From the Archives, 1863: The Herald’s first report on the Battle of Gettysburg We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss From the Archives, 1863: The Herald’s first report on the Battle of Gettysburg This is the Herald’s account of the Battle of Gettysburg, which left 51,000 men dead, wounded or missing after three days of fighting. It was the decisive encounter of American Civil War. By Sydney Morning Herald Normal text size First published in The Sydney Morning Herald, September 11, 1863 SINCE the civil war in America broke out there has never been a mail that has brought tidings of such uniform success for the Federals and such uniform disaster for the Confederates.