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Successful series of skirmishes by Gen. Meade.
BALTIMORE, July 3d, 1 P. M. — The American has the following:
We learn from Major Bumgarden and another officer of Gen. Reynolds' staff, the following interesting particulars of the battle near Gettysburg. We are happy to say it closed for the day with the army of General Meade in a most advantageous position for either attack or defense.
At 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning, the 1st and 11th corps reached Gettysburg, entering from the East side of the town, and marched directly through to the West side. — The cavalry force of the enemy in town galloped back as we advanced. On passing out of the west end of the town the enemy was observed advancing rapidly from the Chambersburg turnpike road in line of battle, evidently endeavoring to hold an advantageous position commanding the town. The first corps, under Gen. Reynolds, which was in advance, pushed forward at double quick to secure an advantageous position.
The enemy, under Longstreet and Hill, advanced steadily, and in a few minutes a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry opened along the whole field.
The eleventh army corps, under Howard, was also soon in position, and for a time quite a heavy battle raged. Several charges were made to dislodge our forces, all of which were unsuccessful.
At 3 o'clock the enemy massed his entire force and endeavored to turn our right wing. Reynolds advanced to meet them, and a heavy infantry fight ensued, in which both suffered severely — volley after volley of musketry being poured into the opposing columns with deadly effect. The field between the contending armies was strewn with the dead and wounded.
It is said the enemy suffered fully as heavily as we, though it is not known what was their loss in officers. In the effort to flank our right wing they entirely failed, and we held the prominent and commanding position, for which the fight was made.
At the close of the fight, which ceased for the day about 4 p. m., a great and decisive battle was considered imminent, and notwithstanding our severe loss in officers, the advantages of the day were regarded as decidedly with our forces. The army was in fine condition, and full of enthusiasm for the coming battle and confident of succes.
A special to the N. Y. Herald from Harrisburg the 2d, says the battle at Gettysburg to-day was fierce and bloody. From all I can gather the rebellion has received its mortal wound. Cannon, small arms, and the field, are among the trophies.
NEW YORK, June 3. — A special dispatch to the New York Herald says, a column of 25,000 rebels passed through Billsburg yesterday, in the direction on Gettysburg.
Another account from the front by some reporters who arrived here last evening from Gettysburg, represent the condition of affairs at the close of the fight on Wednesday evening to have been still more favorable and promising of a successful issue than previous information received. They state that the rebels held Gettysburg for some time previous to the approach of our army, and had not only occupied but had commenced fortifying the hills west of the town, where they proposed to check our advance toward Chambersburg and the mouth of the Cumberland Valley. The movement of Gen. Reynolds, and rapidity with which he advanced after entering the East end of the town, took them somewhat by surprise, and he soon obtained the position which the rebels were fortifying. — The fighting through the day was a futile attempt on their part to regain this important position, from which they were frequently repulsed.
Early in the afternoon both Longstreet and Hill combined their forces for a grand effort to turn our right flank, when Gen. Howard's 11th corps most nobly repulsed these two veteran corps of the rebel army. The repulse was so complete that no further attempt was made by the enemy during the balance of the day.
Night closed in with our holding the position chosen by the enemy on which to give us battle.
The 2d and 3d corps also came on the field after the last repulse of the enemy, but owing to the fall of Gen. Reynolds, and the lateness of the hour, as well as the exhaustion of the men and the desire to take care of the wounded, it was determined not to push the enemy for a renewal of the conflict.
When our informant left the field on Thursday morning, Gen. Meade had arrived, and the main body of our army was in position and ready to push the enemy as soon as the day should dawn.
Gettysburg is just 25 miles east of Chambersburg, over a fine rolling country, most of which will be doubtless the scene of the great battles of the rebellion.