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Front Line Report
– Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – July 2nd 1863
Lt. General Longstreet
AKA: Stephen L. Jacobs
As the sun rose above the horizon we could see the Union forces gathering on Seminary Ridge. They began back down off and behind the crest of the ridge as we opened up our cannons, firing airbursts at the top of ridge. For a time it looked like god was fighting against us as your artillery seemed to do little damage on the enemy.
At 6:30 I sent the first of my men down into the valley between our lines and the Union lines. As they approached a farmstead the Union cannons fired upon them. By 7:00 my men had been forced to retreat due to the loss of almost 3000 brave troops. By that time the reserve troops I had sent in became trapped and also started receiving cannon fire. The Union guns seemed to not be able to miss. At 7:30 the men began to retreat back to our lines, with a total loss of just more than 5000 men.
Reports filtered in to me from other parts of the battlefield. Apparently our forces managed an assault against Union forces on Culps hill and actually routed the enemy here and capturing their cannons. The victory however came at a price of almost 4000 men and the great losses caused our troops to break ranks and flee back to the relative safety of the town.
Near Big Round Top, a small contingent of Confederate troops have successfully captured some Union cannon on the side of the hill. I do question how long this group will hold without support.
