ere all found on the morning of the second of July,
except the Sixth Corps, General Sedgwick's, which did not arrive until
two o'clock in the afternoon, after marching nearly all the previous
night.

SECOND DAY'S FIGHT.

Until three o'clock all was quiet along the battle lines, except an
occasional picket or sharpshooter's fire. However, there had been
considerable manoeuvring. On our left General Sickles, in his
eagerness for a fight, had advanced his corps across the Emmitsburg
road, and on a wood-crowned ridge in the immediate vicinity of the main
portion of the Rebel army. General Meade, in his inspection of the
lines, remonstrated against the perilous position which Sickles had
taken the liberty to gain. He, however, intimated that, if desired, he
would withdraw to the ridge which Meade had justly indicated as the
proper place where our forces would be better protected, and would be
able to cover Round Top, a point which it was considered essential to
retain. General Meade thereupon expressed his fear to Sickles that the
enemy would not permit him quietly to retire from the trap in which he
had placed his foot; and the last words had scarcely fallen from his
lips, when the Rebel batteries were opened with fearful accuracy and at
short range, and the infantry came on with their fierce charging yell.
General Longstreet was in command.

With so long and strong lines of infantry in his front, which lapped
over his flanks on either side, and a fearful enfilading fire from the
heavy batteries on Seminary Hill, Sickles and his brave men were torn,
shattered, overwhelmed, and with terrible loss and in great confusion,
fell back to the ridge from which he ought not to have advanced. In the
struggle the Rebels made a desperate attempt to reach and possess Round
Top, which they came near doing before General Sykes, who had been
ordered to advance and hold it, had gained the elevation. But their
failure to possess this coveted prize proved a great disaster; for
before they could withdraw their charging columns across the plain
between Round Top and the ridge where Sickles stood at the beginning of
the fray, they were attacked by General Hancock with a heavy force, and
driven almost like chaff before the wind. Their loss was terrible. At
the close of this encounter our lines stood precisely where General
Meade desired they should be before the fight commenced, with Round Top
fully in our possession and now strongly fortifi