having just accomplished
a thirty-two mile march from 9 P.M. of the day previous. The Third,
under Sickles, was moved by him to a peach orchard about one half
mile in advance, and out of line with the corps on its right and
left. Here it received the shock of battle, precipitated about 3
P.M. by Longstreet's corps from the Confederate right. The Second
and Fifth Corps were hastened to cover the flanks of the Third.
The battle raged furiously for some hours and until night put an
end to it. The Third was forced, after a desperate conflict, to
retire on its proper line. Sickles was severely wounded, losing
a leg. The Fifth, after a most heroic conflict, succeeded in
gaining and holding Round Top (big) Mountain, the key to the position
on the Union left, as were Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill, on its
right. Longstreet, at nightfall, after suffering great loss, was
forced to retire, having gained no substantial advantage. The
Sixth and part of the First Corps, having been ordered to the left,
participated in this battle and aided in Longstreet's repulse.
Geary's division of the Twelfth, moving from the extreme right,
had also reinforced the left. It was this withdrawal from the
right which enabled Ewell's corps to capture and occupy a part of
the Union line in the vicinity of Culp's Hill. An assault was made
about 8 P.M. on the Eleventh Corps at Cemetery Hill, where the
enemy penetrated to a battery, over which a _melee_ took place,
the Confederates, after a hand-to-hand fight, being driven from
the hill and forced to retreat. Thus the second day's fighting at
Gettysburg ended, neither side having gained any decisive advantage.
Most of the Union Army had been, however, more or less engaged,
while Longstreet's corps (save Pickett's division), and only portions
of Ewell's corps of the Confederate Army, had been seriously in
battle. There had been some spirited artillery duels, but these
rarely contribute materially to important results.

The third day opened, at early dawn, by Geary's division (returned
from the left) attacking, and after a lively battle retaking its
former position on the right. A spirited contest also raged on
the right at Culp's Hill and along Rock Creek all the morning, in
which Wheaton's brigade of the Sixth Corps participated. With this
exception, quiet reigned along the lines of the two great armies
during the forenoon of the 3d.

Lee, flushed with some appearance of success on the firs