Oversized Fold~out 9 7$-. 5 3,,d 4 2 OF THEL July 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1803: WITH +N ACCOUNT OF THlE MOVEMENTS OF THE RESPECTIVE ARMNIES FOR SOME DAYS PREVIOUS THERETO. COMPILED FROM THlE "PERSOINAL OBSERIVATION OF EYE-WITNESSES OF THlE SEVERAL BATTLES. ACCOMPANIED BY AN EXPLANATORY M-AP. BY T. DITTERLINE. -NE'W YORK:,0. A.. ALVORD, ELECTROTYPER AND PRINTER. F'.1, 9'"I a v ~eTs,~~v vi~2 uL1bun~ru!IIII2rj..^^^ ^^T;I I V l^t i A wv 6,f'P- 1: 1 L Pr~iLADELPIIIA, Cct. 23d, 1863. GEo. ARzyOLT, EsQ.: MY DEAR Sin:-Your polite favor with the accompanying map of the " Field of Gettysburg' is received, and I have examined the map a~nd compared it with some othiers of the same locality, and think it much thie best. My opinion is shiared by several officors who, -were in the battle.** Very truly yours, (Signed) ~~~GEO, W. CnILDS. 7 - I SKETCH OF THE 3BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. GETTYSBURG, the county seat of Adams County, Pa., and the scene of one of the most awful and bloody conflicts of modern times, has a beautiful and picturesque location, and is situated in the centre of an extensive basin, in a region delightfully diversified with hills and valleys. At about the distance of ten miles west of the town rises the bold outline of the South Mountain, running in a direction from northeast to southwest. Half a mile west of the town, and extending southward for miles, in a line parallel with the Blue Ridge, is Oak Ridge, which, to the northward of the town, extends across the roads leading to Carlisle and Harrisburg. This was the position occupied by the rebel corps of Hill and Longstreet during the battles of Thursday and Friday, July 2d and 3d. Immediately south of the town rises Cemetery Hill, the centre and apex of the Union line. It is destitute of timber, with the exception of a small grove in the rear of the Cemetery, and near the Taneytown road, and, from its elevation, commanded a view of the entire rebel line, from Longstreet's extreme right on the Enmettsburg road to the rebel batteries north, and northeast of the town, extending beyond the Bonaughtown road. Southeast from Cemetery Hill, and between Rock Creek and the turnpike leading to Baltimore, is Culp's Hill, extending in a southeasterly direction for a distance of nearly a mile, and terminating near MeAlister's Mill. This was the position occupied by our right. The whole summit and eastern slope 6 SKETCH OF TIIE of this hill, is densely covered with timber. The western slope is partially wooded, with cleared fields intervening. Beyond Rock Creek, and to the southeast of Culp's Hill, is Wolf Hill, which is very elevated, rocky, and abrupt, and thickly wooded. Rock Creek, one of the affluents of the Monocacy, is a small stream, flowing in a southerly direction, and, at a point directly east, is about half a mile distant from Gettysburg. About two miles southwest from Cemetery Hill, Round Top looms up grandly, its pyramidal form towering above all others, densely covered with timber. Rising quickly fiom its base, and extending northward, is a spur, with its western slope denuded of its forest growth, but covered with rocks and stone; and extending from thence to Cemetery Hill is a clearly defined ridge, terminating in Ziegler's Grove. This ridge, with its outposts, Granite Spur and Round Top, constituted the left of the Union line. North of the town the country is mostly a rolling plain, with a few hills and patches of timber interspersed. On Saturday, June 27, 1863, the Union army lay at and in the vicinity of Frederick, Md., and on that day Meade was placed in command. Early's Division of Ewell's Corps of rebels was then at York. Gordon's Brigade had entered Gettysburg on the afternoon of Friday, June 26th, and remained until early on the ensuing morning, when they marched, in two columns, by way of East Berlin and Abbottstown, to York; the cavalry, under White, having proceeded, by Hanover, to the Junction, and destroyed brridgcs on the Hanover Branch and Northern Central Railroads, and having thus broken up railroad communication. Rhodes and Johnson's Divisions of the same corps were on that day, June 27th, in the vicinity of Carlisle and Harrisburg. The main body of the rebel army, embracing Longstreet and Iill's Corps, were at and near Chambersburg, where Lee himself also was. * The several corps of the Union army, in their advance northward from Frederick, expecting to find Lee's forces in the BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 7 vicinity of Harrisburg and York, were moved on different roads, so as the more readily to procure supplies, and were thus so far separated as not to be within immediate supporting distances of each other. Lee, being apprised of their movements, and conceiving it to be a favorable opportunity to attack the several Union corps in detail, and thus defeat and crush them, instantly changed his plan from the menaced attack on HI:rrisburg to a combined attack of the whole rebel army on the several Union corps as they came up. On Sunday, June 28th, Ewell's Corps was withdrawn from Carli.sl, Harrisburg, and York, having received orders to fall baclk on Gettysburg, to which point Longstreet and Hill were also moving by the Chambersburg turnpike. On the afternoon of the same day the Union troops all moved from Frederick. The First and Eleventh Corps were -moved up the west side of the M3onocacy, through Mechanicstown to Eml-iettsburg, w here they arrived on Tuesday forenoon, June 30th. The Second and Fifth Corps, forming the centre column of our army, crossed tle 3Ionocacy east, three miles above Frederick, and moved thro1ugh Uniontown to Frizzleburg, near the State line. Th Third and Twelfth Corps took tHle Midcleburg road. The Sixth crossed the Monocacy, east of' Frederick, and marched to Westminster, where they arrived on the obrenoon of the same day (Tuesday), and the Third and Twelfth arrived[ at Taneytown at the samle time. They were all moving upcn these lines, when orders were given for a change of direction-a change for all, except the;First and Eleventh. They moved directly upon Gettysburg. The movements cf Lee occasioned this sudden change; he was concentrating at Gettysburg Br y the previous move-.e'-:t.s of the several corps, Longstreet and Iiil, who were ihen1 moving from Cha;:mbersburg on Gettysburg, would come upon them separately, take tihem on their flank, and destroy them in detail.,Mecade manreuvred so as to defeat Lee's intention. He massed his army aftc 1 Gettysb1urg. The First and Eleventh Corps reached the town on Wednesday, July 1st; the former about 8 SKETCH OF THE 10 o'clock A. r., and the latter at 1 o'clock P. M. The Third and Twelfth, in the afternoon of the same day; the Second and Fifth on Thursday morning, and the Sixth on Thursday afternoon. Buford's cavalry, consisting of two brigades, arrived in Gettysburg about 12 o'clock on Tuesday, June 30th, from Emmettsburg. That morning the rebel skirmishers had advanced by the Chambersburg turnpike to Oak Ridge, which overlooks the town, where they remained for more than an hour, apparently reconnoitring. Shortly before the entry of Buford with his cavalry they left, and fell back three or four miles, having probably observed his approach. Our cavalry, having ridden some thirty miles during the forenoon, were too much exhausted to pursue them, and encamped for the rest of the day and ensuing night on the west, and in the vicinity of the town. Battle of Wedeaesday, July 1st. About 9 o'clock A. Mr., on VWednesday, the first of July, Buford advanced, by the Chambersburg turnpike, to meet the enemy. At the distance of a quoarter of a mile west of Oak Ridge, and parallel with it, is a cultivated hill, which, at the time, was covered with fields of grain. Bufor placed his batteries on the eastern slope of this hill, near the summit, and formed his line in the rear of his batteries, near the base of the hill. IHe threw out his pickets a mile or more in advance of his batteries. At 10 o'clock A. At. the first musket-shot was fired from the rebel side, from a point on the turnpike near which Buford's skirmishers were stationed. rTis was responded to by three shots from us. After some skirmiishing, the musketry firing became rapid; commencing on the turnpike, it gradually extended southward as far as the IIagcrstown road, a distance of over a mile. This firing proceeded fronm a wooded ridge, running parallel with, and about a mile west of, Oak Ridge. Here Pender and iHeath's Divisions of Hil's Corps had advanced, as shown on the accompanying map. BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 9 In a short time the rebel batteries, stationed on and near the turnpike, opened on us with shell. Buford's batteries responded, and the fight became animn-ted. At 10.30 A. M., Major-General Reynolds, with the First Corps, came up, and formed his men in line of battle along the eastern base of Oak Ridge. General Reynolds had left his camp on Marsh Creek, about five miles southwest of Gettysburg, at 7 o'clock A. M., and arrived by the Emmettsburg road, near the town, about 10 A. M. His corps, on approaching the town, left the road, and were marched across the fields in the direction of the firing, to Oak Ridge, when they were formed in line, Wadsworth's Division having the centre, Robinson's the right, and Doubleday's the left. The extreme right wing of the corps resting near the Seminary. Reynolds then ordered the divisions to advance, which they did; and on coming up with the enemy, drove them from their position. The rebels, at the time, having pressed our advance cavalry back, had crossed to the east side of Willoughby's Run, and occupied a position about three-fourths of a mile in advance of their original one. Willoughby's Run is a small stream about a mile and a half west of Gettysburg, flowing in a southerly direction into Marsh Creek, an affluent of the Monocacy. On the east side of this stream, and about one hundred yards south from the Chambersburg turnpike, is a small grove of timber, extending eastward from the run nearly half a mile, to the summit of the hill on which Buford's batteries were placed. This grove, on the approach of the First Corps, was filled with the enemy's sharpshooters. General Reynolds having dismounted from his horse, approached the fence near the eastern extremity of the grove, and was standing in a stooping position, examiningl the woods, when he received a ball through his neck, breaking the bone. He fell forward on his face, and expired in a few minutes. The command of the corps then devolved on Major-General Doubleday. At the commencement of the action this corps numbered about 8,000 men. _1':', 10 SKETCH OF THE The two divisions of Hill, to which it was opposed, numbered some 10,000 men each, and this small corps, for a period of an hour and a half, successfully resisted the desperate assaults of the superior force of the enemy. A rebel brigade, under General Archer (of Md.), in attempting to outflank and capture one of ours, was itself surrounded and captured. It contained some 1,500 men, who were all taken and sent to the rear. After the capture of this brigade, there was a lull in the battle for about an hour, and our men were quietly resting on their arms, when, about 2 o'clock p. M., the enemy having received large re-enforcements, advanced against the devoted First with a vastly superior force. This overwhelming attack was resisted by our noble corps until about 3- o'clock p. ar., when, after sustaining a very heavy loss in killed and wounded, it was compelled to fall back. Previous to the capture of Archer's rebel Brigade, the First Corps had captured a regiment of Mississippi troops, numbering about 800 men, who were also sent to the rear. Meanwhile, Major-General Howard, with the Eleventh Corps, numbering less than 10,000 men, having arrived in the town about 1 o'clock r. ir., after detaching a division under the command of General Steinwehr, with a battery of artillery, to take possession of and hold Cemetery Hill, as:L place to fall back upon in case of disaster, advanced through the town with the remaining two divisions of his corps upon the run, and threw them forward to the north of it, in order to meet and check the advance of Ewell's forces, which were then approaching the right flank of the First Corps. Ewell's Corps consisted of Rhodes and Early's Divisions, numbering, in all, about 20,000 men, besides Johnston's Division, which had not yet come up. Rhodes had already attacked the right flank of the First Corps; but, on perceiving the approach of the Eleventh from the northern part of the town, he chaged his front, and advanced in a southeasterly direction, towards the I-arrisb trg road, to meet them. The two divisions of Rhodes and Early BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 11 had with them forty-four pieces of artillery. These guns were planted on every point that could command the field, and proved very destructive to us. Johnston's Division of Early's Corps, numbering 15,000 men, having left Carlisle in the morning, did not reach the field until 4 o'clock p. M., when the action had ended. The arrival of Howard, who took the command of the left wing, embracing both the Eleventh and the First Corps, was well timed. Had he arrived half an hour later, the destruction of the First Corps would have been complete. About 2 o'clock P. xr., Rhodes's rebel Division advanced in four lines against the Eleventh Corps. Early's Division came up about an hour after, and endeavored to get round the right flank of Howard, in order to cut him off from the town, but Early failed to accomplish his purpose. The valiant Eleventh sustained this murderous assault for more than two hours, when, after great slaughter of its men, it was forced back upon the town. General Barlow, who commanded the First Division of the Eleventh, was in front of his men, gallantly cheering them on, when he fell severely wounded, beyond the Alms-House, and near Blocher's till. After the battle had ceased, some of the rebel officers, who had witnessed' and admnired Barlow's gallant and heroic bearing in the struggle, had him removed to the town and properly attended. General Carl Schurz, commanding the Second Division of the Eleventh Corps, who took command of both divisions upon General Howard's assuming the command of the left wing, lost 2,200 men out of 3,600 taken into the battle. The two Union corps lost, in prisoners alone, over 3,000 nlen. By 4.30 P. r. the First and Eleventh Corps had fallen back through the town to Cemetery Hill, closely pursued by the enemy, many of the men being shot during the retreat in the stree ts of the town. The batteries stationed on Cemetery Hill, with a force of 12 SKETCH OF 'IHE sharpshooters thrown to the front, ( ecked the rebel advance, and the battle ended for the day. General Wadsworth and staff:.me out of the action unharmed, but with the loss of some c' their horses. Brigaldier-General Meredith's horse was killed, and falling upon him, severely injured his leg and breast. Captains Wood and Richardson, of Meredith's staff, had their horses killed under them; Captain Wood's having been shot in one of the streets of the town, as he was covering the retreat. Meredith's Iron Brigade was the first that went into the fight and the last to leave the field, which it did with thinned ranks and ghastly wounds to attest its heroic valor. George R. Mitchell, of Indiana, Meredith's Orderly, had two horses shot under him, when carrying orders. A British officer, who was with Lee at Gettysburg, in an article published in the September number of -Blackwood's Magctzine, says: " General Hill told the writer, that, in the first battle near Gettysburg, ' The Yankees had fought with a determination unusual to them.' He pointed out a railway cutting, in which they had made a good stand; also, a field, in the centre of which he had seen a man plant the regimental colors, round which the regiment had fought for some time, with much obstinacy; and when, at last, it was obliged to retreat, the colorbearer retreated last of all, turning around every now and then to shake his fist at the advancing rebels. General Hill said he felt quite sorry when he saw this gallant Yankee meet his doom." These were the men of the Iron Brigade, and many a brave son of Michigan sleeps beneath the sod over which those colors were so heroically defended. On the arrival of the First Corps in the morning, John L. Burns, a resident of the town, aged about seventy years, who had been a soldier of the war of 1812, shouldered his musket, went up to the colonel of one of the regiments, and, after shaking him by the hand, offered his services as a volunteer for the oc BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 13 casion. His offer was accepted, and placing himself in the ranks, he fought valiantly, until he fell wounded in three places. He lay upon the field until the next morning, when he was brought into town. He is now convalescent. During the evening of Wednesday, Howard stationed the thinned columns of the Eleventh Corps on the Baltimore turnpike, extending north to the angle where the line turns east. Wadsworth's Division of the First extended from the angle nearly to the woods on Culp's Hill. At 12 o'clock that night General Meade arrived from Taneytown, and approved of Howard's selection of position and disposition of the forces. Positions of the Union Army on Thursday. Cemetery Hill, the centre of the position of the Army of the Potomac, was occupied by the Eleventh Corps, under the conmmand of Major-General Howard. General Ames, holding the angle east of the Baltimore turnpike, and Generals Schurz and Steinwehr being in the Cemetery, with a stone wall on the north for defence, and an apple orchard in front, serving as a cover both for the infantry and artillery. Thirty-four guns, under the supervision of Major Oswald, were placed in battery on Cemetery Hill; and on the portion of the hill to the east of the Cemetery and Baltimore turnpike, six batteries were stationed, protected by earthen redoubts. Wadsworth's Division of the First Corps occupied a position east of the turnpike, extending from the Eleventh on Cemetery Hill to Geary's Division, on the left of the Twelfth Corps, which constructed and held the timber breastworks on the crest of Culp's Hill. These works extended along the sunlmit of the hill, for nearly a mile. The Twelfth Corps, under Major-General Slocum, occupied the line of the breastworks on Culp's Hill to McAlister's Mlil, a point on Rock Creek, about a mile and a half southeast of Cemetery Iill. 14 SKETCH OF THE General Lockwood's Brigade held the ground from the creek to the crest of the hill. General Williams's Division was on the summit, and General Geary's on the western slope, reaching to Wadsworth's Division of the First Corps, which extended to the Eleventh on the left. Doubleday's Division of the First was placed in Ziegler's Grove, on the western slope of Cemetery Hill, and beyond the Taneytown road. The Second Corps, under Major-General Hancock, lay in the open fields south of the grove. This was the weakest point of our line, there being no natural defences whatever, our men being sheltered by breastworks of rails and earth, hastily thrown up, with batteries placed in their rear, so as to fire over the men in the trenches, and sweep the fields in their front. General Alexander Hay's Division was placed on the right, its extreme right resting upon the grove, Gibbon's Division in the centre, and Caldwell's on the left. The Third Corps, under Major-General Sickles, took posltion on the left of Hancock. This corps extended down to and on the west of Round Top, the extreme left of the Union position. On Thursday, Sickles's Corps was in advance of the position it held on Friday, a part of it being stationed in the woods, immediately west of and in front of Round Top and Granite Spur. The Fifth Corps, under the command of Major-General Sykes, and the Sixth, under Sedgwick, were stationed in the rear of these, in the intervening space between the Baltimore turnpike and Taneytown road, and in a position nearly equidistant from the extreme points of the Union line, viz., Cemetery Hill in the centre, McAlister's Mill on the right, and Round Top on the extreme left. Major-General Pleasanton, who commanded the cavalry, with the divisions of Kilpatrick and Gregg, took a position on the extreme right, near the Baltimore turnpike, and beyond McAlliste"r's 2ill, and eaist of the creel. Buord's Division ws-, placed to tlhe s0outhc t of iouind Top, so as to protect our left. BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 15 The reserve artillery and ammunition trains were parked to the e:ast of Round Top, under shelter of that great natural fortification. Positions of the Rebel Army on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday and Friday, July 2d and 3d, Rhodes's Division of Ewell's Corps occupied the town on the right; Early's Division, in the centre, was placed to the east of the town; and Johnston's Division, on the left, extended from Early's, down Rock Creek, in front of Slocum's Corps, it being covered and protected by ravines and a thick growth of timber. Hill took a position on Oak Ridge, his extreme left resting on the Shippensburg road, and his right extending to the left of Longstreet's Corps, at a point south of the Hagerstown road, the division of Anderson occupying the right, that of Pender the centre, and that of Heath the left. Longstreet's Corps was placed on the right of Hill's, extending along the ridge from Hill's Corps to the Emmettsburg road at a point directly west of Round Top, the extreme right of the rebel line; Hood's Division being on the right, McLaws's in the centre, and Pickett's on the left. Pickett's Division did not come up till Friday, when it took position as stated. Batteries were stationed along the entire line of Hill and Longstreet's Corps, on the summit of Oak Ridge, and also to the north and northeast of the town, extending from the Shippensburg to the Bonaughtown road, on every available point. Battle of Thursday, July 2d. This day's battle has been fully and admirably described by " Carleton,"' a correspondent of the Boston Journal, who was present, and saw vwhat he relates. We make the following extracts: "During the early part of this day the enemy remained marvellously quiet. With the exception of occasional skirmishiing by the siharpshooters, not a shot was fired. "Their movements, as observed from the Union line, indi 16 SKETCH OF THE cated that Lee was massing his army on our right; large bodies of troops were seen in the distance marching in that direction, but these movements afterwards proved, as they were suspected to be, mere feints; for in reality the enemy were all the time actively massing on our extreme left, the nature of the ground being such that he could do so without being observed from our position. During the forenoon, and until three o'clock in the afternoon, an occasional shot was fired from some one of our guns at the enemy, but without obtaining any response." "A few minutes past 3 o'clock p. M., Sickles, with the Third Corps, was ordered to advance towards the enemy's position opposite our left, in order to feel them. The Third Corps advanced until they had nearly reached the peach orchard of Sherfey, on the Emmcttsburg road. The Ninth Massachusetts Battery, Captain Bigelow, accompanied them, and was moved forward to a position near the Emmettsburg road to cover the advance or recall." "The enemy was prepared. A battery opened on Longstreet's extreme right, another, and another, until the fire extended along the entire front line northward to the Seminary. The cannonade was furious, disembowelling horses and tearing up the earth. The air was filled with strange, unearthly noises, caused by the sharp whistling of rifle-bolts and round shot, and the whirring noise of shells over head and all around." " The response was immediate. In three minutes' time the earth trembled with the tremendous concussion of two hundred pieces of artillery. Two lines of the enemy, preceded by skirmishers, came up. They numbered from 30,000 to 40,000 men. They advanced with cheers and yells. While Sickles held them in check, a division from Longstreet moved upon his left flank, and attempted to get between him and Round Top Hill." " 'Send up batteries and send up men,' was Sickles's request. The enemy were now close upon Bigclow's Battery. The artillerists attached to the battery were nine months' men, and had never before been under fire." BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 17 " I want you to hold on till I can get up two batteries on Ith ridge,' said Major M3cGilvroy, who was in command of the artillery of the left. ' Give them grape and canister,' he added. C. l)tain Bigelow gave them all he had, and then commenced on spherical case." "The rebels were desperate. Sickles was pushed back toward the ridge. A rebel battery hastened up and unlimbered close upon Bigelow. The rebels rushed upon his guns. lie blew them from the muzzles, and filled the air with the shattered fragments of human bodies. Still they came on, with demoniac screams, climbing upon the limbers and shooting his horses." "Sergeant Dodge went down, killed instantly; also, Sergeants Gilson, Lipman, Ferris, and Nutting. Three of his cannoneers were gone, twenty-two of his men were wounded, and himself shot through the side, yet he hel(d on till AMe Gilvroy got?p his two batteries. IHe brought off five limbers and two of his pieces, dragging them in part by hand. The rebels seized the four pieces with shouts of victory, waved their flags, and came on for new triumphs. McGilvroy's batteries drove them back by a flanking fire. At this time, a fresh division, Iumphrey's, coming up and re-enforcing Sickles, another charge was made on the rebels, and the guns of Bigelow were recovered." "The Fifth Corps now came up. The Second Corps and Doubleday's Division of the First were engaged before the Fifth came up. Two of Sloctml's Divisions were now brought over. Still the rebels pressed on. Battery after battery of the reserve artillery was called for. The Sixth Corps, which had just arrived upon the field, came up as supports, a part of them taking a position at the eastern base of Round Top, and the rest supporting the left centre." " A body of the rebels having advanced during the fight to the summit of Granite Spur, General Meade dispatched General Crawford, with the First and Fifth Divisions of the Pennsylvania reserves, to dislodge them. The rebels first received the fire of the Sixth Corps, and then the reserves; the Bucktails, 18 SKETCH OF THE under Colonel Taylor, in advance, moved up to the crest and over it, driving the rebels before them to the foot of the hill, and capturing three hundred of them. Colonel Taylor was killed whilst leading his men up to the summit of the hill." "From 5 o'clock P. %r. till 8, the sanguinary struggle continued. The rebels charged repeatedly upon our lines, but were as often driven back, and then our men would dash upon them, taking prisoners. 1,500 were brought in from Hill and Longstreet's commands." " In the mean time, Ewell had advanced down Rock Creek, and was within musket-shot of our lines before he was dis covered." "The enemy having been repulsed on our left, Howard's guns were now wheeled to the east and northeast, their muzzles depressed, and then forty pieces hurled death upon the rebels in the wooded ravines along the creek." "But Ewell pressed on, for he had sworn to reach our rear. Iis men climbed the steep ascent of Cemetery Hill. They rushed up to the redoubts with the fury of tigers. "Slocmn's extreme' right was pushed back a little, a portion of the enemy having actually got round it in the rear of the breastworks, where they lay on their arms during the night. "Two divisions of Slocum's Corps, during the attack on our left, moved to the support of th:.t wing, and in this terrific fight, Greelc's B]rig-:adoe, coimposed of five ",ew York regiments, alone sustained the onset of Ewell till a brigade of the First Corps were moved down to assist. Four times the enemy charged us, and as often were they repulsed by musketry alone. The position being heavily wooded, it was unfavorable for the use of artillery. Many of the enemy were killed here, but Greene, being protected by breastworks, lost very few." "In the battle of Thursday, the loss of both armies was heavy, but that of the rebels far exceeded ours." Major-General Sickles was struck below the knee by a shell, which nearly severed lis limb. It was shortly after amputated. BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 19 Brigadier-Generals Weed, Willard, and Zuck were killed, and Lieutenant IIazlitt, who commanded Battery D, Fifth United States Artillery (Griffin's), was also killed, whilst in the act of kneeling over his wounded friend General Weed. Fifteen men and two horses attached to this battery were killed. General Weed had commanded the Third Brigade of Regulars. General Graham, who commanded a brigade of Birney's Division, was wounded and taken prisoner. The rebel Brigadier-General Barksdale, of Mississippi, was killed on the evening of Thursday, in front of our left centre. In Sickles's Corps alone, nearly 3,000 men were placed hors de combat. General Birney was twice struck and slightly wounded. During this fight there were one hundred guns placed in battery from Round Top to Cemetery Iill. The One Hundred and Thirty-seventh New York Regiment of Greene's Brigade suffered severely. They had sixty men buried in the rear of the breastworks, north of Spangler's Spring. Sickles's Excelsior Brigrade went into the fight with 1,600 men, and brought out of it 800. After the fight of Thursday, the rebels threw up breastworks along Oak Ridge, from the Hagerstown to the Emmettsburg road. Battle of Friday, July 3d1. The battle of Friday, July 3d, was the most terrible and sanguinary cngagement of the three days. It commenced at 4 o'clock A. m., by the opening of our batteries on the rebels where they had penetrated our line on the extreme right, on the evening of the previous day. The cannonading continued until sunrise, when our infantry made an impetuous and determined attack upon the enemy, who then held a portion of our intrenchments, and after a furious and most obstinate struggle, which was continued until 11 o'clock, the enemy were forced 20 SKETCII OF THE back over the breastworks and driven from the field, leaving thousands of their dead and wounded where they fell. The Twelfth Corps, which had been withdrawn to the support of our left on Thursday, had returned to its original position on the right during the night, and Lockwood's Maryland Brigade had also been moved to the right of the Twelfth, together with a brigade from the Sixth Corps. With these combined forces, supported by the batteries planted during the night in their rear, we succeeded, after a most obstinate resistance on the part of the enemy, in recovering our lost ground. The battle now ceased on our right; the enemy withdrew frdm its front and moved off to the north and west of the town. Several hours of ominous silence followed this repulse. This silence was at length broken by the enemy, who fired two shots. These were the signals for the grandest and most terrific artillery fight of these battles, and, perhaps, of the war. One hundred and fifty of the enemy's guns belched forth their thunders upon us, and in an instant these were responded to by as many more from our side. The earth trembled under our feet with the tremendous concussion. The air seemed literally filled with iron, and for more than an hour it seemed impossible that either man or beast could survive it. On this occasion, the accuracy of range, exhibited by the enemy on the two previous days, was wanting. Most of their shells exploded far in the rear of our front, and generally missed our batteries. Under cover of this furious cannonade, Lee advanced his infantry from the wooded heights of Oak Ridge to attack our left centre, the position held by the Second Corps. IIe, having discovered that this was our weakest point, had resolved to make his final effort ll:e. For this purpose lie advanced Pickett's Division, of Lo-1. treet's Corps, consisting of three brigades, under Brigadier-Generals Armistead, Kemper, and Garnett, with several brigades from Anderson's Division, as supports. Leaving Oak Ridge at a point west of the position held by the Second Corps, they moved steadily forward in line of bat BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 21 tie for a distance of over half a mile to carry our lines by assault, when our artillery opened on them with grape, canister, and shell. They hesitated for a moment, and then, with tremendous yells, they rushed on till within a short distance of our line, when they were received by a most deadly and destructive fire of musketry. They reeled, they staggered, a part of them rushed up to our lines, threw down their arms and surrendered, and the rest turned and fled. This combined musketry and artillery fire produced terrible havoc in their ranks. At least one-third of their men were left upon the field. Garnett was killed. Armistead fell within the Union line mortally wounded; and Kemper was severely wounded and captured. Major-General Hancock received a wound in the leg; and Generals Warren, Gibbon, and Hunt were also wounded. The enemy were completely surprised at the terrible reception they met, and nearly a thousand of them threw down their arms and asked for quarter. Nearly the entire brigade of Garnett surrendered, and the whole number taken and placed hors de combat was over 3,000 men. Webb's brigade captured 800 men, and Stannard's Vermont Brigade as many more, The Massachusetts Fifteenth took four stand of colors, and Hall's Brigade took eleven more. Whilst this fight was progressing on our left centre, the enemy were not idle on our extreme left. Longstreet was using all the strategy in his power to take our position on Granite Spur and Round Top. He assaulted it in front, and at the same time moved a part of his infantry to a position nearly two miles southwest of it, with two or three batteries, which force was pressing forward to get round to the flank and rear of our position, and capture our trains of ammunition; when it was suddenly brought to a stand by the approach of two brigades of Kilpatrick's Division of cavalry. General Meade, on ascertaining the movements of the enemy on his extreme left, had dispatched the cavalry to hold them in 22 SKETCH OF THE check. Kilpatrick not only foiled their flanking movement, but, after silencing their batteries, drove them back to their original position in firont of Round Top, with considerable loss to the rebels in killed and wounded. During the fight his men were dismounted and fought as infantry. In this affair Kilpatrick lost quite a number of his men and horses, and here Brigadier-General Farnsworth was killed, and also Captain Harris, who was mortally wounded, and died the next day. About 4.30 P. M., the enemy's artillery had slackened, and at 5 o'clock had entirely ceased; the infantry columns having all withdrawn to their cover on Oak Ridge. The small house on the Taneytown road, in which General Meade had his head-quarters during most of the day, was perforated by shot and shell. General Butterfield and Colonel Joseph Dickenson, of the staff, were wounded, and sixteen of the staff horses lay dead around the house. During the tremendous and concentrated fire of the enemy's artillery on Cemetery IHill, great numbers of the artillerymen were killed d and wounded. In this emergency they sent a dispatch to General MIeade, informing him that they could hold out no longer. General 3Meade mounted his horse, dashing through the dreadful storm of iron missiles, and, on coming up to the batteries, cried out, " Men, you must hold these batteries. Stand by your guns, though every man should perish at his post." Ile remained among them for half an hour, riding from battery to battery, regardless of the tempest of iron hail, until the crisis was past and the men were relieved. The enemy left upon the field 4,500 of his dead, who were buried by the Union soldiers; and 6,500 wounded, who fell into our hands. These were exclusive of the large number t:aken with him on his retreat. Our entire loss in the three days' battles, in killed, wounded, and missing, was about 20,000 men, and that of the rebels at least 40,000. The British officer before quoted, in speaking of Friday's battle, says: "After the battle had opened, I proceeded to join Long BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG. 23 street, and, although astonished to meet such vast numbers of wounded, I had not seen enough to give me any real idea of the extent of the mischief. When I got close up to General Longstreet, I saw one of his regiments advancing through the woods in good order; so, thinking I was just in time to see the attack, I remarked to the general, that 'I wouldn't have missed this for any thing.' Longstreet was seated at the top of a snake fence, and looking perfectly calm and unperturbed, he replied, laughingly: ' The do il you wouldn't! I would like to have missed it very much. We've attacked and been repulsed. Look there!' For the first time, I then had a view of the open space between the two positions, and saw it covered with Confederates, slowly and sulkily returning towards us, under a heavy fire of artillery. But the fire where we were was not so bad as further to the rear; for, although the air seemed alive with shell, yet the greater number burst behind us." In describing the person of Longstreet, the writer says. " General Longstreet is an Alabamian; a thick-set man, fortythree years of age. * * iHe is never very far from General Lee, who relies very much upon his judgment. By the soldiers he is invariably spoken of as 'the best fighter in the whole army.'" He says of Lee: " General Lee is almost, without exception, the handsomest man of his age I ever saw." Lee is further described as never carrying arms, and as always looking smart and clean, even "during the three days' fighting at Gettysburg, and in the retreat afterwards, when every one else looked, or was, extremely dirty." In speaking of the conduct of Lee, the writer says: " He was engaged in rallying and encouraging the broken troops, and was riding about a little in front of the woods, quite alone-the whole staff being engaged in a similar manner further to the rear. " His face, which is always placid and cheerful, did not show signs of the slightest disappointment or annoyance, and he . 24,SKETCH OF TIE BATTLESI OF GETTYSBURG. was addressing to every soldier he met a few words of encouragement. * * * He said to me, 'This has been a sad day for us, Colonel,-a sad day; but we can't expect always to gain victories.'" To the skill, courage, and heroic valor and endurance of the noble Army of the Potomac, and its gallant Commander-inChief, the loyal people of the Union, and especially those of Pennsylvania, are indebted ior every thing they possess. Had it not been for the indomitable bravery and unshaken fortitudo of both officers and men, as exhibited in the terrible three days conflict, the citizens would have been deprived of their properties, and turned loose upon the cold charities of an unfeeling world. To the Army of the Potomac we owe a debt of gratitude which we can never repay. In closing, the writer begs leave to acknowledge his indebtedness to the several correspondents of the press who were present and witnessed the battles, and from whose descriptions of the fight he has freely extracted; as, also, to citizens of the town, and particularly to D. McCenaughy, -Eq., who has kindly furnished him with much valuable information. THE END. .1 -a: 3 l 901 I 11111 llll2L7lllll lllllL I I LL 3 9015 00422 7297 I. THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN..w i..,.~r B *4 7] DATE DUE ' g. *.X -....... -e -,..., i,. FEC C. v '', tEC n I99w:9 |~ I~ 89gt