THE FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG.

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GETTYSBURG FROM OAK IIILL. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

O&k Hill is a mile north-west of Gettysburg , and the view here is south-east, showing Stevens Hall (named afterThaddeus Stevens ), the preparatory department of the Pennsylvania College on the left ,* then Culp’s Hill ;then Pennsylvania College, and, to the right of its cupola, the observatory on Cemetery Hill.

©veil to a small demonstration.” On the 25th he wrote twice to Mr. DavisUrging the same views. The proposition embarrassed Mr. Davis, who couldHot see how, with the few troops under his hand, it could be carried out. Infact, although General Lee had pointed out the means, the proposition cametoo late, as the decisive battle took place much earlier than was expected.This correspondence, however, with that between Lee and Mr. Seddon, showsthat Hooker’s project to capture Richmond by a coup-cle-main was feasible.It was not now a question of “ swapping queens.” Washington was safe, beingWell fortified and sufficiently garrisoned, or with available troops within reach,without drawing on Hooker; and to take Richmond and scatter the Confeder-ate Government was the surest way to ruin Lee ’s army—“ his true objective.”

On the first appearance of danger of invasion, Pennsylvania ’s vigilantgovernor, Curtin, warned the people of the State and called out the militia.General Couch was sent to Harrisburg to organize and command them, butdisbelief in the danger — due to previous false alarms — caused delays untilthe fugitives from Milroy’s command, followed by Jenkins’s cavalry, rousedtke country. Defensive works were then thrown up at Harrisburg and else-where, and local forces were raised and moved toward the enemy.

Early in June Hooker represented in strong terms the necessity of having°He commander for all the troops whose operations would have an influence°H those of Lee ’s army, and in reply was informed by Halleck that any move-ments he might suggest for other commands than his own would be ordered% f practicable. Misunderstandings and confusion naturally resulted, and; iUthority was given Hooker from time to time to exercise control over thetr oops of Heintzelman, commanding the Department of Washington, and ofSchenck, commanding the Middle Department, followed, June 24tli, by ordersspecifically placing the troops in Harper’s Ferry and its vicinity at his disposal.

Disregarding Ewell’s movements, Hooker conformed his own to those ofDie enemy’s main body, and crossed the Potomac at Edwards’s Ferry on the^Ui and 26tli of June. On the 27th three army-corps under Reynolds occu-pied Middletown and the South Mountain passes. The Twelfth Corps was^ear Harper’s Ferry , and the three other corps at or near Frederick. Hookerlj °w ordered the Twelfth Corps to march early on the 28tli to Harper’s Ferry ,