USA > New York > History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. -- N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N. Y. Volunteers.) 1845-1888 > Part 25
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According to Pleasonton's instructions, Buford had occu- pied Gettysburg, but, owing to his encountering several bodies of the enemy, he was delayed, and did not reach the town till evening. He at once pushed his pickets out on the Cham- bersburg and Mummasburg roads-west and northwest of the town -- to warn him of the approach of the enemy, while his main force was posted on the ridge about a mile and a half west of the town. Circumstances were driving Meade to fight a battle on ground other than he intended. During the night Reynolds was informed of Buford's position, and he deter- mined to push on to his support early in the morning.
268
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
CHAPTER XV.
THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN (Concluded.)
The First of July .- The Enemy's Advance Encounters Buford's Cavalry .- General Reynolds Goes to the Front .- The First Gun .-- Robinson's Division Reaches the Field .- Topography of the First Day's Battle-Field .- Death of General Rey- nolds .- General Howard Assumes Command of the Troops Engaged .- The New Line of Battle .- The NINTH Engaged .- Capture of Iverson's Brigade .- Ammunition from the Cartridge Boxes of Dead Comrades .- The Eleventh Corps Driven Back .-- The First Corps Retires .- General Doubleday's Account .- Ceme- tery Hill .- Hancock on the Field .- Battle-Field of Second and Third Days .--- Confederate Account of Artillery Fire, and Pickett's Charge .- The Union Line of Battle .- Cushing's Battery .- Stannard's Vermonters .- Armistead Reaches the Stone Wall .- A Hand-to-Hand Encounter .- Repulse of the Enemy .- Death of Cushing .- Colonel Devereaux's Account .- Colonel Coulter and His Color Bearer. -The NINTH on Picket .- Retreat of Lee's Army .- The Losses.
BY daylight of Wednesday, July Ist, the enemy were pressing towards Gettysburg, and when Heth's division of Hill's corps encountered Buford's skirmishers advancing to meet them, the latter halted and formed line of battle. At six o'clock General Reynolds had started off with Wadsworth's First division of the First corps, leaving Doubleday to follow as rapidly as possible with the other two. About eight o'clock the NINTH fell into line, and the column was soon marching along the Emmetsburg Pike. At nine o'clock the first gun " was heard. Thus opened the memorable and bloody battle. Soon the discharge of artillery became frequent, and the familiar sound served to quicken the steps of the men of the Second division, which at that time happened to be in the rear. Upon nearing the Codori House, about a mile and a half from the town, the column broke to the left of the Pike and marched through the fields and by-roads parallel with Seminary Ridge, until the Lutheran Seminary building was reached. It was then about eleven o'clock.
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269
THE FIRST CORPS HOLDS THE FIELD.
Run, a small stream which flows nearly south. A quarter of a mile nearer the town, and parallel with the stream, is a ridge, upon which Buford's cavalry and Wadsworth's infantry division, and also the Third division of the First corps, were then contending with the enemy. A quarter of a mile still nearer the town, and just three-quarters of a mile from the central square, was Seminary Ridge, which takes its name from the Lutheran Seminary located there. When the Sec- ond division reached the Seminary it was ordered to halt and intrench.
Meanwhile, a severe battle had been fought between the greatly superior force of the enemy and the Union troops upon the ridge above mentioned. General Reynolds had been killed, and the Union troops were being pressed back to the position occupied by the Second division. Under General Robinson's direction a slight barricade of rails had been thrown up, crescent-shaped, just west of the Seminary. General Howard had reached the field in advance of his corps, the Eleventh, and, on being informed of Reynolds' death, assumed .command of the troops engaged. He sent back orders hurrying up the Eleventh, the advance division of which, under General Schim- melpfennig, reached the ground about an hour after Robinson. Howard posted Schimmelpfennig's and Barlow's divisions of the Eleventh to cover the Newville road on the north, and the Harrisburg road northeast, along which the enemy, under Ewell, was advancing, and left Steinwehr's division as a reserve on Cemetery Hill.
When the troops of the two corps, which were to form the line of battle, had reached the positions assigned them, it was found that a serious gap existed between the right of the First and the left of the Eleventh. This being reported to General Doubleday, he called upon General Robinson to fill the gap.
The Eleventh Pennsylvania and Ninety-seventh New York did not halt with the brigade, but had been sent out towards the front line; the balance of the brigade was soon moved forward to patch out the line. This brought the NINTH into the fight. Leaving General Paul with his-First-
270.
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
brigade at the Seminary, Robinson and staff hurried after Bax- ter. . Meanwhile, the brigade had been posted by its com- mander in the edge of a strip of woods along the Mummas- burg Pike, and facing north, in order to oppose the enemy, who were advancing on his right flank.
But there was yet a wide gap between it and the right of Cutler's brigade of the Third division. At the moment of Robinson's arrival he noticed the advance of a body of the enemy towards this open space, which, if unopposed, would penetrate to the left and rear of Baxter's line. Directing Baxter to change front to meet this pressing emergency, Robin- son sent back for Paul's brigade, and, upon its arrival, placed it to oppose the enemy, which he now saw about to form on Oak Hill, at the north end of Seminary Ridge, and less than a quarter of a mile distant from the Pike.
Baxter had- hardly time to form his new line, facing west, with the Ninetieth Pennsylvania on the right, and across the Pike, its right refused to face the enemy on Oak Hill, from which point O'Neill's brigade of Rode's division, Ewell's corps, was then advancing. The NINTHI was on the right cen- , ter of the brigade line. Fortunately for the command, a stone fence in front afforded some protection, and behind this the men awaited the advance of Iverson's brigade-also of Ewell's corps. The stone wall along the Pike protected the line some- what from an enfilading fire from O'Neill's command, but that danger was soon averted by the arrival of Paul's brigade, which also relieved the Ninetieth Pennsylvania from the double duty of guarding its right and rear at the same time. Iverson's brigade was allowed to approach within close musket range. The men seemed unaware of Baxter's line behind the stone wall, until the order was given, " Up men, and fire!"
Rarely has such a destructive volley been fired on any field of battle. General Doubleday says that this well aimed, deliberate volley, left over five hundred dead and wounded upon the field, and so demoralized the others that they gave themselves up as prisoners. The volley certainly strewed the field with dead and wounded, but it was the charge immedi-
.
271
1863
BAXTER'S BRIGADE ENGAGED.
ately ordered by General Baxter, that produced the greatest demoralization, and caused the surrender of most of the pris- oners. As soon as the enemy received the volley of musketry they fell back to the cover of a ravine, or ditch, a short dis- tance to the rear, and it was there that Baxter's men found them huddled up in great confusion ; they all surrendered, but during the excitement the remnants of one regiment slipped away, under cover of the bushes. Nearly two hundred men, and three battle flags were brought in.
Of this movement, General Baxter says in his report :
The brigade opened on the advancing foe a most deadly fire, soon causing them to recoil and give way. Another line immediately took the place of that repulsed. and this time they appeared on our right flank, making it necessary for the Ninetieth Pennsylvania, Colonel Iyle, to change front to meet them, which they did in perfect order, receiving, meanwhile, a severe fire. Again the lines were repulsed and again reenforced. The Ninety-seventh New York, Colonel Wheelock ; Eighty-third New York, Lieutenant-Colonel Moesch ; and Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, Major Foust ; made a charge, capturing many prisoners ; the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania caking two · battle flags, and the Ninety-seventh New York one from the enemy. The Twelfth Massachusetts had a galling fire on the flank of this brigade at this time, which, I think, had a great influence on its surrender. We were relieved by the First brigade of the Second division, having been engaged over two hours, having suffered severely and expended our ammunition.
As the brigade was making its way back to the stone wall with the prisoners, Ramseur's brigade was hurrying to the support of Iverson's, and a part of Baxter's men were obliged to about face and repell the new assault. Ammunition was getting scarce, and just as the men of the NINTH had ex- hausted theirs, Paul's brigade came to their relief. Cartridges, found in the boxes of the dead and wounded, supplied the NINTH with a few rounds, and the regiment was soon in con- dition to continue the battle. The brigade was now ordered to the support of Stewart's battery.
It must be borne in mind that when the First corps entered the field it mustered not more than eight thousand men. For hours this small force had been contending with, and holding at by over thirty thousand of the enemy, and as the Confederates crowded upon the flanks of each brigade- there were not men enough to form a continuous line and
July
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
272 .
cover all the front of the enemy-General Doubleday saw that unless speedily reenforced, he would be compelled to retire. As the moments passed and no help arrived, he began to be anxious about the safety of his artillery, many of the horses having been killed and not enough left to haul off the pieces. -- Repeated requests to Howard brought no relief, while the men were being sacrificed. Out of two thousand five hundred men, the First division had lost sixteen hundred and sixty-seven.
About four o'clock the troops of the Eleventh corps gave way, and this necessitated the falling back of the First.
'General Doubleday says :
What was left of the First corps, after all this slaughter, rallied on Seminary Ridge. Many of the men entered a semi-circle rail intrenehment, which I had caused to be thrown up early in the day, and held that for a time by lying down and firing over the pile of rails. The enemy were now closing in on us from the south, west and north, and still no orders came for us to retreat. * Although the Confederates advanced in such force, our men still made strong resistance around the Seminary, and by the aid of our artillery, which was most effective, beat back and almost destroyed the first line of Scales' brigade, (Pender's division of Hill's corps) wounding both Scales and Pender. The former states that he arrived within seventy-five feet of the guns, and adds: "Here the fire was most severe. Every field officer but one was killed or wounded. The brigade halted in some confusion to return this fire." * * Rob- inson was forced back toward the Seminary, but halted, notwithstanding the pressure upon him, and formed line to save Stewart's Fourth U. S. battery, north of the rail- road cut, which had remained too long, and was in danger of being captured. * * * As the enemy was closing in upon us, and erashes of musketry came from our right and left, I had little hope of saving my guns, but I threw my headquarters' guard, under Captain Glenn, of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, into the Seminary and kept the right of Scales' brigade back twenty minutes longer, while their left was held by Baxter's brigade of Robinson's division, enabling the few remaining troops, ambulances, and artillery to retreat in comparative safety. Buford's cavalry also assisted materially in stemming the enemy's advance.
Cemetery Hill was the rallying point for the infantry and artillery, and to this point the Eleventh corps and the rem- nants of the First made their way. There was more or less confusion during the retreat through the town, and large num- bers of the Union troops were captured. Among the prison- ers were many from the NINTH who were overtaken by the pursuing enemy. There had been but the mere skeleton of 2
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273
1863
BATTLE GROUND OF THE SECOND AND THIRD.
regiment taken into action, and when the regiment arrived on Cemetery Hill and a roll call was had, it was found that eighty- two failed to respond to their names. How many of these were killed or wounded it was then impossible to tell. Details of losses are given at the end of this chapter.
When Cemetery Hill was reached it was learned that Gen- eral Hancock was there, in command of the field, and that the necessary preparations had been made to hold that position until the rest of the army should arrive. Upon Cemetery Ridge it had been decided to mass the troops and continue the great battle of the campaign. The ridge, beginning at the point called Cemetery Hill, runs south from the town, and parallel with Seminary Ridge. For about a mile it is quite clearly defined, then the ground slopes down nearly to the level of the plain, but soon rises again and forms the elevation of Little Round Top, the summit of which is a little over two miles distant from Cemetery Hill. A little less than half a mile south of Little Round Top is a higher elevation, called Round Top. Standing on Cemetery Hill, and facing the town, the ridge breaks sharp to the east and south, and about a mile distant is Culp's Hill, at the eastern base of which runs Rock Creek, the general course of which is south. South of Culp's Hill is a less elevated point called Steven's Hill, whose southern slope is drained by a small brook emptying into Rock Creek at Spangler's Spring. The crest of the ridge thus de- scribed has been likened in form to a fish hook-Cemetery Ridge forming the shaft, Cemetery Hill the bend, and Culp's Hill and Steven's Hill the barbed end.
The Eleventh corps had been posted on Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill, and as the First corps arrived, Wadsworth's division was sent as a support to Culp's Hill, and Robinson's to a point on Cemetery Ridge near Ziegler's Grove. At about five o'clock Baxter's brigade, now reduced to about six hun- dred, was placed near to and parallel with the Emmetsburg road, and the men lost no time in throwing up temporary breastworks. The Third division-again under command of Doubleday, General John Newton having been assigned to the
À
274
July
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
command of the corps-occupied the Cemetery. By six o'clock the Twelfth corps was up, and nearly all the Third, and Gen- eral Slocum, now in command of the field-Hancock having gone back to report to General Meade-felt that the position was secure. Stannard's Vermont brigade, composed of new troops, joined the First corps late in the afternoon, and was assigned to Doubleday's division.
Daylight of the 2nd revealed the enemy occupying Semi- nary Ridge -- the town-and with their left flank extended to a point opposite Culp's Hill. General Meade had arrived dur- ing the night. The Second corps began to put in an appear- ance shortly after sunrise. The Fifth and Sixth corps were yet some distance away, but marching rapidly towards the bat- tle-field. About ten o'clock Robinson's division was relieved by the Second division-General Gibbon-of the Second corps, Webb's brigade taking the place of Baxter's. The bri- gade only retired a short distance to the rear of the line, where the men were enabled to boil a cup of coffee.
When Meade had completed his inspection of the ground, his first thought was to attack the Confederate left, which had been prolonged till it enveloped the castern base of Culp's Hill, but, upon the advice of Generals Slocum and Warren, the latter of whom was the Chief Engineer of the army, he aban- doned that plan and ordered an attack on Lee's right. We cannot here enter into the details of the heroic fight made by the Third corps under Sickles, supported by other portions of the army, at the Peach Orchard, Wheat Field, and Devil's Den ; nor of the defense of the Round Tops ; or of the bat- tle fought by the Eleventh and Twelfth corps at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill.
Shortly after daylight the enemy opened with artillery, but there was little infantry firing until the Twelfth corps advanced to drive Johnson's division from their lines. To assist the move- ment Baxter's brigade, with others, was sent, at about ten o'clock, to the support of the Twelfth corps. By noon the ground had been regained and at one in the afternoon the
275
1863
THE BATTLES OF THE SECOND.
division was sent over to the support of the batteries on the right of Cemetery Hill.
At four o'clock in the afternoon Baxter's brigade was ordered a short distance to the right in support of a battery of the Eleventh corps, and while in that position was subjected to a heavy artillery fire and the bullets of the enemy's sharpshooters. Remaining there until six o'clock, the brigade was then hurried off to the left to support one of the divisions of the Third corps, then sorely pressed. While moving into position a few men were killed and wounded by the enemy's artillery fire. Throwing out a line of skirmishers the brigade advanced a short distance, but the enemy had fallen back at that point. It was now dusk and the brigade was recalled and sent back to the support of a portion of the line held by the Eleventh corps, and near the position occupied while in support of the battery in the after- noon. Here it remained for the night.
At the close of the day the Union troops-with the excep- tion of those at the Round Tops-had been driven from the advanced positions taken early in the day, but their line, not- withstanding the terrible losses sustained, was stronger and more compact when night ended the carnage. Johnson's divis- ion of Ewell's corps had made the most serious breach in the defensive line, having crossed Rock Creek and penetrated the works of the Twelfth corps. The weather, during the early part of the day, had been cloudy, with light showers, but later it was clear and warm.
Lee had made two attempts to pierce the Union line-on the right and on the left-and had failed in both ; but he determined to make one more effort, and elecided to attack the center. He could hardly afford, after having entered upon a campaign of invasion, to retreat without fighting a decisive battle. All his troops, except Pickett's division of Longstreet's corps, had been engaged during the battles of the ist and 2nd, and to Pickett -- with his three brigades of Virginians, under Generals Garnett, Armistead and Kemper -- was assigned the
2 76
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
advance. This column was to be strongly supported on both flanks by other divisions.
General Hancock had been entrusted with the command of the Union center, defended by the Eleventh, Second, First and Third corps, in the order named, from the right. During the forenoon the enemy had been making the necessary prepara- tions for the assault.
About daylight of the 3rd the NINTH moved with the bri- gade to the same position occupied the previous afternoon in support of a battery of the Eleventh corps
An opportunity is now given to know what took place at that time behind the Confederate line, and from their stand- point to witness the supreme effort.
Colonel Owen, in The Washington Artillery, says :
At one-thirty P. M. this note was brought by a courier to Colonel Walton, as we were sitting on our horses in a grove of oaks on the Emmetsburg Pike, opposite the Peach Orchard.
HEADQUARTERS, July 3, 1863.
COLONEL :- Let the batteries open ; order great care and precision in firing. If the batteries at the Peach Orchard cannot be used against the point we intend attack- ing, let them open on the Rocky Hill.
Most respectfully, J. LONGSTREET, Lieut .- Gen. Commanding. To Col. WALTON, Chief of Artillery :
Instantly orders were given to Major Eshleman (commanding the Washington Artillery) to fire the signal guns, which was done ; and then began the most furious cannonade the world ever saw. The one hundred and thirty-seven Confederate guns were belching fire upon the enemy's lines, who replied with eighty guns more. Our batteries fired nearly two hours, when the enemy's guns suddenly slackened their fire, ¿until they hardly returned shot for shot.
Soon all was still as death itself. It was but the calm before the storm. Pickett's division, heroes of many battles, had been lying down during the cannonade. They now arose and dressed their lines, the men fully comprehending the serious work he- fore them. Many were heard bidding good-by to comrades a few files from them.
Upon a signal from Colonel Alexander, who had been observing the effect of the artillery fire upon the enemy, under the direction of General Longstreet, the whole line moved forward out of the woods in common time. They had nearly a mile of open plain to cross in full sight of the enemy, and in range of his artillery, which had opened again, and to ascend the Cemetery Hill and attack the works thereon.
Steadily they moved forward. McDonald's charge at Wagram was eclipsed. The enemy were in their ranks, and, from behind stone fences, poured a storm of lead into them. Men fell by scores. Still on they pressed without faltering. Heth's division, commanded by General Pettigrew, now emerged from the woods in eckelon,
277
CONFEDERATE ACCOUNTS.
1863
going to Pickett's support They went in steadily at first for the purpose, but soon we're shaken by the storm of shot and shell that met them. Presently a small column of the enemy emerged from the woods and began to form on their flank. The men saw it, wavered, stopped, and then fell back in a panic, getting terribly punished as they did so. In vain were all efforts to stop them. Longstreet, who had seen the threatening move, sent Latrobe to warn General Pettigrew, but the rout had com- menced before he could meet him. His horse was shot under him as he rode across the plain. Pickett, whose men were now well in, and in the flush of victory they deserved, galloped down and implored the men to rally. Many other officers did the same; but it was all in vain. It was a panic such as will at times strike the best and bravest troops, and no efforts could induce them to form anew while under the terrific storm of fire. The division lost frightfully, but the worst effect was that Pickett's men, who had behaved so gloriously, were now left to fight alone against overwhelming odds.
Colonel Walter Harrison, of Pickett's staff, in his interest- ing volume, Pickett's Men, in describing the scene at its cul- mination, says :
The enemy again opened fresh batteries, at short range, which had been reserved for this moment, and their infantry, from behind their sheltered position, poured a destructive fire of musketry right into the faces of the men as they rushed up their breastworks. *
Like a narrow wedge, driven into a solid column of oak, they soon broke through the outer barrier of resistance, crushed in an inner rind of defence, and penetrated even to the heart. They touched the vital point ; they made the life blood flow. They stretched out a hand to grasp a victory at that moment ; but alas ! the blood-red hand was not sufficiently strong. It was fierce to seize, but too feeble to retain. The nerve and spirit to strike was there ; but the force to hold was impotent.
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