USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 17
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*Gustavus Josephs of Company E.
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to the ants, we had a good laugh at ourselves, accusing each other of being the innocent cause of our loss of sleep and rest.
Leaving camp about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 28th we passed through Urbana about noon, then on and went into camp at Monocacy Junction, within four miles from Frederick, march- ing about ten miles.
On the 29th General Hooker, at his own request, was relieved from command of the Army of the Potomac and Major General George G. Meade, then commanding the Fifth Corps, was appoint- ed his successor who upon assuming command issued the follow- ing order, characteristic of the man. Discarding all the bom- bastic utterances of his predecessors, he made no promises nor held up to his men any visionary victories or conquests, but rely- ing on the loyalty of the Army, and the hand of Providence, to shape future events.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. June 28th, 1863.
By direction of the President of the United States, I hereby as- sume command of the Army of the Potomac. As a soldier, in obeying this order-an order totally unexpected and unsolicited- I have no promises or pledges to make. The country looks to this army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile in- vasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty, leav- ing to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the contest. It is with just diffidence that I relieve of the command of this army an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear conspicious in the history of its achievements; but I rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the important trust which has been confided to me.
GEORGE G. MEADE, Major-General commanding.
This change was a great surprise to the whole army, and com- ing as it did upon the eve of an important battle, in the middle of a campaign, was likely to prove disastrous. The "swapping of horses in crossing a stream" has always been condemned, but the men had now got used to these sudden changes of command- ers and positions and were prepared to do their duty.
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On the same day Brigadier General Alexander S. Webb, of the Regular Army, assumed command of our Brigade, relieving General Owen. This was another unexpected change and a man we knew nothing about, but soon found that he was a soldier in the full acceptation of the word.
Early on that morning, June 29th, we noticed the rest of the Corps moving off and wondered why we received no orders to move, especially as the rest of the Division had gone, and began to think we had been left behind on purpose to guard the city of Frederick, and were congratulating ourselves that at last we were going to, have what the boys called a "soft snap", when an aide rode hurriedly into our camp, inquiring for General Webb ; he was directed to him, and instantly the assembly was sounded and we were ordered to move, and soon started. It appears that the orders sent to the rest of the Corps to move early did not reach us, and it was not until nearly all had left that it was discovered; the change of our Brigade commander principally being the cause. It was after 8 o'clock when we left camp and brought up the rear of the Corps behind the First Division; crossed the Monocacy Creek and passed to the right of Frederick, and then left the Corps ; turning off the pike to the left took the road to Liberty and again struck the Monocacy, but at this place there was no bridge, so we were compelled to wade, and, being over knee deep, the men stopped, as they usually did, to take off their shoes and stockings and roll up their pants, but General Webb found that was taking too much time and he was anxious to make up for that lost, so he ordered the men to wade right in, and jumping from his horse stood in the middle of the stream until the whole Brigade had passed, ordering each man that hesitated to move on at once ; of course, this met with the disapproval of the men, who were not backward in expressing their feelings in terms not very compli- mentary to the General, and the remarks might have been heard by him had he chosen to listen. One of the Sixty-Ninth Regi- ment, more bold than the rest and with his natural Irish bluntness, addressed as he passed: "Sure it's no wonder ye can stand there when ye are leather up to your waist". The General having on a pair of long boots that came up above his knees. This created a good laugh by those who heard it ; he paid no attention whatever,
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but continued to order his men forward and remained there until the last man had crossed.
It was here that Captain Breintenbach of Company G, got him- self into trouble by trying to evade those orders of General Webb, meant to apply to officers as well as men, by trying to cross the creek on a log instead of wading. He had got about half way across when seen by the General, who ordered him back and placed him in arrest. This worried the Captain very much, and fearing the consequences, he appealed to Dr. McLean, our Assis- tant Surgeon, to help him out of the scrape, and the Doctor, ever ready to relieve his suffering comrades, at once gave him a certifi- cate that "his pre-disposition to rheumatism rendered his wading through the creek dangerous to his health". Fortified with that, the Captain appeared before the General, and after a lecture on the example of "disobedience of orders" he had set the men, and a reprimand, he was released from arrest and returned to duty, greatly relieved in mind.
Not leaving camp on time, on account of the orders not being received, we lost our position in line, which, that day, was the right or advance of the whole Corps, and General Webb was am- bitious enough to try and regain it, and did not want to lose any time, and, as has been stated, turned off the main road and, march- ing at quick time without any halt, we arrived at the junction of the two roads just as the advance of the First Division had passed, and as we could not break into their column we had to wait until the whole division passed. We had marched three miles further by that road and gained the length of that division, but had to wait and take the same position that we started in that morning, in their rear. We arrived at Liberty at noon, where a long halt was made, but General Webb moved on and took our position in line just as the Division was about to move again, so we had to continue right on without any rest; the balance of the Division having had over half an hour's rest, yet we had then marched about nineteen miles and needed rest, but had to continue on with- out any. We passed through Johnsville and Union Bridge; at each place the ladies supplied us with cool drinking water and some milk, others pies, bread and butter ; being on the advance we got the best. In Company A of our Regiment was a fine glee
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club, and when passing through these towns, notwithstanding their long march and tired condition, they began singing, which was soon taken up by the whole Regiment; this amused the in- habitants and cheered the boys, and made them forget their fatigues and freshened them for the rest of their march. Con- tinuing our march through Muttonville we arrived at Uniontown about 9 o'clock at night, and about a mile further on went into camp completely used up. This was the longest days' march we ever made, our Brigade having marched thirty-five miles in about fourteen hours; three miles further than the rest of the Corps.
Did not leave camp on the 30th, and, were mustered for pay, and sad to relate that it was the last muster of many who answered to their names that day, not even living to draw the pay for which they were that day mustered; many of them were laid to rest on Gettysburg's hallowed field.
SERGEANT HENRY C. VEIL.
Aug. 26, 1861. Aug. 13, 1862.
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug. 13, 1862
SERGEANT GILES M. COONS. Aug. 26, 1861. June 30, 1865.
As Private. Re-enlisted, Dec. 29. 1863. Veteran. Promoted to Corporal, July 11, 1862. Promoted to Commissary Sergeant of Battalion, Oct. 1, 1864. Wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. Discharged, Nov. 1, 1864.
COMPANY D.
JOHN D. TURNER.
Aug 26, 1861. Dec. 13, 1862. Discharged, Dec. 13, 1862. Disability.
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CHAPTER XVI.
GETTYSBURG.
IT is not the purpose of the writer to attempt to give a full account of this great contest, the greatest battle that was fought during the Rebellion. This has been well done by those far more competent, possessing greater ability and with far greater resources than he who pens these lines possesses or could command, so that he will merely confine himself to the main movements so far as they relate to the circumstances that brought about the important services rendered by this, one of Pennsyl- vania's best Regiments, of which the writer is proud to have been one of the humblest of its members, and of the Brigade to which it was attached.
As has been stated, the Brigade remained in camp near Frizel- berg, Md., during June 30th, but early on the morning of July Ist we were again on our way, marching towards Gettysburg where the two armies were fast concentrating. Leaving camp about 7 o'clock, going back through Uniontown, thence to Taney- town, both in Carroll County, Maryland, arriving at the latter about II o'clock, where we halted until near three in the afternoon, when ordered to proceed with all haste to Gettysburg. At 5 o'clock, crossed the line into Pennsylvania, our own favored State, still pushing on at a rapid pace ; camped for the night about 9 o'clock, on the eastern slope of Little Round Top, west of the Taneytown Road, about three miles from Gettysburg; having marched about eighteen miles. Thus was the first day of that fight spent by us, pushing rapidly forward. We could hear the distant booming of the artillery, and during the afternoon and night, the wounded of Reynolds' and Howard's commands were passing us to the rear. About I o'clock, we heard of the death of Pennsylvania's noble son and brave soldier, General John F. Rey- nolds, and our Corps was deprived of its commander, General Hancock, who was sent forward by General Meade to assume
.
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command of the First and Eleventh Corps, and so place them as to hold the enemy in check until the rest of the army could arrive. General Gibbon assumed command of the Corps and General Harrow our Division.
General Lee, in the latter part of June, had invaded Pennsyl- vania with the largest, finest and best-equipped army the Confed- eracy had ever placed in the field, numbering 100,000 men, divided into three Corps. The First, under Lieutenant-General James Longstreet, contained the Divisions of McLaws, Pickett and Hood ; the Second, under Lieutenant-General Robert S. Ewell, contained the Divisions of Early, Rodes and Johnson, and the Third, under Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill, contained the Divisions of Anderson, Heth and Pender, and the Cavalry Corps, consisting of eight Brigades under Major-General J. E. B. Stuart, was making preparations to move on Harrisburg, with his army in the neigh- borhood of Chambersburg and Carlisle and York. Hearing of the advance of the Army of the Potomac in his rear, he abandon- ed this, and began concentrating his force east of the mountains ; Gettysburg being designated as the probable point. Meade was also fast pushing his forces forward to overtake him via Man- chester, Taneytown and Emmitsburg. Meade intended to con- centrate his army at Pipe Creek, fifteen miles southeast of Gettys- burg, and there await Lee's attack, but the battle having begun at Gettysburg he hurried his troops forward to that point as rapid- ly as possible. The First Corps under General Reynolds was ad- vanced from the southwest via Emmitsburg, followed by the Eleventh Corps under General Howard. General Reynolds being in the command of the left wing, consisting of the First, Third and Eleventh Corps and the First Cavalry Division, turned over the command of his Corps to General Doubleday, pushing on beyond the town of Gettysburg, found the Cavalry under General Buford, engaged with Heth's division of Hill's Corps, that had moved from Cashtown, about eight miles, at 5 o'clock that morn- ing and engaged Buford a little after sunrise. Buford dismounted most of his men and fought them as infantry and held the enemy in check for two hours. Wadsworth arrived with his Division of the First Corps from Marsh Run, about four miles, about 9 o'clock; and at once struck the enemy under Hill advancing from
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Chambersburg, near Willoughby Run, between the Hagerstown and Mummasburg road, forcing back Buford's Cavalry. It was about 8.30 A. M when General Reynolds arrived on the field, and almost before his advanced troops were in position and became engaged, he was instantly killed in the edge of McPherson's woods, a little south of the Chambersburg pike. There is much diversity of opinion as to the time of his death. Veil, the orderly who was with him when he died, writes, "General Reynolds ar- rived on the field about 8.30 A. M .- he was killed from a half to three-quarters of an hour afterwards". This about agrees with Colonel Bean's statement and that of Buford's scout, Mr. Garri- son, and fixes the time of his death much earlier than usually given, or not later than 9.30 A. M. This is also verified by mem- bers of Baxter's Brigade, Robinson's Division, who were the last of the First Corps to get into position on the right of the line about 9.30 or 9.45 A. M., who state that General Reynolds was killed before they took their position. This was a great loss to our army. He had risen rapidly to the command of his Corps, and was solicited to take command of the army when Hooker was relieved, but declined in favor of Meade. He fell defending his native state, but left three brothers still fighting for their country. General Meade felt his loss keenly and spoke of his death as follows, "Reynolds was the noblest as well as the bravest gentleman in this army. When he fell at Gettysburg, the army lost its right arm", and General Devens in an address, speaking of his death, said, "Yet where could man meet better the inevitable hour, than in defence of his native state, his life's blood ming- ling with the soil on which he first drew breath". Buford's Cavalry having withdrawn, the First Corps alone fought the Divisions of Heth and Pender, numbering about 15,000 according to their own reports. Doubleday says the First Corps took in but 8,200 muskets. About II o'clock General Howard arrived in advance of his Corps and learning of the death of General Rey- nolds, at once assumed command of the field. It was about I o'clock when the Eleventh Corps began to arrive, and about 2 o'clock when their first division was placed in position on the north of the town to the right of the Mummasburg road. Thus from early morning until after 2 o'clock, the First Corps alone
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had nobly resisted the efforts of Hill to force them back, except from their position near Willoughby Run, to that east of Semin- ary Ridge. The Eleventh Corps, commanded by General Carl Schurz, was placed in position on the north of the town, occupy- ing the whole clear space between the Mummasburg road and Rock Creek, but, failing to make connections on their left with the right of the First Corps, left a gap of which the enemy after- wards took advantage. Shortly after 3 o'clock Ewell just ar- rived from Heidlersburgh, attacked the Eleventh Corps. Bar- low's Division on the right gallantly met the assault and stayed it, but was soon overwhelmed by the front assault of Rodes, and the flank attack of Early. The left of Schimmelpfennig's Division gave way before the skirmish line of Dole's Georgia Brigade, who advanced into the opening now increased between it and the right of the First Corps, and this front and flank assault, with Early on the other flank, soon sent the whole Eleventh Corps back into the town in utmost confusion. In the meantime Hill con- tinued to press Doubleday, forcing him back, and part of his Corps that came back through the town from the west became entangled with the fugitives of the Eleventh Corps coming in from the north; this increased the confusion, and the retreat al- most became a rout. Robinson's Division of the First Corps, however, fell back across the fields towards the Emmitsburg road to Cemetery Ridge, fighting Hill, who was pressing them on three sides.
General Howard had sent word to General Slocum, command- ing the Twelfth Corps, which was lying at Two Taverns, about five miles away, to come to his assistance, but Slocum declined without orders from General Meade. What was left of the two Corps were making their way as fast as possible to the position held by Steinwehr's Division of the Eleventh Corps, which had been held in reserve on Cemetery Hill.
It was between 3.00 and 3.30 P. M. that General Hancock arrived to assume command and in time to witness this disaster. He found all chaos and confusion and at once arrested the further retreat, promptly made his disposition of the small force at his command and presented so bold a front that Lee, who had just arrived, called a halt and held a consultation with his subordinates.
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This enabled Hancock to perfect his arrangement and the rest of the Army of the Potomac to arrive. And the night of July Ist closed a victory for the enemy with our lines withdrawn to the heights south of Gettysburg, known as Cemetery Hill, ex- tending south from the Baltimore pike in a series of heights and hills to the Round Tops situated between the Taneytown and Emmitsburg roads. Our loss in this day's fight in the First Corps was 5,750 out of the 8,200 engaged. Robinson's Division alone, which was the last to leave the field, lost 1,667 out of 2,500. That of the Eleventh Corps 2,500 and the cavalry 300, total 8.550.
General Howard reports his loss at 4,000, but as he had only 7,400 in his Corps and one Division, Steinwehr's, was left in reserve, except Coster's Brigade, which was brought forward late in the afternoon and engaged for a short time, so that Howard could have only taken in about 5.500 muskets, and to claim a loss of 4,000 of that number is unreasonable ; however, as 1,500 stragglers were gathered up by the Twelfth Corps, who were, no doubt, included in General Howard's estimate, I allow the differ- ence (2,500) as the actual loss, which is even then large, as they were not engaged long enough to meet with so heavy loss ; three- fifths are those who were taken prisoners.
The enemy admits a loss of between 7,000 and 8,000, only 827 of them in front of the Eleventh Corps. They brought into the fight over 27,000 men, as follows : Heth, 7,500; Pender, 7,500; Rodes, 8,000, and Early, 5,000, while our forces numbered but 17,800 : Doubleday, 8,200; Howard, 7,400; Buford, 2,200.
As this appointment of General Hancock was at the time, and has since been, the cause of much controversy, and his assuming that authority and selecting the ground and posting the troops questioned, the writer takes the liberty to give some statements bearing upon these facts.
General Meade, in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, says :
I directed Major General Hancock to proceed without delay to the scene of the contest, and I directed him to make an examina- tion of the ground in the neighborhood of Gettysburg and to re- port to me without loss of time the facilities, and advantages and disadvantages of the ground for receiving battle. I furthermore
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instructed him that in case, upon his arrival at Gettysburg, he should find the position unsuitable, and the advantage on the side of the enemy, he should examine critically as he went out there, and report to me the nearest position in the immediate neighbor- hood of Gettysburg where a concentration of the army would be more advantageous than at Gettysburg.
General Howard questioned the authority of this appointment and is reported by General Doubleday* as saying, upon Hancock's arrival and notifying him of his orders: "Why, Hancock, you cannot give any orders here! I am in command, and I rank you !", but requested him to remain and assist him in re-organiz- ing the troops. But Hancock assumed the command, and as he found all chaos and confusion and the troops rapidly falling back, he took immediate steps to arrest them, and gave his orders in his powerful and inspiring voice that at once made its effects felt upon the men, and riding up to General Doubleday, then com- manding the First Corps, he said: "General Doubleday, I com- mand this field, and I wish you to send a regiment over to that hill", pointing to Culp's Hill. Doubleday also recognizing the importance of that prominent position at once sent Wadsworth's Division of his Corps and occupied Culp's Hill, then designated by Hancock as "the key of the right flank", and Howard's Corps was massed on Cemetery Hill to prevent any further advance of the enemy at that point. Hancock was then prepared to hold his position until the arrival of the rest of the Army of the Po- tomac. So there can be no doubt as to General Hancock select- ing and occupying the position where this battle was fought. That General Reynolds may have so intended is also shown by his directing General Howard to leave one of his Divisions in that locality. General Howard also lays claim to having selected Cemetery Hill, and strengthens his claim by the fact that he had left one of his Divisions in position there. But it is not probable that he would have taken the responsibility to leave behind so much of his command without instructions from General Rey- nolds. But neither can lay any claim to selecting Culp's Hill, which, if taken possession of by the enemy that night, our posi- tion on Cemetery Hill would have been untenable.
*(Doubleday's Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, page 151.)
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Our army was fast arriving. General Meade was now aware of the importance of rapidly concentrating his whole force at Gettysburg, and at once ordered the different corps commanders to push on with all speed. The Twelfth Corps, under General Slocum, arrived that evening from "Two Taverns", and assisted in strengthening the position selected by Hancock. General Slocum being the senior officer assumed command and General Hancock returned to his Corps, which, under Gibbon, was also fast approaching Gettysburg; after reporting to General Meade the strength of the position he had selected, which decided Meade to concentrate his army on that ridge. General Slocum placed his Corps on the right towards Culp's Hill as a reserve, with the exception of Geary's Division, which he sent to the left towards Little Round Top. The Third Corps, under General Sickles, with the exception of Humphreys' Division, was the next to ar- rive from Emmitsburg and took position on the left center. The march of Humphreys' Division being interrupted by the enemy obtaining possession of the Emmitsburg road, was compelled to move back and join the Corps by another route, arriving after daylight. At 9 o'clock at night the Second Corps arrived from Taneytown and bivouacked for the night on the eastern slope of Little Round Top, between it and the Taneytown road. The Fifth Corps, under General Sykes, came by way of Hanover and did not arrive upon the field until about I o'clock of July 2d, and it was after 2 o'clock when the Sixth Corps, commanded by General Sedgwick, arrived from Manchester.
At 3 o'clock on the morning of July 2d we were awakened with orders to get ready to move at once. At daylight we left camp and after a march of two miles our Brigade was massed in a field on the right of the Taneytown road and addressed by General Webb. He had been with us but three days ; the men knew noth- ing of him, and their experience at the Monocacy Creek had the effect to make him unpopular; but that short address in which he told them that they would now be called upon to defend their own state by hard fighting, that it would require each man to do his full duty to defeat the elated enemy, and appealed to each to cheerfully do his duty, and then told them that any one found shirking it in the slightest degree would be severely dealt with,
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that he would shoot any one leaving the line, and called on any man to do the same to him if he failed in his duty, told them that they had a commander that would not fail in his duty nor allow the men to fail in theirs; and when the fight was over they knew that he had proved himself to be all they could expect-one of the bravest officers of the Army.
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