During the day (July 1st) the First corps, commanded by General J. F. Reynolds, had a sharp fight, in which Reynolds was killed. The Eleventh corps (Howard's) was also engaged. Late in the afternoon the Nationals were pressed back, and took a strong position a short distance from Gettysburg, on Seminary Ridge, which ended the battle for that day.
During the night we could hear the moving of confederate troops and artillery in our front, while at the same time the Nationals were coming onto the field, so that in the morning of July 2d, the open field and woods presented a solid mass of troops, artillery and supply trains.
About 8 o'clock A. M., July 2d, the Twenty-ninth regiment moved back to the pike, and moved with the division to a position in the timber on a hill, near the right of the line. Here breastworks were thrown up, and skirmishing was almost continuous along the line during the forenoon, and until about 3 o'clock P. M., when the struggle was renewed on the left, and gradually extended to the center. About 6 o'clock P. M., there was a lull on the left, and the fight raged with renewed vigor on the extreme, right and center, with Howard's Eleventh and Slocum's Twelfth corps. Late in the evening the Twenty-ninth, with the brigade, withdrew from the works, and moved back about three-fourths of a mile, where it remained during the forepart of the night, moving back and forth, and constantly skirmishing. The entire army appeared to be in motion the greater part of the night.
July 3, 1863, at the dawn of day, the Twenty-ninth, with the brigade, moved back to, and took position in the works left the night before, and about 4 o'clock A. M. the conflict was renewed.
The rebels who had possession of our works were
