Gen. Hooker began to march north along the Blue Ridge, watching its passes, through Dumfries to Centerville, covering Washington on the right. Meantime our cavalry under Pleasonton was constantly confronted by that of Lee under Stuart, and nearly every day witnessed some skirmishing along the passes of the mountains.

The Confederates crossed the Potomac, taking possession of Chambersburg, Carlisle, and York. Gen. Hooker crossed the Potomac at Edwards Ferry, and advanced to Frederick. His army, being strengthened by 15,000 men from the defenses of Washington, numbered about 100,000, while Lee's army was about equal in size.

It was very imperative that a force sufficiently strong should be concentrated to repel the invaders. With this purpose in view, Gen. Hooker desired the troops stationed at Maryland Heights opposite Harper's Ferry to be withdrawn from that point. Gen. Halleck, General-in-chief at Washington, objected to the withdrawal of the troops, and instructed Hooker to defend the place on the left and Washington on the right, and meet the invading army. After communicating with Halleck, and receiving his instruction, Hooker sent the following resignation:

SANDY HOOK, June 27, 1863.

Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief: Your original instruction required me to cover Harper's Ferry and Washington. I have now imposed upon me, in addition, an enemy in front, of more than my numbers. I beg to be understood, respectfully but firmly, that I am unable to comply with this condition, with the means at my disposal, and earnestly request that I may at once be relieved from the position I occupy. JOSEPH HOOKER, Maj. Gen.

Halleck never had been favorable to Hooker as commander of this army. He had prevented his selection as the successor of McClellan, and had opposed his selection after the defeat of Burnside, and now very naturally improved the opportunity afforded. The next day Hooker was relieved of the command at Frederick, and the army was placed under the command of Gen. G. G. Meade, who was advised that he might do what he pleased with the Maryland Heights men; while Couch and his militia at Harrisburg, estimated at 20,000, were also placed under his orders.

Such a change of commanders on the eve of a great battle for no more urgent reasons has but few parallels in history. Whatever his faults, Hooker was loved and trusted by his soldiers, who knew less of Meade. If they had been consulted, they would have cast an overwhelming majority vote in favor of Hooker.

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, JULY 1-3, 1863.-Gen. Ewell of the Confederate army occupied York June 28th, and levied upon the town for $100,000 in cash, and a vast quantity of food and clothing. Lee had hastened to concentrate his whole army at Gettysburg when he heard that the Union army had crossed the Potomac. Meade had fixed a line along Pipe creek, some fifteen miles southeast of Gettysburg, as advantageous ground whereon to meet the foe; but an unexpected encounter precipitated the grand collision, and brought on the great battle of Gettysburg.

On July 1st Gen. Buford marched upon Gettysburg, where

he encountered the van of the Confederate army, under Gen. Heth, of Hill's corps, and drove them back upon their division, by whom our troops were in turn repelled. While Gen. John F. Reynolds, in command of two corps, was rapidly coming up, and while he went forward to reconnoiter, he fell mortally wounded by a Confederate sharpshooter.

And now began a rapid concentration of forces. The Union troops had been greatly outnumbered in the engagement northwest of the village July 1st, and were driven into and through Gettysburg. They were rallied on Cemetery Hill, just south of the village. The Confederates did not press the advantage, fearing reinforcements had come, as indeed they had.

During the afternoon and night the entire Confederate army and the entire Union army, save one corps which arrived on the forenoon of the 2d, had been concentrated along the ridges at Gettysburg, facing each other at distances of from one to two

miles.

The next day, July 2d, was spent in skirmishes and preparation for battle, until about three o'clock, when a fierce general assault was made upon the front and flank of Sickles's corps, who had advanced from one-half to three-fourths of a mile nearer the Confederate line than Meade had instructed him to do. A desperate struggle ensued, but he was forced back with heavy loss to Round Top, which the enemy assailed with great vehemence and determination. They at one time had nearly carried it, but when reinforcements were thrown upon their front, they in turn were driven to the ridge from which Sickles

had been expelled, and to which he should not have advanced. When night closed on the 2d day of July, the Confederates felt encouraged and confident. Their loss, though great, was not so heavy as Meade's.

After several sharp conflicts on Friday, July 3d, there was a pause while the enemy was making its disposition of troops and posting its batteries for one supreme effort, which was to decide the terrible contest. At length, at one o'clock, 115 heavy guns from Hill's and Longstreet's front concentered a terrific fire upon Cemetery Hill, the center and key of the position of the Federal army. A little behind the crest of the hill had been Meade's headquarters. About 100 Union guns made fit reply to the enemy. For two hours the artillery duel waged. Finding our guns had become heated, Meade gave orders to cease firing, to cool them; and believing that the Union guns had been silenced, the enemy's infantry emerged from behind the batteries, and, moving swiftly forward, supported by the reserves, confident of victory, made one determined, desperate and consummate effort to drive the valiant defenders of the Union from their stronghold. On they came-Pickett's splendid division, the flower and pride of their army, in the lead, in that famous but fatal charge. Grape and canister and musket-ball were concentrated upon the advancing foe. Their lines melted away like snow before a summer's sun. They gathered up their broken fragments and retreated in defeat.

It was a fruitless sacrifice.

Gen. Meade, though not brilliant and daring in his exploits,