New Jersey troops in the Gettysburg campaign from June 5 to July 31, 1863, Part 14

Author: Toombs, Samuel, 1844-1889
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Orange, N.J., The Evening Mail Publishing House
Number of Pages: 458


USA > New Jersey > New Jersey troops in the Gettysburg campaign from June 5 to July 31, 1863 > Part 14


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The sound of the desperate contest on the right and right centre reached the ears of the Union troops on


266


NEW JERSEY TROOPS


the left as soon as the firing in that quarter ceased, and about ten o'clock an order was sent to Ruger to return to his old position on the right as the enemy were in possession on the Twelfth Corps' works. The division promptly moved, Colgrove's brigade leading, and as they neared Culp's Hill a skirmish line was sent forward to feel the position of the enemy. One man was captured in the old line of works in McAllister's woods, and Company F of the Second Massachusetts advancing across the open ground into the woods at the base of Culp's Hill and near Spang- ler's spring, captured twenty-three men, with whom they returned. From these it was ascertained that Steuart's and Jones' brigades held the position. Filing into McAllister's woods the brigade sought their old works, but as it was discovered that the position of the Third Wisconsin, which had been occupied by the Thirteenth New Jersey, and the line along Rock Creek, would be enfiladed by the fire of the enemy,* the brigade was formed on a line about fifty yards to the rear. In taking this position two companies


* Extract from Colonel Hawley's report: "Darkness coming Qn I received orders from you, sir, (Colonel Colgrove) to move out as we had marched in, and following the regiment on my right flank was marched back to the position which I had spent the day in fortifying, and there rested under arms. It then being ascertained that the enemy had advanced over our breastworks and occupied a rocky, wooded hill on my left, thus enfilading my position and severing our line, by your order I took position perpendicular to my former line, so as to face the enemy's advance in this position, and there lay under arms for the remainder of the night."


267


IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.


of the Thirteenth New Jersey, Company C, Captain David A. Ryerson, and Company I, Captain Ambrose M. Matthews, were refused, to connect with the right of the Second Massachusetts, the rest of the line of the Thirteenth running along the edge of the woods on a rising piece of ground fronting Rock Creek. The line as thus formed was as follows: Thirteenth New Jersey on the right, Second Massachusetts centre, Third Wisconsin SPARKLERS SP. 3. CULP HILL IN POSSESSION OF REBELS. on the left, Twenty - seventh Indiana in reserve. The First MARSH. Brigade, McDou- gall's, formed on CREEK. MARSH. the left of Colgrove. During the night OLB LINE PER KM also Geary's troops ROCK 's MAP returned from their 38 BRIG I" DIV. 12 CORPS. TE NJ.V. 4" POSITION 3 JULY2 1863 MIDNIGHT. isolated position on the Baltimore pike, TROMBE MCALLISTER'S WAS and joined with The prisoners brought


Green's forces on Culp's Hill. in by the Second Massachusetts were turned over to the Thirteenth New Jersey 'Regiment and Company D was detailed by order of acting Lieutenant-Colonel Beardsley, to conduct them to the Provost Marshal of the corps near Two Taverns.


At midnight the Twelfth Corps had all arrived and lay in line awaiting the approach of daylight to advance upon and drive the enemy from their posi- tion on Culp's Hill.


CHAPTER XIII.


THE THIRD DAY'S BATTLE - THE TWELFTH CORPS CHARGE THE ENEMY AT CULP'S HILL AND REGAIN THEIR WORKS-THE SECOND MASSACHUSETTS AND TWENTY - SEVENTH INDIANA REGIMENTS CHARGE THE ENEMY SUPPORTED BY THE THIRTEENTH NEW JERSEY REGIMENT-LEE FOILED IN HIS ATTACK ON THE FEDERAL RIGHT.


T HE Confederates seem to have had little knowl- edge of the topography of the country about Gettysburg, otherwise the failure of Ewell to follow up the great advantage he had so fortunately gained on the night of July 2d must be classed as a stupendous blunder. The left of Steuart's line was within one hundred yards of the Baltimore pike, the road over which Meade's army would be compelled to retreat in the event of defeat. The reserve artillery of the Army of the Potomac lay parked back of Powers' Hill on the slope of which General Slocum had his headquarters, while Meade's headquarters were but a short distance off. Furthermore, the presence of the rebel army in force on the pike would have created consternation in the Federal army. Unquestionably Ewell was ignorant of the advantage he had gained, and conversation with some of the survivors shows


*


8TH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS COL. JOHN RAMSAY 30 BRIG. [BURLINGS] 20 DIV. 30 CORPS


ERECTED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY 1888


MONUMENT 8TH REGT. N. J. VOLS., INF.


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NEW JERSEY TROOPS


that the rebels were greatly surprised at the ease with which they got possession of the vacated works, and feared that some Yankee trick was being played upon them. Of the great blunder Meade had committed, of course they knew nothing, and this was only com- pensated for by the rapid approach of darkness, which caused Johnson to exercise great caution in his move- ments. He only knew the enemy was in his front, and he determined to attack at daylight. The men whom he commanded were "Stonewall " Jackson's veterans, who had won many hard-fought battles, and they were not easily to be disposed of.


During the night a conference was held in McAllis- ter's woods, at which General Hunt, chief of artillery, Generals Slocum, Williams and Ruger were present. The artillery, twenty-six guns in all, had been posted on every commanding eminence to cover the enemy's position on Culp's Hill, and only awaited the appear- ance of daylight to open upon it.


As early as three o'clock Johnson began to form his men for attack, and Geary noting that some move- ment was contemplated by the enemy determined to assume the offensive. At day-break the crash of musketry was heard. Geary opened a fierce fire along his whole front and with deadly effect. The First Brigade sent forward the Twentieth Connecticut to penetrate the woods at the southern base of the hill and the Second Massachusetts and Twenty-seventh Indiana of the Third Brigade were ordered to charge the enemy in flank by Colonel Colgrove. The Union


271


IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.


artillery opened along the whole line, and from this time until ten o'clock a fierce, stubborn and desperate battle was waged. On the success of the Twelfth Corps now depended the safety of the army. Rein- forcements were sent to Culp's Hill, Lockwood's bri- gade of the Twelfth and Shaler's brigade of the Sixth Corps both going to the support of Geary. The continued roll of musketry, the deafening roar of the artillery were listened to by the waiting army with ap- prehension. The long lines of wounded men being car- ried to the rear gave evidence of the severity of the struggle. The Reserve Artillery back of Power's Hill had harnessed and was made ready for any call upon it. The cavalry to the right were all mounted and drawn up ready for action. The Sixth Corps in reserve were under orders for an advance at a moment's notice. There was plenty of support for the right, should further help be needed. Still the battle raged. The enemy were driven back repeatedly and they as often returned to the charge. They were now able to note where they were and as they caught glimpses of the Federal wagon trains and ambulances moving down the Baltimore pike it seemed to drive them to desperation. Too late they realized what had been lost by the night's delay. They fought madly, heroically and with a bravery which only Jackson's men could show, but they were at a disadvantage. The Union line sheltered by the rocks and immense bowlders up to the face of which the rebels charged again and again, enabled them to inflict serious injury


272


NEW JERSEY TROOPS


upon their assailants, and heavy as the Union loss was that of the enemy was treble.


When the order was given at dawn for the Second Massachusetts and Twenty-seventh Indiana of Col- grove's brigade to advance and attack the enemy, there was thought to be a mistake in the meaning of it. Lieutenant Snow who brought the order from General Ruger was asked a second and third time I as to the intent of UNION -- GUN9 REBEL. == it, and he repeated, the order is to ad- vance. Colonel CREEK. Mudge of the Sec- ond Massachusetts, 00 RUGER 0 when he received Rock the order, said, " It is murder, but must 2MATS ALD LANE be obeyed! for- BALTO. PIKE AL MCDOUGALL ward!" and the 3 WIS 2 MASS 13|N.J. 27IND LGROVE brave Mudge with LISTERS WOODS as gallant a body of men as ever lived moved out to swift and certain death. The Twenty-seventh Indiana were to advance and join the right of the Second Massachusetts, but Colonel Mudge when he reached the open ground moved at once against the enemy driving them ahead of him, and though exposed to a deadly fire the Second reached the shelter of the woods on the other side. The brave Mudge was killed, and the casualties in the regiment were severe. The Twenty-seventh Indiana


273


IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.


Regiment advanced gallantly, and the right companies of the Thirteenth New Jersey changed front and occu- pied the breastworks vacated by the Second Massachu- setts. As the Twenty-seventh reached the open ground they encountered a terrible musketry fire which checked them where they were. The left wing of the regi- ment extended to the open ground the right resting in the wood, the line facing northeasterly. This regi- ment fought gallantly but was compelled to fall back, when the Thirteenth FIBRIG. WORKS RETA, I DIV. 12 0. 5. New Jersey returned SPANGLERE 1 SPRING to its former line and the Twenty-seventh occupied the position MARSH thus vacated. The MARSH fighting continued with great stubbornness. The enemy seeing the ROCK CREEK- BALT. PIKE. Twenty-seventh fall N.T. K 3 : WIS 27 IND 15 POSITION TILL 4 RM TOOMBS. JULY 3. back formed for a counter-charge and ad- vanced across the open ground to the marshy banks of Spangler's Run, where they encountered the fire of the Third Wisconsin, Twenty-seventh Indiana, and such portions of the Thirteenth New Jersey as could reach them. The two left companies, C and I, were in the direct front of the advancing enemy, and for a short time a sharp engagement ensued, in which the rebels were repulsed. The Second Massachusetts from its position on the opposite side of the swale 18


274


NEW JERSEY TROOPS


had an enfilading fire down their line which precipi- tated their retreat. During this engagement Captain David A. Ryerson, of Company C, Thirteenth New Jersey, was wounded, the command of the left com- panies thus devolving upon Captain Ambrose M. Mat- thews, of Company I; James Parliament, of the same company, was struck in the breast from which wound he died a few days later, and Henry Damig, of Com- pany G, was killed.


Walker's brigade of the enemy had been sent to the extreme left of the line to watch the movements of the regiments of Colgrove's brigade in McAllister's woods. A strong line of skirmishers appeared on the crest of the hill east of Rock Creek, and they took position behind the rocks and trees and thus picked off officers and men at their leisure. A small stone house seemed to be filled with them, and whenever a head was projected above the breastworks a bullet was sure to come unpleasantly near it. The Thirteenth New Jersey and the Twenty-seventh Indiana suffered most severely from this fire. A stretcher-bearer of the latter regiment went to the front, carrying a white stretcher with him, to look after some of the wounded lying in the edge of the woods, whose cries for water and help were agonizing. Just as he had scaled the works and before he had gone thirty feet to the front a rebel sharpshooter sent a bullet through his head and he fell lifeless at the foot of a tree. This uncalled-for act exasperated the men, and they demanded that the stone house should be demolished. Captain Winegar of


275


IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.


Battery "M" First New York Artillery, came down to the line, and after examining the position returned to his battery, which soon opened fire upon the building. The first shot penetrated the house and as the men saw the dust and splinters flying about they gave a pro- longed cheer. No further annoyance came from that quarter.


The engagement with Johnson's division lasted until ten o'clock, when a ringing cheer broke from the men on Culp's Hill and it was known that the enemy were falling back. The Third Wisconsin, of Colgrove's brigade, advanced a picket line across the open ground in the front capturing a few men, and the regiment advanced up to the position formerly held by Col- grove's regiments on the right of the First Brigade. Geary and McDougall also advanced and reoccupied their old position and the lines of the Union right were once more intact.


The battle had been a hard one. For three hours of the previous evening Green, with his little brigade, had made a stalwart defense of the position he held, and to the valor of his men is due the safety of the Union army on the third of July. From the first break of day to ten o'clock on the morning of the third-full seven hours-the battle continued. The trees were mangled and torn with the shells and the solid shot which was hurled among them, and the effect of this dreadful day's work was noticed a year later when one part of this immense forest, where the fight- ing was fiercest, was found to have been killed. The trees were leafless.


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NEW JERSEY TROOPS


The sight, after the battle, in the Union front was frightful. The fighting had been waged at such close quarters and with such desperation, that there were as many dead rebels on the ground as there were men who fought them. They lay in many instances close up to the front of the Union line of works, and the bayonet thrusts in several of the bodies testified too plainly the terrible manner of their death and the ferocity of the contest. With the recapture of the position on Culp's Hill, the fighting ceased on the right, save by skirmishers and sharpshooters posted along the Rock Creek ridge. The casualties in the Thirteenth New Jersey Regiment were twenty-one as follows :


Killed-Henry Damig, Company G.


Wounded-Company A-Edward S. Smith.


Company B-Thomas Ferris.


Company C-Captain David A. Ryerson, Alexander Barnes, James Winter, James Parliament (died July 27th), William Remington.


Company D-James P. Howatt.


Company E-Corporal Thomas H. Williams (leg amputated), John Van Winkle.


Company F-Cornelius Clark.


Company G-Captain John H. Arey, Corporal Cyrus Williams, John Welsch, drummer.


Company H-David Latourette.


Company I-Lieutenant Charles W. Johnson (acting Adjutant), Aaron Chamberlain, Smith P. Brown.


Recapitulation - Killed, I. Wounded - Officers, 3 : enlisted men, 17; total, 21.


CHAPTER XIV.


THE THIRD DAY'S BATTLE CONCLUDED-LONGSTREET'S CHARGE ON CEMETERY RIDGE - DISASTROUS REPULSE OF PICKETT'S AND HETH'S DIVISIONS- DREADFUL EXECUTION WITH "BUCK AND BALL " BY THE TWELFTH NEW JERSEY-HEXAMER'S OLD BATTERY ("A" FIRST NEW JERSEY) ENGAGED-THE FIRST NEW JERSEY CAVALRY WIN NEW LAURELS.


G ENERAL LEE had now unsuccesfully attacked both the right and left positions of the Union army, but with a fatuity which seems incompre- hensible, he determined upon one more assault. He seems to have believed that the defeat of Sickles had seriously crippled Meade's whole army, and Johnson's success in getting possession of the vacated works of the Twelfth Corps gave him a foretaste of victory, if promptly followed up. The repulse of Hood at Round Top, of Hays and Avery at Cemetery Hill, and the failure of Wilcox and Wright to reap any substantial benefit from their advance almost into the Union lines on the second of July, were regarded as mere episodes of the battle, not worthy of serious thought. The time had come, according to General Lee's reasoning for the one great decisive blow which


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NEW JERSEY TROOPS


should end the war in his favor. But on this third day of July the entire Army of the Potomac was on the field, and so disposed that reinforcements could be sent to any point on short notice. Further the Union army felt that they had gained quite as much for their cause as Lee considered he had accomplished for himself, and though the stragglers, who poured down the roads to the rear spread dismal tales of defeat for the Army of the Potomac, the men at the front had no such feeling.


When the final charge by the Twelfth Corps was made upon the enemy's lines, and they were forced back to the opposite side of Rock Creek, it stimu- lated the tone of the whole army. Confident of success before they were sanguine now, and the further move- ments of Lee were awaited with impatience. The deep stillness which settled upon the battle-field after the cessation of the fighting on the right soon became oppressive. It was the prevalent belief that Lee intended a more desperate move than any yet planned but where the blow would fall could only be conject- ured. As the centre of the line had so far escaped a direct assault the feeling grew that there the blow would fall, and the intuition which thus selected the point of attack was confirmed a few hours later.


General Lee had determined the night before to assault the centre of Meade's line, and to Longstreet's corps he assigned the task. These troops had borne the brunt of the fighting the day before, and their ranks were terribly decimated. It was impossible that they could successfully accomplish the work Lee had


CAR CORPE


MONUMENT IITH REGT. N. J. VOLS., INF.


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NEW JERSEY TROOPS


in hand, and further they could not well be spared from the positions they then occupied. The only division that had not participated in the battle at any time was Pickett's, and he was accordingly selected to lead the charge. Pickett had arrived within a short distance of the battle-field the night before, after a forced march from Chambersburg, and at seven o'clock on the morning of the third he reported to General Longstreet. The interviews between Longstreet and Lee were frequent. The former was opposed to the contemplated movement and interposed every possible objection to the determination of Lee to make the assault. But the rebel chieftain was immovable. He saw no reason for depression, but believed everything was favorable for success. He construed the capture of Sickles' advanced line as a victory, and in his official report uses this language :


" After a severe struggle Longstreet succeeded in gaining possession of and holding the desired ground. Ewell also carried some of the strong positions which he assailed, and the result was such as to lead to the belief that he would ultimately be able to dislodge the enemy. The battle ceased at dark. These partial successes determined me to continue the assault the next day."


Argument and protestation could not move the man who thus summed up the results of the previous day's fighting, and Longstreet was compelled to notify Pickett of the work that had been assigned him to do.


General Lee's line of battle at daylight on the third,


281


IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.


was much the same as when night closed in and ended the conflict of the second day. Laws' and Robertson's brigades. were in front of the Round Tops, Wofford in the centre west of the wheat-field, and Kershaw on the left, occupying the Peach Orchard. The rest of Long- street's corps stretched along the line of Seminary Ridge, and Hill occupied his former position on the left of Longstreet. Ewell was at that moment engaged in a death struggle on the extreme left, but the result was not to be awaited-victory there was confidently anticipated. It was ten o'clock before Lee gave the final order to form for the attack. With Longstreet he had fully reconnoitred the ground, and that officer again tried to dissuade him from the proposed movement. Longstreet scented defeat. He was opposed to an offen- sive movement and desired to turn the flank of Meade, and compel him to attack the southern army. But all in vain. It was finally determined to assail the Union line with a strong column, under cover of a heavy artillery fire, and the orders were given. Colonel Alex- ander posted the Confederate artillery along the ridge which Humphreys had vainly tried to hold the day before, extending from the Peach Orchard on the right to the Codori house on the left. A battery on the right of the Peach Orchard, and the Washington Artillery with Dearing and Cabell's batteries stationed on the left were to aid in the attack. This vast congrega- tion of batteries comprised one hundred and thirty- eight pieces of cannon, and behind this wall of iron the division of Pickett, with the troops that were to sup-


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NEW JERSEY TROOPS


port him, formed for the impending collision. Pickett's division was composed of five brigades, three only of which were upon the field-Garnett's, Armistead's and Kemper's-comprising in all about four thousand five hundred men. They formed behind the rising surface of the ground, Kemper and Garnett in the advance, Armistead in rear, and lay down to await the order for the charge to be made. A battery of light artillery was detailed to accompany them. To support Pickett, Hill contributed the brigades of Wilcox, Perry and Wright, and Heth's division, composed of the bri- gades of Archer, Pettigrew, Davis and Brocken- borough, with the brigades of Scales and Lane added, made up a total attacking force of fully fifteen thou- sand men. This mighty host, supported by the con- centrated fire of the largest artillery force ever gathered together, was to launch itself upon the front of the Second Corps and break the Union line in two.


The position of the Second Corps which was to be the scene of the coming conflict was an admirable one for defence. In its entire length from Zeigler's Grove-which separates Cemetery Hill from Ceme- tery Ridge -to the copse of trees, where the left of Pickett's line halted, is considerably less than a mile. In the advanced edge of the wood known as Zeigler's Grove-the extreme right of the Sec- ond Corps' line- Woodruff's battery ( "I" First United States Artillery.) was stationed, supported by the One Hundred and Eighth New York. On the left of this position, a natural out-


IVERSON


This line hald this Position through the day.


RODES DIVISION


RAMSEUR


NC


MeCOWAN GC


UNION --- REBEL ...


D


THOMAS GA


PENDER'S DIV LANE Comde.


8 Ohio


-


BROKENBOROUGH D


DAVIS


HETH'S50 DIVISION O


12NJ


BROoks


WHY LAVEIO


PETTIGREW


WARD


0


ARCHER FRYES


SCALESO


COWAN


MCCARTHY


GARNETT


PICKETT'S DIVE


ARMISTEAD


ARMISTERIO OD


BROWN CUSHING ARNOLD


--


/21


15VE 13 VE


-


STANNARD


,


-- Kemper


BERDAN


DANA


SHALER


MABILL


CARR 26 POL


u


y


2191


HUMPHREYS DIV. 2P Pos.


D


PERRY


DANIELS O'Mich.


EXCELSIOR


THOMAS, CAU:


RORTY !!!


DOUBLEDAY.


CARLTON Armisread


KEMPER


Garnet-


.


DETROBRIAND


WOODRUFF


BRYAN GA


HAYS ply


REPULSE OF LONGSTREETS CHARGE-JULY 3 1863-BACHELLER MAN


284


NEW JERSEY TROOPS


cropping of rock forms a low wall, and at a distance of fifty yards from the grove, near Bryan's well, a stone wall had been constructed on the natural rock, and continued for about three hundred and fifty yards. Hays' division of the Second Corps occupied this position being formed in two lines of battle. The left consisted of Smyth's brigade, posted in the follow- ing order : The Twelfth New Jersey on the right, the First Delaware on the left of the Twelfth, the Fourteenth Connecticut next. The One Hundred and Eleventh New York and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth New York of the Third Brigade were immediately in the rear of these regiments, on higher ground which enabled them to fire over the front line. The other regiments of the Third Brigade and Car- roll's brigade were also in the rear of the line of battle for a time, but subsequently became hotly engaged. Arnold's Rhode Island battery occupied a position on the left of Smyth, and in front of Arnold the stone wall runs due west, where it connects with a post and rail fence, thus forming a sharp angle. Gibbon's division connected with Hays, Webb's bri- gade, on whose line Cushing's battery was posted, formed the right, and Hall's brigade with Brown's Rhode Island battery, the centre, and Harrow's bri- gade with Rorty's New York battery, the left. The rail fence which skirted the natural rock surface before these brigades, was thrown down and the rails used as a slight protection from musketry fire. Doubleday's division of the First Corps were to the


285


IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.


left of Gibbon, Stannard's Vermont brigade being in a clump of bushes and trees a short distance in advance, concealed from the enemy's view. This small space of territory was destined to become the scene of one of the fiercest conflicts of modern times. The lines of men thus grouped together were to be subjected to a rain of missiles that no body of men ever before experienced, and their courage and valor was to be put to the severest test known in the annals of modern warfare. The Union line as continued to the left, comprised the following : To the left of Doubleday was Caldwell's gallant division of the Second Corps, which suffered so severely the day before in trying to repair Sickles' broken line. Birney's division of the Third Corps continued the line south- ward and the Fifth Corps, whose line now extended -to the summit of Round Top itself, completed this front, with the Sixth Corps mainly in reserve. At every point where artillery could be used a battery was posted. McGilvery had stationed forty guns along this line in addition to the thirty guns of the Second Corps which were commanded by Captain John G. Hazzard.




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