CHAPTER XXIII
OUR PETITION • MARCH TO PENNSYLVANIA • HAPPY DAY • BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG • LOSSES OF THE ARMIES
SHORTLY after the defeat of our army at Chancellorsville, Governor Curtin became thoroughly convinced that the enemy contemplated an invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and although he made strenuous efforts to induce the General Government to adopt measures for defence, he could not prevail upon them to act, until the enemy had crossed the Potomac. His representations and advice were unheeded and many of the newspapers treated with levity his "unnecessary alarm." But at last, after much valuable time had been lost, the authorities awakened to the realization of the fact, and commenced vigorous preparations to repel the invaders.
On the 15th, long trains of ambulances, wagons and the reserve artillery from the army on the Rappahannock passed by our camp moving northward. The same day General Hooker and staff passed by, and towards night the Twelfth Army Corps arrived. All were in most excellent spirits and were confident of victory in the coming battle. On the 17th, the main body and the rear guard of the army arrived and resting a night and part of a day moved on.
To see the whole army moving to meet the enemy whom we knew were in Pennsylvania threatening our homes and loved ones, and for us to remain behind was rather mortifying, and although we had sent officers to Washington to intercede for marching orders for us, we met with no encouragement. On the 17th, we, therefore, addressed the following communication to Colonel McCandless, who forwarded it through the proper channel to Washington, where it materially assisted in producing the desired effect:
HEADQUARTERS SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY, P.R.V.C.
Fairfax Station, Va., June 17th, 1863.
To Colonel WILLIAM McCANDLESS,
Commanding First Brigade,
Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps.
OUR PETITION 205
COLONEL: - We, the undersigned, officers of the Second Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, having learned that our mother State has been invaded by a Confederate force, respectfully ask, that you will, if it be in your power, have us ordered within the borders of our State, for her defence.
Under McCall, Reynolds, Meade, Seymour, Sinclair and yourself, we have more than once met and fought the enemy, when he was at home. We now wish to meet him again where he threatens our homes, our families and our firesides.
Could our wish in this behalf be realized, we fell confident that we could do some service to the State that sent us to the field, and not diminish, if we could not increase, the lustre that already attaches to our name.
We are, Colonel,
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
GEO. A. WOODWARD, Lieutenant-Colonel Second Regiment P.R.V C., commanding the regiment,
P. McDONOUGH, Major Second Regiment,
E M. WOODWARD, Adjutant Second Regiment,
JAMES C. JUSTUS, Acting Quartermaster Second Regiment, E. A. JACKSON, Assistant Surgeon Second Regiment,
DANIEL H. CONNORS, Captain Company A,
JAMES C. MANTON, Lieutenant Company B,
JAMES N. BYRNES, Captain Company C,
THO'S CANAVAN, First Lieutenant Company D,
JOHN TAYLOR, First Lieutenant Company E,
ANDREW McLEAN, Second Lieutenant Company E,
JOHN M. CLARK, Captain Company F,
ROBERT J. CLARK, First Lieutenant Company F,
W. D. REITZEL, Captain Company G,
J L. RHOADS, First Lieutenant Company G,
E. I? WOODWARD, Second Lieutenant Company G,
WILLIAM McGLENN, First Lieutenant-com'g Company H,
JOSEPH BENISON, Second Lieutenant Company H.
In the meantime Generals Reynolds and Meade had both applied to the War Department to have the Reserves attached to their corps. General Reynolds was offered in lieu a full division, which he declined. General Meade, however, succeeded in having us assigned to his corps, but the day we joined him, he left us to assume the important post of commander of the Army of the Potomac, the proudest position any General in America could aspire to.
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MARCH TO PENNSYLVANIA 207
At last on the 25th, orders were received to move immediately, and at five that afternoon we left Fairfax Station, and marched in a northwesterly direction through Vienna, near which we bivouacked at eleven o'clock that night. Just as we started it commenced raining, and continued to do so all night. The next morning at four o'clock we resumed our march, continuing in the same direction passing between Drainesville and Leesburg and making Goose Creek that night. Through the day the rain was most violent and constant, rendering the roads almost knee deep in mud, and as we were making forced marches many of the wearied boys fell out, and did not get up with us until daylight the next morning. Rain, however, is preferable to dust.
The Third Brigade, Colonel J. W. Fisher, joined us in the morning from Alexandria, the Second Brigade, Colonel H. G. Sickel, being retained for the defence of Washington. The next morning at daylight, we resumed our march, passing near a portion of the field of the "Ball's Bluff massacre," and crossing the Potomac at Edward's Ferry on pontoons. That night we made the mouth of the Monocacy in spite of the heavy roads.
Sunday the 28th was a clear and pleasant day, and at daylight we moved off and soon crossed the aqueduct of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal over the Monocacy, and passing through Buckeystown we bivouacked about two miles from Frederick. Here we came up with the main army, and reported to General Sykes, commanding the Fifth Army Corps, to which we were assigned. This corps, until then, had been commanded by General Meade, who had made application to have us sent to him, but the day of our arrival General Hooker was relieved of the command of the army, and he assigned to it.
We started the next day at noon, and moving a few miles halted in a lane nearly all the afternoon, and at seven crossed the Monocacy bridge on the Baltimore Pike, and turned up the banks of the stream heading north. Soon after we waded the stream and struck across the fields, and about ten o'clock bivouacked in a wood, having made a tiresome day's march of but ten miles. This slow marching was occasioned by our being the rear guard of the Reserve artillery, which consisted of two hundred and forty-eight guns, supplied with two hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition each, making in all sixty-two thousand rounds. Before night that day the enemy's cavalry entered Frederick. That night heavy details were made from our regiment for a wagon guard.
The next morning we marched early, passing through Liberty, Union Bridge and Union Town, where a pontoon train that accompanied us that day created much wonderment among the rustics,
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who did not believe we could do much with our "gun boats" up in the mountains. We marched twenty miles and bivouacked near dark two miles beyond Union Town and mustered for pay.
The next morning, July 1st, we moved at five o'clock and ascertaining that the enemy's scouts had been in the neighborhood the day before, each regiment threw out flankers to the right and left, in which way we advanced for several miles, when the country became of such a nature that cavalry could not operate against us, and they were called in. About two we halted within a few hundred yards of the Pennsylvania State line, and rested ourselves. That day was one of the happiest of our lives, and every heart beat warm with the thought, we would soon press the soil of our mother State, in whose defence we were marching. The brigade bands and regimental drum corps poured forth their soul-inspiring airs from morning till night, and light was the tread of our feet to their notes. About three o'clock we were drawn up to hear a patriotic address from General Crawford, after which we marched on, and as we crossed the line, cheer after cheer rang out from the regiments, which rolled over the hills and through the valleys until lost in the far distance. Soon we came to a fine open woods where we halted until night, rolling on the good old soil of Pennsylvania and listening to the sweet airs of the bands. Abundance of rations and sixty rounds of cartridges per man were distributed, the former for ourselves and the latter for our friends the "Graybacks."
While lying here, through the branches above, amidst the bright sunshine, a large star was discerned shining over us with all the brilliancy of a heavenly visitant, which was gazed upon by all with great interest, and received as an omen of victory, which, happily, it proved to be.
While here all our wagons were sent to Westminster, some twenty-five miles from the battlefield, and the ammunition wagons and ambulances were pushed forward. At dark we again took up our march, and a long weary one it proved. We did not rest until two the next morning, when we lay down in an open woods, having made twenty miles during the day and being awake twenty-two hours. But in one hour's time the drums beat the reveille, and soon after we were again in motion, moving slowly cautiously along the roads and across the fields, and about noon we struck the pike and soon filed off to the left into a field in the rear of the line of battle.
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, July 1st, 2d, and 3d - The enemy, who, as early as the 13th ult. gave battle to General Milroy at Winchester, Virginia, and the next day precipitated him to a dis-
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 209
astrous and disgraceful flight, with their advance guard, one thousand five hundred strong, under General Jenkins, entered Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, at eight and a half P.M., on the 15th, but being without infantry support evacuated the same on the 17th and withdrew to Hagerstown, Maryland, with the horses and cattle they had plundered the defenceless farmers of. The enemy continued to cross the Potomac in force, and on the night of the 30th had concentrated within a short distance of Gettysburg, seventy-six thousand infantry and a large number of cavalry. Confronting this was the First Corps, General Reynolds, eight thousand strong; the Eleventh Corps, General Howard, fifteen thousand; and six thousand cavalry under General Buford, making a total of twenty-nine thousand men.
For this little band of Union troops to give battle to such an overwhelming force of the enemy, seemed the extreme of rashness, but the eagle eye of Reynolds saw at a glance, that to secure and hold, until the main body of our army arrived, the ridges and positions upon which the great battle was subsequently found was of vital importance to the success of our arms. He was too true a soldier to shrink from the responsibility of defeat, when the good of the cause demanded battle, and he hesitated not to engage the enemy.
On the morning of the 1st of July, at half past nine o'clock, General Buford dismounted a portion of his cavalry and commenced skirmishing with the enemy, who had debouched his infantry through the mountains on Cashtown, and about ten o'clock several pieces of light artillery were brought into play. Soon after General Reynolds moved around the town of Gettysburg and advanced on the Cashtown Road and immediately deployed his advance division, attacked the enemy, and at the same time sent orders for the Eleventh Corps, General Howard, to advance as promptly as possible.
Soon after making his disposition for attack, General Reynolds fell mortally wounded; the command of the First Corps devolving on Major-General Doubleday, and of the field, on Major-General Howard, who arrived about half past eleven A.M., with the Eleventh Corps, then commanded by Major-General Schurz. General Howard pushed forward two divisions of the Eleventh Corps to support the First Corps, now warmly engaged with the enemy on the north of the town, and posted his third division, with three batteries, on the Cemetery Ridge, on the south side of the town. Prior to the arrival of the Eleventh Corps the First had fought with determined bravery, double their number, for two hours, and not only held their own, but drove the enemy back in their furious charges, and about one P.M. Wadsworth's division captured General Archer and his whole bri-
210 (Drawing not included)
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 211
gade, numbering about one thousand five hundred men, who had attempted to flank them.
Between one and two o'clock the enemy received reinforcements on the Cashtown Road, and Ewell's corps came in on the York and Harrisburg Roads and formed a junction, which enabled them to bring vastly superior forces against both the First and the Eleventh Corps, outflanking our line of battle and pressing it so severely that, about four o'clock General Howard deemed it prudent to withdraw these two corps to the Cemetery Ridge, on the south side of the town, which operation was successfully accomplished, but not, however, without the loss of about two thousand five hundred prisoners, who being much crowded in passing through the streets, and somewhat confused, were unable to repel the enemy who pressed hard upon them. At this time the combined forces of Heath, Pender, Rhoads, and Early, amounted to forty thousand men, while those opposed to them did not exceed twenty thousand. At one time, during the alternate advance and backward movements, we lost one thousand nine hundred prisoners, all of whom were retaken, and a Mississippi regiment, numbering eight hundred men made prisoners.
About the time of the withdrawal, Major-General Hancock arrived upon the field and took command, and in conjunction with General Howard proceeded to post the troops on Cemetery Ridge, and to repel the attack that the enemy made on our right flank. This attack was not, however, very vigorous; the enemy, seeing the strength of the position occupied, seemed to be satisfied with the success he had accomplished, desisting from any further attack that day.
About seven o'clock P.M., Major-Generals Slocum and Sickles, with the Twelfth Corps and part of the Third, reached the ground, and took position on the right and left of the troops previously posted. At one o'clock the next morning, General Meade arrived and assumed command.
Early on the morning of the 2d, the Second and part of the Fifth Corps, with the rest of the Third arrived, and were posted as follows: the Eleventh Corps retaining its position on Cemetery Ridge, just opposite to the town; the First Corps was posted on the right, the Eleventh on an elevated knoll, connecting with the ridge and extending to the south and east, on which the Twelfth Corps was placed, the right of the Twelfth Corps resting on Rock Creek, a small stream at a point where it crossed the Baltimore Pike, and which formed on the right flank of the Twelfth something of an obstacle.
Cemetery Ridge extended in a westerly and southerly direction, gradually diminishing in elevation, till it came to a very promi-
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nent ridge called "Round Top," running east and west. The Second and Third Corps occupied the continuation of Cemetery Ridge, on the left of the Eleventh Corps and Fifth Corps; and pending their arrival the Sixth Corps was held in reserve. While these dispositions were being made, the enemy was massing his troops on an extreme ridge, about one mile and a half distant from the line occupied by us.
At two o'clock, the Sixth Corps arrived, after a march of thirtytwo miles, which was accomplished from nine P.M., of the day previous. The Fifth Corps was immediately moved to the extreme left, and the Sixth taking its place as a reserve for the right.
About three, General Sickles, not fully apprehending his instructions in regard to the position to be occupied, advanced his corps a half or three-quarters of a mile in the front of the line of the Second Corps on a prolongation which it was designed his corps should rest. General Meade, perceiving the movement, hastened to the spot, and was about arranging for the withdrawal of the corps, from its too far advanced position, when the enemy opened upon them with several batteries in front and flank, immediately brought forward columns of infantry, and made a vigorous assault. The Third Corps sustained the shock most heroically, and troops from the Second Corps were immediately sent to cover their right flank, and soon after the assault commenced.
The Fifth Corps most fortunately arrived, and the First and Second Divisions were immediately posted on the left of the Third by Major-General Sykes. Soon the cannonading became general along our left and centre, answered by the guns of the enemy, of which more than one hundred were placed in circuit on the Seminary Ridge and on the hill east of town. Our troops went forward in gallant style and engaged the enemy in a most terrific struggle at Sherby's peach orchard and the adjoining grounds near the Emmitsburg Road. Both parties fought with desperation, but at last our men, overpowered, began to give way. Rallied by their officers, they arrested and hurled back the advancing column for a short time; but finding themselves hard pressed by an overwhelming mass of the enemy, they gave way a second time. This was the most critical moment of the day. The point aimed at by the enemy was to break our left and flank us, and this they would have accomplished, if succor had not speedily arrived.
At this movement, about half past five o'clock, the Pennsylvania Reserves, which until then had been held in reserve, were brought forward and formed by brigades in columns of regiments, on the brow of "Little Round Top," upon which was posted one of their batter-
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 213
ies. Before them, from the base of the rugged height, stretched a broad meadow, skirted on its outer edge by heavy timber, from which emerged the victorious enemy, driving before them the scattered regiments of the First and Second Divisions of the Fifth Corps and the Third. Most gallantly did the brave fellows dispute the ground, but the overpowering masses of the enemy swept victoriously on, and their wild shout of triumph rang through the valley. Our battery to the right belched forth its sheets of flame and smoke, hurling its missiles of death over the heads of the flying mass into the enemy. Immovable and firm stood the Reserves, resting on their arms, silently gazing on the magnificent and grand sight, until our broken masses had passed to the right, and the enemy had advanced within fifty paces, when the gallant Crawford, seizing the standard of the First, whose bearer had been shot down, waved it aloft and cried out, "Forward, Reserves." With a simultaneous shriek from every throat, that sounded as if coming from a thousand demons, who had burst their lungs in uttering it, on swept the Reserves, delivering, as they started, a solid volley, and careering victoriously over the field, halted not a moment until they reached the stone wall, bordering on the skirting of woods, where the surprised enemy made their last desperate rally to retrieve the day. Not a moment was lost. On went the glorious flags to the wall, standard bearer after bearer was shot down, but with empty muskets the column pressed on, and leaping over, bayonetted and scattered in flight the proud foe, from whose brows they wrenched the laurels of victory.
One loud shout of triumph rang through the valley and over the hills, and it was with the utmost difficulty the men could be restrained from following the enemy further. But prudence forbade it, and our regiment was ordered to halt and fall back to the wall by Captain Smith.
After the excitement and heat of battle is over, everyone is suddenly taken with thirst, and to get water is the first care of the soldier. Down the centre of the meadow we crossed, ran a small creek Plum Run - and to it the thirsty ones repaired to fill their canteens. It was found almost choked with the dead and wounded, who had fallen in, while attempting to cross. It was the only place from which we could get water. After this we set to work gathering our wounded and those of other regiments who had been driven from the field, and who lay thick in every direction. This work occupied many of us the most of the night, but it was light labor to relieve the sufferings of our comrades. Nor were the enemy's wounded neglected, they being treated with the same kindness and care that our own received, as every old soldier holds that after the battle is over there are no enemies upon the field.
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The Third Brigade of the Reserves being posted to our left on "Round Top," and that position and flank being threatened by the enemy, they had not the opportunity of participating in the charge, with the exception of the Eleventh Regiment Colonel Jackson, who being next to us, could not resist the temptation and went in. We won the Eleventh fairly that day, and soon after at the solicitation of its officers it was wedded to our brigade.
That night a heavy line of pickets were thrown out in front, under Lieutenant McLean, ammunition was distributed, and the boys stretched their weary limbs to rest, and slept, regardless of the skirmishing of the pickets which was kept up off and on all night. But the balls whizzed harmlessly over head, and the noise disturbed not their slumbers.
During the assault on the left, the Sixth Corps and part of the First, together with detachments from the Second and Twelfth Corps, were all brought up at different periods to assist in the repulse, and about eight P.M., an assault was made on the Eleventh Corps from the left of the town, which was repulsed by the assistance of troops from the Second and First Corps.
During the absence of a portion of the Twelfth, the line on the extreme right was held by a very much reduced force. This was taken advantage of by the enemy, who, during the absence of General Geary's division of that corps, advanced, and occupied part of the line. The musketry fighting here continued from seven until half past nine o'clock.
General Geary having returned during the night, and being reinforced by a portion of the Sixth Corps, at dawn of day on the third, opened upon the enemy with artillery at the point where they had penetrated our lines the evening previous. This was followed by a general infantry attack, and soon the battle raged furiously, and was maintained with desperate obstinacy on both sides from half past four to half past ten A.M., when the enemy were driven back with great slaughter and our former position reoccupied.
At daybreak on the 3d, the enemy's line of skirmishers in our brigade front being reinforced, they opened with great spirit, the noise of the musketry almost resembling that of a regular battle. Our own line was promptly reinforced by volunteers who freely responded to them, but soon after the fire on both sides slackened and settled down to the common place picket fighting. This work was kept up until about five P.M., during which time we were much annoyed by the sharpshooters posted in the trees, and a number of men of the other regiments were killed and wounded by them. This kind of fighting gave excellent opportunities for the display of indi-
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 215
vidual bravery and address, and the manoeuvering of the boys to get good shots at times created considerable amusement. When some enterprising "Confed." was well posted and annoyed us much two or three would arrange their plans to knock him over, and creeping up cautiously from different directions, one of the men would draw his fire, while another on his flank would shoot him. One scamp got up a tree and succeeded in killing several men, when his locality was discovered; two of the boys started after him, and got under the tree before he saw them. He immediately cried out he would come down, to which they replied, they knew that very well, and they rattled him through the branches a few moments afterward. Another individual whom they afterwards discovered doing an extensive business in the same style, they left hanging in the crotches of a tree with his head and feet towards the ground. The boys never showed any mercy to these "tree frogs."
Thus the day wore on until one P.M., when the enemy opened upon our lines with over one hundred and thirty guns, playing principally upon our left and centre. This fire was immediately responded to on our side, and for over two hours the most terrific cannonading probably ever witnessed on this continent was kept up. The guns poured forth their missiles of death that went whizzing, screaming and bursting through the air, until the earth fairly trembled, and it seemed as if the very vault of heaven had been rent asunder.
About half past three o'clock, the enemy in two long and massive lines was seen emerging from the woods of Seminary Ridge to the south of McMillan's orchard, and moving over the plains towards the left centre. When they had reached one-third of the distance between the two opposing lines, our artillery opened upon them with shell and grape, staggering them for a few moments, when, with a terrific yell, they rushed to the charge. Our men quietly awaited until they had approached within short range when they opened upon them a deadly fire of musketry that mowed them down like grass. After a desperate struggle, the enemy were driven back with great slaughter, losing three thousand five hundred prisoners, and fifteen stands of colors. During this assault Major-General Hancock commanding the left centre, and Brigadier-General Gibbon commanding the Second Corps, were severely wounded, and of the enemy General Kemper was severely wounded, Armistead mortally, and Garnett was killed.
During the afternoon, the enemy had been annoying the Third Brigade of Reserves, who held "Round Top," and attempted to turn the left flank, and heavy skirmishing was kept up between them. Our own front had been greatly annoyed by the enemy's sharpshoot-
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ers and a battery posted about one thousand yards distant on the crest of a gentle elevation. To get rid of these, General Crawford ordered Colonel McCandless to "capture the battery and clean the enemy out," with his brigade, for which purpose the "Bucktails," the First, the Second, and the Eleventh were advanced in line of battle ,over the stone wall, and through the skirting of woods to a wheat field, where they drew the fire of the battery, upon which they were laid down until it ceased, when they were again put in motion to the left and then to the right, thus displaying themselves and drawing the fire, until the Sixth, under Colonel Ent, had crept up close to the battery, which they stormed with great gallantry, and through a shower of grape and canister captured one gun and two caissons.
When the Sixth had become fairly engaged, Colonel McCandless marched the balance of his brigade by the right flank, and filing left formed in line of battle in a woods at right angles with the stone wall, and deploying skirmishers to the front, right and left, charged on double quick over the field for half a mile, receiving the enemy's fire from the woods on three sides. Half wheeling to the right and pouring a few volleys into the woods, they charged through them up to the crest, driving every thing before them. Here, halting for a few moments, they about faced, wheeled the line a little to the right, and charged through the woods in their rear, running like hounds, and yelping like devils down through the meadow and up over the steep acclivity on the opposite side, surprising the enemy and taking them on the flank, and doubling them up and driving regiments and brigades pell-mell before them in utter confusion. The gallant efforts of their officers to rally them were useless, we had them fairly on the run, and did not cease following them until we had penetrated far into their lines.
The trophies of this brilliant raid into their line of battle, besides those captured by the Sixth, were six thousand stand of arms, the flag of the Fifteenth Georgia, and three hundred prisoners, including a Colonel and many line officers. The ground was strewn with their dead and wounded, and the remainder of their division was scattered in flight. Night was now fast approaching, we were nearly two miles from our starting point, and we had entered the open ground, where the smallness of our force could be discovered. Prudence demanded we should withdraw, and therefore McCandless with his brigade retraced his steps for some distance; when halting we encircled ourselves with pickets, and slept upon our arms.
Such was the surprise of the enemy at our last charge, that their prisoners told us, that at the time we attacked them, they supposed we were nearly a mile off. Even their butchers were killed
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 217
while engaged in skinning beeves, and a fatigue party who were burying their dead was captured. A prisoner was asked what regiment he belonged to, and replied, the Nineteenth Georgia. "Why, we captured you at Fredericksburg. Are you the Second Pennsylvania Reserves? D__n you, you always give us h_11 when you meet us."
With this may be said to have ended the battle of Gettysburg, and it was looked upon as one of the most brilliant exploits of the field. Colonel McCandless displayed cool courage and military genius of the highest order, handling his brigade in most splendid style, and withdrawing it at the right time. The conception of the idea of making a raid directly into the enemy's line of battle, of throwing out skirmishers in the front and on both flanks, of charging the enemy on the right and left front and rear by turns, in fact being outflanked and having our rear turned at the same time, was bold and dashing, and showed the full confidence of the leader in himself and men.
Generals Meade, Sykes, and Crawford and many other officers from "Round Top," saw the brigade start, and watched it as long as in sight. With the din and lull of battle their hopes arose and fell, and when they found it receded far from them, though knowing we were driving the enemy, they feared the ultimate result, and sent support, which met us on our way back, and received us with hearty cheers. When an aide announced to them the complete success of the raid, they shook hands and congratulated each other, manifesting the liveliest satisfaction.
As soon as we halted for the night, stretchers and ambulances were sent to gather up our wounded who had laid upon the field from the day before, and who had suffered the pangs of many deaths. All night long and until noon the next day, were we thus engaged in the willing but painful work. The poor fellows had suffered terribly for water, and had been robbed of all their money and valuables, and some of them of their clothing. Large details were also made to collect the arms and before morning over six thousand rifles and muskets were gathered and taken to the rear.
Ammunition was procured and distributed to the men during the night, and at two o'clock on the morning of the "glorious Fourth," our regiment and the Sixth were moved to a more advanced post as pickets, and soon after daylight the enemy discovering us, their pickets opened upon us, which we returned with much spirit. About nine o'clock the Regulars, who composed the second division of our corps, advanced a splendid line of skirmishers, supported by two lines of battle, driving in the enemy's pickets and fully drawing their fire, when the object for which they advanced, viz.: to ascertain the posi-
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tion, strength and composition of the enemy, being obtained they withdrew to the rear again. When they advanced, our boys opened briskly upon the enemy, to draw their fire from the skirmishers, and some of them joined in the advance. Upon their retiring, the enemy fired a few shells, and then quietly advanced their picket line again, and settled down to exchanging an occasional shot in the usual quiet manner. While here, three thousand rounds of ammunition were distributed to the men. About one P.M., we were relieved, and during a heavy rain moved to our old position at the stone wall, having been under an almost constant fire for forty-three hours.
Never in any battle did the Reserves show more reckless and determined bravery than they did upon this field, for all felt that they were defending their own homes. One whole company of the First Regiment were raised in Gettysburg, and some of the men fought on their own farms. All the field and staff officers determined to go in mounted, and did so as far as their horses could go. General Crawford and his staff, Colonel McCandless and his Assistant Inspector-General, Captain Coates, all displayed intrepid bravery. Lieutenant Colonel Woodward, who from his wounds walked with difficulty in the early part of the action, received a contusion of the ankle, and was unable to accompany us in our charges, but remained upon the field.
The loss of our regiment, and in fact, of the brigade, was remarkably small which is attributed to the impetuosity of our charges, which gave the enemy but little chance to inflict damage upon us. The proportion of killed was very small, though among the wounded the mortality was subsequently very heavy.*
Our regiment went into battle with one hundred and forty-seven men and its loss was heavier than any other regiment in the brigade.
The enemy numbered ninety thousand men and two hundred pieces of cannon; we had sixty thousand men and about an equal number of guns. Our total loss was four thousand killed, twelve thousand wounded, and four thousand prisoners, in all about twenty thousand; whilst the enemy's loss was five thousand five hundred killed, twenty-one thousand wounded, nine thousand prisoners, and four thousand stragglers and deserters, making a total of about forty thousand.
About one o'clock in the afternoon the Regulars relieved us at the stone wall and we were moved back to "Little Round Top," where we received rations and remained until the afternoon of the next day, during which time it rained severely.
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* See Appendix A.
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