USA > Pennsylvania > Our Campaigns: or, The marches, bivouacs, battles, incidents of camp life and history of our regiment during its three years term of service > Part 21
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During the assault on the left, the Sixth Corps and part of the First, together with detachments from the Second and Twelfth Corps, were all brought up at different periods to assist in the repulse, and about eight P. M., an assault was made on the Eleventh Corps from the left of the town, which was repulsed by the assistance of troops from the Second and First Corps.
During the absence of a portion of the Twelfth, the line on the extreme right was held by a very much reduced force. This was taken advantage of by the enemy, who, during the absence of General Geary's division of that corps, advanced, and occupied part of the line. The musketry fighting here continued from seven until half-past nine o'clock.
- General Geary having returned during the night, and being reinforced by a portion of the Sixth Corps, at dawn of day on the third, opened upon the enemy with artillery at the point where they had penetrated our lines the evening previous. This was followed by a general infantry attack, and soon the battle raged furiously, and was maintained with desperate obstinacy on both sides from half-past four to half-past ten, A. M., when the enemy were driven back with great slaughter and our former position re-occupied.
At daybreak on the 3d, the enemy's line of skirmishers in our brigade front being reinforced, they opened with great spirit, the noise of the musketry almost resembling that of a regular battle. Our own line was promptly rein- forced by volunteers who freely responded to them, but soon after the fire on both sides slackened and settled down to the common-place picket fighting. This work was kept up until about five P. M., during which time we were much annoyed by the sharpshooters posted in the trees, and a number of men of the other regiments were killed and wounded by them. This kind of fighting gave excellent opportunities for the display of individual bravery and address, and the manœuvring of the boys to get good shots at times created considerable amuse-
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ment. When some enterprising "Confed." was well posted and annoyed us much two or three would arrange their plans to knock him over, and creeping up cautiously from different directions, one of the men would draw his fire, while another on his flank would shoot him. One scamp got up a tree and succeeded in killing several men, when his locality was discovered; two of the boys started after him, and got under the tree before he saw them. He immediately cried out he would come down, to which they replied, they knew that very well, and they rattled him through the branches a few moments afterward. Another individual whom they afterwards discovered doing an extensive business in the same style, they left hanging in the crotches of a tree with his head and feet towards the ground. The boys never showed any mercy to these "tree frogs."
Thus the day wore on until one P. M., when the enemy opened upon our lines with over one hundred and thirty guns, playing principally upon our left and centre. This fire was immediately responded to on our side, and for over two hours the most terrific cannonading probably ever witnessed on this continent was kept up. The guns poured forth their missiles of death that went whizzing, screaming and bursting through the air, until the earth fairly trembled, and it seemed as if the very vault of heaven had been rent asunder.
About half-past three o'clock, the enemy in two long and massive lines was seen emerging from the woods of Seminary ridge to the south of McMillan's orchard, and moving over the plains towards the left centre. When they had reached one-third of the distance between the two opposing lines, our artillery opened upon them with shell and grape, staggering them for a few moments, when, with a terrific yell, they rushed to the charge. Our men quietly awaited until they had approached within short range when they opened upon them a deadly fire of musketry that mowed them down like grass. After a desperate struggle, the enemy were driven back
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with great slaughter, losing three thousand five hundred prisoners, and fifteen stands of colors. During this assault Major-general Hancock commanding the left centre, and Brigadier-general Gibbon commanding the Second Corps, were severely wounded, and of the enemy Generals Kemper was severely wounded, Armistead mor- tally, and Garnett was killed.
During the afternoon, the enemy had been annoying the Third brigade of Reserves, who held "Round Top," and attempted to turn the left flank, and heavy skirmishing was kept up between them. Our own front had been greatly annoyed by the enemy's sharpshooters and a bat- tery posted about one thousand yards distant on the crest of a gentle elevation. To get rid of these, General Crawford ordered Colonel McCandless to "capture the battery and clean the enemy out," with his brigade, for which purpose the "Bucktails," the First, the Second, and the Eleventh were advanced in line of battle over the stone wall, and through the skirting of woods to a wheat field, where they drew the fire of the battery, upon which they were laid down until it ceased, when they were again put in motion to the left and then to the right, thus displaying themselves and drawing the fire, until the Sixth, under Colonel Ent, had crept up close to the battery, which they stormed with great gallantry, and through a shower of grape and canister captured one gun and two caissons.
When the Sixth had become fairly engaged, Colonel McCandless marched the balance of his brigade by the right flank, and filing left formed in line of battle in a woods at right angles with the stone wall, and deploying skirmishers to the front, right and left, charged on double quick over the field for half a mile, receiving the enemy's fire from the woods on three sides. Half wheeling to the right and pouring a few volleys into the woods, they charged through them up to the crest, driving every thing before them. Here, halting for a few moments, they about faced, wheeled the line a little to the right,
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and charged through the woods in their rear, running like hounds, and yelping like devils down through the meadow and up over the steep acclivity on the opposite - side, surprising the enemy and taking them on the flank, and doubling them up and driving regiments and - brigades pell-mell before them in utter confusion. The gallant efforts of their officers to rally them were use- less, we had them fairly on the run, and did not cease following them until we had penetrated far into their lines.
The trophies of this brilliant raid into their line of battle, besides those captured by the Sixth, were six thousand stand of arms, the flag of the Fifteenth Georgia, and three hundred prisoners, including a colonel and many line officers. The ground was strewn with their dead and wounded, and the remainder of their division was scattered in flight. Night was now fast approaching, we were nearly two miles from our starting point, and we had entered the open ground, where the smallness of our force could be discovered. Prudence demanded we should withdraw, and therefore McCandless with his brigade retraced his steps for some distance; when halt- ing, we encircled ourselves with pickets, and slept upon our arms.
Such was the surprise of the enemy at our last charge, that their prisoners told us, that at the time we attacked them, they supposed we were nearly a mile off. Even their butchers were killed while engaged in skinning beeves, and a fatigue party who were burying their dead was captured. A prisoner was asked what regiment he belonged to, and replied, the Nineteenth Georgia. " Why, we captured you at Fredericksburg." "Are you the Second Pennsylvania Reserves? d-n you, you always give us h-ll when you meet us."
With this may be said to have ended the battle of Gettysburg, and it was looked upon as one of the most brilliant exploits of the field. Colonel McCandless dis- played cool courage and military genius of the highest
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order, handling his brigade in most splendid style, and withdrawing it at the right time. The conception of the idea of making a raid directly into the enemy's line of battle, of throwing out skirmishers in the front and on both flanks, of charging the enemy on the right and left front and rear by turns, in fact being outflanked and having our rear turned at the same time, was bold and dashing, and showed the full confidence of the leader in himself and men.
Generals Meade, Sykes, and Crawford and many other officers from "Round Top," saw the brigade start, and watched it as long as in sight. With the din and lull of battle their hopes arose and fell, and when they found it receded far from them, though knowing we were driving the enemy, they feared the ultimate result, and sent sup- port, which met us on our way back, and received us with hearty cheers. When an aid announced to them the complete success of the raid, they shook hands and congratulated each other, manifesting the liveliest satis- faction.
As soon as we halted for the night, stretchers and am- bulances were sent to gather up our wounded who had laid upon the field from the day before, and who had - suffered the pangs of many deaths. All night long and until noon the next day, were we thus engaged in the willing but painful work. The poor fellows had suffered terribly for water, and had been robbed of all their money and valuables, and some of them of their cloth- ing. Large details were also made to collect the arms and before morning. over six thousand rifles and muskets were gathered and taken to the rear.
Ammunition was procured and distributed to the men during the night, and at two o'clock on the morning of the "glorious Fourth," our regiment and the Sixth were moved to a more advanced post as pickets, and soon after. daylight the enemy discovering us, their pickets opened upon us, which we returned with much spirit. About nine o'clock the Regulars, who composed the second
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division of our corps, advanced a splendid line of skir- mishers, supported by two lines of battle, driving in the enemy's pickets and fully drawing their fire, when the object for which they advanced, viz .: to ascertain the position, strength and composition of the enemy, being obtained they withdrew to the rear again. When they advanced, our boys opened briskly upon the enemy, to draw their fire from the skirmishers, and some of them joined in the advance. Upon their retiring, the enemy fired a few shells, and then quietly advanced their picket line again, and settled down to exchanging an occasional shot in the usual quiet manner. While here, three thousand rounds of ammunition were distributed to the men. About one P. M., we were relieved, and during a heavy rain moved to our old position at the stone wall, having been under an almost constant fire for forty-three hours.
Never in any battle did the Reserve show more reckless and determined bravery than they did upon this field, for all felt that they were defending their own homes. One whole company of the First regiment were raised in Gettysburg, and some of the men fought on their own farms. All the field and staff officers deter- mined to go in mounted, and did so as far as their horses could go. General Crawford and his staff, Colonel Mc- Candless and his Assistant Inspector-general, Captain Coates, all displayed intrepid bravery. Lieutenant colonel Woodward, who from his wounds walked with difficulty in the early part of the action, received a con- tusion of the . ankle, and was unable to accompany us in our charges, but remained upon the field.
The loss of our regiment, and in fact, of the brigade, was remarkably small which is attributed to the impetu- osity of our charges, which gave the enemy but little chance to inflict damage upon us. The proportion of killed was very small, though among the wounded the mortality was subsequently very heavy .*
* See Appendix A.
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Our regiment went into battle with one hundred and forty-seven men and its loss was heavier than any other regiment in the brigade.
The enemy numbered ninety thousand men and two hundred pieces of cannon, we had sixty thousand men and about an equal number of guns. Our total loss was four thousand killed, twelve thousand wounded, and four thousand prisoners, in all about twenty thousand ; whilst the enemy's loss was five thousand five hundred killed, twenty-one thousand wounded, nine thousand prisoners, and four thousand stragglers and deserters, making a total of about forty thousand.
About one o'clock in the afternoon the Regulars relieved us at the stone-wall and we were moved back to "Little Round Top," where we received rations and remained until the afternoon of the next day, during which time it rained severely.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
FALL OF REYNOLDS. THE BOY'S SWORD. MARCH. UNDYING LOVE. FALLING WATERS. LEE CROSSES THE POTOMAC. WAPPING HEIGHTS. MANASSAS GAP. ANECDOTE. MARCHING IN A CIRCLE.
BEFORE leaving the field of Gettysburg let us refer to Major-general John F. Reynolds, in the death of whom, a most skillful officer, brave soldier, high-minded and honor. able man, and courteous gentleman, the army and country sustained a great loss, but nowhere was it more sincerely felt than in the First brigade of the Reserves whom he had moulded in their infancy and led to honor and glory on many fields. It will be remembered, at Harrison's Land- ing the men of this brigade determined to present the General with a handsome testimonial of their regard, which on account of the active service in which they
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were soon after engaged, was not procured until a short time before we left Fairfax Station, and no opportunity being afforded to present it, it was taken into Pennsyl- vania with the intention of presenting it to him on the battle-field, but, alas! when they arrived within hearing of his guns, he had passed to immortality.
In this gift the men felt great pride, as it was known that the general had refused to receive similar ones when tendered by officers, but he could not refuse this, prompted as it was by the pure and disinterested feel- ings of the men's hearts. And it was such a one as any general would have been proud of. It consisted of a costly sword of most exquisite workmanship, and was accompanied by a sash, and belt embroidered with heavy bullion. The blade of the sword was of the finest Damascus steel, and the scabbard of pure gold, having inscribed upon it on a scroll:
" Presented to Major-general John F. Reynolds, by the enlisted men of the First, Second, Fifth and Eighth regi- ments of the First brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves, in testimony of their love and admiration. Mechanicsville, June 26th, 1862."
Upon the grip was a black onyx, in the centre of which was set in diamonds the initials J. F. R., sur- rounded by a wreath of precious brilliants. On the reverse, in a handsome scroll was inscribed-" Vincit Amor Patria." Crowning the grip was a solid globe of gold, chased with the map of the world, around which was the belt of the Union in blue enamel, with thirteen diamond stars, while entwined around the guard was an exquisitely-shaped serpent, with its venomous tongue protruding as if to steal one of the stars from the galaxy. The shield of the hilt was formed of the coat of arms of the State of Pennsylvania, cut from a solid plate of gold. Beneath this, on the scabbard, was a fine figure of the Goddess of Liberty modeled from the statue sur- mounting the Federal Capitol. In style and workman- ship it was exquisitely gotten up, every touch upon it
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being given by hand, it resembling a fine piece of jew- elry .*
Subsequently, W. H. Grier, a brave and gallant ser- geant of the Fifth was chosen to proceed to Philadelphia and presented it to the general's sister, Mrs. Henry Landis.
On the morning of the 5th, it being ascertained that the enemy was in fuli retreat by the Fairfield and Cash- town roads, the Sixth corps was sent in pursuit on the Fairfield road, and the cavalry on the Cashtown road, by Emmetsburg and Monterey passes. As these passes were reported by Major-general Sedgwick as being very strong, General Meade determined to follow the enemy by a flank movement, and accordingly leaving a brigade of cavalry and infantry to harass the enemy, he put the army in motion for Middletown, Maryland.
Major-general French, in anticipation of orders, moved from Frederick and reoccupied Harper's Ferry and seized Turner's Pass, in the South Mountains. He also pushed his cavalry to Williamsport and Falling Waters, where he destroyed the enemy's pontoon bridge and captured its guard.
At five o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, we moved off in a southwesterly direction over exceedingly bad roads, and at twelve o'clock at night bivouacked in an open field and threw out pickets. The next morning, about eleven o'clock, we marched to the State line, where a con- gratulatory address from General Meade was read to us and we bivouacked for the remainder of the day and night.
At four the next morning we moved off, passing near Emmetsburg and continuing along the base of the South · Mountains, marching on the fields skirting the pike and passing through Graceham and Creegarstown, and bivouacked about dark, six miles from Frederick, having marched twenty-one miles over very heavy roads.
* The designs in many respects were entirely new and original, and the sword has been pronounced one of the most chaste and beautiful ever made in this country. It was manufactured by Mr. E. Kretzmar.
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The Catholic Convent at Emmetsburg since we passed there, has received a bright gem into its cloisters, the melancholy story of which is peculiarly interesting to the Reserves. A young lady, possessed of all the charms and attributes of womanly graces, won the heart of one of the Reserves' ablest generals. Her love was too pure and holy to look to this world alone for bliss, and although their hearts and hands were plighted, she post- poned the happy hour that was to make them one, while she plead with him with all her earnestness to come into the folds of her church. The general, though one of the most upright and moral of men, could not be induced to leave the faith he had been reared in, and thus while their hearts were trembling between love and piety, and love and manly virtue, the hero sealed his devotion to his country by pouring out his heart's blood to hold the ground until the Army of the Potomac could concentrate at Gettysburg. And how fitting the sequel! Bowed down with the loss of her brave and gallant hero, she consecrated her fortune to charity and her life to her God.
At six o'clock on the morning of the 8th we marched, heading nearly west, and passing over fields soon struck the Catoctin Mountains, up the rugged sides of which we clambered through a heavy rain that had been falling all night. Arriving at the summit we commenced the descent along a narrow and rough road, and soon had a fine view of the magnificent valley, in which Middle- town is situated, and a large number of troops were lay- ing. Passing through Middletown, which was filled with moving columns of troops and wagons, we turned to the left and bivouacked about a mile to the south.' During the night rations were served out to the companies.
The next morning we marched at six, and crossed the South Mountains at a point where the left wing of our army had gained a glorious victory on the 14th of September last. Descending the western slope we bivouacked about two miles from Keedysville, within
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sight of Antietam's glorious field. Through the day we heard heavy firing in the direction of Williamsport. A full supply of shoes and stockings, which were much needed were received and distributed during the night.
The next morning we commenced our march at six o'clock, and soon afterwards heard heavy cannonading. Passing near Keedysville and La Roy, we struck Antie- tam creek, passing by Delamont Mills, where the enemy had been in the morning, and some of their officers had ordered dinner, which they did not remain to eat. Just beyond here we halted and threw out cavalry and infan- try skirmishers, who occasionally exchanged shots with the enemy for over two hours.
On the morning of the 11th we moved forward cau- tiously to near the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turn- pike, where we deployed in line of battle, and rested until four in the afternoon, at which time the division moved forward in columns of companies with the regi- ments at deploying distance, with a heavy body of skirmishers in front, and the pioneers to tear down the fences. Having advanced about two miles, the division halted, and our regiment and five companies of the Fifth, under Colonel Woodward, were sent out on picket. We found the Second Corps pickets engaged with the enemy on the pike for the possession of a piece of woods, and did not succeed in making our connection with their line until after dark, when we occupied the inner edge of the woods in dispute. The Second Corps fell back and changed their line twice through the night, and we had to alter ours to correspond with theirs.
The next morning, Sunday, we advanced our line, occupying the woods in dispute without opposition, crossed the pike and posted our line on the elevated ground beyond, sending Companies C and H, Captains Byrnes and Mealey, to occupy a piece of heavy timber further in advance and to the left within close proximity to the enemy's picket pits. Soon after, heavy artillery and musketry firing was heard on our right, and about
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four o'clock orders were received to withdraw our line about half a mile to the left. Here we formed the divi- son, and soon afterwards were ordered to throw out our line as skirmishers, beyond the pike fronting the woods. Some sharp firing took place but without occasioning any loss on our side.
The division moved back about dark to their former position, and at nine o'clock that night we were relieved and joined them.
July the 13th was a rainy and disagreeable day, and we did not move until nearly three o'clock in the after- noon, when we were formed and marched to a long line of riffe-pits that the division had thrown up, and soon after to a field in front, where we laid all night.
That night orders were received to march early with the greatest secrecy, but when the morning came there was no occasion for this as the enemy had evacuated their position through the night. As we advanced we found three long lines of most formidable rifle-pits advantageously posted which the enemy had abandoned leaving many of their tools behind them. We also found a number of arms, and many prisoners were brought in, who proved to be the dirtiest set of mortals we had yet seen. During the march the "Bucktails" were posted on the right, and we on the left as flankers, and at ten A. M., we arrived within sight of Williamsport on the upper Potomac. At noon we re-commenced our march and proceeded to Falling Waters, where we arrived too late to participate in the brush with the enemy. Here our cavalry overtook the rear guard and captured two guns, three flags and a number of prisoners, and killed General Pettigrew. Lee's army crossed the night before on a trestle and boat bridge. We remained in position until about four o'clock, when we moved to a clover field and bivouacked.
The question has frequently been asked why did Meade permit Lee to escape? It must be remembered that our army was much fatigued by their late hard
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fighting and marching, and was seriously reduced in number. That upon the arrival of Lee upon the banks of the Potomac, he immediately commenced the erection of breastworks, and that the greatest difficulty General Meade experienced, was the impossibility of reconnoit- ring the enemy's position on account of the character of the country. A council of war was called and the five corps commanders present, decided against an attack, and it showed a proper prudence on the part of General Meade not to order a blind attack when ignorant of all essential matters, having therefore, no clear view that success was probable against a splendidly posted, des- perate and powerful enemy. Had an attack been made on the 13th, Lee's whole army would have been found behind their works, as not a man left his lines until after dark that night. A defeat would have lost all the benefit of the past victory, and placed the North and Washington again at the command of Lee and his army.
The next morning, the 15th, at four o'clock we com- menced our march, nearly retracing our steps, passing near Delamont and down the Hagerstown and Sharps- burg pike to the Kecdysville road, and halted to make coffee about noon on the site of the "Smoketown Hos- pital." Near by was the burial ground with a handsome wooden monument about twelve feet high erected in the centre, by the convalescents. We were now on the battle- field of Antictam, whose rolling fields were covered with luxuriant grain ready for the harvest, and the deep forest was clothed with new foliage that sighed above the graves alike of friend and foe, peacefully slumbering together awaiting the last reveille. Moving on, we crossed the Antietam, passing through Keedysville, and over South Mountains by the same road we came, and en- camped near its eastern base. The day was very warm, and the march was over a rough and hilly country, in many places with the roads very muddy, and the distance made being twenty-three miles, the men were much worn out.
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