USA > New Jersey > Reminiscences of the war, comprising a detailed account of the experiences of the Thirteenth regiment New Jersey volunteers in camp, on the march, and in battle > Part 6
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On the receipt of this startling intelligence Hooker broke up his camps on the Rappahannock on the 13th of June, taking the direct route to Washington. The main portion of the army moved by way of Bealton, War- renton and Catlett's Station, on the Orange and Alex -- andria Railroad. The Twelfth Corps took a more easterly route, the details of which I now proceed to give.
On Sunday, the 14th of June, we halted at Dumfries. The place was overrun with abandoned horses and mules, a number of which were captured by the men and put into service as packs. During the day the Sixth Corps wagon train. guarded by some of the Twenty-sixth Regiment passed uts. This regiment was on its way home. its term of ser- vice, nine months, having expired. The army was largely reduced at this time by the expiration of the term of ser- vice of the nine months and two years' men, a fact which Lee no doubt was well aware of. In addition to this a strong "peace at any price " sentiment was developing in.
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the North, caused by the numerous defeats the Union arms had suffered the past few months, and the Confederate Gen- eral hoped, by transferring the war north of the Potomac. to bring about that desired end .- the forced recognition of the Southern Confederacy. Monday morning, the 15th, we moved from Dumfries. The heat of the sun was intense. and when we reached Fairfax Station at night, about twen- ty-five miles distant, we were pretty well used up. This was one of the most severe marches the Regiment ever ex- perienced. We made a longer march afterwards, but with less fatigue and exhaustion than on this occasion. Two men of the One Hundred and Seventh New York Regiment, it was reported. died from the effects of the heat. Charles E. Sommerville of Co. E. Thirteenth Regiment, died the next day at Fairfax. He had been detailed at Corps Head- quarters as clerk to Captain Stiner, Forage Master. He is recorded as having died of consumption.
We remained at Fairfax all day Tuesday. the 16th, and on Wednesday moved to Drainsville. The next day we reached Leesburg, Va. Gen. Geary's Division was in charge of the town, and our Division encamped on the out- skirts. southwesterly from the town.
Several changes in the officers of the Regiment had taken place since the battle of Chancellorsville, mention of which would seem to be proper at this time. Lieut-Colonel Chadwick who had returned from furlough, resigned on the 13th of June, and Major Grimes was subsequently promoted to fill the vacancy thus occasioned. On the 28th of May, Sergeant-Major Boggs was promoted to Second Lieutenant Co. G, vice Henry Nichols, resigned, but he was not mustered. and afterward received a commission as Captain Co. A, Thirty-third Regiment N. J. V. Peter S. Van Houten of Co. C. was promoted Sergeant-Major ; John MeDougall was commissioned Second Lieutenant Co. E. vice James D. Cole, resigned. Orderly Sergeant Baitzell of Co. C was promoted Second Lieutenant ; James Kilroy, Sergeant Co. G, promoted Second Lieutenant Co. A.
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While at Leesburg we were kept busily employed with the rest of the Brigade, building a line of earthworks for defence against the enemy. On the 19th of June, we wit- nessed one of the most affecting sights of the war. Two members of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, of the First Bri- gade, and Christopher Krubart. of Co. B. Thirteenth Regi- ment, had been found guilty of desertion and were sen- tenced to be shot on Friday, June 19th, 1863. The day was a perfect one. The sky was cloudless ; the sun shone re- splendent on Leesburg and the camps surrounding it. When the information first reached the troops, a hushed stillness pervaded the whole of the First Division. and as the drums of the different Regiments beat the first "Assembly " call. the men marched to their positions with sobered looks. The order announcing the findings and sentence of the court martial was read, and a detail, to comprise the firing party. was ordered from the Division, the Regiments to which the condemned men belonged being exempt. Promptly at twelve o'clock each Brigade of the Division proceeded to the place of execution and formed a " hollow square." The marching of the troops. their formation into line. the subdued voices in which the officers repeated the various commands. the deep thud of the rifles as they came simultaneously to the ground at the command " Order Arms," and the rigid aspect of the men as they took the position of " Parade Rest." formed a grand, impressive, solemn and never to be forgotten sight. The
wagons containing the coffins soon rumbled upon
the scene, followed by an ambulance, closely guard- ed. containing the doomed men. Arriving at the spot where the three graves had been dug. a coffin was placed at the head of each, and the condemned men seated upon them. Their eyes were blindfolded, their
hands tied behind their backs and their feet fastened in front. The firing party comprised thirty-six men in all. eight being detailed to each of the condemned men, with twelve men as a reserve. The guns had been loaded at Di-
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vision headquarters, under the personal supervision of the Provost-Marshal of the Division, three rifles being left un- loaded. When the firing party received their rifles not one of them knew, therefore. whether his gun contained a blank cartridge or a ball. They marched with slow and measured step to the place of execution. the details com- prising the firing party taking their assigned position a short distance in front of the unfortunate men, the reserve being placed in position to the rear of the centre detail.
and Chaplain
The death sentence was then read. Beck, of the Thirteenth Regiment. of-
fered a short prayer. The officer in command of the the firing party gave the order, "Ready," every piece came to the proper position. and then omitting the word "aim " commanded " FIRE!" A sharp report followed. and three lifeless bodies fell backward upon their coffins. The troops were then marched past the graves and the men shudderingly looked upon the ghastly sight. Kru- bart's body was pierced by seven balls in the vicinity of the heart. No burial service was read. The bodies were placed in the coffins prepared for them, and at once con signed to mother earth.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Gettysburg Campaign-The Second March of the Regiment Through Maryland-Resignation of Hooker-Meade Appointed to Suc- ceed Him-Crossing the Pennsylvania Line-At Littlestown- The Battle of Gettysburg-On the Field of Battle-Defeat of Lee-A Reconnaissance with Kilpatrick's Cavalry.
W e left Leesburg on Friday, June 26th. crossing the Po- tomac at Edward's Ferry. and encamped for the night between Poolesville and Point of Rocks. The next day we crossed the Monocacy River. passed through Point of Rocks to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, along which we marched some distance, and then went through a tunnel which passed under it. taking the road for Petersville, near which we stopped for the night. Our route was in the di- rection of Crampton's Gap, and a report which gained cre- dence among the men. that we were to go to Harper's Ferry. thongh dispelled soon after. was much nearer the truth than such rumors generally proved to be. It was evidently Hooker's intention to make a strong demonstra- tion on Lee's line of communications, which had become greatly extended by crossing the Potomac, and with this view he ordered the Twelfth Corps. under General Slocum. to march to Harper's Ferry. Here Slocum was to be joined by the garrison of that post, eleven thousand strong. under General French, and the entire force was to menace the Confederate rear by a movement towards Chambersburg.
Swinton, page 321.
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The use of the troops at Harper's Ferry, though they had been placed under Hooker's control, was objected to by General Halleck. the General-in-chief, and a correspond- ence between him and Gen. Hooker at once ensued, which resulted in the resignation of Hooker, and the appointment of Gen. George G. Meade, to the command of the army. This occurred Sunday, the 28th of June. On that day, also. we left Petersville. and changing our course to a northeasterly direction, crossed Catoctin Creek, and the Catoctin range of mountains, encamping for the night near Frederick City. On Monday, the 29th. we entered Frederick. where we met with a hearty reception from the people. A large number of the young men from Frederick and vicinity were in the Union army, and belonged to a Brigade of Maryland troops, which formed part of the First Division of the Twelfth Corps. Taking the Baltimore Pike for some distance. the Regiment passed through Walkersville and Woodsborough, and encamped at night near Middleburgh. As we neared the Pennsylvania line the spirits of the men grew exultant. There was a nov- elty in the situation of affairs which affected the troops wonderfully. and increased their anxiety to meet the enemy on loyal territory. On the 30th of June we passed through the small towns of Bruceville and Tanevtown. at the latter place receiving a joyful welcome from the inhabitants who cheered us on. Our Brigade was in the advance this day. the Thirteenth being on the extreme right of the line. Just beyond Taneytown we passed part of the Third Corps, and when within two miles of Littlestown. Penn .. word was received that the enemy were marching upon that place. Our column at once halted, and the order to load rifles was passed down the line. Skirmishers were de- Floved. and we moved forward at a rapid pace until we rame in sight of the town. where we halted. Other troops came rapidly up. and when Battery . M." First New York Artillery, of our Division, came dashing down the road and into the town. the horses frothing at the mouth, and
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the sweat streaming from every pore by their violent exercise. the prospect of a battle was greatly heightened. A good deal of amusement was afforded the troops by the actions of a crowd of citizens who fled from the town, on hearing of the approach of the enemy, and took up position on a rail fence along the road. They seemed to fear that the "rebs " would prove too much for us, which accounted perhaps, for the celerity which actuated their movements. Our ar- rival in the town, however, was the cause of great rejoicing by the inhabitants, and from every house we received tokens of gratitude and delight in the shape of cooked provisions, biscuits, bread and butter, cakes; pies and other luxuries which were keenly relished.
Our Division remained at Littlestown all night and the next day until about two o'clock, when urgent orders were received to hasten forward as rapidly as possible to the support of Howard, who had become engaged with the en- emy at Gettysburg, some seven miles distant. This little- town was destined to attain world-wide renown, not from design on the part of the Generals of either army. but from circumstances purely accidental. Lee, after he had crossed the Potomac. pushed rapidly forward into Penn- sylvania with his whole force. Cutting loose from his sup- plies, he determined to live upon the country, and on reaching York levied a requisition on the citizens for immense quantities of food and clothing, and $100.000 in money. He obtained only about one-quarter of his de- mands. When the advance troops of the enemy. Ewell's Corps, had reached Carlisle, and Longstreet and Hill had entered Chambersburg, which took place on the 28th of June, Lee became aware of the fact that the Army of the Potomac was in a favorable position to cut him off' effect- ually from his supplies and isolate him in a hostile coun- try. He saw that the invasion was at an end and at once ordered his whole army to concentrate at Gettysburg. Our the morning of the 30th of June. Buford's Division of Fed- eral cavalry entered the town, and that night the First and
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Eleventh Corps halted within four miles of it. The next morning Buford advanced his troops in the direction from whence the enemy were marching, and crossing Seminary Ridge encountered A. P. Hill's Corps. Unlimbering the guns of his horse artillery, and deploying his troopers, he held the enemy in check for a brief period. when he was forced back to the crest of the ridge. The sound of his guns quickened the march of Reynolds, whose leading Division. under Wadsworth. 4,000 strong. was within a mile of Get- tysburg. These were soon formed. under fire, in line of bat- tle. The action had scarcely opened when Gen. Reynolds fell dead, shot through the head by a rifle ball. Gen. Double- day, who had come up to the scene. at once took command. The other two Divisions of Reynolds' Corps and the whole of Howard's Corps were yet far in the rear. This Division maintained the fight stubbornly for two hours. and was beginning to fall slowly back, when the two remain- ing Divisions came up, closely followed by Howard. Gen. Howard then assumed command of the field. The enemy also received heavy reinforcements about the same time. Pender's Division of Hill's Corps arrived from Chambersburg and Ewell from Carlisle. They struck Rob- inson's Division of the First Corps, but the attack was successfully resisted and three North Carolina regiments were captured. As the afternoon wore on Ewell's whole Corps and two-thirds that of Hill, fully 50,000 men, were steadily pressing upon the First and Eleventh Corps, who did not number more than 21.000 men. Howard sent back to Sickles for help, but he was only enabled to reach Gettysburg at night, by a forced march. when the battle was over. Gen. Meade was at Taneytown. fourteen miles distant, when he learned that a battle was in progress. He dispatched Gen. Hancock to Gettysburg with instruc- tions to assume command, and decide whether the force there should fall back to Pipe Creek-Meade's proposed line of battle-or whether the whole army should concentrate at that place. When Hancock arrived upon the field, the
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First and Eleventh Corps were falling back through the town of Gettysburg, caused by a general advance of the enemy. Rodes's Brigade of the enemy, broke through the Union centre, carrying away the right of the First Corps and the left of the Eleventh. Gen. Early launched forward his troops and captured five thousand prisoners. mostly of the Eleventh Corps. Hancock at once took in the situation, and proceeded to stem the tide of retreat. He posted the remnant of the two corps on the ridge of Get tysburg. and then, assisted by Generals Howard. Warren and Buford, disposed his preliminary line of battle as follows: Cemetery Hill, was already partially held by Howard's troops. On the right of these, and occupying the important position on Culps' Hill. was placed Wads- worth's Division of the First Corps, and his line com- pletely commanded the approaches from the town of Get- tysburg. now held by Ewell. The remaining two Divisions of the First Corps under General Doubleday were posted on the left of the Eleventh, along Cemetery Ridge, and Geary's. Division of the Twelfth Corps (Slocum) just then arriving. was ordered by Hancock to the high ground on the right of Wadsworth. Towards six o'clock our Division (Gen. Williams's of the Twelfth Corps), came up, having been urgently summoned by Gen. Howard during the afternoon. The command of the field now devolved upon General Slocum, our Corps commander, and Hancock having or- dered all the trains to the rear, returned to Gen. Meade at Taneytown.
The march of our Division from Littlestown to the bat- tle-field was made in great haste. with scarcely a halt. Everywhere along the road we received grateful welcome. and in front of every house large buckets and tubs were kept constantly full of fresh cool water. The women of this part of Pennsylvania were not merely patriotic. they were courageous and enthusiastic. We passed several women, within hearing distance of the noise of battle. whose homes had been rendered untenable, and they
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stopped on the road to encourage the troops by waving their handkerchiefs. and in other ways manifesting their pleasure at the arrival of the army. The marching was severe. The last two miles. before we arrived on the field of battle, the column was moving at a rapid gait, almost a double-quick, and a number of men fell out exhausted from fatigue and overcome by the heat. As soon as we reached the scene of action the Thirteenth Regiment was sent upon the skirmish line, and later was ordered to sup- port Battery "M." in which position we remained during the night. Early on the morning of the second of of July we moved farther to the right, on Culp's Hill, and threw up a temporary line of breast-works, as an attack was momentarily expected. Ewell deployed his line around the base of the Hill, and the movement at once attracted the attention of General Meade who determined to assume the initiative at this point. and directed General Slocum to attack the enemy with the Twelfth, Fifth and Sixth Corps. The Sixth Corps had not yet reached the battle-field and the movement was delayed. At ten o'clock orders were sent to Slocum to attack without longer delay. Gen. Slocum, after a careful view of the ground. reported it un- favorable for an advance. and this decision being endorsed by Gen. Warren. Chief-engineer, who also examined the position, the movement was abandoned. About two o'clock the Sixth Corps came up. having marched from Manches- ter. a distance of thirty-five miles.
When the Third Corps was directed to take position on the left of the Second Corps. on Cemetery Ridge, Gen. Sickles observed a more favorable position, he thought. some four or five hundred yards in advance. and accordingly moved his corps up to the erest along the Emmettsburg Road. He disposed his forces as follows: Gen. Hum- phreys's Division along the road, joined on the left by Gra- ham's Brigade of Birney's Division, which carried the line to a peach orchard. The brigades of De Trobriand and Ward were refused from the ridge and stretched obliquely back
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through a low ground of woods, a wheat-field and another piece of woods, towar Is Round Top, in front of which the left flank rested. Gen. Meade did not know of this dis- position of Sickles's forces until four o'clock in the after- noon. at which time Longstreet. under cover of a powerful artillery fire. made a desperate charge on that part of the corps. which stretched back from the peach orchard to the Round Tops. Hood. at the same time, moved up between the extreme left of Sickles and Round Top. It happened very fortunately that just at this time Gen. Warren, Chief- engineer, happened to be at Little Round Top. the summit of which had been used as a signal station. Realizing the importance of the position, he signaled for troops to hasten to that point. Gen. Barnes's Division of the Fifth Corps, which had been ordered up to Sickles's relief, reached the vicinity about this time, and Gen. Warren detailed Vin- cent's Brigade from this detachment and hurried it up to the position. Hazlitt's Battery was also planted on the summit. Before Vincent's men had time to load Hood's forces met them near the summit. and then ensued one of the fiercest hand-to-hand struggles ever witnessed. Vin- cent's Brigade was composed of the Sixteenth Michigan, Forty-fourth New York. Eighty third Pennsylvania and Twentieth Maine Regiments. For half an hour the battle was waged at close quarters. bayonets being crossed and muskets used as clubs. The enemy struggled desperately. and, working their way up the ravine, succeeded in turning Vincent's left flank. He at once ordered a bayonet charge by Col. Chamberlain's Maine Regiment, and the enemy was driven off. Colonel Vincent was killed during the fight. as was also General Weed and Hazlitt. While this en- gagement was in progress part of Hood's Corps, and McLaws's Division of Longstreet's Corps. assailed Birney's line with great vigor. compelling Gen. Sick -- les to call for reinforcements immediately. It was in response to this request that Gen. Barnes's Division of the Fifth Corps had been thrown out in support. at the time
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Vincent's Brigade was detailed to hold Little Round Top. Two other Brigades of this Division was sent to the sup- port of Birney, and also a Brigade from Humphreys's Divis- ion of the Third Corps. The heaviest pressure of the hos- tile attack fell upon that exposed portion of the line where it made an angle at the peach orchard, which point was held by eight regiments belonging to Birney's and Hum- phreys's Divisions. The assault of the enemy terminated successfully after a stubborn conflict.
At this period of the battle Caldwell's Division of Han- cock's Corps (the Second) was detached and ordered in to check the advance of the enemy, and recover the lost ground. The attempt proved unsuccessful, Caldwell event- ually being forced back after a frightful sacrifice of one- half of his Division. When this part of the line had been forced back. the enemy advanced upon Humphreys's posi- tion, whose left was greatly exposed, and the right of which was thrown out of line. Two regiments from Gib- bons's Division, and Willard's Brigade were sent to the sup . port of Humphreys, but the enemy converted their move- ment into a real attack and succeeded in forcing Hum- phreys back. Gen. Sickles was severely wounded in this engagement, losing a leg. and Hancock took charge of the Third Corps in addition to his own. The situation was now critical. Humphreys stubbornly contested every inch of ground, suffering frightful losses. The enemy ad- vanced up to the base of the crest. and unless they could now be held in check. the whole army was in danger. The First Minnesota Regiment came up just at this opportune time, and by a spirited charge drove back a force of the enemy and captured its colors. The line being still incom- plete, Stannard's Brigade was brought up. and Gen. Meade led forward in person two regiments of Lockwood's Brig- ade of Maryland troops from our First Division, which were placed on the left. A counter-charge on the enemy was then made, who easily gave way.
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While these movements were in progress, we lay on the right of the line on Culp's Hill. Sharp picket firing was kept up with Ewell's troops during the day, and every head that was visible in the enemy's line received a shot from our breastworks. The severe conflict at Little Round Topand the attack on the Third Corps were distinctly audible. and when, late in the afternoon. orders were received for us to move to the support of the troops engaged in recovering the ground lost by Sickles, it was generally believed our turn to meet the enemy had arrived. We moved out of the works. which were left in charge of Gen. Greene's Brigade, and formed a new line of battle with Doubleday's and Robin- son's Divisions of the First Corps. On Gen. Greene de- volved an important and perilous duty-that of holding the line thus weakened by the removal of Geary's and Wil- liams's Divisions of the Twelfth Corps, with his Brigade. Had Ewell carried out the orders given him. to make vig- orous demonstrations on Cemetery and Culp's Hills early in the morning while Longstreet engaged Sickles, this part of our line would not. in all probability, have been weakened. He delayed his movement, however, until sunset, after we had taken up position as above mentioned, when he made a vig- orous attack upon Cemetery Hill. occupied by Howard. and on Culp's Hill, held by Wadsworth's Division of the First Corps, and Greene's Brigade of the Twelfth. To Early's Division was assigned the task of carrying the former.
while to Johnson was given the latter duty. Opening on Cemetery Hill with a powerful artillery fire. Ewell followed it by ordering both Divisions forward. As Early defiled from the town he encountered the fire of Stevens's Battery. but he pushed boldly on, when twenty guns from the Union lire opened a fierce fire upon his troops with telling effect. beating back their left and centre. The right of Early's line. however, under cover of the houses, succeeded in penetrating the Federal position, and pushed completely through one battery and into another. The cannoneers stood well to their guns and when no longer
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able to hold them, fought with handspikes, rammers and even stones. Howard's troops were considerably shaken by the assault; but the firmness of the artillery and the opportune arrival of Carroll's Brigade of the Second Corps, repulsed the attack. General Johnson, to whom was given the task of assaulting Culp's Hill, moved up the ravine formed by Rock Creek, and took position in front of the breastworks vacated by the First and Second Divisions of the Twelfth Corps, which had been ordered to the support of the centre of the main line. Gen. Greene, whose Bri- gade alone now occupied the works, stretched his troops in a thin line along the vacant position, to resist the ene- my's advance. Johnson pushed forward his whole line and succeeded in penetrating the extreme right, getting possession of our works, which his forces held all night. During the night Johnson was reinforced and he gave orders for an advance movement the next morning. In this he was checkmated . by the prompt action of General Meade.
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