Our army Correspondence.
Martinsburg, July 6.
The wounded are arriving constantly, but there is a singular dearth as details amongst them.
They all concur in the statement that the battle of Gettysburg will hereafter take rank amongst the celebrated battles of the world, from the numbers engaged, the obstinacy of the contest, and the loss of men. The Yankees, in places, fought with desperation, having been persuaded by their officers that Lee was fighting under the black flag.
In one instance, after we had a brigade surrounded, they refused to surrender, and our troops were compelled to massacre six hundred of them before the remainder would ground their arms.
The prisoners said they had been told that we were fighting under the black flag.!
I have been unable to learn as yet the part borne by the different portions of our army in this grand fight.
Military nomenclature is so strange to me, and the repetition of brigades, of divisions, and the regiments of brigades, with the names of their several commanders, hurried through by the soldier who is familiar with them, cringes my attention, and when the speaker has done I have an imperfect idea of marching by the left and right, on the flanks and centre and scarcely aught else.
I have given you a general account of the fight on Wednesday and Thursday when we drove the enemy to their for Hill twice drove the enemy's right their works in their centre remained unbroken, and he retired — not driven back — but because he would not advance so far as to expose his flank.--Ewell also drove the enemy's left from their entrenchments, but for the same reason he retired.
Their centre held an almost impregnable position upon the top of a hill so sleep that our troops could not advance in order of battle, but had to struggle up as best they could, by companies, and were entirely exhausted by the labor of climbing.--When they reached the heights it was in numbers so small, from the nature of the ground, that but a trilling force could be brought to bear.
The consequence was they were obliged to retire.
It is positively smarted, however, that a brigade of Louisianian 700 strong, did successfully storm a battery of sixty of the enemy's heaviest guns, losing all but eighty men out of their number.
They could not hold the position after capturing it. From what I can learn there was little fighting on Saturday.--On yesterday (Sunday 5th) the enemy were again attacked and the news is here that they were driven three miles, with the loss of an immense number of prisoners.
I have gathered no particulars of this day's engagement.--Gen. Anderson passed through town this morning, but stopped only a very short time, and I did not see him. He said that Lee would hold his position.
Anderson's brigade lost heavily.
I have been unable to learn the named of the officers killed.
It is stated that Col. Burgwyn, of North Carolina, was killed, and also Captain West in command of the 6th North Carolina.
There seemed to be a general understanding in both armies that this night was to decide the contest, and each side contended with desperation.
From every source and from every rumor, thus far received, we believe that in master of the situation. 