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 26
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While the Confederates were hurling the bolts of death from nearly one hundred and fifty guns, room could be found for but eighty pieces on Cemetery Ridge, but these eighty replied with good effect, until the ammunition, running low, General Henry J. Hunt, the Chief of Artillery, ordered the firing to cease, well knowing that he would have need of the remaining cartridges to fire grape and canister at the enemy's infantry when they should advance. The fire of so many pieces of artillery had cleared Cemetery Ridge of all save the men who lay in their ranks, behind stone walls, and such rude defences as they had hastily constructed. The artillery suf- fered severely, some of the batteries having to be replaced after the cannonade ceased. Caissons were blown up, and horses killed by the score. The infantry suffered but little,
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and were not in the least demoralized by the terrible storm of shot and shell that fell all about them.
During this time Baxter's brigade was subjected to the storm of the battle, and many were the grim jokes uttered during its continuance. As boys in the dark sometimes whis- tle to keep their courage up, soldiers, when under fire and una- ble to reply in kind, manage to comfort and cheer each other in passing remarks upon the enemy's marksmanship.
When the artillery ceased firing, the men in the ranks coolly and quietly completed their preparations to meet the onset of the Confederate infantry. Extra cartridges had been provided, and many of the men laid out little piles of them in convenient places. There was no excitement ; but a grim determination to hold their ground or die at their post. It was not known upon what point of the line the bolt would fall-perhaps it would be a grand advance of the enemy's whole line ! But all doubt was soon set aside. From over the ridge at the Emmetsburg road came a division, apparently of three brigades, of five regiments each, and advanced steadily in column of brigade front. When this leading col- umn had got well into the plain, the supporting divisions- one on each flank -- were noticed following. From ten to fifteen thousand men were moving towards the Union line, threatening to strike it like a wedge, and with force enough to break through all obstacles !
General Hunt, meanwhile, had placed fresh batteries along the line, with full limber-chests and caissons, and the Union troops waited with confidence the issue of the conflict.
As the Second and Third divisions of the Second, and the Third division of the First corps, were destined to receive and repulse the attack, let us see how their ranks were formed : On the right, and resting on the Emmetsburg road, in front of Ziegler's Grove, was Hay's Third division of the Second corps, Colonel Smyth's brigade on the left of the division, its left (Fourteenth Connecticut) joining-except for an interval, occupied in rear of the line of infantry by Arnold's battery --- the right of the Second division. The Second division was
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BATTLE OF THE THIRD.
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under the command of General Harrow-Gibbon, its permanent commander-being temporarily in command of the corps. General Alexander Webb's command, the Sixty-ninth, Seventy- first, Seventy-second, and One Hundred and Sixth Pennsyl- vania, was Harrow's right brigade ; then came Colonel Hall's brigade, and next Morrow's brigade, under Colonel Heath.
On Heath's left was the Third division of the First corps, under General Doubleday. The First division of the Second corps was on Doubleday's left. Woodruff's, Arnold's, Cush- ing's, Cowan's and Rorty's batteries were posted along Hay's and Harrow's front. Hay's division and Webb's brigade were behind a low stone wall. Cushing's pieces were in rear of Webb. But few of the guns of the batteries named had any- thing but grape and canister to use, having expended their long-range projectiles during the cannonade.
While engaged in the artillery duel the guns of Cushing's battery-A, Fourth U. S. Artillery -- were posted in rear of the left wing of the Seventy-first and right of the Sixty-ninth, who occupied the front line behind the stone wall. The Seventy-second Pennsylvania was in rear of the battery. As the Confederate divisions were advancing to the assault, Cush- ing ran his six guns down to the stone wall, thereby compel- ling the left wing of the Seventy-first and right of the Sixty- ninth Pennsylvania to fall back behind his pieces. The muz- zles of the guns now pointed over and beyond the stone wall.
When the enemy came within grape range, Cushing's guns had full play, and the men of the two regiments, which he had displaced, were thankful that they were in no danger from the canister cases, which, had the pieces been fired from their rear, would doubtless have injured many, as would also the flame and grains of unburned powder-so close were they to the muzzles of the guns in their original position. The artillery and infantry, to the right and left of Gibbon's division, also opened upon Pickett's supports ; the men of Hay's division- Smyth's brigade especially-being close enough to pour in a destructive fire.
But through this decimating storm the assaulting column
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pressed on up the gentle slope, the point of the wedge aimed at Webb's brigade of Pennsylvanians. As the enemy comes within two hundred yards the infantry pour their volleys of musketry into the advancing column. Picketts' right support -- Wilcox's division-owing to some blunder, has failed to con- nect properly with the leading troops, and a wide gap opens between them. Into this gap Stannard's brigade of Ver- monters, and the Twentieth New York State militia (Soth vols.) and One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania (under command of Colonel Theodore B. Gates of the Twentieth) of Doubleday's division, are pushed out to the front and perpen- dicular to the Union line, and fire into Picketts' right flank, thereby forcing his men to crowd towards the left and center of the advancing column, and producing more or less confu- sion in their ranks. Colonel Gates follows up the stricken flank and continues to make it interesting for the enemy, while General Stannard turned his attention to Wilcox. Some accounts say-in fact General Stannard himself so described the movement-that he counter-marched two regi- ments of his brigade by the left, and brought the lines to face the left flank of Wilcox who, by this time, had begun to fire at Caldwell's First division of the Second corps, which occu- pied a position on Doubleday's left. This bold movement was entirely successful; the Vermonters poured such a destructive fire into the unprotected flank of the enemy that Wilcox was compelled to retreat in confusion.
The head of Pickett's division, had, by this time, become much shattered by the destructive fire of artillery and infantry, and General Armistead-commanding the rear bri- gade when the division first started-had surged to the front ; a crowd follows him, straight for Webb's front and Cushing's guns; he reaches the stone wall ; Cushing's gunners, now behind and between their guns, are using handspikes, sabres and sponge-staffs, while the men of the Sixty-ninth and Seven- ty-first Pennsylvania are mixed up with the artillerists in a hand-to-hand fight with the enemy, whose colors crown the stone wall. Webb hurriedly re-formed the men of these two
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PICKETTS' CHARGE.
regiments, who have fallen further back up the slope, and, with the Seventy-second Pennsylvania, who had been posted in rear of the front line, moves forward to repulse the attack. At the same time, two regiments of Hall's brigade-the Nine- teenth Massachusetts-Colonel Devereaux -- and the Forty- second (Tammany) New York-Colonel Mallon -- under com- mand of the former, and who had been in the rear of the other two regiments of the brigade, move forward through and to the right of the "copse of trees," and add their fire in aid of Webb. Armistead had fallen just as he reached the stone wall, and in front of the muzzle of No. 3 gun of Cushing's battery. His brave followers also crowd up to the wall, and across this line Union and Confederate fight desperately for the mastery. It is the supreme moment ! Who shall yield? Victory to those who shall move forward! A cheer -- a rush-and the Boys in Blue crowd towards the stone wall! The battle is won !
Then Pickett, who had so proudly said to Longstreet: " I shall lead my division for- ward, Sir !" when he reached the ridge his men had so gallantly charged, had but to look around him to see that the ground could not be held. His supports all gone, his men falling around him, his trusted Generals, Garnett, Armistead, and Kemper, and all the field officers dead, or wounded unto death, his men fighting over the guns with clubbed muskets and banner staves, the enemy in front and on each flank, and crowd- ing upon them in overwhelming numbers, he threw away his empty pistol, and, with his great soldier heart almost bursting, gave the order for his remaining braves to fall back. (Colonel Owen in The Washington Artillery, page 251.)
A great diversity of opinion still exists respecting the move- ments and positions of the opposing forces at this particular time-and in this particular part of the line of battle. It has been written that the enemy, led by Armistead, who sprang over the stone wall waving his cap upon the point of his sword, crowded into the space between the copse of trees and the angle of the stone wall, and reached nearly to the crest of the ridge. It has also been written that just before the enemy reached the stone wall, Cushing, mortally wounded, and with his bowels protruding, was working one of his guns; and that as Pickett's advance came close to the stone wall Cushing ran
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
his last serviceable gun down to the wall and called out to Webb that he would fire one shot more, and as the piece was discharged said "good-by" and fell dead. There is no one but admires bravery-even recklessness is condoned-upon the bat- tle field, but when old soldiers read such romantic and glow- ing accounts they are apt to turn up their eyes, shake their heads and say-bosh !
In some of the maps representing the line covered by Webb's brigade, three of Cushing's guns are shown close to the stone wall, while the others are up near the top of the ridge in front of the Seventy-second Pennsylvania. Captain Frederick Fuger, Fourth U. S. Art., was First Sergeant of Cushing's bat- tery during the battle. In reply to a letter written him by an artist who was painting the death of Cushing, and which letter the artist published in Stout and Mail, in December, 1885, Captain Fuger is quoted as saying :
On the morning of July 3, 1863, Battery A occupied a position with their six guns about one hundred and fifty feet from the stone wall, which was directly in front, and we kept that position until the artillery duel ceased on both sides. After the firing ceased, General Webb came up to where Cushing stood and said to Cushing : " It is my opinion that the rebels will now advance their infantry and attack our position in force." Cushing replied : "Then I had better run my guns right up to the stone fence and bring all the canister alongside of each piece," to which General Webb said : " Do so." The command was immediately given, and the six guns were run by hand to the stone fence, leaving just room enough between the wall and wheels for can- noniers numbers one and two to load ; limbers and caissons did not move. At this time Lieutenant Cushing was not wounded.
Within fifteen or twenty minutes after we had our guns in the new position the rebel infantry were seen advancing. The Seventy-second Pennsylvania (Baxter's Zouaves) were directly in our front on the skirmish line,* and were obliged to fall back as the enemy advanced in force. As soon as our battery was unmasked by the Seventy- second, and the enemy were within four hundred yards of us, we commenced firing single charges of canister, and at about that time Lieutenant Cushing was wounded in the right shoulder (General Webb says the right shoulder strap was shot completely off, yet not wounding him). When the enemy came within two hundred yards we fired double charges of canister with terrible effect. Cushing, about this time, was again wounded, in the scrotum, but still he stuck to his post and would not leave the battery. All this time I was right alongside of Cushing, and imparted his orders to the men.
Still the enemy advanced, and Cushing ordered the men to triple the charges in the guns. While finishing the command he was shot through the mouth and instantly killed. At this time he was about one yard from the trail handspike, and to the right
* A small portion only of the Seventy-second were on the skirmish line, the bulk of the regiment was in rear of the first position of the battery .-- EDITOR.
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CUSHING'S BATTERY.
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of it, it being number three piece of the battery. I stood to his right, about two feet from him, with my pistol in my right hand, when I saw the Lieutenant fall forward. I dropped my pistol and caught him round the body with both arms. I saw that he was dead, and ordered Wright, of the battery, to carry Cushing's body to the rear. Lieu- tenant Joseph S. Milne, a volunteer officer (First R. I. battery) detailed July 2nd to fill Lieutenant Canby's place, made vacant by his being wounded, and who had command of the left half of our battery, was killed just a moment before Cushing, which left me in command.
The insinuation of history that but one gun was run down to the stone wall is wrong. The report that Lieutenant Cushing's bowels were shot out is all nonsense. Again, Lieutenant Cushing never fired a gun ; there was no occasion for him to do so. We had men enough left to do that. The Lieutenant had enough to do to watch the enemy and give the necessary commands. After sending Cushing's body to the rear I fired a few rounds of canister ; when the enemy was almost on the top of us I ceased firing, and told the men to pitch in with anything they had in their hands, such as pistols, sabres, sponge-staves and handspikes, which I am glad to say they did in good style. General Webb's brigade was now right with us, led by the General in person. A few minutes and all was over, the rebels retreating. General Armistead was instantly killed right in front of the muzzle of number three piece. Understand there was a stone wall between that gun and General Armistead. The wall was about fourteen inches in thickness, and the muzzle projected over it. The General was dressed in a gray uniformed coat, buttoned up, and wore a black slouch hat, with sabre in his right hand.
In the Magasine of American History, July, 1887, Colonel Deveraux describes the part taken by the two regiments under his command. We quote :
We see that Webb (on the right) cannot firmly hold his men against the shock of that fierce charge, though he may throw himself with reckless courage in front to face the storm, and beg, threaten, and command.
Hall's right, overlapped, has to sag back with sullen fury, swaying to the rear from the pressure, but swaying forward again like ocean surges against a rock. This creates disorder, heightened by the men of Harrow's brigade (on the left) surging also in that direction, apparently without orders or concert, but guided by some instinct of hurry- ing to the rescue. Everything was in confusion, regimental organization was lost, ranks were eight or ten deep, pushing, swaying, struggling, refusing to yield, but almost impotent for good.
A great gap yawns immediately between Webb and Hall.
The entire width of Oak Grove, and for some distance the right, is stripped of defence on our line. Every gun on our front there is silenced. Woodruff, Cushing, Brown, Rorty, and every other commissioned officer, almost without exception, of the respective batteries, is dead or disabled, and Gibbon badly wounded.
Was this devoted Second corps, whose proud boast it was that it "never lost a gun or a color," to succumb at last ?
" Mallon, we must move." Just then a headlong rush of horses feet, spurred to the utmost came up the hollow behind from the direction of the Baltimore pike. I turned. There, looking the very embodiment of the god of war, rode Hancock the "Superb."
I shouted as he nearly trampled on my men, still lying down and as yet unseen by
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him. He threw his horse upon its haunches. "See," I cried, " their colors ; they have broken through. Let me get in there."
His characteristic answer fitted time and place, and he shot like an arrow past my left towards Hall's struggling lines, receiving in a few seconds, the wound that swept him from his saddle and so nearly cost him his life.
Meanwhile Mallon, springing from my side, was instantly with his men, and both regiments on the double quick moved side by side to fill t hat fearful gap. The two lines came together with a shock which stopped both and caused a slight rebound. For Several minutes they faced and fired into each other at a distance (which I care- fully measured after the fight) a little short of fifteen paces. Everything seemed trembling in the balance. Whichever side could get a motion forward must surely win. General Alexander S. Webb I couldn't see. Just then I felt rather than saw Hall, as he appeared at my side. " We are steady now," he said. "Sure ; but we must move," I replied. * * * *
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IIallon had by this time warped round the right of the grove a little. The oppos- ing lines were standing as if rooted, dealing death into each other, how long it is impossible to say with exactness. There they stood and wouldn't move. All of a sudden a strange, resistless impulse seemed to urge the Union arms. I can compare it only to a Titan's stride. Our lines seemed to actually leap forward. There was at once an indescribable rush of thick, hurrying scenes. I held the blunted apex of the re-entering angle, which was the appearance made by our lines.
A yell ! A shout
My line seemed to open as if by magic. It was not a flight, however. A flood of unarmed, defenceless men poured through. They almost ran over me. The remnant of Pickett's gallant men abandon that nearly invincible charge, and Gettysburg trans- lated reads, A Nation Saved.
Soon after the great artillery duel ceased Baxter's brigade was sent a short distance to the left-still on Cemetery Ridge- but had hardly formed line of battle before it was ordered still further to the left, where it took position upon the right of the Third division-General Hays-of the Second corps. Mean- while Pickett's charge had been repulsed and the enemy had again opened a heavy artillery fire, to which the brigade was subjected during this last movement. The enemy's sharp- shooters, too, sent their bullets about the moving column. When line had been formed the Twelfth Massachusetts and a detachment of the Ninetieth Pennsylvania-preceded by skir- mishers-moved forward and drove the enemy's sharpshooters and skirmish line back. The brigade remained here during the night.
During the progress of the main battle minor engagements had been fought at other points-mainly attacks by the enemy
1863
.: COLONEL COULTER. 285
to prevent reinforcements being sent to Cemetery Ridge. In
these contests the Union troops were generally victorious.
It was expected by the enemy, and by the Union troops too, that Meade would order a counter attack as soon as the Confederate assault had failed, but no orders were issued to that effect. It has been reported that Meade expected another attack, and simply expressed his belief that the Army of the Potomac would be able to maintain its position.
Major A. R. Small, then Adjutant of the Sixteenth Maine, and A. A. A. G. of the First brigade of Robinson's division, relates, in his regimental history, many interesting incidents connected with the battle General Paul had been severely wounded on the ist, and Colonel Coulter of the Eleventh Pennsylvania had been transferred, with his regiment to the First brigade, and the Colonel placed in command. Major Small says respecting the battle of the 3d :
Colonel Coulter established his headquarters in an A tent, pitched by his orders on the brow of the hill at the left of the Cemetery, in the edge of a grove. * During the fusilade, Colonel Coulter, who had been tearing up and down the line to cool his im- patience, suddenly exclaims : " Where in hell is my flag. Where do you suppose that cowardly --- has skedaddled to! Adjutant, you hunt him up and bring him to the front before the color is missed." Away the Adjutant went, but returned in season to see the Colonel snake him out from behind a stone wall, where he had lain down with the flag folded up to avoid attracting attention. Colonel Coulter shook out the folds, placed the staff in the poor fellow's hands, and double-quicked him towards the front line.
Just then a shell exploded in a low wall, kllling a horse, and sending a blinding shower of gravel and dirt broadcast. Again seizing the staff, he planted the end where the shell had burst, and said : " There, orderly, hold it in position, and if I can't get you killed in ten minutes, by G --! I'll post you right up among the batteries." Riding away, he laughingly remarked : " The poor devil don't know that I could'nt put him in a safer place. Two shells rarely explode in the same spot, and if he obeys orders he will be safe, and I'll know where my headquarters are." He dashed reck- lessly down the line to return in a few minutes with a bullet in his shoulder. Looking pale, I asked if he would dismount. " No, no, not now. Who in hell would suppose . a sharpshooter would hit a crazy bone that distance."
At seven o'clock the little handful composing the NINTH regiment was sent out on picket, and posted on ground in front of the ridge. The dead and wounded were still lying where they had fallen, and the groans and cries of the latter
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were heard through the entire night. Shortly after midnight the men of the NINTH were relieved from outpost duty.
During the night relief parties went over the field bringing in many of the wounded, but at daylight of the 4th the enemy began picket firing and the humane labors were suspended. Light showers had cooled the air somewhat and, fortunately for the wounded yet remaining on the field, the morning was cloudy.
Yes, the Confederate army of Northern Virginia was beaten, and at the same moment General Grant was dictating the terms of the surrender of Vicksburg. The 4th of July, 1863, was a notable day in the history of the country. The high tide of Rebellion reached no further than Cemetery Ridge. The banks of the Mississippi and the hills of Penn- sylvania sent each other greetings upon the auspicious occa- sion. The boys in blue felt that a long stride had been taken in the suppression of the Rebellion, and those who wore the gray must have realized, that ere long, they would be com- pelled to lay down their arms and return to their allegiance.
During the entire day picket firing continued -- now in- dulged in by both sides. At nine in the evening the NINTH was again sent out on picket, and remained till half-past three the next afternoon -- the 5th. Shortly after being relieved it was noticed that the enemy's pickets were being withdrawn, and it was soon rumored that Lee's army was marching in retreat towards the Potomac. Without following that defeated -army in detail, it is only necessary to mention that, with but little molestation from General Meade, Lee crossed the Poto- mac at Williamsport on the night of the 13th. President Lin- coln had sent urgent and repeated orders to Meade to attack the Confederates, who had been prevented from crossing earlier, by reason of the high water ; but when Meade got ready the enemy had made good his escape. How like Mc- Clellan at Antietam !
The Compe-de-Paris ( History of the Civil War in Amer- ica) places the Union loss in the campaign at 2,834 killed, 13,739 wounded, and 6,643 missing ; total, 23, 186 ; the Confed-
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