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Larry Purtell
Little Meadows, PA, USA
Posts: 719
 | | July 15,1863 NYT | | Posted on: 7/15/2010 8:24:48 AM |
OUR GETTYSBURG CORRESPONDENCE; The Last of the Dead Buried--Condition of the Wounded--The Battle-field and Relic Gatherers.
Published: July 15, 1863
GETTYSBURGH. Saturday, July 11, 1863.
The last of the rebel dead on the battle-field were buried only yesterday. They were principally found near the foot of Round Top Ridge, where some of the most terrific fighting of the battle took place, between a portion of LONGSTREET'S forces and the Excelsior brigade. The bodies numbered, in all, about fifty. Quite a number, nearer the centre, had been buried the day previous. Decomposition had progressed so far as to render it impossible to handle the bodies at all, and graves were necessarily dug close by the side of them, and they simply turned over into them. The dead horses which have been strewn over the field for miles around since the battle, emitting the most offensive odor, are also now being rapidly buried.
There are still about three thousand wounded in the principal hospitals throughout the village, all of whom are well cared for. There are in addition to this number about a thousand rebel wounded in the place, nearly all of whom are in the Pennsylvania College building, which is used as a hospital; it is the best and most spacious building in the place, and was taken possession of as a hospital during the first day's fight on Wednesday. Most of the rebel wounded are under the charge of Dr. H.D. FRASER, Division Surgeon under the rebel Gen. ANDERSON. The rest of them are under the care of Dr. W.B. REULISON, of New-York City, who has chief charge of the Cavalry corps Hospital, at the Presbyterian church, which is one of the very best conducted hospitals in the place. Gov. CURTIN has been here for a couple of days, giving his personal attention to the wounded and otherwise making himself useful.
The battle-field is visited daily by thousands of people from all sections of the country. Many come in quest of those who have fallen in battle, while most of them come through sheer curiosity. Thousands of dollars' worth of guns and other military Valuables, are carried away by them from the field, notwithstanding the pretended vigilance of those charged with the duty of preventing such offences, and the ground for miles, in all directions is still thickly strewn with all manner of such articles. The Village is, of necessity, very much crowded, and hundreds of visitors are obliged to seek the hospitality of private dwellings, the hotels being wholly incapable of accommodating them all. Most of the citizens remained in the place during the battle, and those who did go away have again returned, and once more resumed their usual callings. There is but little business, however, as yet, of any kind transacted, nearly all the merchandise having been carried a way either by the rebels when in possession of the place, or by the owners of the property themselves; and most of the citizens, are devoting themselves almost exclusively to the care of the wounded. There were several citizens wounded during the progress of the battle, but only one killed -- Miss MINNIE WADE, a young lady about 20 years of age, who was in her dwelling at the time.
The most authentic intelligence here to-day locates LEE'S army as intrenching, itself between Hagerstown and the old Antietam battle-field, the distance between the two points being about nine miles, and his lines running parallel with the river. Hagerstown is six miles this side of Williamsport, which is the nearest point on the river, and the rebel pickets extend eight miles from the former place in this direction. The general impression is that LEE does not wish to fight again this side of the river, and that his intrenching is simply a faint to enable him to cross the river as soon as it becomes fordable, which must be soon unless we should have another heavy rain within a day or two. That this fact is properly appreciated by Gen. MEADE there is every reason to suppose, and hence he is hourly expected to make an attack with his whole army. AJAX.
This doesn't sound like the R.E. Lee I have read about.
WITHIN THE REBEL LINES.
Published: July 15, 1863
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Press.
FUNK'S MANOR, ON WEST BRANCH OF ANTIETAM
CREEK, FRANKLIN Co., Penn., July 12, 1863.
Taking the Huntingdon and Broad Too Railroad, I passed through the coal regions to Bloody Run, so noted in Revolutionary annals. Two hours' ride brought me to the town of Bedford, where I stopped for the night. In the morning I took my house to Bloody Run, and thence, on the Chambersburgh Pike, to London, a small village in Franklin County. I found the people up and doing, in every direction, for the salvation of our great and gloriouso[???]d Commonwealth from further invasion by the rebels, who were at Greencastle, Hagerstown and Williamsport in great force.
After gathering what little news there was to be had at London and vicinity, I determined to visit Hagerstown.
On the night of the 9th I arrived at Greencastle, and proceeded on by byroads for several miles within the enemy's picket H[???]e without molestation. Findly I was stopped by a picket guard, and was informed that I "could no further go in this terrible business." Affecting disappointment, the officer of the guard, a fine-looking Virginian, came out to examine, and, after this was gone through with to his satisfaction, he told me I would be permitted to go to Hagerstown, but not to return under pain of arrest and punishment.
As I trudged along the pike carelessly, covered with dust and well-nigh worn out, I observed five small bridges, posted with artillery, at different points of the road, so as to command it. There was perfect order and discipline manifested, and although some of the troops seemed despondent, many expressed themselves confident of saving their army and its immense plunder.
About two miles north of the town I saw a squad of artillerists spiking three fine brass pieces, which they buried. They said they buried them because they had more than they wanted; but really, I suspect that orders have been given to the troops to make away with everything that will impede them in their retreat over the river and down the Shenandoah Valley to Culpepper.
Arriving in Hagerstown, I found the house of [???]a kind Union family, who cared for me in a manner that I shall never forget, and through them alone I was enabled to move about the city, and escape from the rebel lines without molestation.
Gen. LEE had his headquarters in a private house, which was tastefully draped with the rebel flag and those of the various States from which regiments were bivouacked near the town. The General has a large and fine-looking staff, and all work incessantly at the country maps they have secured from citizens of the Cumberland Valley, and are continually riding to and from the outposts with orders.
Gen. LEE is a fine-looking man. His nose is large and massive, like his features, which are rugged and care worn now. He is much bronzed and his hair and whiskers are tinged with gray. He wears a long flowing beard, now covering most of his face, which gives him quite a venerable appearance. He dresses a fine gray uniform trimmed with black braid, mounts a splendid iron-gray horse, with good equipments, pistols and a heavy rapier. As far as I observed, he bears no badge of distinction about his person except the stars upon the coat-collar, three in number, a large one in the centre and a small one each side. He talks with every one, and is often closeted for hours with his scouts and spies. He wears a capacious slouch-hat, buttoned up on the left side, trimmed with handsome black feathers and bullion ornaments. He would hardly be recognized by our officers in his present "disguise."
At the Washington House I observed a large number of Generals, Colonels, &c. Among them Gens. EWELL, EARLY, ANDERSON. HILL, JENKINS, IMBODEN, PRIOR, GORDON, EASTMAN, PENDLETON and MUMFORD. These names I heard mentioned, with others I have now forgotten. Gen. JENKINS is wounded in the forehead by a piece of shell, which he exhibited as a memento honorabile. The wound is not serious. Gen. EWELL has a patent leg. Gen. GORDON is wounded in the wrist. A pistol-shot entered his arm just above the wrist joint. This wound is not at all dangerous.
Gen. LONGSTREET'S corps is posted advantageously on the National pike, east and south of this town, his right wing reaching the Potomac River. He is supported by the corps of Gen. A.P. HILL. Gen. EWELL'S corps is posted so as to join LONGSTREET'S left wing, and it in turn is supported, by ANDERSON'S and EARLY'S divisions. Other divisions of strength are lying between Hagerstown and Williamsport. The cavalry forces extend along the line of the river, and are guarding the trains of supply and ammunition.
Gen. D.H. HILL has come up from Culpepper, it is said, with a division, and is on the other side of the river. He has a pontoon train, according to report.
Gen. LEE cannot get his army across the Potomac, so he is going to give us battle upon the old Antietam ground, in all probability.
The rebels have succeeded in making off with a large portion of their Pennsylvania plunder, which they have crossed on a ferry-scow, worked by wires or ropes at or near Clear Spring.
The rebels acknowledged in my hearing, that they were surprised and badly whipped at Gettysburgh, and that they were "in a bad fix now," out rely upon the genius of Gen. LEE to extricate them from danger.
They had the news of the fall of Vicksburgh from the North, but did not seem to credit the report of the surrender.
The rebels have food enough for a month. They have a large amount of artillery, and enough ammunition for another battle. They have some of that which they captured from Gen. MILROY left.
After obtaining a pass, I came through the rebel lines again, and was soon brought up "with a round turn" by our pickets. A pass from Gen. COUCH brought me to Waynesboro, where I reported to Gen. SMITH all that I had seen.
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"My goal is to live forever. So far, so good.
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| tom ryan
Bethany Beach, DE, USA
Posts: 254
| | Re: July 15,1863 NYT | | Posted on: 7/15/2010 2:30:08 PM | Hello again everyone. After a long hiatus due to a stubborn computer glitch, I am finally able to post on MHO. Cannot even remember how long it has been.
At any rate, reading the Philadelphia Press article what caught my eye was this statement about Lee: "He talks with every one, and is often closeted for hours with his scouts and spies."
Having a special interest in the activities of scouts and spies, I would appreciate it if anyone has additional information about this particular statement, or any other incident regarding Lee's use of scouts and spies during the campaign.
The point about Lee being "closeted for hours" with these scouts and spies is particularly intriguing.
Regards, Tom Ryan
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