USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of the One hundred and fifty-third regiment Pennsylvania volunteers infantry which was recruited in Northampton County, Pa., 1862-1863 > Part 6
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The second part of the inquiry referred to has respect to how Meade learned the intentions of concentration for battle at Gettysburg. On investigation it appears that Hooker's scheme of attacking Lee's rear in the Cumberland valley, had been put into execution. To prevent such attack Lee decided to threaten Baltimore, and with this in view ordered his troops to assemble at Gettysburg, not knowing at the time that the new commander Meade was intent on taking a defensive attitude, which became evident when so many of his organizations were ordered to
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
Frederick. Hooker (June 27th) informs Halleck, General-in- Chief at Washington that on that date his army was posted as follows: Three corps at Middletown, ten miles away, one corps at Knoxville, two at his headquarters at Frederick, and the rest of his infantry nearby. On the 27th, the day of his resignation, Hook- er in plain language, boldly again demands the evacuation of the garrison of Harper's Ferry, with a view of utilizing for other aggressive work the troops stationed there. Addressing Halleck, he says :
"I have received your telegram in regard to Harper's Ferry. I find 10,000 men here, in condition to take the field. Here they are of no earthly account. They cannot defend a ford of the river, and, as far as Harper's Ferry is concerned, there is nothing of it. As for the fortifica- tions, the work of the troops, they remain when the troops are with- drawn. No enemy will ever take possession of them for them. This is my opinion. All the public property could have been secured tonight and the troops marched to where they could have been of some service. Now they are but a bait for the rebels, should they return. I beg that this may be presented to the Secretary of War and His Excellency the President."
On the same day Hooker addresses another letter to Halleck as follows :
"Major-General H. W. Halleck. General-in-Chief :
"My original instructions require me to cover Harper's Ferry and Washington. I have now imposed upon me, in addition, an enemy in my front of more than my number. I beg to be understood. respectfully, but firmly, that I am unable to comply with this condition with the means at my disposal, and earnestly request that I may at once be relieved from the position I occupy.
JOSEPH HOOKER, Major General."
The appointment of General Meade is dated on the 28th, and this able commander at once entered upon his new duties with zeal and great and urgent dispatch. Meantime Lee had begun the initial work of the concentration of his troops at Gettysburg. which was destined to be the scenes of the renowned Battlefield. Meade retained Butterfield as his chief of staff and at once had
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THE THREE DAYS BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
every facility offered to gain a full knowledge of the former plans of Hooker, some of the best of them being used by Meade. His earliest movement in getting the reins of the great campaign was to so distribute his forces as to head off the advance troops of Lee in the direction of the Susquehanna river, looking to the pro- tection of his native city, Philadelphia, as a remote necessity. So far as Ewell, and his chief cavalry, General Jenkins, were con- cerned, it does not appear that Philadelphia was as much their destination as the City of Harrisburg, and possibly adjacent towns. The only evil they committed at these places was their appearance at Wrightsville, inciting thereby a great stampede and the burn- ing of the bridge across the Susquehanna at that place. This point was some thirteen miles below the Capitol of the State, but near enough to also become greatly alarmed.
The effects of the rebel dash to this extreme point of the in- vasion were more widely felt in the Union States than any enter-
A Cavalry Charge.
prise in which Lee had been engaged in his hostile designs. How- ever he could have engaged in no more sanguine work for the downfall of his cause.
The cavalry are the eyes of an army. The ever vigilant Buford saw in the movements of Lee's forces that a Jackson ruse of some sort was about to be undertaken by the Confederates. Meade was certain that Lee would attempt one of two plans : either ad- vance north or attack our Capitol (Washington) and Baltimore. Meade meanwhile formed a line of defense. His extreme left, the First Corps, was at Marsh Creek, and on the Emmitsburg road, while the 6th Corps (Slocum's), forming the extreme right, was at Manchester, thirty-five miles eastward. The Eleventh Corps
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(to which the 153d belonged) was now at Emmitsburg, ten miles below Gettysburg. The Twelfth Corps was at Two Taverns, several miles south of Gettysburg. It was at Taney- town where Meade had his Headquarters at the date of his ap- pointment to the command of the army in place of Hooker. The Second and Third Corps were also with Meade, the latter being under orders to go to Gettysburg at once on the first day of the battle, and the Fifth Corps was encamped at Hanover, about six miles eastward. The main part of our cavalry was also in that locality. Meade spent the last two days disposing his Corps to move northward in pursuit of Lee.
The concentration of Confederate troops was now speedily ordered by General Lee, who was at Chambersburg, twenty-five miles away. This was on the 30th of June. His series of columns had at one time extended from Fredericksburg to Winchester- one hundred miles. Meade's line was about 50 miles.
Buford having gotten on the ground early on the Ist, decided to resist the advance troops of Hill, and for that purpose had advanced his videttes far to the northwest of the town. In the fierce attack by the infantry of the enemy Buford dismounted his men and engaged the enemy with much spirit, his skirmishers and batteries doing effective work on Hill's troops. Buford was greatly emboldened in his heroic struggle by the knowledge of large forces of the First, Eleventh and Third Corps that had been ordered up from Emmitsburg. The Third Corps, under Reynold's, at Marsh Creek, having gotten an earlier start was the first on the ground to support Buford's cavalry. Rey- nolds, having been placed in command of the left wing of the army, on the 30th, was chief over three Corps, Doubleday being placed over the First Corps. Reynolds proceeded immediately to the scene of the battle, leaving the details of calling in pickets. and starting the Corps on the way. He arrived an hour before Howard. He had invited Howard to Marsh Run on the evening of the 30th, when all orders from Meade were read.
Buford had been engaged about one hour with the infantry of Hill's Corps (Heath's Division) before the arrival of the Federal
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First Corps. Getting now very anxious about his support Buford ascended the stairs of the belfry of the Lutheran Theological Seminary to look in the direction of Emmitsburg, from whence he expected infantry troops to come to his support. In a short time he saw the advancing column of the First Corps nearing the town. Reynolds, having gone on ahead of the Corps, soon entered the town and saw Buford in the steeple and immediately joined him in a thorough examination of the ground which this elevated position commanded, covering a vast expanse of the undulating country in all directions.
The battle of Gettysburg was on. The Sixth Corps (Meade's) was at once ordered up. The Eleventh Corps was urged forward from Emmitsburg by forced march (memorable with all the boys). The distance was between 10 and II miles and was covered in four hours and a half. Howard hurriedly rode through the fields and over fences and when with- in a mile of the town of Gettysburg sent Captain Hall of his Staff to Reynolds for instructions. The troops had marched 20 miles the day before.
The following is the record I made that day: "Marching orders. Started at 8 a. m. Marched swiftly to Gettysburg : through town, and immediately into battle. Reinforcements com- ing on. Fought all day. General Reynolds killed. Rain part of the day." An interesting item or two appears in the records of the diary of the three preceding days: "Sunday, 28th. Left Burkittsville at 5 a. m., marched to Middletown, to camp. In an hour, or more, aroused and by 9 in the evening arrived at Fred- erick. A fine day, passed through splendid country, abundant wheat and corn crops. General Meade is said to be at the head of the army." Monday, 29th, left the neighborhood of Frederick early, marched to Emmitsburg or close by, till (by) sundown. Passed through Adamsville. Encamped. A fine day." On the 30th appears the following: "Moved a mile beyond here. Lay in camp all day. Rain part of day. Dress parade." The exact hour of our arrival at Gettysburg is still in dispute. The three divisions made a long train, and all did not pass over one road-
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the Emmitsburg pike. Only Barlow's followed the Ist Corps. Halt of the brigade and regiment with which we were associated, was made in the town. Our drum Corps and Band (occupying
15.
Copyright, 1894, by THE CENTURY CO.
the front of the regiment), were dismissed at a gate of entrance to a field on the extreme north suburb of the town. On the way passing to the rear, I looked at the men as they passed me and
The line of defense at the Cemetery Gate House. From photograph.
General Reynolds.
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saw several of my acquaintances, all of them wearing a sad countenance. I at once retired to the entrance gate of the cemetery on Cemetery Hill.
Tidings of the beginning of the battle were forwarded, by fleet- est horses and every means of communication, to every depart- ment of the absent armies on both sides. Within the next twelve hours the greater portion of the hostile forces were on the ground, and the remainder coming on.
The location could not have been selected for a battle to greater advantage. The most gigantic struggle of the war was begun, the issue of which was awaited by every citizen of the nation with bated breath. Darkness like a pall hung over every home. The successive rebel victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and the recent reinforcements by the two di - visions of Longstreet from the South, and the swelling of Lee's army by conscript, had nearly doubled his forces. Tidings of these army incidents had greatly enhanced the fears of the North.
With the permission of the reader we will now proceed with the narration of the positions assigned our regiment in the prog- ress of the battle, and refer to the accounts of the excitement of the Capitol and of our Commonwealth, both of which were sufficiently alarmed and stirred to activity to furnish sufficient interesting and important recital in separate chapters of our history, as will elsewhere appear.
In confirmation of the leading and initial movements which took place just before and on the eve of the battle, I produce quotations from the full and final report of General O. O. Howard the commander of the Eleventh Corps as follows :
"On the evening of June 30, the First Corps, with the exception of one brigade and the supply train at Emmitsburg was located in the vicinity of Marsh Run, on the direct road from Emmitsburg to Gettysburg, and nearly midway between these towns. The Eleventh Corps was at Em- mitsburg. Just at sunset I received a request from General Reynolds, commanding the First Corps, to meet him at his headquarters. He then 5
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showed me the order from your headquarters placing him in command of the First, Eleventh and Third Corps; also the circulars of the command- ing general dated June 30, together with a confidential communication. The purport of these papers was that a general engagement was imminent, the issues involved were immense, and all commanders urged to extra- ordinary exertions. General Reynolds and I consulted together, com- paring notes and information, until a late hour, 1 then returned to Emmitsburg. . .. At 3.30 a. m. July Ist orders were received from head- quarters to move the Eleventh Corps to within supporting distance of the First Corps, which was to move to Gettysburg. I immediately sent an aide-de-camp to General Reynolds to receive his orders. At 8 a. m. orders were received from Reynolds directing the Corps to march to Gettysburg. The column was at once set in motion, my first division, un- der General Barlow, (Devens, who had been wounded at Chancellors. ville, had not returned to the army,) following the First Corps by the direct route ; my Third, General Schurz, and my Second, General Stein- wehr, in the order named taking the route by Horner's mill . . . the distance by the direct route was between ten and eleven miles, and by the other thirteen miles. As soon as the Corps was set in motion I pushed with my staff by the direct road and when within a mile of Gettysburg received word from General Reynolds, pointing out the place where I was to encamp : but on approaching the town heavy artillery was heard. . 1 went to the top of a high building in Gettysburg, facing westward. . . . I had studied the position for a few moments when a report reached me that General Reynolds was wounded* . . soon another messenger brought the sad tidings of his death. This was about 11. 30 a. m.
*NOTE .- Howard relates the following to the writer in a recent conver- sation with him: When within a short distance of Gettysburg he turned to the left to the high ground by a peach orchard and saw that Wads- worth was engaged. He then rode to Cemetery Hill, where Meysenburg. a member of his staff, agreed with him that this was the only position to assume. The name of the young cavalry officer who brought the tidings of Reynolds' wounding to Howard while he was standing on the Fahne- stock observatory was George Quin: the other officer who galloped up and informed Howard of the death of the lamented Reynolds was Captain Daniel Hall, of Howard's staff. This aide had been despatched by How- ard at 10.30 a. m. to Reynolds to learn where the Eleventh Corps was wanted, and on learning of Reynolds' death quickly returned and found Howard on the observatory.
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THE THREE DAYS BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
On hearing of the death of General Reynolds I assumed command of the left wing, instructing General Schurz to take command of the Eleventh Corps. After an examination of the general features of the country, I came to the conclusion that the only tenable position for my limited force was the ridge to the southeast of Gettysburg, now so well known as Cemetery Ridge. The highest crest at the Cemetery commanded every eminence within easy range (here comes an important statement referring to our command). I at once established my headquarters near the cemetery, and on the highest point north of the Baltimore pike. Here General Schurz joined me before 12 m., when I instructed him to make the following disposition of the Eleventh Corps :
Learning from General Doubleday, commander of the First Corps, that his right was hard pressed, and receiving continued assurance that his left was safe, and pushing the enemy back, I ordered the First and Third divisions of the Eleventh Corps to seise and hold a prominent height on the right of the Cashtown road and on the prolongation of the Seminary Ridge."
"About 12.30 p. m." the General's report continues, .... "the enemy was massing between the York and Harrisburg roads," that "quite a large number of prisoners had already been taken by the First Corps," that we "were engaging Hill's Corps" and that Longstreet would be up in a short time. "About this time" (12.30, the time given by my Diary) the head of column of the the Eleventh Corps entered and passed through the town moving forward toward the position ordered, (presumably the spot where our Monument stands).
The arrival of the Eleventh Corps was quite opportune. Re- ports were true enough that Ewell,* our old enemy, was coming from the north and was massing heavily between the York and Harrisburg roads. About this time news came that Longstreet was coming to reinforce Hill on our left or front. Here soon the entire force of Lee would be on hand to encounter the two corps out of seven of our troops. Howard, with great military alertness, perceived that both our right and left on the ground
*In command of Jackson's old corps.
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
which we had up to that time been compelled to assume, would render a repulse of the enemy impossible. This often is the case in the initial state of an onset. In view of such a disaster How- ard halted Schurz and sent out strong skirmish lines, if possi- ble to seize the position first indicated and in support of the First Corps. Word was forwarded to Sickles and Slocum to make all possible haste, and Sickles was requested to inform Meade of the affairs. Howard, however, sent word direct to Meade about 2 p. m. The position of the First Corps was at this time forming a right angle with the Eleventh Corps. It was nearly 3 p. m. when the rebel troops with strong artillery support came into view in front of the Eleventh Corps facing north. It was a full half hour after this before Sickles could be found by the messenger sent by Howard. Up to this time Howard had been engaged preparing for the defense of the very important point on Ceme- tery Hill, for which purpose he had detained a few brigades, hav- ing anticipated that this strategic position would be selected by either side. All credit as to who made the selection, must be given to Howard. The retirement of the flanked and vastly outnumbered troops who had made such a brave defense on the high grounds on the north of the town, during several hours on the first day to Cemetery Ridge, showed in all the future actions during the coming days of the battle, that the selection of this pivotal Hill was undisputed evidence of the generalship of the skillful General Howard.
From the writer's point of view it is not without significance that the Eleventh Corps which was the first organization to con- front the great flank attack of Stonewall Jackson in the opening of the real battle at Chancellorsville, should be among the first on hand at the beginning of the renowned Gettysburg engage- ment, and be again at the very spot where the same old Jackson Corps was about to assail our army. And it is the more re- markable that this coincidence should occur immediately in front of the position on Cemetery Hill which was looked upon by Lee as being of the greatest importance and as the first to assault ; and from the same point of observation, that the disciplined,
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experienced, loyal, and conscientious Commander, who by a lamentable, mishap had been so unfortunately posted at the former battle (at Chancellorsville) should now occupy the pivotal and very important strategic position of Cemetery Hill; and find in his immediate front, and but 1600 feet from his entrench- ments on the slope of the Hill the large division of Rodes, who in the formation of Jackson's army at the Chancellorsville at- tack was first in line of attack of the Eleventh Corps, and that this Cemetery Hill, held by the intrepid Howard during the two days of the fiercest artillery storm of the war, should be the
Copyright, 1894, by THE CENTURY Go.
CETTYS BURC
LINE
CULP'S HILL
CEMETERY NI
SEMINARY - . . . RIOGE
RIDGE
B
CEMETERY
LITTLE ROUND TOP.
BIG ROUND TOP
Diagram of the Gettysburg Battlefield.
first main target before the rebel guns. It counted for some- thing for our historic Eleventh Corps to occupy and hold the very formidable position, the loss of which all critics agree would have meant in all probability the ultimate defeat of the Federal cause. For our Corps and the First Corps to retire to Cemetery Ridge was a greater achievement than the gallant defense they had made for hours on the Ridges beyond the town. This timely
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occupation of the Cemetery Hill by the 153d permanently secured it against a well timed deployment of the rebel forces for its capture in the initial stages of the battle.
A disinterested writer, Colonel Wm. F. Fox, in his able work, "New York at Gettysburg," says :-
"During all this time the Eleventh Corps was battling manfully on the right of the Union line. When Early's division arrived on the Heidleburg road it found Rodes' Division already moving forward to the attack."
Continuing this writer says :
"Seeing the necessity of holding the ground until an infantry force could arrive, Devins ordered the Ninth New York Cavalry to support the skirmish line, and forming the rest of the line as dismounted carbi- neers, he delayed Rodes and Early until relieved by the arrival of the Eleventh Corps. Early, having pushed Devins' skirmishers back, moved forward against the Eleventh Corps with three or four of his brigades, Gordon's, Hay's and Hoke's. He was joined on his right by Dole's Georgia brigade, which held the left of Rodes' advance, but which ex- tending beyond Doubleday's line, struck the Eleventh Corps. A battalion of sharpshooters . . . the Fifth Alabama, was also on this portion of the field. Confronting these four Confederate brigades were Devins' cavalry brigade and five infantry brigades of the Eleventh Corps,-von Gilsa's, Ames', von Amsberg's, Krzyzanowski's, and Coster's."
Here we quote a paragraph of great value to the 153d:
"General Barlow, who held the right of the Eleventh Corps, and also the extreme right of the line of battle, and advanced his division soon after it arrived on the field, taking possession of a small hill situated between the Carlisle and Heidleburg roads. Rock Creek flows along the base of this knoll on its northeasterly side. Barlow placed von Gilsa's brigade (to which the 153d belonged) in some woods along Rock Creek, at the farther base of the knoll. (These woods have since been cut off). Gilsa had but three regiments with which to hold the knoll. The 4Ist N. Y. having been detached, leaving with him the Fifty-fourth N. Y., the Sixty- eighth N. Y., which had been transferred to von Gilsa's brigade on the 9th of June. The Fifty-fourth N. Y. is the regiment that was posted on our right on the brigade line in the Chancellorsville affair. The former
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THE THREE DAYS BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
of these two had 251 men and the latter only 200, the two numbering less than our regiment."
After the retirement of the 153d from the field they occupied the first day, the position they were assigned to on the evening of that day has been quite difficult to locate. Some references to our regiment by other officers give slight assistance in the search of our exact position. In the report of Colonel von Einsiedel, of the Forty First N. Y., the following occurs.
"On July 2, at 4 p. m., six companies took position on the stone fence, with the front to Gettysburg. One company took position on the right of the square, and two companies were detached to the front as skir-
' Spangler's Spring.
From which the Union and Rebel soldiers drank on a dark night.
mishers. At 2 p. m. the regiment was assembled; moved, by order of Col. Leopold von Gilsa, commanding the First Brigade, to the front of the two batteries which were posted on a little hill, on the right of the Baltimore and Gettysburg road, near the cemetery. The regiment had instructions to support the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment,
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Pennsylvania Volunteers in case of an attack from the front (Gettys- burg). In this position they remained under the heaviest cannonade until 5 p. m., when it received orders to take a position about half a mile north from the above position, with the same front with the right wing of the army ; but the Rebel infantry being about to push back a division of the Twelfth Corps, posted in the woods on our right wing, and threatening to attack us in the rear, we received the order to move 1000 steps backward and to keep the same front as before. The regiment was posted as fol- lows: Five companies of the right wing connecting on the left with the right wing of the Seventh Virginia Volunteers, which had connection with the Fourteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers: four companies under command of Captain Henry Arens, of Company K, connecting on their left with the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Sixty-eighth and Fifty-fourth Regiments, New York Volun- teers, and move on toward the batteries."
Gettysburg-The First Day.
We will briefly review the engagements of the three principal positions-Cemetery and Culps Hill, the Death Angle near the clump of trees on the Ridge, and the Round Tops-in all the maneuvers of the three days of the Battle these were the princi- pal points of attack. Each of them was central to somewhat advanced and important positions where assaults and defeats alternating between the contending armies had much to do with the issue of the general battle of those momentous three days.
It must be regarded by any one acquainted with parts taken by the various troops that the Eleventh Corps held a very im- portant place in the engagements of those days, and that this same Corps which opened the drama of the real battle on the disastrous occasion of Chancellorsville, should be on hand the first day of the Gettysburg battle, and stand in the forefront of the spot considered by General Lee as of first importance to assault. Second, that the very commander, the disciplined, loyal, and conscientious General, who by a lamentable. unfortunate
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