USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
£
VAI
395
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Corps occupied the town of Gettysburg. General A. P. Hill's Corps held Seminary Ridge, Heth's division on the right along the ridge, and Pender on the left. The two divisions had fought on the first day, Anderson's division being one and one-half miles back. A large part of Longstreet's Corps formed the ex- treme right of the Confederate army. These were the dispo- sitions of the confronting forces. All the morning and a part of the afternoon were spent in arranging and strengthening the Union line. Batteries were placed in position to add materi- ally to the strength and efficiency of the troops. After recon- noitering the Union position, General Lee determined to make the chief attack upon the Union left, especially upon the line of Sickles' Corps the most exposed and the weakest. At the same time that this attack upon the Union left was to be made, he ordered General Ewell, on their left, to make an attack upon the Union right in order to prevent the sending of reinforce- ments from the right to the left. At about half past three o'clock, just as a council of Corps Commanders was assembling at Gen- eral Meade's Headquarters, the battle opens. Clark's battery fires the first shot and this draws upon Sickles' left and centre a terrible concentrated artillery fire. General Sickles im- mediately rides back to his command and General Meade rides with him. General Meade, who sees the line of the Third Corps for the first time, objects to its position but thinks that it is now too late to change it. The rebel division of General Hood is on the right and the division of McLaws follows. The rebel line is longer than the left of the line of the Third Corps and extends beyond it towards the Cemetery Ridge. The im- portance of the position of the two Round Tops, particularly of Little Round Top, induces General Hood to extend his line very far towards Cemetery Ridge so that he may flank the Union line and penetrate between the two Round Tops and . thus obtain the possession of the key of the whole Union line. Brigadier-General Law of Hood's division strengthened by two additional regiments hold this advance. They press hastily forward to seize the prize. In front of Little Round Top is only one regiment of the Third Corps left, the Fourth Maine. The Sixth New Jersey, the Fortieth New York and the Second U. S. Sharpshooters, in the gorge of Plum Run, help in the defence. They form an ambush and valiantly, for a little time, check the advance of General Law's troops. They lose ground in this
7
396
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
unequal contest. By their falling back, the approaches to Lit- tle Round Top are uncovered. General Ward, whose brigade, looking South, has the left of the Third Corps, takes troops from his right to strengthen his left 'and cover these regiments in falling back. Winslow's battery renders efficient help. De Trobriand's front is now assailed while Ward, on his left, is driven back with great loss. The rebels under General Laws once more begin the ascent of Little Round Top. The rebel division of McLaws, on the left of Hood's division, by direction of General Lee, was to follow Hood's division in this attack. McLaws now comes forward. Kershaw is on the right of his line, then Semmes and then Barksdale, with Woffords in sup- port. At half past five o'clock, Kershaw attacks DeTrobri- and's centre and his weak left connecting with Graham. All the rebel guns on the Warfield ridge are directed against Gra- ham and Humphreys' troops. In response to the earnest re- quest of General Sickles for help, General Meade promises assistance from General Hancock's Second Corps and from the Fifth Corps of Sykes. The Fifth Corps has just reached Gettysburg after a long march and is cooking coffee. Time is required for the order to be received and obeyed and the troops to reach the field of battle. Time passes and the battle presses. At length the division of General Barnes of Sykes' Corps reaches the front for the relief of Birney's hard pressed troops. Upon these Kershaw's rebel brigade presses, impet- uously and General Sykes reinforces them with all the troops at his disposal. But what of Little Round Top ? In this furi- ous onset and strife has the rebel General Law been able to capture Round Top and with this in possession turn the whole Union left ? Never before in the history of this war was there a deliverance so signal and so clearly providential. Just as the rebel troops of General Law were approaching Little Round Top all unprotected, an easy prize to the eager racer, General Warren, engineer on General Meade's staff, was climbing this hill to get a better view of the battle and judge of its action. Just as he reached the top he saw the men of the Signal Corps who had been signaling from its summit, folding up their flags and about retiring. They had discerned unmistakable evidences of the masked approach of these rebel troops. A shot from a Union battery sent by Warren's direction across their line of approach clearly revealed their uplifted heads and glittering
----
397
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
bayonets. This momentary view makes known to General Warren the presence of these stealthily approaching troops and reveals to him their design. He at the same instant comes to an appreciation of the vital importance of Round Top to the Union line. He sees that this position must be held at all hazzard. No time is to be lost, not a moment. Troops for its defence must be sought and sought at once. To impress the enemy with the idea of a force now there for its defence, War- ren directs the signal men to continue to wave their flags, while he hurries to bring troops to defend it. Having ob- served the movement of the division of General Barnes going to the relief of Birney's line, he immediately detaches Vincent's Brigade, and orders them to hasten to Little Round Top. He also obtains the co-operation of Haslett's Battery. In his anxiety and eagerness General Warren quickly ascends Round Top again to watch the approach of the enemy and await the com- ing of Vincent for its defense. Every minute seems an hour. The troops for its defense seem to move very slowly, too slowly in Warren's judgment, to meet the exigency. He hastensto ob- tain new help. Meeting Ayre's division going to the front he appeals for help. This appeal is made directly to Colonel O'Rorke of the One hundred-and-fortieth New York, a young brilliant graduate of West Point-a friend of Warren, who immediately lends him help. With their assistance Has- lett's Battery is dragged and lifted up to the summit of Round Top. In the meantime, Vincent's Brigade has reached the as- cent to Little Round Top and has posted his regiments on a ridge about half the way up, the Sixteenth Michigan on the right below the summit, the Forty-fourth New York and Eighty-third Pennsylvania in the centre and the Twentieth Maine, Colonel Chamberlain commanding, on the left. These troops have arrived and taken position just in time. Not a minute could have been spared. The rebel troops of Law's Brigade having emerged from a severe battery fire which for a time had delayed-at this very instant start up the ascent of Round Top and impetuously attack the troops of Vincent. Unable in this onset to break Vincent's line, they outflank his right and assail the Sixteenth Michigan with such vigorous impetuosity that it is unable to withstand the assault. How can assistance be obtained ? These troops of Vincent on Lit- tle Round Top seem entirely separated from the rest of the
£
الشوططع
398
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
line, and no help seems to be at hand. The vital position of Round top seems to fall into their hands. There seems to be no sufficient defence. This however, is only in the intervention of a' kind Providence and by the energy and promptness of General Warren, Colonel O'Rorke and his long line of New Yorkers have reached the top, together with Haslett's Battery, and this in the very nick of time. Though they have made the direct ascent so quickly, · and, at a full run, have reached the summit, they have not a minute to lose. To meet the rebels who have turned Vincent's right, and drive them back, they have not time to load, nor to form in line, nor even to fix bayonets. O'Rorke urges them to the attack. Receiving the fire of the front rank of their assailants, which causes not a few to fall, they rush down upon the approaching rebels with clubbed muskets. This action causes a check. Then follows the fire of musketry. Vincent's regiments having recovered from the attack now come to the assistance of O'Rorke's regiment. Haslett's battery, too, though it cannot depress his guns sufficiently to fire upon the rebel troops ascending Round Top, fires at the rebel troops in the valley, and this encourages the brave defenders of Round Top. And thus Round Top is rescued from this imminently threatening danger. And yet the contest continues. They watch each other. They aim from behind rocks and bushes. To get a better shot, some climb trees. Two guns of Smith's Union battery throw their shells among the ascending rebels. The dead and wounded fall and disappear among the rocks. Officers and men realizing the vital importance of the struggle perform prodigies of valor. The rebel General, Law, not satisfied with the fire of musketry, which may be prolonged, brings his force against the One-hundred-and fortieth New York, which by its prompt action, had stopped his progress. But Vincent hastens to their help and this attack, too, is repulsed. The combatants, at length, become exhausted. Somewhat later Vincent's troops are reinforced by Weed's brigade of the Fifth Corps, just as the battle on Round Top is about to be renewed. The young and dashing O'Rorke has fallen. Just as these reinforcements come up General Vincent, also, is mortally wounded. General Weed takes position upon the right but has not time to deploy his battalions. Colonel Chamberlain to check the advance of the rebels has
-
2
W
399
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
placed the Twentieth Maine, composed of strong backwoods- men, to secure the defile between the two summits against which Law now directs all his efforts. The contest is renewed along the whole line. General Weed, who sets an example to all around him, is mortally wounded near Haslett's Battery, and Haslett, stooping to receive the last words of General Weed, is struck in his turn and falls lifeless upon the body of his chief. Nearly all the officers are either killed or wounded. But the enemy also becomes exhausted. In order to outflank and surround the Union left he has too much extended his line. Colonel Chamberlain, discerning its weakness, charges it, repulses it and takes more than 300 wounded and prisoners.
While these events are taking place at Little Round Top somewhat in advance along the line held by General Sickles, a most determined fight is taking place. General Ward's Brigade, on the extreme left, has suffered the first onset. Then the brigades of DeTrobriand and Graham, and, last of all, the Division of General Humphreys. Though the angle at the Peach Orchard is held by eleven regiments, many of them veterans of the fighting Kearney, they are unable to resist this violent onset. Upon this is concentrated the fire of many batteries, and the line suffers from a battery which delivers a most destructive enfilading fire. Rebel troops flushed with success assail it in overpowering numbers. Such an angle, exposed to such fires and to such assaults, cannot hold out. The brigades of Sweitzer and Tilton lend their efficient aid ; four batteries of the reserve artillery strengthen the three already in position ; Caldwell's Division of Hancock's Corps, with the brigades of Cross and Kelly in front and those of Zook and Brooke in rear,-and then the division of regulars consisting of the brigades of Day and Burbank and commanded by General Ayres who had been at the turning point of so many battles, all came to the assistance of this fiercely-assaulted line and fought with the most determined and heroic courage, but only to suffer severe loss, and, at length, to be driven to the line of Cemetery Ridge. After the left and the centre of Sickles' Corps was thus broken and driven the division of General Humphreys, also, which formed the right, was com- pelled to change front, and then to fall back to the line of Ceme- tery Ridge. Though General Hancock brought yet other troops, and General Meade himself brought forward Lock-
3
N
400
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
wood's Maryland Brigade, the line of Humphreys was forced thus violently back. At the time that this took place there was a daring advance on the part of the rebel brigades of Wilcox, composed of Alabamians, and of Wright, made up of Geor- gians, who, having pierced the Union line and finding no effective force interposing, advanced through a hot artillery fire until they reached the very crest of Cemetery Ridge and actually pierced the Union centre. But General Webb met them with such staggering volleys and with such an impetuous charge that they were driven back again with severe loss. Inasmuch as General Hood, who had led the assault against Little Round .Top, had been wounded, General Longstreet himself, late in the day, leads a final charge against this stronghold upon the Union left. But while reconnoitering the Union positions and discerning the strong positions of the troops, and particularly recog- nizing the presence of the four brigades of the Sixth Corps which had been advanced to the front, and well knowing that the rest of Sedgwick's Sixth Corps was at hand as JOHN MOONEY, Co. B. reserves, he gave up the thought of attacking again such strong positions so strongly held.
These actions on the Union left were not the only ones on the second day. A determined and partially successful attack was made by the rebels of Ewell's corps against the forces on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill. In order to stem the torrent of fierce assault upon the left, this day, General Meade had greatly weakened his right. All the troops of the 12th Corps of Slocum, except the brigade of General Green, were taken from Culp's Hill and sent to the assistance of General Sickles. While these troops were away, General Hayes' brigade on the right and Hokes' brigade on the left, with Gordon's brigade in reserve, advanced against Cemetery Ridge. Von Gilsa's divi- sion and the division of General Ames, in advance, en-
£
401
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
closing the batteries of Ricketts and Weiderick, on higher ground, behind them, received this assault. The batteries of Stewart, Reynolds and Stevens, rendered most efficient help. The rebel right, though meeting with determined resistance, advanced up to the crest of Cemetery Ridge and took the battery of Weiderick and spiked two of Ricketts' guns. But though at first successful it was against determined opposition. Colonel Wainwright had given orders not to retreat, but to fight the guns to the last. The battery of Stevens poured a terrible fire of double canister into their ranks-the Thirty third Massachusetts opened a very effective oblique fire. The batteries, though penetrated, will not sur- render. " Dearer to the cannonier than life itself, it is said, is the gun he serves," and these brave men fight hand-to hand, with rammers, hand-spikes and even with stones. "Death on the soil of our native State, rather than lose our guns." General Hancock, hearing of this attack, sent Carroll's brigade to the rescue. This was joined by the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania and some reinforcements from Shurtz's division. They came over the hill and went in with a shout. The enemy anticipating only disaster, being with- out reinforcements, fell back. As they retreated the artillery opened a most destructive fire, and with such deadly effect that out of 1750 men of the Louisiana Tigers only 150 returned.
But the rebel troops of Johnston in their advance upon Culp's Hill were more successful. Masked behind the thickets of Rock Creek they made their stealthy approach. Though bravely and persistently opposed by the brigade of General Green which was stongly entrenched, they found the works constructed by General Geary's men vacant. These they took possession of and held through the night. During the night both sides are strengthened. The four brigades of Geary's troops return about IT o'clock and are much surprised to find the rebels in possession. Union batteries are placed in position so as to enfilade the rebel position. General Kane's brigade making a detour reaches the position defended by General Green. The division of General Williams, increased by the arrival of Lockwood, is waiting for daylight to renew the battle. The Sixth Corps, too, furnishes supplies and sends the brigades of Shaler and Neill to the extreme left
IT
T
402
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
along the east side of Rock Creek. The rebel Johnson, too, has been re-enforced by Smith's old brigade, Rhodes' old brig- ade and the brigade of Daniels-raising their force to seven of their large brigades. The battle begins with the light. The Union troops are determined to drive them out of these positions. They must be driven out before they discover their nearness to the Baltimore Pike. At early dawn the artillery opens fire. After firing about fifteen minutes the artillery fire ceases to allow the infantry to advance. But the rebels antici- pate this movement. Formed in three compact lines close to each other they hurl themselves against the Union troops with great impetuosity. They come to recognize their nearness to the line of the Union retreat, if retreat they must, and also their nearness to the supply train. On this road they see strag- glers and non-combatants making their way in haste and con- fusion. This sight greatly stimulates their ardor. The shock and clash of arms is terrific. A desperate struggle takes place among the rocks. Upon the positions exposed all the artillery opens fire. On the south of the Baltimore Pike General Sedg- wick is putting his brigades there into line that he may check the enemy should he advance into the open plain. The contest continues and yet loses none of its desperate character. Gen- eral Stonewall Jackson's old soldiers are not willing to back down even though the contest is against them. At last after seven hours' fighting they determined to make a most deter- mined effort to break Geary's lines so as to reach the Baltimore Pike. But they find that not only are Geary's troops steadfast but that these have been re-enforced by General Kane's brigade and our own brigade under General Shaler. The rebel Gen- eral Stewart having extended his line to the Creek heads the assault and his men follow into the concentrated fire-Ruger's skirmishers on their flank open a murderous fire, while Geary's troops strengthened by others steadfastly resist the assault. They are repulsed. Then immediately Ruger crosses the stream against the enemy while Geary makes a direct ad- vance into the wood, and the enemy is driven out of the en- trenchments. Three stands of colors and 500 prisoners prove the success of this combined movement-Culp's Hill is cleared.
At the time the action ceases on the Union right at Culp's Hill the heat of the sun has become intense. But neither heat n'or cold suspend the shock of arms. Intense as is the heat,
L
YT
403
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
the pressure upon the leader of the rebel invading forces is yet more intense. With army composed of the very best of the rebel troops, most of them veterans-all highly elated with the successes achieved and sure of certain victory,-Gen- eral Lee has turned to meet the Union Army and brush it away from his conquering path. But at the hands of that Union Army he has met with a most stubborn resistance. Though by the massing of superior numbers, he, on the first day, drove back the Union forces from their advanced positions, and, on the second day, by taking advantage of the · faulty position chosen by General Sickles and his long and weak line,-by the same massing efforts and concentration of artillery fire, he drove back this portion of the Union line, yet these successes have been achieved at very great cost and with- out any lasting advantage. The Union line has fallen back but it has been to the very strong position on Cemetery Ridge. There it has entrenched itself. And now if he will succeed, he must drive this army out of its strong position. This strong position General Lee has assaulted at its extreme left at the Round Tops, and there has met with signal failure and great loss. Again he has assaulted this strong position. upon the Union right and has there met with a most stubborn resist- ance and has after seven hours' contest been driven out. It remains for him to make trial of the Union centre. He cannot yet retreat. The temporary successes by the rebel assaulting . columns inperfectly supported, leads him to the conclusion that an assault made by a very strong body of select troops duly supported will be able to pierce the Union centre and dis- rupt the right and left of the Union line. This accomplished, victory will be complete. This is the great plan. This is the stupendous effort to be made. Since seven or eight o'clock General Lee has been busy in assigning places to the troops that are to make the assault. General Longstreet endeavors to persuade him to adopt the plan of turning the Union left. Should he turn the left, he would secure his own line of retreat while he could interpose between the Union forces and Wash- ington. But General Lee has determined upon attacking the Union left centre. That part of the line was indicated by the position of Ziegler's Grove on Cemetery Ridge. The troops selected for making this attack is the division com- manded by General Pickett. Having reached Gettysburg
-
404
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
they are fresh for the fight and are full of enthusiasm. At 10 o'clock they take position near the Peach Orchard. Heth's division, now under General Pettigrew was to advance on the left of Pickett's division and join in the attack on the Union line. The force of General Wilcox was ordered to support the right of Pickett. A very marked feature of the plan of at- tack was assigned to the rebel artillery. At daybreak Col- onel Alexander, who had charge of this portion of the rebel artillery posted six batteries along the line of the Emmetts- burg Road. The other batteries of the Rebel First Corps was posted by Colonel Walton so as to make a slightly concave line of seventy-five pieces of artillery, stationed at the distance of 900 yards to 1300 yards from the Union line. The batteries of Major Henry were placed to the right so as to cross their fire with the rest of the Rebel guns. Somewhat in the rear of these are posted the Washington Artillery with Dearing and Cabell's batteries. All these guns, uniting their fire with some of Ewell's, are to batter that portion of the Union line which the division of Pickett and the associated commands intend to assault. All these preparations consume the time up to 1 o'clock. The Union troops have been wondering at the pro- tracted silence upon this part of the field. The hot sun beats down upon their heads, but no sound of battle is there heard. Suddenly, at I o'clock, two guns-signal guns-are fired, which to the expecting assaulting column' say, " be on your guard, be ready." And then suddenly-opens the most furi- ous fusillade of artillery that this New World has ever heard. Who of us who then heard it, will ever forget it? To the seventy-five pieces of artillery of Longstreet's Corps there was added sixty-five pieces of A. P. Hill's Corps-making 13S pieces of artillery, which at the signal given belched forth their smoke and horrid deafening roar and hurled upon the Union line their death-dealing missiles. The very hills, solid as they are, seem to shake beneath the concussion. And what is the effect upon the Union line ? Is it caught in a surprise? Is it stunned and overwhelmed by the shock? They are not over- whelmed. From the time that the contest on the Union left closed the preceding evening, General Meade assisted by Gen- eral Hancock, has been occupied in rectifying and strength- ening the line. General Hunt, in particular. Chief of the Union Artillery, has with untiring zeal, been busy in examin-
1
1
405
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
ing the batteries and their positions. The batteries of the re- serve artillery have been consolidated. At the extreme left of the line two batteries crown the steep ridge of Little Round Top. In the depression, this side, McGilvery is posted with eight of the reserve batteries. On the front of the Second Corps Major Hazzard has placed four batteries, one on the left and the others under Arnold, Cushing and Brown on the high ridge. Finally on the ridge, a regular battery has been stationed. Colonel Osborne on this line, has command of fifty pieces. In addition to all these five batteries are held as reserves ready to come to the front and join in the action. To this fusillade of the rebel guns eighty of the Union pieces are ready to reply. General Hunt gives order that they keep back their fire for fifteen minutes ; that they select the point against which their fire will be concentrated. At the expira- tion of these minutes, the eighty guns reply. More than 200 cannon on these two sides engage in this artillery battle. Who of you can imagine the terrible roar, the violence of the concussion, the whizzing of the shot, the screaming and burst- ing of the shells ? The rebel fire is in volleys, all their batteries at once! Well directed they produce a great effect. The Union fire is regular and is quite destructive. The position of the Union troops, in a depression, while it screens from view, furnishes little protection from this fire of the enemy. The rebel shells burst in the midst of supply trains, batteries and ambulances; the horses struck totter and fall. General Meade's Headquarters are riddled with balls. General But- terfield, Chief of Staff, is wounded. In every direction men may be seen seeking shelter behind the slightest elevation in the ground. Nothing is heard but this fearful roar and this explo- sion of shells. The Union Infantry remain quiet under this fire and endure the trial with great composure. The artillerists, though most exposed, are sustained by their action amid the excitement. But caisson after caisson is exploded and as the smoke of the explosion rises, it attracts the attention of the enemy and the rebel yell of exultation is heard for miles along their extended line. But the rebel side, too, suffer not a little. They have been obliged to move back their ammunition wagons. Many have met their death and more of them have been wounded. After nearly two hours have thus been spent in this dreadful war of the guns, Generals Meade and Hunt
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.