated to witness his father's Waterloo at Gettysburg.

Franklin Repository, July 15, 1863, p. 1, c.1

The Philadelphia Inquirer, of the 7th inst., contains the only detailed description of the battle of Gettysburg on Wednesday that has come to hand. The correspondent says:

To-day, and on Pennsylvania soil, has been fought one of the most desperate and bloody battles of this accursed rebellion.

We have attacked a force honestly our superior in numbers--a force not worn down with nineteen days of rapid marching in heat and rain, dust and mud--and one splendidly positioned and entrenched. Against all these advantages a portion of our war-worn, battle-scarred veterans struggled, never flinching or skulking from any duty assigned them, but making desperate bayonet charges, rushing to the very jaws of death, and although suffering severely yet have they managed to seriously cripple the enemy, and at the same time retain possession of the town of Gettysburg, which they sought to repossess.

This morning, early, the First and Eleventh corps, which had been during the night encamped near Emmettsburg, advanced, the First corps marching in the following order: First division under Gen. Wadsworth; Third division, Gen. Doubleday; these followed by five full batteries under Col. Wainwright; bringing up the rear was the really splendid division of Gen. Robinson; this corps having been in the advance during the whole time of our march from Falmouth, were the first to come up with and fight the enemy.

During the day this corps had been under the direction of Major-Gen. Doubleday, Gen. Reynolds being in command of the right wing, comprising the First, Third, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps.

When some three miles from town, and while quietly marching along, the sound of heavy and rapid cannon firing was heard coming from the direction beyond Gettysburg. Almost at the same instant Captain Mitchell, a gallant aid upon Gen. Reynold's staff, came dashing down the road with orders to the various division commanders, to push forward their divisions as rapidly as possible. The order was given to double-quick, which was instantly obeyed, and kept up until the intervening space, where our batteries were engaged, was passed over. These batteries, two in number, were a part of the artillery belonging to Gen. Buford's division, and were stationed some half a mile to the south of the Gettysburg Theological Seminary, while the opposing forces were stationed and snugly entrenched upon the east side of Marsh Creek, and about the same distance from the Seminary as were our own troops.

The latter was the first to open fire, and were for a time compelling our batteries to retire from their position. This they were quietly doing and in good order, when the division of Gen. Wadsworth came to their support, the two able regiments, the Second Wisconsin and Twenty-fourth Michigan, rushing up and driving from in front of them the infantry force who were making desperate efforts to capture the pieces. When these supports arrived, the batteries again took up a commanding position, which they were enabled to hold during the day.

In rear of the position so taken up, and to the right, the division of Gen. Wadsworth were drawn up in line of battle, with the division of Gen. Robinson holding the second line. At the moment that these formations were completed, the rebels, emboldened by their partial success in driving from position the batteries, attempted another charge, with the object of seizing the pieces, when the brigades of the Second division, with fixed bayonets, made a charge upon them, and such as were not killed were taken prisoners. Two entire regiments--a Tennessee and Mississippi regiment--were then "bagged."

Immediately after the arrival and going into position of the First Corps, the Eleventh, under the able and brave Gen. Howard, who had been in the rear and marching on the same road as the First, made their appearance, marched directly through the town, and at once formed a line of battle on the right of the Chambersburg road, and some half a mile west of the College, which is located at the extreme end of the town. After some three hours of artillery dueling, the rebels commenced to retire. There were massed the two infantry corps, and in this formation a pursuit of their retreating column was commenced.

After driving them back toward the mountain, something over a mile, soon after four o'clock it was discovered that with an extensive force of infantry and cavalry they were endeavoring to turn our left flank, with a view, probably, to get between us and our supply trains. Upon this being noticed, and it being evident that our reinforcements, the Third and Twelfth Corps, who had been anxiously inquired after during the entire day, were not yet up, no alternative was offered us than to retire to the east of the town and take up a better position upon the top of a hill, and along the line of road leading to Emmettsburg. This was done, but in admirable order, no unusual haste being apparent, while, at the same time, all ammunition and supply wagons as were up to the front were sent to the rear.

A little after 4 o'clock, the Third Corps, under command of Gen. Sickles, came upon the field, and went into position upon the left of that field early in the morning by the First Corps; the Twelfth, under Gen. Slocum, as well arrived about the same time, and were stationed upon the right of the Eleventh Corps. After these two corps, as well as those who "had borne the heat and burden of the day" were formed in "battle array," they made an advance, and but with little resistance succeeded in driving the rebels from the town, and back into the positions they first occupied early in the morning. In this manner and in these locations both armies are resting for the night.

The Battles of Thursday and Friday.

From the Herald's account we condense the following details of the great battles of Thursday and Friday at Gettysburg:

On Thursday evening the enemy sought to gain possession of the hills south of Gettysburg, held by the Third Corps, under Sickles. The attacking force was composed of Longstreet's and Hill's Corps, consisting of the brigades of Graham, Ward and De Trobriand and the heroes of Chancellorsville, with Clark's New Jersey battery, were first in position, and were compelled to meet the first assault alone and unsupported, although completely overwhelmed, and subjected to a fire of musketry and artillery that never was equaled in this or any other war. This latter division held their ground bravely, and fought as veterans only can fight; but they could not be expected to stand long against such fearful odds, and soon were forced to fall back. They were then joined by Sykes' division of the Fifth Corps, and Humphrey's of the Third, Berry's old division, formerly Hooker's; and being heavily re-inforced with artillery, again advanced and renewed the contest. The enemy deployed regiment after regiment, gradually extending his lines along the base of the hills on our flanks.

Arrival of the Old Sixth Corps.

At this time the [illegible] Sixth Corps [remainder of sentence illegible]. As the enemy pushed his way across the ridge, they were enabled to open an enfilading fire upon him that determined the fate of the day. Not expecting this fire when they received it, they were thrown into the wildest disorder and fell back in confusion.

The Pennsylvania Reserves

Preparations for Friday's Battle.

During Thursday night our army was all brought up, and most desirably disposed by Gen. Meade for the apprehended battle of Friday. At midnight a council of war was held, at which it was determined that the enemy would probably renew the attack at daylight, on the following morning, and that for that day we had better act purely on the defensive. Dispositions were therefore made with this view for the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps to hold the right, with reinforcements of fresh troops expected during the day to act as a reserve; the First and Second the centre, and the Fifth and Sixth the left, with the Third as a reserve.

Formation of the Line.

The line was formed in this manner during the night, the left resting on the mountains between the Taneytown and Emmittsburg roads, and the left at the base of the mountain, opposite the Cemetery Hill; the line encircling the Cemetery and embracing the upper portion of the town. Our artillery on Cemetery Hill was largely reinforced from the artillery reserve, and earthworks thrown up in front of it. Batteries were also planted on all the commanding positions within the lines, and such of the reserve as was not thus disposed of was held for use in the field where and as occasion demanded it. The dispositions were most admirable made, and reflected the highest credit on the commanding General.

During the night Ewell was removed from the rebel right to the left, against our right. The action commenced at daylight, and soon grew furious. The base of the range of hills held by our troops is precipitous, and up the steep slopes the rebel columns were pushed against a fierce artillery fire.

Artillery in Full Force.

We had more artillery at work than I have known at any time in the operations of this army. The enemy, too, had a large number of batteries at work, in different localities, throwing principally solid shot, with which they endeavored most faithfully to silence our batteries. Thus the roar or cannon was unparalleled, drowning completely the less noisy though no less continuous rattle of musketry that raged along the line. The demonstration was grand and awful. Not less than three hundred cannon were belching forth their thunders, while nearly two hundred thousand muskets were being discharged as rapidly as men hurried with excitement and passion could load and discharge them.

Arrival of Reinforcements.

At this critical juncture, when our right was sorely pressed and the fate of the day seemed wavering, a considerable portion of fresh troops arrived and were immediately put into line on the right. Where these reinforcements came from, or what they were, I have been unable to learn. They were raw recruits, wearing untarnished uniforms, and bearing arms that were unsullied by use.--But they wheeled into line like veterans. I only relate the general result--we drove the enemy back with terrible slaughter. The woods on the steep slope of that lofty mountain are crowded with mangled corpses to tell of the fierceness of the contest, and in their piles of fallen men, alike national and rebel troops intermixed, fought like heroes. Their coming was fortunate, and their aid determined the event of the battle. No sooner did they commence their work than the enemy commenced to fall back, and from that moment we steadily crowded them until falling back became retreat, and retreat a rout.

Another Account.
Operations of the Fifth Army Corps.

The Fifth Army Corps, General Sykes commanding, has had its share in the great battles fought in front of Gettysburg and the noble victories won. When Wednesday's fight began we were at Union Mills, twenty-three miles from here. We marched all that night, and at daybreak on Thursday were on the battle field. Notwithstanding this long march and no sleep, and a march of twenty-nine miles the day before, the men were in the finest spirits and ready to fight. The men were held in reserve until three P.M., on Thursday, when the rebels endeavored to turn our left.

Gen. Barnes' division was sent to counteract this movement, with orders from General Sykes to take his position on the right of the base of Rock Hill, two miles to the left of where they had been lying. When the order came the enemy was making this point the centre of his attack. At double-quick the entire column pressed forward. Battery C, lst New York, Capt. Burnes, and Battery I, 5th U. S. Artillery, Lt. Watson, were already in position, throwing shells into the woods at the base of the hill. From the enemy's batteries came responsive shells, some of which fell among our men, killing and injuring several.

The rebel charge threatened for a time to shake the division, but the personal efforts of Col. Vincent held it firm, until a minnie ball broke his thigh.

Desperate Courage of Our Officers.

Colonel Rice took command of the brigade, and still the work of attack, and resistance, and death was going on. A few minutes developed many heroes. How can I name all? Officers seized the guns and cartridge boxes of dead privates and hurled death and defiance into the ranks of their assailants. Colonels seized their regimental colors, and by the magic of their valor, kept their men from retiring. All the brigades were jointly working to hold the position. Colonel Sweitzer showed the same coolness and bravery in handling his brigade as at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Colonel Tilson was pre-eminently heroic and self-possessed, and Colonel Rice inspirited his brigade with like enthusiasm as that inspirited by Colonel Vincent, while the staff of all did their duty with soldierly fearlessness. Gen. Barnes had his leg grazed by the passing fragment of a shell; Dr. Shiffler, Division Surgeon had his face blackened with the powder of a bursting bomb, and Captain Barnard, Inspector General, the rim of his hat torn off. The rebels rushed right into the midst of our men in the Fourth and Sixty-second Pennsylvania regiments. It was for a time through our counter-scarp of bayonets. It was a hand to hand conflict.

Real Fighting with Bayonets.

It was from a bayonet thrust that Colonel Jefferds fell. It was in the thickest of the fight. A rebel officer had seized the regimental colors. Col. Jefferds shot the rebel officer dead with his revolver, took the colors in his own hand, reared them aloft and cried out. "Rally round the flag, boys." A rebel bayonet pierced his vitals and he fell dead, his hand still firmly clutching the flagstaff. The man at whose hands he lost his life a moment after lay gasping in death. A bullet from Major Hall's revolver had entered his brain. Conspicuous for gallantry in this hand to hand conflict was Captain Robinson.

Tremendous Fury of the Conflict.

The conflict raged with fierce and unyielding fury half an hour. The brave Major Lowry, of the Sixty-second Pennsylvania, had been killed and many Captains and Lieutenants lay dead and dying on the field. The bodies of privates are strewn on the ground and in the crevices of the rocks. Col. Prescott had recieved [sic] five wounds, marvelously escaping death.

Gen. Sykes' old division, Brigadier Gen. Ayers commanding, came to the rescue of the First Division. A few moments more and our left must inevitably have been turned.

Battery D, Fifth U. S. Artillery (General Griffin's old battery,) Lieut. Hazlett commanding, and the Third Massachusetts batterp, [sic] Lieut. Walcott, came to our aid. The groups of the First and Second divisions fought side by side. They never fought with greater or more unflinching courage.

At six p.m. while the battle was at its height the First and Fifth brigades of the Pennsylvania Reserve corps, recently wedded to the corps, and under command of General Crawford, and respectively commanded by Colonels M'Candless and Frick, were ordered to drive the enemy from Rock Hill. This so called hill, is in magnitude a small mountain and the base was mainly the scene of battle thus described. It is covered with woods interspersed by huge rocks, which grow in size and rigidness as one nears the crest. Its summit commands an extended view of the battle field and the country for miles around. It was a good point of observation and commanding an effective position for artillery.

To the hill, up the hill, and on top of the hill the column pressed its way. It was a post of struggle, of peril, of death, to many. The Bucktails, of bravest memory in many great battles, went ahead as skirmishers. The enemy was compelled to retreat before our advance. Our gallant Pennsylvanians would not be driven back. General Crawford took in his own hands the colors of the First Reserve regiment, whose color bearer had been shot down, and carried it till the crest was reached. The men followed fearlessly that flag. General Crawford calling out to them, "Don't let the Bucktails beat you."

Ascending the Summit.

As the summit was nearly reached, Col. Taylor of the Bucktails, was shot and fell at the head of his regiment. Undismayed by the death of their gallant leader, the Bucktails moved forward and re-formed. On the hill-top they captured three hundred prisoners. In a few moments Hazlett's battery was on the crest, hurling grape and canister among the retreating enemy who now fled down the hill in the wildest confusion.

Sickles Wounded.

When the gallant general fell his staff ran to his assistance and bore him off the field. He was struck just below the knee by a shell, and his leg so badly shattered that it hung merely by a shred. He was carried to a wheat field in the rear, where amputation was performed under the influence of chloroform.

The loss of blood, combined with the effects of the chloroform and his previous physical prostration, caused him to remain insensible for some time, but on rallying he discovered your correspondent and recognized him with a "God bless you," and gain [sic] sank away. Rallying again, he looked in my face and said feebly, "Cook, in this war a man is but a cipher. God rules and directs all for the best."

The Bravery of Our Troops.

We cannot refrain from keeping steadily in our mind, nor can we keep from alluding to the splendid behavior of our troops during the past four days of incessant engagement with a desperate and determined enemy greatly outnumbering them. With the exception of but one single corps, two brigades of which, however, are entitled to credit, a corps which for the sake of its excellent commander we do not care to mention too harshly, our army have well and nobly performed their parts. The brilliant bayonet charges, where cold steel clashed with cold steel; the many sallies from the slight fortifications, and rushing against the enemy aimed a perfect torrent of shot and shell, grape and canister, are too numerous to be speedily mentioned, but are worth to be classed with the much-talked-of and world-renowned charge of the celebrated six hundred at Balaklava. Nobly have they battled for the cause of freedom, while the blood which has been spilled will still stronger cement the bonds of union, under which we have grown and prospered for nearly a century, while the name of the heroes of Gettysburg will ever be handed down to posterity by the side of those who fought, bled and died at Bunker Hill, Monmouth and Lexington.

Order Before Battle.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, June 30, 1863.--The commanding General requests that previous to the engagement soon expected with the enemy, corps and all other commanding officers address their troops, explaining to them the immense issues involved in the struggle. The enemy is now on our soil. The whole country looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from the presence of the foe. Out failure to do so will leave us no such welcome as the swelling of millions of hearts with pride and envy at our army. Homes, firesides and domestic altars are involved. The army has fought well heretofore. It is believed that it will fight more desperately and bravely than ever if it is addressed in fitting terms. Corps and other commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who fails to do his duty at this hour.

By command of Maj. Gen. Meade.

Congratulatory order.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac
Near Gettysburg, July [illegible]

The Commanding General, in behalf of the country, thanks the Army of the Potomac for the glorious result of the recent operations.

An enemy superior in numbers and flushed with the pride of a successful invasion attempted to overcome or destroy the army.

Utterly baffled and defeated, he has now withdrawn from the contest.

The privations and fatigues which 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 Commanding General looks to the army, for greater effort to drive from our soil every vestige of the presence of the invader.

It is right and proper that we should, on a suitable occasion, 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 eGneral [sic] Meade.
(signed.) S. Williams.

The New Commander.

Major General George G. Meade, the new commander of the Army of the Potomac, was born in Spain, about the year 1815, of American parents. His father was at the time of his birth a very wealthy man, and was residing in Barcelona, Spain, where Captain Meade, now commanding the North Carolina, and the subject of our sketch, were born. The two boys were brought to this country; one was educated for the navy, which he entered in 1826, and the other for the army.

George C. Meade entered West Point Military Academy as an appointee from the State of Pennsylvania during September, 1831, and graduated on the 30th of June, 1885, standing number nineteen in his class, which has produced such men as Generals Morel, Naglee, Haupt, Partick, Martindale, Roberts, and others, as well as Postmaster General Montgomery, Blair, &c.

He was appointed to the army from the District of Columbia and entered the service as brevet second lieutenant of the 3rd Artillery on the first of July, 1824. On the 16th of October, 1835, he resigned his connection with the United States army and was engaged in private pursuits until 1842.

On the 19th day of May, 1842, he was reappointed to the United States service as a second lieutenant of Topographical Engineers. In this capacity he joined the troops engaged in the Mexican war. At this time we find the names of his companions in the Topographical Engineer corps were Major Turnbull, Captains Wm. G. Williams, killed at Monterey; Geo. H. Hughes, John McClellan, Thos. B. Luinard, and Joseph E. Johnston (now a rebel general); First Lieutenants Wm. H. Emory (now a General), Jacob E. Blake (killed in Mexico), L. Sitgreaves, W. H. Warner (killed by Indians), E. P. Scammon (now General), and C. N. Hagar; Second Lieutenants John C. Fremont, J. D. Webster, George Thorn, Martin L. Smith, John Pope (now General), Wm. B. Franklin (now General), and Wm. J. Peck.

His conduct in Mexico was marked by determination and bravery, and at the battle of Palo Alto he was particularly distinguished, and so mentioned in the official reports. During the several conflicts of Monterey, 21st 22d, and 23d days of September, 1846, he again became distinguished, and for his bravery was breveted a first lieutenant, to date from September 23, 1846. During the month of August, 1851, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy of his corps, and on the 19th of May, 1856, was further promoted to a captaincy, which rank he held at the breaking out of the rebellion.

When the rebellion broke out, and President Lincoln called for three hundred thousand volunteers, the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps was raised and placed under the charge of Gen. McCall, as division commander, and Generals Reynolds, Meade, and Ord as brigade commanders. Each of these brigade commanders has nobly distinguished himself during the present war, having all risen to a rank equal with a marshal of France. Gen. Meade was appointed a brigadier general of volunteers, with a commission to date from August 31, 1861. He was then placed in charge of the Second brigade of that division, and proceeded to organize it at Tennallytown, near the waters of the Potomac, and in this vicinity wintered during 1861-62.

June 18, 1862, he was promoted to a majority in the Engineer corps, which rank he still holds in the newly organized Engineer Corps of the regular army.

On the 26th of June, 1862, he took part in the famous battle of Mechanicsville, where Gen. Stonewall Jackson made such a terrible dash upon Gen. McClellan's right wing, and Gens. McCall, Reynolds, and others were taken prisoners. His noble conduct and bravery on this occasion were particularly noticed.

The next day he was engaged under Gen. Fitz John Porter in the battle of Gaines' Mill, and was so distinguished that he was nominated for a brevet of lieutenant colonel for distinguished services during that battle. He also took part in some of the subsequent engagements of the seven days' fight.

At the battle of New Market Cross Roads he was severely wounded, but, under skillful treatment, he recovered, and almost immediately returned to the army, where he took command of the division until the return of Generals McCall and Reynolds from captivity in Richmond.

When the rebels invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania, after the defeats of General Pope's army, General Reynolds, who had commanded the division, was then detached to organize the Pennsylvania militia, and General Meade was placed in command of the division of Pennsylvania Reserves. He led these troops during the eventfully battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and when at the latter battle, Gen. Hooker was wounded and had to leave the field, Gen. Meade for a short time had charge of the Ninth army corps, formerly under Gen. Reno.

After Gen. Burnside had been placed in charge of the Army of the Potomac, Gen. Reynolds, who formerly commanded the Pennsylvania Reserves, after the retirement of Gen. McCall, was ordered to command the whole of the 1st Army Corps, and Gen. Meade was formally placed in command of the division of Pennsylvania Reserves. At the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, he greatly distinguished himself and his division lost very heavily; the brigade commanders and several field officers being placed hors de combat during the attack on the rebel right. The whole loss of the division was 1,624, being the greatest division loss during the whole of that disastrous fight.

On the 15th of December, 1862, two days after this eventful battle, he was ordered to command the 6th Army Corps, formerly under Gen. Fits John Porter and more recently under Gen. Butterfield. To enable him properly to hold the position he was appointed by the President and was regularly nominated to the Senate during January 1863. The Senate making certain objections to the list of appointments, it was revised, and Gen. Meade's name[illegible] sent in by the President. During [illegible] 1863, the Senate, in executive session confirmed the appointment and Gen. Meade took his rank and commission as major general of United States volunteers, from November 29, 1862, and assumed the command of the 5th Army Corps.

When Gen. Hooker assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, and reorganized the same, he still continued to retain General Meade as the commander of the 5th Army Corps, Gen. Butterfield having obtained a position on the staff of the commanding officer. In general orders, dated February 5, 1863, Gen. Meade's name and command is specified accordingly.

During the advance upon Chancellorsville, Gen. Meade's corps formed part of the right wing of Hooker's army. The corps started on its march on the 26th day of April, 1863, and arrived at Kelly's Ford on the 28th. The next day it crossed the Rappahannock by that ford, and the Rapidan by Ely's Ford. It then pushed on to Chancellorsville, where it arrived on the 30th, and engaged the skirmishers of the rebels, taking their rifle pits and temporary works.

Gen. John Fulton Reynolds.

The first great sacrifice in the defense of Pennsyluania [sic] is one of her own distinguished and gallant soldiers--Major Gen. John Fulton Reynolds. He fell on Wednesday morning last, July 1st, near Gettysburg, in the opening of the campaign against the invaders of his native State, and so near to his immediate home that the reports of his guns might have been heard by his sorrowing neighbors.

General Reynolds was born in Lancaster, and at the age of seventeen entered the West Point Military Academy as a cadet. He graduated in 1841, when just twenty-one years old, receiving a commission as brevet Second Lieutenant in the Third Artillery. When the Mexican War broke out he was a First Lieutenant in the same regiment, and while serving in that rank won the brevets of Captain and Major, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Monterey and Buena Vista. Subsequently he was aid-de-camp to General Wool. In 1855 he was promoted to a full captaincy in his regiment, and served with great distinction in the severe battles with the Oregon Indians, in 1856.

On the 20th of August, 1861, Captain Reynolds was promoted to the tank of Brigadier General of Volunteers, and took command of one of the three brigades of the Pennsylvania Reserves under Gen. McCall, the other two being under the command of General Meade, who now heads the Army of the Potomac, and General Ord, who has just relieved General McClelland at Vicksburg. With that noble division General Reynolds took part in nearly all the great battles in Virginia, except the disaster at Bull Run. Having gone down to the Peninsula, and marched to the front at Richmond, he was posted with his brigade on the extreme right, and with McCall and Meade, bore the brunt of the first great onslaught on McClellan's army, on the 26th of June, 1863 at Mechanicsville. He took part in all of the seven days battles except Malvern, and the General McCall he was taken prisoner and removed to the city of Richmond. During all those terrible conflicts General Reynolds was distinguished for his courage, skill and brilliant fighting. After his return from Richmond he took command of the whole Division of Pennsylvania Reserves, and led them through their terrible fighting in the disastrous campaign of General Pope. The casualties in "Reynold's Division" in those battles show how bravely they fought, and how resolutely their gallant commander resisted the fiery assaults of Jackson, Ewell and Longstreet. Immediately after the close of that campaign General Reynolds was called to the command of the fifty thousand militia summoned by Governor Curtin for the defense of Pennsylvania, in September, 1862, in which service he earned and received the thanks of this Commonwealth.

When Lee retreated across the Potomac, General Reynolds being no longer required for the defense of Pennsylvania, he rejoined his command and marched with it through Virginia to Fredericksburg. Here he was advanced to the command of the First Army Corps, having in the meantime been promoted to the rank of Major-General. He led that corps in the bloody and terrific assaults made on the Rebel fortifications at Fredericksburg, on the 13th of December, 1862, and also in General Hooker's Chancellorsville campaign.

In all these various grades of service, from fighting his battery of artillery, as a Lieutenant, at Monterey and Buena Vista, to leading a brigade and then a division, and finally marshaling an army corps on the field of battle, General Reynolds always won distinction, and proved himself to be a brave, thorough, accomplished and intrepid soldier. He was just as thorough a gentleman.

We have yet but few particulars of the fight in which he fell, but when they shall come to hand we feel assured that they will prove that General Reynolds met his death from chivalrous exposure of his person, while too eagerly seeking the invaders of his native State. His death comes at a critical hour for his country. May she find as true, as brave, and skillful a soldier to take his vacant place.

Gen. Lee's Plans.

[From the Richmond Enquirer, July 2.]

Gen. Lee's army has occupied without resistance, the flourishing town of York, the centre and capital of a great county which is the garden of Pennsylvania situated on the railroad on which Baltimore depends for its supplies, and within fifty miles of that city, almost due north. The intelligence of the capture of Harrisburg is not confirmed, and was at least premature.

The plans of Lee are still a secret to our enemies as well as to ourselves; whether he means to strike for Philadelphia or for Baltimore, and in either case to cut off the railroad communication of Washington with the North, as he has already with the West, whether his intention be to establish himself quietly in the richest part of the Keystone State, and make its fertile valleys support his army until he can force Hooker to a battle, perhaps in front of the fortifications of Washington. All this remains a matter of conjecture for the present. One thing, however, is plain: Gen Lee's movements are directed not to indiscriminate plunder and devastation, but to the winning of victory; and victory will leave all Maryland and the best part of Pennsylvania absolutely in his power, to levy regular contributions upon the country, to burn or to ransom the towns and cities at his pleasure, to free Maryland and Baltimore, and strike a blow right at the enemy's head in Washington.

It is true the enemy's country deserves no consideration at our hands; to leave it all one waste like the Stony Arabia would be only fitting retribution, but the natural desire to bring home to the foe some portion of that desolation which he has visited upon us must, for the present, give way to the necessities of strategy. In the meantime our good Confederate boys are living like the sons of kings. We wish them a very good appetite, and only apprehend that they will not with to come back to us at all. They will want to settle in that land flowing with milk and honey, where our rose- colored notes will buy six times as much as they do at home, and where men use sugar with their coffee, and coffee with their sugar.

The Whig says:

The terror of the enemy at the approach of our troops is just as guilt and cowardice should have been expected to manifest at the prospect of punishment. They know that their invasions of us have been attended by the most shocking barbarities and outrages, and they naturally expect retaliation proportionate to [illegible] We sincerely trust that they may not be disappointed. They have chosen to disregard all the humanities of war; substitute the torch for the word; to incite our own slaves to the hellish work of massacre; to make war upon non-combatants upon women and children--the old and the infirm; to openly avow the purpose of destroying the means of subsistence, and creating famine and starvation, and although we cannot retaliate precisely in all respects, yet we can teach them the sharpness and bitterness of a war waged in this spirit, and make them repent in the agony of their suffering the enormous wickedness of which they have been guilty. If General Lee gets Yankeedom fairly on the rack, he should not stay his hand till every sinew in his monstrous carcass is snapped and every bone broken. Men are sometimes made the instruments of Heaven's vengeance; and in punishing such atrocious crimes as have marked this war, in the only way in which they can be adequately punished, and their repetition prevented, it could not be [illegible] that he was doing the work of Him who has said, 'Vengeance is mine.'"[sic]

Cui Bono?

For what purpose, asks the Savannah Republican is our army marching into the enemy's country? Is it to give the Yankees a taste of war; to inflict upon them, in some measure at least, the terrible calamities which they have scattered broadcast through every portion of our country where they have been able to gain a foothold, or is it that [illegible] feed our army, forage our horses, keep guard for a time around the Yankee cities and towns, and they retire to our side of the line? Is it child's play that we are at, or is it war: war, real, earnest, terrible, such as shall humble our vainglorious foe, destroy his power for harm, and bring him to our feet for peace?

There is one thing too evident to be questioned. We have, from the beginning of this revolution, looked more to the opinion of their world, and acted with reference to "what 'Mrs. Grundy' would say," than for the success of our arms and the safety and welfare of our people. Pray what has public opinion benefitted us in this war? Has it raised an arm in our defence or extorted a word of sympathy from any Government abroad? Has it in any way helped us to fight our battles and secure our independence? On the contrary. Has it not positively militated against us, and the neutrality of the world proved under the circumstances a powerful obstacle in our path, and a direct aid to the enemy? Nothing is more evident, and yet we are allowing ourselves to be deterred from duty to ourselves by such flimsy considerations as the ever-changing opinions of nations and men. It is a great mistake, and has proved a fatal one to us thus far in our struggle.

We hope, then , that the leaders of our armies will do away with all this sickly sentimentality, and go into the war in real dreadful earnest. Let Yankee cities burn and their field be laid waste. The real native population of the North will never feel its hardship until we carry fire and sword to their own hearthstones. In this way alone can we counterbalance the profits of the war and bring them to their senses.--Charleston Mercury.

Franklin Repository, July 15, 1863, p. 4, c. 3

The remnant of the heroic Pennsylvania Reserves surpassed, if possible, the accustomed gallantry, at Gettysburg, under the lead of their youthful commander, Gen. S. W. Crawford. The Philadelphia Inquirer of Monday thus records the achievements of this justly famed division:

"All will remember that the battle of Thursday was mainly an overwhelming attack of the enemy on the left of our position, and that the brunt of the assault was borne for several hours by the Third Corps, under Sickles, which was at last compelled to give way. He was literally overwhelmed. Then the Fifth Corps and parts of others were moved in, but a portion of the Fifth was turned and driven back, and disaster was imminent. The retreating column came pressing back on the Reserves when Gen. Crawford, seizing a color, rode up and down the line of his Division, keeping his men steady until the way was clear, when he ordered a charge on the advancing and almost victorious enemy. This was executed by the brigade of Col. McCandless and the Ninth regiment of Col. Fisher's brigade. Let by those gallant officers in person, they charged and drove back the enemy when victory was just within their grasp, prevented them from gaining the hills, where our left would have been turned, and where they in a few moments more would have been in amongst our trains and in our rear. This charge was witnessed by a large number of our officers, who attest its priceless value, and we have no hesitation in declaring that it saved the army from defeat on that day. That high honor is due to the Reserves, and it should be given without stint.

"On Friday the brigade of Col. McCandless and the Ninth, of Fisher's, were the heroes of another gallant action. Holding the position they had so handsomely won, they were again ordered forward. Two brigades of the Rebel General Hood were in possession of the hill called the "Round Top."--These were charged, driven out and flanked by which means the trophies of the day were augmented by a stand of colors, one twelve-pounder cannon, three caissons, and one hundred prisoners. But more than that, the honor of the army was saved by the recapture of more than six thousand stands of arms, which the enemy had taken the previous day, and by the restoration to our own lines and the care of our own surgeons of an immense number of wounded men.

"The Reserves were fighting on the soil of their dear old State, and noble as were the deeds, they had done before, they were eclipsed by their conduct at Gettysburg. Their services in that important battle, and the fact that they saved the fortunes of the day at a most critical period of that battle should not be for a moment overlooked, nor should the names of General Crawford, Colonel McCandless and Colonel Fisher be omitted from the front rank of the heroes of that memorable field."

Franklin Repository, July 15, 1863, p. 5, c. 1

Latest News!

The Invasion Ended!
Lee Retreats Across the Potomac
His Army Terribly Shattered!
Loss of Much of his Baggage!

Chambersburg, July 14--2 P.M.

Official information has just been received at the head-quarters of Gen. Couch that Gen. Lee completed his pontoon bridge at Williamsport yesterday, and crossed his entire army over the Potomac last night.

Most of his artillery was got over safely, but considerable of his baggage and a number of his horses were lost in the river. Part of his army and trains forded the river, so great was Lee's haste to retreat, and the loss of wagons and horses was heavy.

Gen. Kilpatrick entered Williamsport this morning with his Cavalry, and the entire line of the Potomac is now held by the Union troops.

Thus ends the second and last rebel Invasion. Gen. Lee came upon loyal soil this time with the finest army the so-called Confederacy ever possessed, and it retreats upon its own desolated soil with its columns broken, its numbers reduced nearly if not quite one-half, by deaths, wounds, captures and desertions in the brief space of thirty days!

During his fatal campaign the rebel stronghold of the West, Vicksburg, has fallen, and he retraces his steps to find the armed traitors of the South smitten by the avenging sword of Justice at every point!

The day dawns brightly upon the Old Republic! After two years of mingled disaster and indecisive triumphs, He who declared "Vengeance is Mine," has interposed to stay the bloody, relentless tide of treason, and to preserve to us and to posterity the Free Institutions of the Western World! Let Him be praised!

Franklin Repository, July 15, 1863, p. 8, c. 2

Franklin County has contributed probably a dozen to the rebel army, and two have paid the penalty of death. James Allison, who studied law with Hon. Wilson Reilly some eight years ago, enlisted in Stuart's Cavalry a year or more ago, and was killed at Ball's cross-roads a short time before the battle of Chancellorsville. He was shot through the temple and died instantly. This information was given by the Rev. Charles Boggs, a native of this county, but now a chaplain in the rebel army, when the rebels occupied this place. Hugh Logan, formerly of this county, was a Captain in Stuart's Cavalry, and was here with him in October last. He was overtaken in Hagerstown last Saturday by our cavalry, and in attempting to escape was shot in the back, the ball passing through the bowels. He was in Hagerstown and alive on Sunday, but no hopes were entertained of his recovery. They will no be widely regretted since they invited death by taking up arms against their government, but they, in their treason, preserved their manhood by openly espousing the traitor's cause.

Franklin Repository, July 15, 1863, p. 8, c. 1

--The usual programme for the celebration of our National Holliday, [sic] owing to "peculiar circumstances" could not be fully observed on its late recurrence in our town. We missed the brilliant processions and joyous faces of the children of our various Sabbath Schools, and the old fishing parties and hilarious assemblages, of former years. Reb occupation of our beautiful valley and the extensive patronage of a certain character which our "Southern brethren" had bestowed for ten days previous on our people, with their constant threats of wholesale destruction of the town almost drove from our minds that we were to have a 4th of July this year in its National sense. However, Saturday morning dawned upon us with the ringing of the bells of the different churches and public buildings, and a short time before noon, the National ensign floated from a temporary pole in the centre of the Diamond. At 6 P.M. our citizens assembled in front of the Court House. Chief Burgess Hoskinson presided, assisted by those two tried soldiers, Capt's Samuel McKesson and Geo. L. Miles as Vice Presidents. Sergeant J. Porter Brown, who served gallantly in the three and nine months service, was Secretary of the meeting. The organization completed, W. I. Cook read the Declaration of Independence. This was followed by eloquent and patriotic speeches delivered by Hon. Geo. W. Brewer; Wm. Stenger and W. S. [illegible]

Franklin Repository, July 15, 1863, p. 8, c. 2

--A number of our citizens were caught in the rebel lines last week about Hagerstown. Among them were Rev. Jos. Clark, James and Geo. Watson, John P. Culbertson, F. Winter Tritle, Wm. Clugston, Wm. Hutton, Dr. Jas. Hamilton, Jacob N. Snider, Levi D. C. Houser and others. Most of them secreted themselves in Hagerstown or escaped through the lines; but Messrs. Dr. Jas. Hamilton, J. P. Culbertson, J. Porter Brown, Charles Kinsler, Allen C. McGrath, Thomas McDowell, Geo. A. Kaufman and Geo. S. Heck are reported to be across the Potomac and prisoners.

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 1, c. 4

On the 13th inst. a mob broke out in New York, ostensibly to resist the draft about to be made, and for three days it defied the civil and military authorities.

The several conscription offices were destroyed; the houses of the Mayor, Post Master and many other building burned, and a number of citizens killed! Every negro found on the street was brutally beaten and many fatally.

Gob. Seymour addressed the mob while rioting, plundering and murdering were going on in several parts of the city, and assured them that he was their friend--that they had been his friends. He assured them that he would stop the draft and begged them in gingerly terms to go home. They did not go however, nor did Seymour get the draft stopped, and after three days of the most shameless parlaying with a mob, he was compelled to issue a third proclamation declaring that the peace of the city must preserved at all hazards.

The military were called out under the command of Gen. Brown, and in several instances had to fire on the mob to disperse them. Col. O'Brien, of the military, was most brutally murdered by the mob.

Thieves of every grade swelled the mob, and it finally became a mere plundering horde. After three days it was completely mastered and order reigns again in Gotham.

The government has given officlai [sic] notice that the draft will be made in New York, and elsewhere without delay.

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 2, c.1

The Battle of Gettysburg.

As a connected narrative of the memorable battles fought on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the 1st, 2d and 3d of July, near Gettysburg, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, will be valuable for reference, and also satisfactory as a resume of the details furnished in our despatches, we think the following carefully written account will be acceptable to our readers.

Gen. Meade took command of this army on Sunday, the 28th ult. At that time his headquarters were at Frederick, and Lee's at Hagerstown. It will be seen that he was in the southwest, and consequently in the rear of the foe, imminently threatening his line of retreat. The army of the Potomac began its campaign from that moment. Orders were issued to the several corps to move early in the evening, and on the morning of the 29th, our whole brilliant and hopeful host was in motion towards Pennsylvania. The First, Third and Eleventh corps encamped on Tuesday at Emmettsburg; the Second and Twelfth also pitched their tents near by. The Sixth corps marched to Carlisle Wednesday morning, the first day of this [illegible] forever memorable. The First Corps, under Major-General Reynolds, and the Eleventh, under Major-General Howard, started for Gettysburg. Reynolds in command, where they arrived at 10 o'clock, a.m. The corps, in the advance, marched directly through the town. The enemy was discovered posted in a wood to the westward near the Lutheran Theological Seminary. The beginning of the three days' conflict was at hand.

The Battle of Wednesday.

One who has been in the presence, who now sits among the echoes, and whose brain teems with rushing memories of a conflict so recent and so vast, may well pause before attempting to indicate its magnitude or describe its progress. Rash as the advance of Gen. Reynolds has been pronounced by many brother officers who now lament his death. I question whether it was not after all for the best. It served at once as a roconnoissance, [sic] showing the enemy's exact position and probable force, and as a check upon any offensive movement which that enemy might have been intent upon. It secured the Army of the Potomac the commanding position on Cemetery Hill, from which the battles of the two succeeding days were chiefly fought, and which, had the rebel commander anticipated the engagement, he would doubtless have secured for himself. Not less, perhaps, than the skill of the generals who directed the battle on our side, gave us the victory. When, therefore, the heroic First Corps and and [sic] its fated commander placed themselves in the terrible dilemma of Wednesday morning, they won a knowledge by their sacrifice worth all the world to us thereafter. The corps marched in the following order: First division, under Gen. Wadsworth; Third division, under Gen. Doubleday; five fully batteries, under Col. Wainwright; Fourth division, under Gen. Robinson.

A portion of our artillery took position half a mile south of the Seminary. The enemy opened fire on it was such fierceness as forced the batteries to retire, which they commenced doing in good order. Gen. Wadsworth immediately came to their aid; two of his regiments, the 2d Wisconsin and the Twenty-Fourth, Michigan charged the rebel infantry, forcing them to turn to retire. The batteries assumed an excellent position further in the rear, which they held during the day. Gen. Reynolds now rode forward to inspect the field and ascertain the most favorable line for the disposal of his troops. One or two members of his staff were with him. The enemy at that instant poured in a cruel musketry fire upon the group of officers; a bullet struck Gen. Reynolds in the neck, wounding him fatally. Crying out, with a voice that thrilled the hearts of his soldiers, "Forward! For God's sake, forward!" He turned for an instant, beheld the order obeyed by a line of shouting infantry, and falling into the arms of Capt. Wilcos, his aid, who rode beside him, his life went out with the words, "Good God, Wilcos, I am killed."

The command of the corps devolved upon Gen. Doubleday, who hurried to the front, placed it in position, and awaited a charge which it was seen the rebels were about to make. An eminence whereon stood a piece of woods was the important point thenceforth to be defended. The rebels advanced and opened fire from their entire line. They were instantly charged upon by Meredith's Western brigade, who without firing a shot, but with a tremendous cheer, dashed forward with such swiftness as [illegible] found nearly 600 of the feo, [sic] who were taken prisoner. A strong column immediately advanced against us from the woods and, through volley after volley was pourded [sic] into them did not waver. When proximity and strength at last became so threatening that the brigades of the Second division were ordered to make another charge, which was even more successful than the first. Their momentum was like an avalanche; the rebels were shot, bayoneted, and driven to partial retreat, more than two regiments falling into our hands alive. Out ranks suffered fearfully in this demonstration, and it was evident that such fighting could not long go on. The Eleventh corps now made its appearance, and its General (Howard) assumed command of the forces. Steinwehr was ordered to hold Gettysburg and Cemetery hill, all his artillery being placed in the latter position. The other two divisions of the Eleventh corps under Shultz and Barlow, then supported the First corps, on the right in time to resist two desperate charges by Ewell's troops. A third charge was now made by the entire rebel force in front, which comprised the corps of Hill and Ewell, sixty-two thousand strong. The shock was awful. The superior numbers of the foe enabled them to overlap both our flanks, threatening us with surrounding and capture. Their main effort was directed against our left wing and notwithstanding the gallant fighting done by our soldiers at that point, they at last obtained such advantage that Gen. Howard was forced to retire his command through the town to the east, which was done in good order, the compliments of the rebels meanwhile falling thick among it in the shape of shells, grape and canister. The two corps were placed in line of battle on Cemetery Hill at evening, having withstood during the entire day the assaults of an enemy outnumbering them three to one. Not without grief, not without misgiving, did the officers and soldiers of those corps contemplate the day's engagement and await the onset they believed was to come. Their comrades lay in heaps beyond the village, whose spires gleamed peacefully in the sunset before them. Reynolds the beloved and the brave, was dead, and Zook slumbered beside him. D Barlow, Paul, many field and scores of line officers had been killed. The men of the First corps alone could in few instances turn to speak to the ones who stood beside them in the morning without meeting a vacant space. The havoc in that corps was so frightful as to decimate it fully one-half and that in the Eleventh corps [illegible] last man. With what a thrill of relief Gen. Howard, who had sent messenger after messenger during the day to Slocum and Sickles, saw in the distance at evening the approaching bayonets of the Third and Twelfth corps only then can tell who fought beside him. Those corps arrived assumed positions to the right and left of the First and Eleventh, on the heights about Cemetery Hill at dusk. The enemy made no further demonstration that night. Gen. Meade and staff arrived before 11 o'clock. The commandeer then examined the position, and posted the several corps in the following order: the Twelfth (Slocum) on the right the Eleventh (Howard) next, the Second (Hancock) [illegible] (Doubleday) and Third)Sickles) in the center, the Fifth (Sykes) and the [illegible] left. The situation was brilliant commanding. For almost the first time in the history of this army's career belonged the advantage in the [illegible] battles which ensued.

The heights on which our troops were posted sloped gently downward from our front. The line stretched in a semi-circle--its convex centre toward Gettysburg, the [illegible] toward the southwest and south. Ledges on the interior sides gave our soldiers in some instances a partial shelter from artillery. Every road was commanded by our cannon, and the routes by which Lee might otherwise soonest retreat in case of his defeat were all in our possession. At every one weaker than others reserves were judiciously posted, and the cavalry--an arm of the service scarcely brought into play in some recent and destructive battles--protecting both our flanks in immense numbers.

Thus the great army lay down to sleep at midnight and awoke on the morn of a day more sanguinary than the last.

On what spectacle the sun of Thursday rose, the memory of at least that portion of our forces who witnessed it from Cemetery Hill will linger forever. From its crest the muzzles of fifty cannon pointed toward the hills beyond the town. From the bluffs to the right and left additional artillery frowned, and away on either side, in a graceful and majestic curve, thousands of infantry moved into battle line, their bayonets gleaming like serpents' scales. The roofs of Gettysburg in the valley below, the rifs of woodland along the borders of Rock creek, the orchards far down on the left, the fields green and beautiful, in which the cattle were calmly grazing, composed a scene of such peace as it appeared was never made to be marred by the clangor of battle. I strolled out to the cemetery were the dew was yet melted from the grass, and leaned against a monument to listen to the singing of birds. One note, milder than the rest, had just broken from the throat of an oriole in the foliage above me when the sullen rattle of musketry on the left told that skirmishing had begun. Similar firing soon opened along the entire rebel line, and although no notable demonstration was made during the forenoon, it was apparent that the enemy was feeling our strength preliminary to some decisive effort.

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.

He then began heavy fire on Cemetery Hill. It must not be thought that this wrathful fire was unanswered. Our artillery began to play within a few moments and hurled back defiance and like destruction upon the rebel lines. Until six o'clock the road of cannon, the rush of missiles and the bursting of bombs filled all the air. The [illegible] alone of this awful combat might well have confused and awed a less cool and watchful commander than General Meade. It did not confuse him. With the calculation of a tactician and the eye of an experienced judge he watched from his headquarters on the hill whatever movement under the murky cloud which enveloped the rebel lines might first disclose the intention which it was evident this artillery firing covered. About six o'clock p.m., silence, deep, awfully impressive, but [illegible] was permitted as if by magic to dwell upon the field. Only the groans unheard before of the wounded and dying, only the murmur --a morning memory--of the breeze through the foliage, only the low rattle, of preparation for what was to come, embroidered this black stillness. Then, as the smoke beyond the village was lightly borne [illegible] the eastward, the woods on the left were seen filled with dark masses of infantry, three columns deeps, who advanced at a quickstep. Magnificent! Such a charge by such a force--full 45,000 then, under Hill and Longstreet--even though it threatened to pierce and annihilate the 3d Corps, against which it was directed, drew forth cries of admiration from all who beheld it. General Sickles and his splendid command withstood the shock with a determination that checked, but could not fully restrain it. Back, inch by inch, fighting, falling, dying, cheering, the men retired. The rebels came on more furiously, halting at intervals, pouring volleys that struck our troops down in scores.

General Sickles, fighting desperately, was struck in the leg and fell. The 2d Corps come [sic] to the aid of his decimated column.--The battle then grew fearful. Standing firmly up against the storm, our troops, though still outnumbered , gave back shot for shot, volley for volley, almost death for death. Still the enemy was not restrained. Down he came upon our left with a momentum that nothing could check. The rifled guns that lay before our infantry on a knoll were in danger of capture. Gen. Hancock was wounded in the thigh, General Gibbon was wounded in the thigh, General Gibbon in the shoulder. The 5th Corps, as the 1st and 2d wavered anew, went into the breach with such shouts and such volleys as made the rebel column tremble at last. Up from the valley behind, another battery came rolling to the heights and flung its contents in an instant down in the midst of the enemy's ranks. Crash! Crash! With discharges deafening, terrible, the musketry firing went on; the enemy, reforming after each discharge with wondrous celerity and firmness, still pressed up the declivity. What hideous carnage filled the minutes between the appearance of the 5th Corps and the advance to the support of the rebel columns of still another column from the right, I can not bear to tell. Men fell as the leaves fall in autumn before those horrible discharges.--Faltering for an instant, the rebel columns seemed about to recede before the tempest. But their officers, who could be seen through the smoke of the conflict galloping and swinging their swords along the lines, rallied them anew, and the next instant the whole line sprang forward as if to break through our own by mere weight of numbers. A division from the 12th Corps from the right reached the scene at this instant, and at the same time Sedgwick came up with the 6th corps, having finished a march of nearly thirty-six consecutive hours. To what rescue they came, their officers saw and told them. Weary as they were, bare-footed, hungry, fit to drop for slumber as they were, the will for victory was so blended with the thought of exhaustion that they [illegible] en masse into line of battle, and went down on the enemy with death in their weapons and cheers on their lips. The rebel camel's back was broken by this "feather."--His line staggered, reeled, and drifted slowly back, while the shouts of our soldiers lifed [sic] up amid the roar of musketry over the bodies of the dead and wounded, proclaimed the completeness of their victory. Meanwhile, as the division of Slocum's corps on the extreme right left its post to join in this triumph, another column of the enemy under command of Gen. Ewell, had dashed savagely against our weakened right wing, and as the failure to turn our left became known it seemed as if determination to conquer in this part of the field overcame alike the enemy's fear of death and his plan for victory elsewhere. The fighting was terrific, and for fifteen minutes the attack to which the three division of the 12th Corps were subjected was more furious than anything every known in the history of this army. The 6th corps came to their support, and 1st corps followed; and from dusk into darkness, until half past nine o'clock, the battle raged with varied fortune and unabated fury. Out troops were compelled by overpowering numbers to fall back a short distance, abandoning several rifle-pits and an advantageous position to the enemy, who, haughty over his advantage and made desperate by defeat in other quarters, then made a last struggling charge against that division of our right wing commanded by Gen. Geary. General Gear's troops immortalized themselves by their resistance to this attempt. They stood like adamant, a moveless, death-dealing machine, before whose volleys the rebel columns withered and went down by hundreds. After a slaughter inconceivable the repulse of Ewell was complete, and he retired at ten o'clock p.m. to the position before referred to. The firing from all quarters of the field ceased soon after that hour, and no other attach was made until morning.

As one who stands in a tower and looks down upon a lengthy pageant marching through a thoroughfare, finds it impossible at the close to recall in order the appearances and the incidents of the scene, so I, who sit this evening on a camp-stool beside the ruins of the monument against which I leaned listening to the robin of yesterday, find it impossible to recall with distinctness the details of the unparalleled battle just closed. The conflict, waged by 160,000 men, which has occupied with scarcely an interval of rest, the entire day, from 4 a.m. until 6 o'clock this evening, contains so much, so near, and such voluminous matter of interest as one mind cannot grasp without time for reflection.

The last engagement has been the fiercest and most sanguinary of the war. It was begun at daylight by Gen. Slocum, whose troops, maddened by the loss of many comrades, and eager to retrieve the position lost by them on the preceding evening, advanced and delivered a destructive fire against the rebels under Ewell. That general's entire force responded with a charge that is memorable even beyond those made by them yesterday. It was desperation against courage! The fire of the enemy was mingled with yells, pitched even above its clangor. They came on, and on, and on, while the national troops, splendidly handled and well posted, stood unshaken to receive them. The fire with which they did receive them was so rapid and so thick as to envelope the ranks of its deliverers with a pall that shut them from sight during the battle which raged thenceforward for six dreary hours. Out of this pall no straggler came to the rear. The line scarcely flinched from its position during the entire conflict. Huge masses of rebel infantry threw themselves into it again and again in vain. Back, as a ball hurled against a rock, these masses recoiled, and were reformed to be hurled anew against it with a fierceness unfruitful of success--fruitful of carnage as before. The strong position occupied by Gen. Geary, and that held by Gen. Birney, met the first and hardest assaults, but only fell back a short distance before fearful odds, to re-advance, to re-assume and to hold their place in company with Sykes' division of the Fifth corps and Humphrey's (Berry's old division) of the Third, when, judiciously reinforced with artillery, they renewed and continued the contest until its close. It seemed as if the gray- uniformed troops, who were advanced and re-advanced by their officers up to the very edge of the line of smoke in front of our infantry, were impelled by some terror in their rear, which they were as unable to withstand as they were to make headway against the fire in their front. It was hard to believe such desperation voluntary. It was harder to believe that the courage which withstood and defeated it was mortal.

The enemy gradually drew forward his whole line until in many places a hand to hand conflict raged for minutes. His artillery, answered by ours, played upon our column with frightful result, yet they did not waver. The battle was in this way evenly contested for a time but at a time when it seemed problematical which side would gain the victory, a reinforcement arrived and were formed in line at such a position as to [illegible] the enemy and teach him at last the futility of his efforts. Disordered, routed, and confused, his whole force retreated, and at 11 o'clock the battle ceased and the stillness of death ensued. The silence continued until 1 P.M. At this moment the rebel artillery from all pointed, 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. The flock or pigeons, which not ten minutes previous had darkened the sky above were scarcely thicker than the flock of horrible missiles that now, instead of sailing harmlessly above, descended upon our position. The atmosphere was thick with shot and shell. The storm broke upon us so suddenly that soldiers and officers--who leaped, as it began, from their tents, or from lazy siestas on the grass--were stricken in their rising with mortal wounds and died, some with cigars between their teeth, some with pieces of food in their fingers, and one at least--a pale young German, from Pennsylvania--with a miniature of his sister in his hands, that seemed more meet to grasp an artist's pencil than a musket. Horses fell, shrieking such awful cries as Cooper told of, and writhing about in helpless agony. The boards of fences, scattered by explosion, flew in splinters through the air. The earth, torn, up in clouds, blinded the eyes of hurrying men; and through the branches of the trees, and among the grave-stones of the cemetery a shower of destruction crashed ceaselessly. As, with hundred of others, I groped through this tempest of death for the shelter of the bluff, an old man, a private in a company belonging to the 24th 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.

Our batteries responded immediately.--Three hours of cannonading ensued, exceeding in fierceness any ever known. Probably three hundred cannon were fired simultaneously until 4 o'clock, when the rebel infantry were again seen massing in the woods fronting our centre, formed by the First and Second corps. Gen. Doubleday's troops met this charge with the same heroic courage that had so often repelled the enemy in his desperate attempts. The charge was made spiritedly, but less venomously than before. Gen.. 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. Gen. Webb immediately ordered a charge, which was made with such eagerness and swiftness, and supported by such numbers of our troops, as enabled us to partially surround the enemy, and capture Gen. Armistead and 3,000 of his men. The carnage which accompanied this charge and the terror inspired by it were so great as to reduce the foe to actual cowardice. They fell upon their knees and faces, holding forward their guns and begging for mercy, while their escaped comrades, panic-stricken and utterly routed rushed down across the ditches and fences through the fields and through Gettysburg. Not a column remained to make another start. The triumph fought for during these three terrible days belonged at last to the noble Army of the Potomac.

Monuments and head-stones lie here and there overturned. Graves, once carefully tended by some loving hand, have been trampled by horses feet until the vestiges of verdure have disappeared. The neat and well-trained shrubbery has vanished or is but a broken and withered mass of tangled brush-wood. On one grave lies a dead artillery horse, fast decomposing under the July sun. On another lie the torn garments of some wounded soldier, stained and saturated with his blood. Across a small headstone, bearing the words, "To the memory of our beloved child, Mary" lie the fragment of a musket shattered by a cannon shot. In the centre of a space enclosed by an iron fence, and containing a half dozen graves, a few rails are still standing where they were erected by our soldiers and served to support the shelter tents of a bivouacking squad. A family shaft has been broken in fragment by a shell, and only the base remains, with a portion of the inscription thereon. Stone after stone felt the effects of the feu d'enfer that was poured upon the crest of the hill. Cannon thundered, and foot and horse soldiers trampled over the sleeping place of the dead. Other dead were added to those who are resting here, and many a wounded soldier still lives to remember the contest above those silent graves.

The hill on which this cemetery is located was the centre of our line of battle and the key to the whole position. Had the rebels been able to carry this point, they would have forced us into retreat, and the whole battle would have been lost. To pierce our line here was Lee's great endeavor, and he threw his best brigades against it. Wave after wave of living valor rolled up that slope only to roll back again under the deadly fire of our artillery and infantry. It was on this hill, a little to the right of the cemetery where occurred the charge of the famous brigade of Louisiana Tigers. It was their boast that they were never yet foiled in an attempt to take a battery, but on this occasion they suffered a defeat and nearly annihilation. Sad and dispirited they mourn their repulse and terrible losses in the charge.

Retracing my steps, before reaching the extreme left, I returned to the centre of our position, on the Cemetery Hill. I do not follow the path by which I come, but take a route along the hollow, between the two ridges. It was across this hollow that the charges were made in the assault upon our position. Much blood was poured out between these two swells of land. Most of the dead have been buried where they fell, or gathered in little clusters beneath some spreading tree or beside clumps of bushes. Some of the rebel dead are still uncovered. The first that meets my gaze I come upon suddenly, as I descend a bank, some three or four feet in height, to the side of a small spring. He is lying near the spring, as if he had crawled there to obtain a draught of water. His hands are outspread upon the earth, and clutching at the little tufts of grass beneath them. His haversack and canteen are still hanging on him, and his hat is lying near him. His musket is gone; either carried off by his comrades, [sic] taken by some relic seeker, or placed in the accumulated heap by our own soldiers.

The body of another rebel attracts my attention by a singular circumstance. The fact is discolored in the extreme, black as that of the purest Congo negro. The hands are as delicate as those of a lady and of snowy whiteness. With the exception of the face, the body is but little swollen, and there are no signs of the commencement of decomposition. Several bodies that I find show blackened faces, but no others than this display such a contrast between the color of the face and hands. Near a small white house on the rebel line lies the body of an officer, evidently a lieutenant or captain. His right arm is extended as if to grasp the hand of a friend. All possible positions in which a dying man can fall can be noticed on this field.

The little farm house on the Emmettsburg road, where General Meade held his headquarters during the cannonade is most fearfully cut up. It is already known how Gen. Lee masked his artillery and opened with one hundred and thirty pieces at the same moment. Two shells in every second of time fell around those headquarters. The shells tore through the little white building exploding and scattering their fragments in every direction. Not a spot anywhere was safe. One shell through the doorstep, another in the chimney, a third shattering a rafter, a fourth cutting off the legs of a chair in which a staff officer was seated; other severed and splintered the posts in front of the house, howled through the trees by which the dwelling was surrounded, and raised deep furrows of the soft earth. At the fence in front of the building the horses of aids and orderlies were standing. A dozen of the frightened animal fell by the rebel projectiles, and other broke away and fled in the wildest fright towards the rear. One staff officer, and another, and another, were wounded. Strange to say, amid all this iron hail, no one of the staff was killed. Every man stared death full in the face, and had little prospect of escaping unhurt. Rarely in the history of war has there been a scene to equal this.

Frederick, July 12, 1863.--The following general order of General R. E. Lee to the Rebel army, issued from Hagerstown, on Saturday, was found when General Kilpatrick entered the town on Sunday morning:

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, July 11, 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 defense of their own soil those who were engaged in the invasion of ours. You have fought a fierce and sanguinary 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 respect of your enemies, the gratitude of your country, and the admiration of mankind.

Once more you are called upon to meet the enemy from whom you have torn so many fields, the names of which 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 defense 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 remembrances of our glorious past, and in the thought of the inestimable blessings for which we contend; and invoking the assistance of that benign Power which has 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 worth of your right cause; worthy of your comrades dead on so many illustrious fields.

R. E. Lee, Gen. Com.

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 2, c. 5

We take the following remarkable article from the Richmond Enquirer, of June 12th, in which the whole tribe of Peace Sneaks, who are endeavoring to embarras [sic] the Government, and thus give aid and comfort to the Rebels, are brought under the old-time slave-driver's lash:

Two Years Hence.

It is sincerely to be hoped that those earnest champions of constitutional freedom will be helped on and sustained in the manner they require--namely, by continued and severe reverses in the field; and it is the first and most urgent duty of our countrymen so to help and sustain the Democratic party.--It is nothing to us which of their factions may devour the "spoils," just as little does it signify to us whether they recover or do not recover that constitutional liberty which they so wantonly threw away in the mad pursuit of Southern conquest and plunder. But it is of the utmost importance to us to aid in stimulating disaffection among Yankees against their own Government, and in demoralizing and disintegrating society in that God-abandoned country! We can do this only in one way--namely, by thrashing their armies and carrying the war to their own firesides. Then, indeed, conscientious constitutional principles will hold sway; peace platforms will look attractive; arbitrary arrests will become odious, and habeas corpus be quoted at a premium. This is the only way we can help them. In this sense, and to this entent, [sic] those Democrats are truly our allies, and we shall endeavor to do our duty by them.

But they evidently look for other and further help at our hands, and of quite a different sort. No doubt they are pleased for the present, with the efficient aid which the Confederate army is affording them. [illegible] was a God-send to them, and the tremendous repulse at Port Hudson is quite a plank in their platform. Yet they understand very well that no matter how soundly their armies may be happily beaten; no matter how completely Lincoln's present war policy may be condemned by its results, yet all this will not be enough to enable the unterrified Democracy to clutch the "spoils,"--or, as they phrase it, to restore the Constitution of their fathers. This, of itself would never give them a Peace-Democrat President and Cabinet; it would only result in another Abolitionist administration with a New Secretary of War, and a new Commander-in- Chief, and a slightly different programme for "crushing the rebellion." Those Black Republicans are in power; after long waiting, pining, intriguing in the cold shade of the opposition; and they have now the numerical preponderance so decidedly that they both can and will hold on to the offices with a clutch like death. The Democrats can do absolutely nothing withont [sic] "the South," as they persist in terming these Confederate States; and they cannot bring themselves to admit the thought that we would refused to united with them (as alas ! We used to do) in a grand Universal Presidential campaign, for a Democratic President, with a Peace platform, and the "Constitution as it is." In fact, this whole two years' war, and the two years' more war which has yet to be gone through, is itself, in their eyes, only a Presidential campaign, only somewhat more vivacious than ordinary.

This explains the Vallandigham Peace Meetings in New York and New Jersey and the "manly declarations" of Mrs. Horatio Seymour and other patriots. "Do not let us forget," said Fernando Wood, writing to the Philadelphia meeting, "that those who perpetrate such outrages as the arrest and banishment of Mr. Vallandigham, do so as necessary war measures. Let us, therefore, strike at the cause and declare for peace and against the war."

This would sound very well if the said "declaring for peace" could have any effect whatever in bringing about peace. If a man falling from a tower could arrest his fall by declaring against it, then the declarations of Democrats against the war might be of some avail. As it is, they resemble that emphatic pronouncement of Mr. Washington Hunt: "Let it be proclaimed upon the housetops, that no citizen of New York shall be arrested without process of law." There is no use of brawling from the housetops what everybody knows to be nonsense. Or this resolution of the New Jersey meeting:

Resolved, That in the illegal seizure and banishment of the Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, the laws of our country have been outraged, the name of United States disgraced, and the rights of every citizen menaced, and that it is now the duty of a law respecting people to demand of the Administration that it at once and forever desist from such deeds of despotism and crime. [Enthusiasm.]

Deman[illegible]? The starling that Mr. Sterne saw in the cage, said only "I can't get out." It would have been more "manly" to scream, "I demand to get out--I proclaim on the housetops that I will get out."

Another of the New Jersey resolutions throws an instructive light upon this whole movement, and its objects.

Resolved, That we renew our declaration of attachment to the Union, pledging to its friends, wherever found out unwavering support, and to its enemies, in whatever guise, our undying hostility, and that, God, willing, we will stand by the Constitution and laws of our country, and under their sacred shield will maintain and defend our liberty and rights, "peaceably if can forcibly if we must." [Great cheering.]

This phrase, "wherever found," implies that there are friends of the union in this Confederacy, and the resolution obligingly pledges to them the support of the New Jersey Democracy--not surely without an equivalent return.

To the same meeting, Gen. Fitz John Porter writes a letter, declaring, of course, for the Constitution and resistance to despotism, and ending thus:

"The contest of arms, however, will not be required; the certain and peaceful remedy will be found in the ballot-box. Let us all possess our souls in patience. The remedy is ours."

Gen. FitzJohn knows well that the remedy is not theirs, unless "the South" consent to throw its votes into that same ballot-box, and it is for this, and this only, that the Democratic book is bated with "Peace." But in a speech of Senator Wall, of New Jersey, before a Democratic Club of Philadelphia (which we find printed in The Sentinel,), is a passage more fully expounding the Democratic plan than any other we have seen. He says:

Subjugation and annihilation being alike impossible, I am in favor of an immediate cessation of hostilities, for an armistice--that amid the lull of the strife the heat of passion shall have time to cool, and the calm, majestic voice of reason can be heard. In the midst of such a calm I am for endeavoring to learn from those in arms against us what their demands may be, and inviting their co-operation in the name of a common humanity, to some place of reconciliation or reconstruction, by which the sections may united upon a more stable basis--a plan in which the questions upon which we have differed so long may be harmoniously adjusted, and each section, by virtue of the greatness developed in this war, may profit by the experience. If it shall be found that sectional opinion and prejudices are too obstinate, and the exasperations of this war have burnt too deep to settle it upon the basis of reconciliation or reconstruction, then I know that separation and reconstruction are inevitable."

Here is the whole plan; an armistice, and then "inviting our co-operation." During that armistice they hope that the "calm, majestic voice of reason" and a "common Christianity" might do something considerable.--The game, as they calculate, would then be on the board, with stakes so tempting! Mr. Wall would endeavor "to learn from us what our demands are."

Anything in reason he would be prepared to grant us; but if we replied, our demands are, that you bring away your troops from every inch of our soil, that you leave the Border States free to decide on their own destiny, that you evacuate all our forts and towns which you now hold, and make us rid of you and the whole breed of you forever, then Mr. Wall would exclaim, What! do you call that the calm, majestic voice of reason? Is that your common Christianity? He would say, when I spoke of the calm majestic, &c., I meant the spoils; when I said a common Christianity, I meant money. Let us talk rationally--how much common Christianity will you take?

In vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird. We are aware of them; and we will watch them well, and the friends of the Union, "wheresoever found." Our views go a little further than theirs--we hope to so disorganize and disintegrate society in their country that they will rush into armed revolution and anarchy. We spit upon their ballot-box. We care not what they "demand" in resolutions, nor what helpless trash they proclaim on the housetops. We do not believe in their power to attain so much as an armistice for two years to come. It an armistice, indeed, were offered, and the invading troops were withdrawn, of course we should not object to it, and good use could be made of it.

But, mark well, ye armistice mongers: During that suspension of hostilities all negotiations must be between Government and Government. Our lines should be more strictly guarded than ever. No negotiations or fraternization of parties by public meetings or private conferences: no bargaining with the calm voice of reason; no secret pocketing of Wall's "Common Christianity."

But armistice there will be none, and we are glad of it. Our sovereign independence is already won and paid for with treasurers of brave blood. It shall not be sold by peddlers to be built into a Yankee platform.

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 2., c.2

The popular disappointment at the retreat of Lee, with the remnant of his army, across the Potomac with comparative safety, is keen and undisguised. With many the unreasonable hope was cherished with confidence that Lee would be utterly destroyed or captured; but with the more reflecting there prevailed a conviction that Gen Meade would deliver battle with every chance of success, and that the rebel hosts would be routed and practically destroyed as an army.

It is possible that General Meade could have engaged Lee on Monday of last week, and routed him. Certainly had he known how helpless Lee was just then, with part of his artillery already across the river, the destruction of Lee could have been attained. But Gen. Meade must not be judged and censured rashly. A glance at the map given on our first page will show what an herculean task he had to perform. It must be borne in mind, too, that Lee had gained possession of the South Mountain passes from the Potomac up to the Gettysburg turnpike, before Gen. Meade had command of the Army, and that Lee's open line of retreat was in his own hands and beyond the power of Meade to interrupt.

Lee commenced his retreat on Saturday morning, July 4th, of course presenting a strong front to Meade until his artillery and baggage were safely out of reach. He then withdrew his rear guard, leaving his dead and wounded to the tender mercies of the Union commander. Lee had thus full twenty-four hours start of Meade in his movement, and he was falling back toward his base and shortening his lines, while the pursuit by Meade extended his lines and involved immense transportation of provisions and ammunition over two mountains and bad roads.

Lee had but to recross the South Mountain into Franklin county by the Gettysburg and Monterey passes, and from thence had a straight line to the river, reaching his new position in a march of thirty miles. On the other hand Meade's army had been brought to Gettysburg by the most exhausting forced marches, with the smallest possible amount of transportation, and the very hour his troops reached there the engagement commenced, and for three days it raged with the deadliest fury until full twenty thousand of his gallant warriors were numbered with the dead, wounded and captured. Although victorious in holding his position and utterly defeating and turning back the rebel hordes under Lee, still the shock of that battle, with the dead and wounded of both armies in his hands. Left his army in a sorry condition for prompt pursuit. He did pursue, however, as rapidly as was possible to move and supply his men; but he had to march nearly thirty miles to Frederick, thence across the Catoctin and South mountains to Boonsboro, nearly twenty miles more, and then found the rebel lines extending from Shepperdstown to Williamsport, (as marked on the map by dotted lines) and also covering Hagerstown. He promptly made reconnoisances from Boonsboro to the Antietam, to Funkstown and Hagerstown, and Sedgwich compelled Lee to retreat from the Shepperdstown ford and shorten his line immediately around Williamsport.

The position thus chosen by Lee was one of singular strength naturally, and was fortified so as to make it almost impregnable. Meade might have attacked it successfully on Sunday, but at a sacrifice of nearly two of his brave veterans to one of the enemy; and even if successful in driving Lee from his chosen and fortified position--a success as yet never achieved by either side in this war, although attempted by Burnside at Fredericksburg and Lee at Gettysburg--Lee could still have retreated up the Potomac, and, if pressed, could have chosen a position at Hancock in the mountains from which double the force of Meade could not dislodge him. With an adequate force on the south side of the Potomac, he might there have suffered capture; but he could scarcely have failed to make good his escape across the river before the Union army could have been thus disposed to cut off his retreat.

We doubt not that Meade manoeuvered his army under positive instructions from the Commander-in-Chief not to uncover Washington, or in other words, not to deliver battle with the enemy between him and the National Capitol. The peril of this movement doubtless prevented Meade from throwing his army around from Boonsboro' to Hagerstown to attack Lee from the West on his comparatively unprotected left flank. But such a change in the Union forces could not have been made for an attack in less than twenty-four hours, and Lee would have simply declined battle by crossing the Potomac, as it was passable by the time Meade could have reached a position on his left.

It is due to Gen. Meade, who so nobly redeemed Northern soil from rebel invasion by his skill and heroism at Gettysburg, that the almost immeasurable difficulties which confronted him in the pursuit and attempt to engage Lee again, should be known and duly considered. Had he hurled his decimated army upon Lee's fortified lines on Saturday or Sunday and suffered a repulse, Lee would have been re-inforced and renewed his offensive movements upon our soil; and the fruits of the deeply crimsoned victory of Gettysburg would have been lost. Instead of Lee retreating with a shattered, dispirited and hopeless army upon Richmond, Meade would now be retreating with the gallant Army of the Potomac upon the defences of Baltimore and Washington. Disappointed as we must be that Lee has not been destroyed, let us be thankful for the rich fruits of Meade's signal though incomplete triumph, rather than ungenerous in our exactions.

We have read much, not only in this, but in other campaigns during this war of the certainty of "bagging" rebel armies; but in field operations such results are simply impossibilities. Burnside was defeated at Fredericksburg with a river in his rear, commanded by rebel batteries yet he withdrew his army safely, losing his dead and wounded. Hooker was defeated at Chancellorsville with a river in his rear swollen to the angriest tide. And Sedgwick was at the same time repulsed with fearful loss on the Fredericksburg heights,--yet both re-crossed their commands in safety in the very face and under the very guns of a rebel commander to whom masterly ability is conceded by friend and foe. Nor did Hooker and Burnside withdraw their commands from before an army worn out by forced marches, and just from fields dripping with the gore of full one-fourth their comrades who entered the battle. Lee's army was comparatively fresh and on its long occupied ground after the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and their loss in neither engagement equaled ours. Yet the Union army retreated in safety, as did Lee from the front of Meade, nor was Lee held as wanting in ability or energy because he did not "bag" Burnside and Hooker. And it is worthy of consideration that the repulses of Burnside and Sedgwick at Fredericksburg, and the disastrous repulse of Lee at Gettysburg, were the results of attacks against skillfully selected and fortified positions just such as Lee held and Meade must have assailed at Williamsport. Let us deal justly if not generously with our heroes, and sustain and strengthen their hearts for future triumphs, rather than cripple them with ill-considered and unmerited criticism. Gen. Meade has done well--who has done better?

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 4, c. 5

Henry J. Stahle, of the Gettysburg Compiler, was arrested by Gen. Meade as soon as he gained possession of the town, and sent as a prison to Fort McHenry. We cannot form any judgment as to the guilt of Mr. Stahle from the statement and denials on the Gettysburg papers. It is alleged that he gave the reels information where the Union troops and property were concealed, and rendered himself in other respects useful to the enemy.

We trust that Mr. Stahle has not been arrested and imprisoned without a purpose. If he has been guilty of the charges preferred against him, he should be promptly tried by a military court, convicted and shot,--if innocent, he should be allowed an early opportunity to establish it and be discharged. It is high time that military arrests should be understood as meaning something beyond imprisonment without notice of charges and release without explanation. Had Daniel Dechert, of Hagerstown, been tried, convicted and inexorably executed, as he richly deserved, when he was detected as a spy within our lines, corresponding with and furnishing maps to bring the enemy to his own home, justice would have been vindicated and a wholesome practical lesson would have been learned by semi-traitors along the entire border. We insist that military arrests shall mean the prompt trial and conviction or acquittal of the accused, and that the penalty of treason, when clearly shown to extend to positive acts of hostility to the Government, shall be death. It is alike just and humane to the loyal people of the North that they shall not be the victims of cowardly spies and traitors at home; and if Mr. Stahle has by his acts brought himself within that class, he should die. But if he is the victim of personal or political prejudice, or of the inflamed public feeling naturally resulting from the shock of battle between the great armies at Gettysburg, he should have early and ample opportunity to vindicate himself, and be discharged to prove his devotion to the Government by an earnest support of the prosecution of the war. In this particular, we must confess, he has room for improvement.

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 4, c. 6

We have unofficial but reliable information that Gen. Lee lost at the battles of Gettysburg fully 6,000 killed; 10,00 wounded left in our hands; 7,000 wounded taken with him on foot and in wagons; and not less than 12,000 in prisoner and deserters--making a total loss of not less than 35000. He crossed but 41,000 men over the Potomac on his retreat, which, excepting a few cavalry, is the entire force he has taken back to Virginia. But a month ago he crossed into Maryland with over 80,000 men. Gen. Meade's loss at Gettysburg was about 4,500 killed, 10,000 wounded and 4,000 captured.

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 4, c. 6

Andrews, the leader of the New York rioters, who maltreated or murdered every negro found on the streets, was captured on Wednesday at a house of ill-fame with a negro paramour. He was the chieftain of those whom Gov. Seymour addressed as "my friends," and to whom he gave positive assurance of friendship in a public speech while rioting, butchery and plundering were going on all around him. Progressive Democracy that!

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 8, c. 1

The retreat of Lee with his rebel horde across the Potomac ends all fears of future invasions by the enemy in force; but we shall be constantly liable to rebel cavalry raids unless we take efficient measures to have such a military organization as can defend against such marauding expeditions. It is not probable that the threatre of war will be in close proximity to the Potomac for some time; but being just upon the border, we may be visited at any time by a guerrilla band, such as Mosby's and suffer much thereby.

We do not know what disposition will be made of the militia by Gen. Couch, the commander of this Department; but however ample may be his force for ordinary occasions, it is due to ourselves that we have a reserve force that could be called into service in an hour's notice. We entreat our young men of military experience to hasten the organization of an artillery company. None by reliable and punctual men should be taken in it. We are assured that a battery of artillery can be had for such an organization, with ammunition, &c., complete, and with a little care we could soon have a company, which for local defence would be worth thrice its number of improvised militias. We should by all means have a battery here all the time; but we can secure one only by having an effective organization to man it. We trust that this important movement will not be longer delayed.

It is equally important that we should have not less than three, and if possible five, cavalry companies organized, equipped and drilled at stated periods. We presume that Gen. Couch would still receive into service in his Department several hundred men, and uniform, arm and equip them, if they would furnish their own horses, for which they would be paid the regular government rates. When relieved from service, these men could keep up their organizations and be ready to answer a call for defence of the border at any moment. Instead of having terror and confusion amongst our people when threatened with a raid, our cavalry could be in the field at once, and scout the lines, ambuscade [sic] the foe, and make marauding a most dangerous business. One thousand men, with some experience and well commanded, would have made Jenkins' first advent into the county quite too uncomfortable for him to remain a whole week stealing at his leisure; and the fact that it has been done once, gives abundant promise that it will be done again unless we prepare to meet it. We earnestly urge upon our citizens, especially the young men who have horses, to take prompt measures to organize cavalry volunteer companies, to be ready to respond to a call at any time for the defence of the board.

Important as are Artillery and Cavalry organizations for the purpose of securing us against raids, it is scarcely less important that infantry companies should be organized in every district and drilled as much as possible. Indeed every able-bodied man, or rather every man who is able to walk or pull a trigger, should in some way be prepared to aid in the common defence against rebel plundering expeditions. It must be remembered that the opening of the Mississippi cuts half the entire territory of the South from the so-called Confederacy, and vast supplies were steadily received from south-west of the river. Texas being thus isolated, the present suffering of the rebels must daily increase, and necessity will drive them to plunder every section of country within their reach; and what section is so easily reached and so rich in what they most need, as the Cumberland Valley: We believe that we are now abundantly able to protect ourselves with the aid the government can render us, and let us not be humiliated and robbed again for want of organization and effort on the part of our own people.

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 8, c. 1

Franklin Repository, July 22, 1863, p. 8, c. 2

There can no longer be any doubt that Messrs. Dr. James Hamilton, Adam B. Hamilton, J. P. Culbertson, D. M. Eiker, George R. Caufman, Chas. W. Kinsler, George S. Heck, A. C. M'Grath, Thomas M'Dowell, Martin Hoover, James Anderson, James King, Jr., William Mong and J. Porter Brown, citizens of Chambersburg, and in no way connected with the military service, have been taken to Richmond as prisoners by the rebels. They were to Hagerstown without hindrance, when it was occupied by the rebels, and some "constitutional citizen," as Gen. Jenkins would say, doubtless informed on them, and they were arrested in their rooms at the hotel and marched off. Rev. Charles Steck and William Kitzmiller were with them at the time; but Mr. Steck was luckily overlooked, or was believed to be a citizen of Hagerstown, and he was not taken. Mr. Kitzmiller was taken, but ran the gauntlet of a volley of rebel bullets at Failing Waters, and made his escape.

We learn from Mr. Kitzmiller, that during the stay of our citizens in Hagerstown--from Tuesday until Friday--but one ration each was issued to them by the rebels; and but for Miss McCameron, Mrs. Daniel Funk, and some other loyal ladies, they would have starved. During the march from Hagerstown until Mr. K. made his escape on the following Tuesday, but one ration was issued to each prison--making but two rations to each man during an entire week. They killed a steer on Sunday, and in that way got some meat, and a friendly woman supplied them with some cakes; but they all suffered much from hunger. All were in good health, notwithstanding the exposure and deprivation of food, when Mr. K left.

Franklin Repository, July 29, 1863, p. 1, c. 1

Col. Grierson, who made the most daring raid through rebeldom on record, having penetrated some six hundred miles of its territory, declared it was an "empty shell" and ready to break at time [illegible] the success of the Union arms. [Note: A piece of tape blocks out some text in the next two paragraphs.] Since [illegible] the Old Flag has been triumphant at [illegible], at Port Hudson, in Tennessee, at [illegible], at Helena, and it is confidently hoped that it will soon float over Charleston.

Since then we have [illegible] with no common degree of interest [illegible] comments of the journals in the [illegible]of the traitors upon the progress [illegible] the Union cause. We now have them [illegible] us, and they are confused in the [illegible] suggestions, and naturally enough [illegible] despondent in tone. Some seem to think a falsehood well adhered to answers the purpose of truth, and accordingly the Richmond Dispatch, insists "Lee gained a tremendous victory at Gettysburg," and that "he fell back purely of his own will and from no compulsion of the enemy." The Richmond Examiner is crying for blood, and denounces the weakness of Jeff. Davis in not promptly hanging Union persons by way of retaliation. It says:

"Mr. President Davis' proclamations and pronunciamientos, [sic] his horrible threatenings and gloomy appeals, have been so often repeated that they are the sneer of the world. But never have they resulted in one solitary performance. He is very obstinate, very bitter; when he gets into a quarrel with some Southern officer over whom the law gives him temporary control. He is very firm indeed in maintaining a minion or a measure against the smothered indignation of a people who are compelled by their present unfortunate situation to support silently a great deal from their officials. But when his duty brings him into contact with the enemy he is gentle as the sucking dove.

* * * "Mr. Stephens was sent to Washington with a letter of credence to Lincoln, and another of instructions to himself from President Davis: A good deal was said in this last letter about titles, &c., which looks pitiful enough; and the rest relating to the business on hand, amounts to this: that if the Federal Government will only vouchsafe a civil word or so, will say, for instance, that it would like to mitigate the horrors of war, the Confederate Government would be happy to indulge in boundless compassion for the two Yankees aforesaid. As to the two murdered Confederate officers in Kentucky, who feels compassion for them?

* * *"Now, who will deny that the Confederacy makes a sorrowful figure in this matter?"

The retreat of Lee across the Potomac into Virginia again was as unexpected as crushing to the rebels. It at once blighted all their hopes of transferring the war to Northern soil, and cost them half of their best army. The Richmond Dispatch says that "opinions are various with regard to the motives which induced Gen. Lee to withdraw his army to the Virginia side." Again it says:

"That it has had the immediate effect of stimulating the war passions of the North, and enabling Lincoln with the more ease to recruit his shatter ranks, can hardly be denied. But it must be recollected that this was the consequence, not of the expedition itself, but of the withdrawal of the troops, and has not therefore the slightest bearing upon the wisdom of the measure. Had Gen. Lee destroyed the army of Meade, as there was every reason to hope, we should then have seen how fatal was the blow he had struck.

"He failed to accomplish his object; but failure in execution implies no want of judgment in the conception, unless the means should be ridiculously small. They were not so in this case. Gen. Lee believed them to be ample."

The Richmond Examiner says:

"This war can be terminated only by such a measure. It might have been gloriously terminated in a month had Gettysburg witnessed the annihilation of the Union army of the Potomac. But that battle was fought in a position which rendered success impossible. Why it was fought is yet unknown."

The Montgomery Advertiser gives a doleful account of rebel prospects in Tennessee. It says Bragg's retreat from Tullahoma is "much to be regretted," and that it "will have a very injurious effect, not merely on the people, but on the troops, particularly those from Tennessee," a number of whose troops, it says "have already deserted." It thus pictures the results of Braggs retreat:

"The retreat from Tennessee opens the northern counties of Georgia and Alabama to the incursions of the enemy. In our own State the Tennessee valley will be desolated, and raiding parties will penetrate the counties lying between the Tennessee and the Alabama, and east of the Bigbee rivers. This will bring the enemy to our own doors, and open the way to the rich counties of South Alabama.

"But there is another view of this question which is important. Vicksburg having fallen, Grant has an army of eighty thousand men at his disposal. It will be impossible for Gen. Johnston to oppose this army with any hope of success, and as he retires toward the Bigbee, which we suppose he will do, Grant will close on him, and unite his army with that of Rosecrans. Here, then, will be an army of one hundred and sixty of seventy thousand men encamped on the soil of Alabama."

The Chattanooga Rebel, Vallandigham's organ in rebeldom, thus discourses upon the advantages gained by the retreat of Bragg:

"Among the object of repining to which the mind very naturally reverts in contemplating the loss of Middle Tennessee, none forces itself more persistently upon us than the rich crops of grain which our retreat threw into the hands of the enemy.

"The crops of Tennessee, like the soil and all else therein, were fair to see. Many a time during the last three months have we cast a hopeful eye upon the teeming acres and their fruitful promise. But luxury, rather than absolute want, was the main figure in the prospect. We saw with gratification the energetic industry which was converting a thousand cotton fields to patches of corn and wheat in the fat South, and at no time did we fear starvation or even need. Hence we have not regarded the Middle Tennessee crops--whilst to be greatly desired--as absolutely essential to our existence, nor do we at this time.

"It would be wanton affectation were we to deny an extreme regret at the loss of so much produce; but we can continue to do without it;' and, in any event, there is no use crying over spilled milk."

The attack upon Charleston seems to have thrown the rebel papers into consternation. They see the hand-writing upon the wall, and confess that the home of treason is probably doomed. The Charleston Courier hoped to save the city, but says its "hope may prove a delusion," that "the capture of our city, may, perchance, delight his (our) base and corrupt hear." It has dim perceptions of the "last ditch," but is philosophical withal. It says:

"On the supposition of the foe's success, it is our duty to avoid incurring his fiendish malignity. All who can be of no service in the work of defence should betake themselves to places of shelter. And it were well not to defer removal to a late day. We may be compelled to remain, or, if we make good our escape, circumstances may oblige us to leave all our personal effects behind."

The Mercury, commenting on the attack upon Morris Island, says:

The Mobile Advertiser has been holding a post-mortem examination on the rebel carcass, but, after careful inspection, thinks that there is life in it yet. But some of the subjects of Jeff "seem to be weak in the knees. It says that "there are those who are ready to submit, and anxious for peace and the security of their property on the basis of submission." It adds, that "there have been some signs of this white feather." Will Vallandigham please "make note on't!"

The Richmond Enquirer, of the 16th, contains a proclamation by Jeff. Davis, calling out, under the Confederate Conscription act, all white men between the ages of 18 and 45, to serve for three years, under penalty of being punished for desertion in case of disobeying the call. They are offered the privilege of joining Volunteer organizations before the enrollment.

The Enquirer, in an article headed "Military Necessary," urges that the only salvation of the Southern Confederacy is in making a levy en masse, such as is called for in this proclamation. The application of martial law to a country in a state of siege, the absolute control of all trading, especially of drink, within military lines, the abolition of substiue [sic] exemptions and foreign protections, the material enlargement of the President's power to revise elections of officers, to make appointments, and to get rid of incompetent officers. We believe that Jeff. is not expected to wait for a decision of the courts to ascertain whether such despotic powers are constitutional or not!

The New York riots furnish the only faint gleam of hope for the despairing traitors. They grasp it as sinking men reach for straws. The Enquirer says the news is "cheering to us, indeed, because it portends the breaking down of the whole structure of Yankee society." It had evidently judged the result by the cowardly conduct of Gov. Seymour, forgetting that there is a national government, at once determined and able to enforce its laws.

The movement of Gen. Grant in the Southwest have stricken terror into the very heart of rebeldom. The fall of Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Jackson, and the defeat of Price at Helena, are described by the Richmond Whig as "the most serious disasters that have attended our arms since the commencement of the war." The same paper deplores the loss of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. It says:

The markets in Richmond are eminently interesting:

Gold sells at $9 premium; bacon at $1.50 per lb.; butter $1.50; candles $5; coffee $4; sole leather $3.75; upper $5.50; salt 45c.; sugar $1.50; whiskey $85 per gallon; wheat $7.50 per bushel; rye $7; peas $15; corn $20; flour $35 per barrel; Hay $400 per ton; molasses $10 per gallon; potatoes $15 per bushel; oats $6 per bushel; lime $10 per bbl; dried applies $11 per bushel; dried peaches $16 per bushel. Such are some of the fruits of this causeless, unholy rebellion!

Franklin Repository, July 29, 1863, p. 2, c.1

On Tuesday evening after the fight, we found ourselves among the crowd of visitors to the battle field of Gettysburg. There were many whose sad faces and anxious inquiries proclaimed their errand. Others, again, were busily attending to the necessities of the wounded; but perhaps in every breast there was felt something of that strange feeling which instinctively draws us to a battle field. It is not a morbid curiosity as some would claim. It is with a feeling more akin to reverence that we draw nigh to the broad and bloody altar, on which thousands of our fellow beings have so freely laid down their lives for our redemption. Such spots are shrines to which true patriots will ever make their pilgrimages; and we may rest assured that the nation is nigh destruction when it can forget or walk thoughtlessly over its battle grounds. It was with much feeling that we stood on the now historic heights of Gettysburg. The sun was just setting as we began our walk, and the silence of coming night seemed best calculated to impress the scene. A fried who had witnessed the fight walked along, and through his vivid descriptions the whole battle seemed to rage before us. The rising fogs of evening were not unlike the smoke of battle as we had seen it before; and as they hung over the hills on the rebel lines, fancy could easily picture on this misty background, marshaled lines and charging columns. It is exceedingly difficult, as every one is aware who has made like visits, to arrive at the truth concerning the details of the fight. Each soldier claims for the point where he stood, special importance. Never was there so fierce an assault as the one repelled by his brigade. But there are certain points that tell their own story. The deep ruts made by the artillery wheels, the broken fragments of shell, the shrubbery cut down as with the scythe of the mower, the trampled caps and haversacks that no soldier comes to claim, and the graves, thick as if sown broad-cast on the hillside, need no interpreter. There are many such places at Gettysburg, but there is one which will ever claim special interest. It is Cemetery Hill, occupied by our centre. It was, as Gen. Lee said in his address to his soldiers, "the key to the whole position, and the Confederacy expected them to take it." Standing on it one could realize as never before the magnitude of the issues at stake in this one battle. That little hill alone stood between the hosts of the rebels and victory. It was all that seemed to interfere between us and disaster and humiliation to the whole North. But it was peopled that day with heroes; it fairly bristled with cannons and bayonets. The tide of battle swept up to its foot, then back, then forward and partly up its sides, leaving them in its fearful ebb, covered with mangled and bleeding bodies; but still like some bold headland mocking the waves the hill held out.

On the top you can still see the field works marked with the wheels of the cannon. Just on the brow of the hill, was a square field, enclosed by a stone wall. This made two parallel walls to stretch between the patriots on the hill and the rebels; and behind [illegible] long lines of eager soldiers waiting for the coming of the foe. The tops of these walls are now ragged; in some places broken quite to the ground. There is good reason for it, for first the artillery, from those woods opposite, played on them, and then a column, the forlorn hope of the charge, stormed over them. They passed the first with a yell; broken, but not dispirited, they reached the second and clambered over it. They sweep to the brow of the hill, and over it, and at last lay their hands on those cannon behind the field works. But there were men with those guns who scorned to fly. Bravery was met with equal bravery, and they flew to embrace each other in the fearful struggle of death. A rebel laid hold of an artillery man, and in the struggle threw him to the ground, and then seized a limestone to beat out his brains. A patriot lieutenant sprang to aid his comrade; then a rebel officer joined in the fray. It was a brief struggle--a shot, a snapping stab with a bayonet, and two more traitors passed to their doom. This was the way they fought around these guns. For a few brief minutes the enemy held the batteries, then broke and fled in disastrous rout down the hill. Few reached the meadow below. They lay upon the hillside crushed by the pitiless storm that overtook their flying feet. Behind the second wall lay a company of Texians, [sic] unable to move forward or backward. They could not lift their heads, so fierce and incessant was the fire that swept over them. They were afterwards taken prisoners. Next morning after the assault a man might have walked from the muddy stream below, up to the very muzzles of the cannon above, on dead and bleeding bodies. All this occurred just outside the gates of the Cemetery. It seems as if war in cruel mockery of death, had flung a thousand victims at his door. We walked back through the Cemetery, and on all sides were traces of this most sanguinary conflict. Artillery horses had trampled the flower which the hand of affection had planted over the dead; monuments were overturned, and the green sod of graves torn by bursting shells. We noticed one monument shattered by a cannon ball. It was one marking the grave of a young soldier who fell at the battle of Fair Oaks. His last words: "Tell my father I died for my country," were chiseled on the marble, and it seemed, as if for these words, the bitterness of rebellion would disturb his last resting place. But he sleeps on a field of victory after all. To give an account of a walk along the whole line of battle, without entering into a detailed history of the conflict, would be to repeat what has been written. Each hill top has its story of desperate assault and gallant defence; and alike are baptized with patriot blood.

But in order to obtain a correct conception of the sanguinary character of this battle, one must visit the hospitals. The dead are soon covered from the sight; the scarred earth, washed by pitying rains and nursed by the sunshine, quickly recovers from its wound, but men must bleed and groan and die for long days after the shock of battle is over, and the shattered columns have swept away to other scenes. The multitude of such sufferers at Gettysburg is appalling. There are literally acres covered with them, while in the town every available building is turned into a crowded hospital. As we were there early in the week, it was to soon to find much done to relieve their wants. The citizens of the place were doing all in their power, and so far as our personal knowledge goes, we can assert most positively that the charges of extortion and indifference preferred against them are altogether unfounded. The Christian Commission were already present and actively at work. Too much praise cannot be awarded them for their labor of love. Dressing wounds, administering cordials, sponging a parched face, writing letters, or administering a few words of comfort to the dying, thousand of grateful soldiers will bless their names and the charity that sent them. The sufferings of the rebel wounded, for the first five days after the battle, were indescribable. They had been left by their friends lying under trees and sheds, without any adequate medical attendance, or indeed supplies of any kind. The gnawing of hunger soon added to the pains of their neglected wounds, while the drenching rains that followed the battle increased the discomfort of their condition. Every effort was made as soon as possible to relieve their wretched state. They were gathered up and conveyed to a convenient locality on the Chambersburg pike, where tents and supplies were furnished them.

At this point the fields look as if an army were still encamped there; but a closer look is enough to move the hardest heart. Pity turns away to weep, while indignation bursts out afresh against the wicked leaders who betrayed these misguided men to such horrible sufferings. Maimed, wounded, covered with gore and writhing in agony they lie there to mark the pathway the monster secession has trodden. There is a most remarkable contrast between the wounded of the opposing armies. We need not allude to the outward appearance, for the filth and squalid attire of the rebels are proverbial. It is also to be expected from the result of the battle, that one party would be dogged and sullen while the other would be cheerful. But the contrast may be traced in the cheerfulness and patience with which the men bear their wounds. I have yet to hear a regret from our brave soldiers that they entered the army, or that they had sacrificed too much for their country, while among the rebels one could hear without inquiry, most hearty wishes that they were out of the army and safe at home. Frequently did we hear the desire expressed that the "war might soon be over and the Union restored as before." A dying rebel from Georgia, the son of a wealthy planter, sent for a minister in the town to beg of him that he would see him decently buried and write to his friends of his death. He stated that he had been driven into the army by the bayonet, and that his father had offered fifteen hundred dollars for a substitute but none were to be had at any price. Others expressed their sorrow that they had taken up arms against the Union, but who can point out a soldier in our army, sorry for the part he has taken in subduing this rebellion.

The debt the North owes to the Army of the Potomac is one we can never repay. But for it, we would to-day, be lying helplessly in the power of the insurgents. Surely then no appeal need be made to our generosity, to send all necessary supplies to the suffering soldiers at Gettysburg. The number is so great that it will require continuance in well-doing on our part to supply their need. It will be months before this vast army of suffers can be discharged. We might add indefinitely, to what has been written, but every one is busy repeating the story of how they fought at Gettysburg. Nor will it now grow old. History shall record it on her pages, and generations yet unborn, shall read it with throbbing pulses, and with glowing words bring their tribute to the memory of those who have bled and died for their country's redemption.

Franklin Repository, July 29, 1863, p. 2, c.2

Gen. S. Wiley Crawford and the Pennsylvania Reserves--His Address to his Troops--The Heroism of the Reserves at Gettysburg.

Gettysburg, July 15, 1863.

Gen. S. Wylie Crawford being identified with our county, his father, Rev. Dr. Crawford, residing but a few miles from Chambersburg, I think it will be interesting to your readers to have a sketch of his connection with the celebrated "Pennsylvania Reserves" in their recent action at Gettysburg. It has been the fortune of this Division to be commanded by some of the ablest generals in the Army of the Potomac. Reynolds, Meade, Ord, and Seymour, disciplined it for the field, and led it in engagements in which it won the proud name it bears, and so often saved the general army from ruin. Accustomed to such leaders, the Reserves' ideas of commanders were very high; and when Gen. Crawford, a young man, came from another quarter to take command, he was scrutinized zealously. You can readily see how delicate the position in which he was placed; that the utmost that he dared hope was to keep upon an equality with his able predecessors. At Upton's Hill, Va., near Washington, and among its defences, he took command of two of the three brigades composing McCall's Division P.R.V.C.,--the 1st Brigade under Col. McCandless, of the 2d Regiment consisting of the "Bucktails," 1st, 2d and [illegible] Regiments, and the 3d Brigade under Col. Fisher, of the 5th comprising the [illegible], 10th, 11th and 12th Regiments. Quickly and unostentatiously he assumed his charge, and proceeded at once to the more efficient organization of the Division, and to the strengthening of our position. Just as we had ourselves nicely fixed, the order came for us to join the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac, then commanded by Maj. Gen. Meade. Our marches were eminently forced; day and night, in almost constant rains, footsore, weary, faint and hungry, we hurried along from the 25th June until the 2d July, when we closed our long march on the battle-field. The General conducted this fatiguing march with great judgment, and evinced much sympathy with the men, sharing the exposure and cheering them on their way.

Immediately before we crossed the "State Line," the historic, "Mason & Dixon," while the Division rested, Gen. Crawford issued the following animating address to his troops:

Soldiers of the Pennsylvania Reserves:

You have once more been called to the field, by an order from the Commanding General, and a rapid and fatiguing march has placed us again by the side of our comrades, endeared to us by sufferings on many hard fought fields. If you would hail the prospect of active service, at any time, with delight, how much more now! Our native State is invaded by the ruthless hordes of plunderers, who, forgetting South Mountain and Antietam, and allured by the spoils of our rich valleys, have polluted the soil of Pennsylvania. Our homes are desolated, our fields laid waste, our property destroyed! To-day, within a few hours, we shall tread the soil of the Keystone. The eyes of all will be upon us. To us, they will look with anxious hearts for relief. Let the sight of our mountains and our native plains free your hearts and nerve your arms in the hour of battle. We strike for all that is dear to man. Remember, you are Pennsylvanians. Let no breach of discipline mar the glory of the past, but let us pledge to each other to-day never to cease until we drive the enemy of our country, our constitution, and our peace, forever from our soil.

S. W. Crawford,
Brig. Gen.

The address was received with enthusiasm, and the men crossed over to Pennsylvania, whose loyal hills and forests resounded with the cheers of her gallant sons, who were about to repeat upon her own soil the deeds of valor which made famous the battle-fields of Virginia and Maryland.

A gentleman, who witnessed all he writes, gives me, at my request, the following sketch of the part the General and his Division displayed at the battle of Gettysburg:

The 1st and 3d Brigades of the Penn'a Res. Vol. Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. Crawford, had been hurrying by forced marches to the defence of the Keystone State. Through rain and mud, from daylight until dark, and often through the dark hours of the night, they trudged along the Leesburg pike, down the green slopes of the upper Potomac, through the gardens and wonderful farms of the Maryland valleys, until, with colors flying, drums beating, and the air resounding with their cheers, they crossed the border line. At the first halting place on Pennsylvania soil, a soul- stirring address was made to them by Gen. Crawford, reminding them that their position was no common one; that they, the chosen sons of Pennsylvania, were now called upon to save their homes and firesides from pollution, and exhorting them to conduct themselves as no soldiers ever did before, now that the eyes of their own people were upon them.

At 11 o'clock in the morning of Thursday, July 2d, the Reserves arrived on the battleground at Gettysburg, and were ordered to lie with the 5th corps in reserve. The booming of the guns increased, until about 3 o'clock, P.M. The battle on the left raged with the greatest fury, the 5th Corps were ordered to the front; first, was Griffin's Division, commanded by General Barnes, then the regulars commanded by General Ayres, and, finally the Reserves. Griffin's Division took the centre, on the slope of a rocky and precipitous hill side; in front was Ayres, his men lying behind a stone-wall, separated by a swamp from the rest of the corps; they were actively engaged, sheets of fire flamed from the wall, and long quick, rattling replied from the woods in front. High up on "Hazlitt's rock" flashed the guns, lower down right and left, batteries were vomiting forth shot and shell. The Reserves were first placed in position on the hill-side between Griffin's Division and one of Hancock's Division. Then Fisher's Brigade, 3d Brigade P. R. V. C., was ordered to the extreme left, the enemy then threatening our flank.

At half past six o'clock the fate of the day was undecided--suddenly a murderous fire was opened on Ayers' flank,--unexpected, and enough to daunt the staunchest heart as was this attack, his men for a time stood firm, but their rapidly diminishing ranks, the hopeless position they held was soon manifest, and General Ayers gave the order to fall back. In good order, with closed ranks, they rose up and commenced to retreat; but the swamps and broken ground soon threw them into confusion. The rebels, seeing their position, rushed down upon them with savage yells, pouring volley after volley among them, and finally occupied the stone wall. General Crawford rode to the front,--Col. McCandless and General Crawford's staff officers called to their men to stand steady, as the human tide came down upon them. Through their (Ayers') ranks they rushed. Quicker and quicker came the boom of the guns as the advantage the rebels had gained became so fearfully apparent. Gen. Crawford gave the word to advance. Down the hill; and in a steady line, the Brigade went; paused at its foot, and delivered a single volley; before the smoke had cleared, General Crawford gave the order to charge across the swamp. The "Bucktails" leading with a wild hurrah, they passed. General Crawford seized the colors of the leading regiment and raised them aloft. Suddenly the fire from behind the wall ceased. Cheer after cheer rang from the hills, now crowded on every rock and tree with spectators, and towards the woods a crowd of "greybacks" could be seen running. A few steps further the lost position was gained, and the left of the line was saved, many a gallant man however marked the track behind. The "Bucktails" had suffered most, and Colonel Taylor, their leader, lay dead on the ground. A murderous fire was kept up on both sides until night terminated the contest.

The 3d Brigade had not been idle during this time, just in front of them rose a wooded pyramidal hill, occupied by a considerable force of rebel sharpshooters, who inflicted a serious loss [illegible] troops. This hill, towards dark Col. Fisher with the 5th and 12th Regiments, and the 20th Maine, of Griffin's Division ascended and held, securing a strong position on which the left of the army [illegible].

After dark, General Crawford, Colonel McCandless and Capt. Auchmuty, the newly appointed Assistant Adjutant General of the Division, made a personal inspection of the line of skirmishers thrown out on the edge of the wood beyond the wall. The fierce nature of the conflict was there fully realized in the dead and wounded that lay around. The wheat was trodden down, arms lay scattered about. The bright full moon looked calmly down, the quiet broken now and then by a rifle's crack or the whiz of some sharpshooter's bullet.

Crouched behind the wall, ready at any moment for an attack, the Brigade passed the night, while the troops on the left piled rocks and logs into formidable breastworks.

Day-break of Friday was ushered in by the customary volleys of musketry, the skirmishers shifting during the night, are at day-break compelled to take a regular positton [sic]. At ten o'clock, the battle re-commenced by tremendous attacks on the right of the line. From the left a scene was presented which has had no parallel in the war. The high rocky hill, previously described, commanded a view of the entire field. The 146th New York was disposed among the rocks as sharpshooters, their red figures brightening up the rocks. On the summit still stood Hazlitt's battery. There Major General Sykes, commander of Fifth Corps, General Crawford, and General Ayers estab- [sic] their headquarters, and later in the day, General Meade himself. For two miles or more extended an open country, dotted with farm houses, with here and there a clump of wood. On this plain, as it appeared from the height, the two magnificent armies were in full view, and every movement could be traced with the naked eye. The never to be forgotten scene was rendered more exciting by the enemy sharpshooters, who, occupying the opposite trees, dealt death with an unsparing hand. General Weed was here killed, and Dr. Hazlitt, while listening to his dying words, fell dead upon his body. Still no danger could counteract the attraction of that sternly grand army, and crowds of officers gathered constantly upon the rocks. At 5 o'clock, General Sykes directed General Crawford to send McCandles' Brigade in the woods in front from which the firing had nearly ceased. Bartlett's brigade was ordered to support it in case of necessity.

The woods in front were about a mile long and some eight hundred yards wide, with a narrow wheat field running partly thro the centre. A rebel battery, posted on a ridge of land overlooking the woods, opened a hot fire of canister and round shot, as the men rose up from behind the wall. Into the woods on the right, the brigade swept, driving the enemy's skirmishers before them. Loud cheers rang from the hillsides as the advance was made, and the battery, evidently supposing a general advance was to be made, hastily limbered up and retired. Having cleared the woods on the right, the Brigade changed front and moved down parallel to the front, receiving and returning a severe fire of musketry from the enemy, who now appeared in considerable force. The Brigade moved rapidly on, obeying the injunction of Gen. Crawford, that speed was safety in such a movement. Suddenly the left flank of the line was discovered to be in the rear of the 15th Georgia, drawn up in line of battle. In a moment, Col. McCandless swept his right flank around, and charged them in the rear. Completely panic-stricken, down went their arms, and a general skedaddle ensued; their colors, their Liet. Colonel, 120 of their men, and most of their arms, were captured. This brilliaut [sic] manoeuvre finished the operations of the day. A line of pickets was posted, and an examination was made of the field. It was found to be thickly covered with dead and wounded. Groans issued from almost every bush and sheltered spot, where some poor wretch had crawled for safety from the shot and shell poured from either line. The wounded, many of whom had been uncared for during twenty-four hours, were removed, and a collection of the abandoned arms was made. These amounted to 4,687 stand; one brass Napoleon gun was also taken, and three caissons. Many of these arms, however, had been left by our own men in the fiercely contested battle which had raged on this ground the previous morning. This ended the fighting at Gettysburg, and the service at that battle of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. Their loss was 230 in killed and wounded, including 21 reported as missing.

Gen. Crawford displayed the utmost concern for the care of the wounded, and as he had gained ground last in front, he sent at once for the litter bearers and ambulances, and had the wounded borne to the rear; thus our hospitals were filled with the wounded from several other corps, and with rebels.

The following gentlemen constitute Gen. Crawford's staff; Capt. R.T. Auchmuty, Asset Adj. General; Major Spear, A. I. G.: Capt. Livingston, A. D. C; Capt. Fox, Division Qr. M.; Lieut. Henderson, A.D.C.; Lieut Thos. Oakwell, 5th Ky., A.D.C.; Surgeon L. W. Reade, Med. Director of Division.

I have written this in great haste, having crawled into a vacant ambulance to find shelter from the dashing rain. I close with the hope that God may give a great victory in the coming battle to the cause of the Union and humanity.

Franklin Repository, July 29, 1863, p. 4, c. 2

The Democratic Platform.

When the impartial historian shall come to record the victories, defeats and embarrassments of our Government in its sacred effort to preserve our free institutions, the most appalling chapter in his chequered pages will be that devoted to the covert treason, the cowardly misrepresentation, the base appeals to partizan prejudices, and the thin guise of hypocrisy that presents cold professions of loyalty to a loyal people, while beneath rankles the deadliest hatred to the preservation of our nationality, save upon the altar of dishonor.

The Democratic State Convention held its sessions at Harrisburg, while armed traitors reveled in the Cumberland Valley, plundering our people, holding possession and exhausting the wealth of our towns and distracts; insolently defying alike National and State authorities, and inflecting upon the fair fame of our Commonwealth the dishonor of rebel occupation of our soil. Some of the delegates in attendance were fugitives from their homes, and their families and property at the mercy of the minion of murderous treason. The people of the State were flying to arms in obedience to the call of the proper authorities, and the measured tread of recruits unceasing around the halls wherein were congregated the magnates of Democracy struggling to obtain the power and spoils of office.

The main duty of that Convention was to nominate a candidate for Governor, who, if chosen, would be charged with the maintenance of peace, order and security of the citizens and the honor of the State, and to declare the principles and policy upon which the Government shall be preserved and administered. How that duty was discharged, let the record answer. A man was presented for Governor who has yet to utter the first earnest word of encouragement to the Government in preserving the life of the Republic against unholy treason; and whose every declarations upon the subject deny the power of the Nation to meet armed traitors with arms, and thus assert its inherent right to live. A platform was presented by Hon. F. W. Hughes, who signalized his devotion to the Government, when the war commenced by tendering Pennsylvania as a free offering to those who have by wanton, wicked war, made millions mourn. Avowedly a friend of the deadly foes of the republic, he could do no less, in a loyal State, than guise treason in every resolution, and attempt to poison the whole fountain of honest devotion to the cause of a common country.

That he succeeded well, is a painful, palpable truth. Of the eleven resolutions adopted, not one--not so much as a single sentence or line, breathes the spirit of an earnest, honest friend of the preservation of our Nationality. In reckless misrepresentation; in the recital of imaginary errors of the administration; in the denunciation of every measure adopted to give success to our arms in the errors of the administration; in the denunciation of every measure adopted to give success to our arms in the field and to our honored flag; in defending the cause of open, insolent traitors upon whom the hand of the government had but too leniently fallen--in all this they are matchless in vigor and elaborate in terms. But they are wanting--sadly, wholly wanting in every expression of devotion to our Country's cause; in every impulse of patriotism that looks to the subordination of all things to the preservation of our government; in every expression that would cheer a soldier's heart, or solace the thousands of bereaved whose loved ones died that Freedom might live; in the reprobation of the relentless murderers of our gallant sons in the cause of mad ambition and deadly treachery--in all these they are silent as the grave!

The People of Pennsylvania are loyal. They may be defrauded into the embrace of treason, but they cannot be marshaled under a traitor's flag or on a traitor's platform, if not deceived by subtle, insidious foes. We ask every man, of whatever political attachment, to peruse carefully and ponder well the platform from which Judge Woodward hopes to climb into the Executive chair. Had Seymour's speeches and platform last fall been half so frank in espousing the cause of our country's foes, he would not have been clothed with the power of the Empire State to prostrate it at the feet of a murderous, plundering mob; and if Woodward can be successful, the bitter foretaste of Democratic rule given to New York will be the ruling power of the land. Anarchy will hold undisputed sway in the great States of the North, and treason will compass the entire government in its triumphant embrace. Loyal men of Pennsylvania!--think well of the entertainment to which you are invited!

Franklin Repository, July 29, 1863, p. 4, c. 4

Mr. Stahle, Editor of the Gettysburg Compiler, has been discharged from Fort McHenry. He took the oath of allegiance to the government, and gave his parole of honor to appear at any time to answer charges, should any be preferred against him sufficiently grave to demand the cognizance of a court. For his own sake, as well as for the sake of his kindred who shall survive him, we hope that his record is clear, and that he has been wronged. The man who could play the part of a spy for an enemy at his own home, is the foe of order, of humanity, of every virtue, and is unfit to live. Of such a crime we should not judge a man guilty in haste or prejudice; but when dispassionate proof fixes guilt, it would be an act of inhumanity to every loyal house-hold, and the veriest fraud upon Justice, to permit him to live. Mr. Stahle has suffered some for his country, and may boast his martyrdom like scores of fools before him; but he should not be unmindful that an hundred thousand patriotic hearts have sealed their devotion to a common country with their life blood, that he might enjoy for himself and posterity the Free Institutions of our fathers. If he will not imitate them by rallying to the Old Flag in the field, let him at least disarm suspicion by giving heart and hope to the Nation's cause.

Franklin Repository, July 29, 1863, p. 8, c. 3

Messrs. Hoover, Anderson, Mong, King and A.B. Hamilton, of this county, who had been captured in Hagerstown, by the rebels, were taken across the Potomac to Falling Waters, and there discharged on Wednesday last. They had a sorry time of it with the rebels, particularly in procuring rations. They fully confirm the previous reports of the destitution of the rebel army and the dispirited condition of their soldiers. They were discharged without even being paroled. The other party of our citizens, viz.: Dr. James Hamilton, John P. Culbertson, D.M. Eiker, Geo. R. Caufman, C.W. Kinsler, Geo. S. Heck, A.C. McGrath, Thos. McDowell, and J. Porter Brown, were last heard from near Winchester, and have doubtless been taken to Richmond. Efforts have been made to have their wants supplied and to procure their early discharge.

Since writing the above we learn from a colored woman who left Winchester on Thursday evening last, that our citizen prisoners were all there at that time, in good health, and were being subsisted by the Union people of Winchester. As Lee's army has since moved south, they have doubtless been taken along.

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