July 25, 2025 • 30 mins
Embark on a historical journey as Abner Doubleday, a Union officer in the Civil War, recounts his experiences from the frontlines. Beginning with the bombardment opened on Ft. Sumter in 1861, Doubledays memoirs unravel the tale of two pivotal campaigns - Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Delve into the strategic errors at Chancellorsville that led to a Union defeat and explore the leadership crisis that plagued the camp. After Chancellorsville, Doubleday covers the unexpected clash of the armies at Gettysburg. When he takes command following the death of his superior, he leads his outnumbered division with courage and resilience. Despite being replaced due to a mistaken report of his divisions defeat, Doubledays narrative doesnt falter. Instead, he critiques the missed opportunities post-battle that could have ended the war. This book is not just a memoir, but Doubledays resolute response to the injustices he faced.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Part two, Chapter four of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain and is read by
Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Chancellorsville and Gettysburg by
Abner Doubleday, Part two, Chapter four, Part A, The First
(00:22):
Day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Wednesday, July one, eighteen
sixty three. On the morning of the first of July,
General Buford, as stated, held the ridges to the west
of Gettysburg with his cavalry division composed of gambles and
devons brigades. His fidets were thrown far out toward the
(00:42):
enemy to give timely notice of any movement, for he
was determined to prevent the rebels from entering the town
if possible, and knew the first Corps would soon be
up to support him. The enemy were not aware that
there was any considerable force in the vicinity, and in
the morning sent forward Heath's division of Hill's Corps to
occupy the place, anticipating no difficulty in doing so. Buford,
(01:06):
in the meantime, had dismounted a large part of his force,
had strengthened his line of skirmishers, and planted his batteries
at the most commanding points. General Reynolds, in consequence of
the duties devolving upon him as commander of the left
wing of the Army, that is, of the first, third,
and eleventh Corps, had turned over the command of the
(01:27):
First Corps to me. He now made immediate dispositions to
go forward to assist Buford, as my corps was largely
engaged in the first day's operations. I must be excused
for having a good deal to say in the first
person in relation to them. Reynolds sent for me about
six o'clock in the morning, read to me the various
(01:48):
dispatches he had received from Meade and Beauford, and told
me he should go forward at once with the nearest division,
that of Wadsworth, to aid the cavalry. He then instructed
me to draw in in my pickets, assemble the artillery
and the remainder of the corps, and join him as
soon as possible. Having given these orders, he rode off
at the head of the column, and I never saw
(02:10):
him again. The position of the two armies on the
morning of the first of July was as follows, the
First Corps at Marsh Creek, the Second and Third Corps
at Teaneytown, the latter being under orders to march to
Ammittsburg to relieve the eleventh Corps, which was directed to
join the First Corps at Gettysburg. The twelfth Corps was
(02:32):
at two taverns, the fifth Corps at Hanover, and the
sixth Corps about thirty five miles off to the right
at Manchester. Kilpatrick's and Gregg's divisions of cavalry were also
at Hannover. The Confederate Army was advancing on Gettysburg from
the west and north. The concentration of their troops and
(02:52):
the dispersion of ours are indicated on the map. It
must be remembered that the enemy had but three corps,
while the Union Army had seven. Each of their corps
represented a third and each of ours a seventh of
our total force. The same ratio extended to divisions and brigades.
(03:13):
Heth's division, which started early in the morning to occupy
the town, soon found itself confronted by Beauford's skirmishers and
formed line of battle with archers and Davis's brigades in front,
followed by those of Pettigrew and Brockenborough. At nine a m.
The first gun was heard, Beauford had three cannon shots
fired as a signal for his skirmish line to open
(03:36):
on the enemy, and the Battle of Gettysburg began. Lieutenant
Colonel Cress of General Wadsworth's staff entered Gettysburg about this
time and found General Buford surrounded by his staff in
front of the tavern. There. Beauford turned to him and said,
what are you doing here? Sir Crest replied that he
came on to get some shoes for Wadsworth's division. Beauford
(04:00):
and told him that he had better return immediately to
his command. Cres said, why, what is the matter? General?
At that moment, the far off sound of a single
gun was heard, and Beauford replied, as he mounted his
horse and galloped off, that's the matter. As the rebels
had had several encounters with militia who were easily dispersed,
(04:22):
they did not expect to meet any serious resistance at
this time and advanced confidently and carelessly. Buford gave way slowly,
taking advantage of every accident of ground to protract the struggle.
After an hour's fighting, he felt anxious and went up
into the steeple of the theological seminary from which a
wide view could be obtained to see if the First
(04:44):
Corps was in sight. One division of it was close
at hand, and soon Reynolds, who had preceded it, climbed
up into the belfry to confer with him there and
examine the country around. Although there was no positive testimony
to that effect, his attention was doubtless attracted to Cemetery
Ridge in his rear, as it was one of the
(05:06):
most prominent features of the landscape. An aid of General Howard,
presumably Major Hall, soon after Reynolds descended from the belfry,
came up to ask if he had any instructions with
regard to the Eleventh Corps. Reynolds, in reply, directed that
General Howard bring his corps forward at once and form
(05:26):
them on Cemetery Hill as a reserve. General Howard has
no recollection of having received any such orders, but as
he did get orders to come forward, and as his
corps was to occupy some place in rear as a
support to the First Corps, nothing is more probable than
that General Reynolds directed him to go there, for its
(05:48):
military advantages were obvious enough to any experienced commander Lieutenant
Rosengarten of General Reynolds's staff, states positively that he was
present and heard the order given for Howard to post
his troops on Cemetery Ridge. The matter is of some moment,
as the position in question ultimately gave us the victory,
(06:09):
and Howard received the thanks of Congress for selecting it.
It is not to be supposed that either Howard or
Rosengarten would mistake the matter. It is quite probable that
Reynolds chose the hill simply as a position upon which
his force could rally if driven back, and Howard selected
it as a suitable battlefield for the army. It has
(06:30):
since been universally conceded that it was admirably adapted for
that purpose. It will be seen from the above map
that there are two roads coming to Gettysburg from the west,
making a considerable angle with each other. Each is intersected
by ridges running north and south. On that nearest to
the town. In about three fourths of a mile from
(06:52):
the central square, there was a large brick building which
was used as a Lutheran theological seminary. A small all
stream of water called Willoughby's Run winds between the next
two ridges. The battle on the first day was principally
fought on the heights on each side of this stream. Beuford,
being aware that Eule's Corps would soon be on its
(07:14):
way from Heidlersberg to the field of battle, was obliged
to form line facing north with Devon's brigade and leave
Gamble's brigade to keep back the overpowering weight of Hills
Corps advancing from the west. While this fighting was going on,
and Reynolds and Wadsworth were pressing to the front, I
was engaged in withdrawing the pickets and assembling the other
(07:37):
two divisions together with the corps artillery. As soon as
I saw that my orders were in process of execution,
I galloped to the front, leaving the troops to follow,
and caught up with Meredith's brigade of Wadsworth's Division, commonly
called the Iron Brigade, just as it was going into action.
In the meantime, the enemy approaching from the west were
(08:00):
pressing with great force against Beauford's slender skirmish line, and
Reynolds went forward with Cutler's brigade to sustain it. He
skillfully posted Hall's second main battery in the road and
threw forward two regiments, the fourteenth Brooklyn and the ninety
fifth New York, a short distance in advance on the left.
(08:21):
At the same time, he directed General Wadsworth to place
the remaining three regiments of the brigade, the one forty
seventh New York, the seventy sixth New York, and the
fifty sixth Pennsylvania, on the right of the road. When
this formation was completed, the cavalry brigade under Gamble, which
had been fighting there withdrew and formed in column on
(08:42):
the left of the infantry, but the other cavalry brigade
under Devon, which was not facing in that direction, still
held the position, awaiting the advance of Yule's corps from
the north. As Davis's rebel brigade of Heath's Division fronting
Wadsworth were hidden behind an intervening ridge, Wadsworth did not
(09:02):
see them at first, but formed his three regiments perpendicularly
to the road without a reconnaissance. The result was that
Davis came over the hill almost directly on the right
flank of this line, which, being unable to defend itself,
was forced back and directed by Wadsworth to take post
in a piece of woods in rear on Seminary Ridge.
(09:23):
The two regiments on the right accordingly withdrew, but the
one forty seventh New York, which was next to the road,
did not receive the order, as their colonel was shot
down before he could deliver it. They were at once
surrounded and very much cut up before they could be
rescued from their perilous position. The two regiments on the
(09:44):
right which were forced back were veterans conspicuous for gallantry
in every battle in which the Army of the Potomac
had been engaged since the Peninsula campaign. As Wadsworth withdrew
them without notifying Hall's battery in the road or the
two regiments posted by Reynolds on the left, both became
exposed to a disastrous flank attack on the right. Hall,
(10:08):
finding a cloud of skirmishers launched against his battery, which
was now without support, was compelled to retreat. The horses
of the lost gun were all shot or bayoneted. The
non military reader will see that while a battery can
keep back masses of men, it cannot contend with the
line of skirmishers. To resist them would be very much
(10:29):
like fighting mosquitos with musket balls. The two regiments posted
by Reynolds, the fourteenth Brooklyn and the ninety fifth New York,
finding their support, gone on the right while Archer's Rebel
brigade was advancing to envelop their left, fell back leisurely
under Colonel Fowler of the fourteenth Brooklyn, who assumed command
(10:49):
of both as the ranking officer present. I reached the
field just as the attack on Cutler's brigade was going on,
and at once set my adjutant, General Major Halstone, and
young Meredith L. Jones, who was acting as aid on
my staff, to General Reynolds to ask instructions. Under the
impression that the enemy's columns were approaching on both roads.
(11:12):
Reynolds said, tell double day, I will hold on to
this road, referring to the Chambersburg road, and he was
told on to that one, meaning the road to Fairfield
or Haggerstown. At the same time he sent Jones back
at full speed to bring up a battery. The rebels, however,
did not advance on the Fairfield road until late in
(11:34):
the afternoon. They must have been in force upon it
some miles back for the cavalry so reported, and this
caused me during the entire day to give more attention
than was necessary to my left, as I feared the
enemy might separate my corps from the third and eleventh
Corps at Emmittsburg. Such a movement would be equivalent to
interposing between the first Corps and the main army. There
(11:58):
was a piece of woods between them the two roads,
with open ground on each side. It seemed to me
this was the key of the position, for if this
woods was strongly held, the enemy could not pass on
either road without being taken in flank by the infantry
and in front by the cavalry. I therefore urged the
men as they filed past me to hold it at
(12:19):
all hazards. Full of enthusiasm and the memory of their
past achievements, they said to me proudly, if we can't
hold it, where will you find men who can? As
they went forward under command of General Morrow of the
twenty fourth Michigan Volunteers, a brave and capable soldier who,
when a mere youth was engaged in the Mexican War.
(12:42):
I rode over to the left to see if the
enemy's line extended beyond ours, and if there would be
any attempt to flank our troops. In that direction. I saw, however,
only a few skirmishers, and returned to organize a reserve.
I knew there was fighting going on between Cutler's brigade
and the rebels in his front, but as General Reynolds
(13:03):
was there in person, I only attended to my own
part of the line and halted the sixth Wisconsin Regiment
as it was going into the action, together with a
hundred men of the brigade Guard taken from the one
forty ninth Pennsylvania, to station them in the open space
between the seminary and the woods as a reserve, the
whole being under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R. R.
(13:26):
Dawes of the sixth Wisconsin. A note here I sent
orders tomorrow under the supposition that he was the ranking
officer of the brigade. Colonel W. W. Robinson, seventh Wisconsin
was entitled to the command and exercised it during the
remainder of the battle. End of note, it is proper
(13:48):
to state that General Meredith, the permanent commander of the brigade,
was wounded as he was coming up some time after
its arrival, by a shell which exploded in front of
his horse. Both parties were now trying to obtain possession
of the woods. Archer's rebel brigade, preceded by a skirmish line,
(14:09):
was crossing Willoughby's run to enter them on one side,
as the Iron brigade went in on the other. General
Reynolds was on horseback in the edge of the woods,
surrounded by his staff. He felt some anxiety as to
the result, and turned his head frequently to see if
our troops would be up in time. While looking back
in this way, a rebel sharpshooter shot him through the
(14:32):
back of the head, the bullet coming out near the eye.
He fell dead in an instant without a word. The
country sustained great loss In his death. I lamented him
as almost a lifelong companion. We were at West Point
together and had served in the same regiment, the old
third Artillery, upon first entering service, along with our present
(14:54):
commander in chief, General Sherman and General George H. Thomas,
quite young, we had fought in the same battles in Mexico.
There was little time, however, to indulge in these recollections.
The situation was very peculiar. The rebel left under Davis
had driven in Cutler's brigade, and our left under Morrow
(15:14):
had charged into the woods, preceded by the second Wisconsin
under Colonel Fairchild, swept suddenly and unexpectedly around the right
flank of Archer's brigade and captured a large part of it,
including Archer himself. The fact is the enemy were careless
and underrated us thinking. It is said that they had
(15:36):
only militia to contend with. The Iron Brigade had a
different headgear from the rest of the army, and were
recognized at once by their old antagonists. Some of the
latter were heard to exclaim, there, all those damn black
headed fellows again, tain't no militia, It's the Army of
the Potomac. Having captured Archer and his men, many of
(15:58):
the Iron Brigade kept on beyond Willoughby's Run and formed
on the heights on the opposite side, the command now
devolved upon me with its great responsibilities. The disaster on
the right required immediate attention. For the enemy, with loud yells,
were pursuing Cutler's brigade toward the town. I at once
(16:19):
ordered my reserve under Lieutenant Colonel Dawes, to advance against
their flank. I reasoned that they would present their other
flank to Cutler's men, so that I felt quite confident
of the result in war. However, unexpected changes are constantly occurring.
Cutler's brigade had been withdrawn by order of General Wadsworth,
(16:40):
without my knowledge, to the suburbs of Gettysburg. Fortunately, Fowler's
two regiments came on to join Dawes, who went forward
with great spirit, but who was altogether too weak to
assail so large a force. As he approached, the rebels
ceased to pursue Cutler and rushed into the rear dad
Rogue cut to obtain the shelter of the grating. They
(17:03):
made a fierce and obstinate resistance, but while Fowler confronted
them above, about twenty of DAWs Men were formed across
the cut by his adjutant E. P. Brooks, to fire
through it. The rebels could not resist this. The greater
number gave themselves up as prisoners, and the others scattered
over the country and escaped. This success relieved the one
(17:27):
forty seventh New York, which, as I stated, was surrounded
when Cutler fell back, and it also enabled us to
regain the gun which Hall had been obliged to abandon
the enemy having vanished from our immediate front, I withdrew
the Iron Brigade from its advanced position beyond the creek,
reformed the line on the ridge where General Reynolds had
(17:49):
originally placed it, and awaited a fresh attack or orders
from General Meade. The two regiments of Cutler's brigade were
brought back from the town, and not with step sanding
the check they had received, they fought with great gallantry
throughout the three days battle that ensued. There was now
a lull in the combat. I was waiting for the
(18:11):
remainder of the first Corps to come up, and Heath
was reorganizing his shattered front line and preparing to bring
his two other brigades forward. The remnant of Archer's brigade
was placed on the right and made to face south
against Buford's cavalry, which it was feared might attack that flank.
What was left of Davis's brigade was sent to the
(18:32):
extreme left of the line, and Pegram's artillery was brought
forward and posted on the high ground west of Willoughby's Run.
Thus prepared, and with Pender's strong division in rear ready
to cover his retreat if defeated, or to follow up
his success if victorious, hath advanced to renew the attack.
(18:53):
As I had but four weak infantry brigades at this
time against eight larger brigades which were about to assail
my line, I would have been justified in falling back,
but I determined to hold on to the position until
ordered to leave it. I did not believe in the
system so prevalent at that time of avoiding the enemy.
(19:14):
I quite agreed with Reynolds that it was best to
meet him as soon as possible, for the rebellion, if
reduced to a war of positions, would never end so
long as the main army of the Confederates was left
in a condition to take the field. A retreat, too
has a bad effect on the men. It gives them
the impression that their generals think them too weak to
(19:35):
contend with the enemy. I was not aware at this
time that Howard was on the ground, for he had
given me no indication of his presence. But I knew
that General Meade was at Teineytown, and as on the
previous evening he had informed General Reynolds that the enemy's
army were concentrating on Gettysburg. I thought it probable he
(19:56):
would ride to the front to see for himself what
was going on, and issued definite orders of some kind.
As Gettysburg covered the great roads from Chambersburg to York, Baltimore,
and Washington, and as its possession by Lee would materially
shorten and strengthen his line of retreat, I was in
favor of making great sacrifices to hold it. While we
(20:18):
were thus temporarily successful, having captured or dispersed all the
forces in our immediate front. A very misleading dispatch was
sent to General Meade by General Howard. It seems that
General Howard had reached Gettysburg in advance of his corps
just after the two regiments of Cutler's Brigade, which had
been outflanked, fell back to the town by General Wadsworth's order.
(20:43):
Upon witnessing this retreat, which was somewhat disorderly, General Howard
hastened to send a special messenger to General Meade with
the baleful intelligence that the first corps had fled from
the field at the first contact with the enemy, thus
magnifying a force to retreat of two regiments acting under
orders into the flight of an entire corps, two thirds
(21:06):
of which had not yet reached the field. It is
unnecessary to say that this astounding news created the greatest
feeling against the Corps, which were loudly cursed for their
supposed lack of spirit in patriotism. About eleven a m.
The remainder of the First Corps came up, together with Cooper's, Stewart's, Reynolds,
(21:28):
and Stephen's batteries. By this time the enemy's artillery had
been posted on every commanding position to the west of US,
several of their batteries firing down the Chambersburg Pike. I
was very desirous to hold this road, as it was
in the center of the enemy's line, who were advancing
on each side of it, and Caliph exposed as his
(21:49):
battery was fired over the crest of ground where he
was posted, and notwithstanding the storm of missiles that assailed him,
held his own handsomely and inflicted great damage on his adversaries.
He was soon after relieved by Reynolds battery l of
the First New York which was sustained by Colonel Roy
Stone's brigade of Pennsylvania troops, which I ordered there for
(22:13):
that purpose. Stone formed his men on the left of
the pike, behind a ridge running north and south, and
partially sheltered them by a stone fence some distance in
advance from which he had driven the rebel skirmish line
after an obstinate contest. It was a hot place for troops,
for the whole position was alive with bursting shells. But
(22:36):
the men went forward in fine spirits, and under the
impression that the place was to be held at all hazards,
they cried out, we have come to stay. The battle
afterward became so severe that the greater portion did stay,
laying down their lives there for the cause they loved
so well. Morrow's brigade remained in the woods where Reynolds
(22:58):
was killed, and Biddle's brigade was posted on its left
and the open ground along the crest of the same
ridge with Cooper's battery. In the interval, Cutler's Brigade took
up its former position on the right of the road.
Having disposed of Wadsworth's Division and my own division, which
was now under the command of Brigadier General rally, I,
(23:19):
directed General Robinson's Division to remain in reserve at the
seminary and to throw up a small semi circular rail
entrenchment in the grove in front of the building. Toward
the close of the action. This defense weak and imperfect,
as it was proved to be of great service. The
accompanying map shows the position of troops and batteries at
(23:42):
this time. It will be seen that Heath's division is
formed on the western ridge which bounds Willoughby's Run and
along a crossroad which intersects the Chambersburg Road. At right
angles Penders Division, posted in the rear as a support
to Heath, was formed in the following order by Brigades Thomas, Lane, Scales,
(24:04):
and McGowan under Perrin, the first named on the rebel
left and Perrin on the right, to sustain Hess's advance
and crush out all opposition. Both Pegram's and Mackintosh's artillery
were posted on the crest of the ridge west of
the run. While this was going on, General Howard, who
was awaiting the arrival of his corps, had climbed into
(24:27):
the steeple of the seminary to obtain a view of
the surrounding country. At eleven thirty a m. He learned
that General Reynolds was killed and that the commander of
the three corps, the first, eleventh, and third, constituting the
left wing of the army, devolved upon him by virtue
of his rank. He saw that the First Corps was
(24:47):
contending against large odds, and sent back for the eleventh
Corps to come up at double quick. Upon assuming command
of the left wing, he turned over his own corps
to Major General Carl Schertz, who then gave up the
command of his division to General Barlow. Howard notified General
Mead of Reynold's death, but forgot to take back or
(25:09):
modify the false statement he had made about the First
Corps now engaged before his eyes in a most desperate
contest with a largely superior force, so that General Mead
was still left under the impression that the First Corps
had fled from the field. Howard also sent a request
to Slocum, who was at two taverns, only about five
(25:30):
miles from Gettysburg, to come forward, but Slocum declined without
orders from Meade. He probably thought if any one commander
could assume the direction of other corps, he might antagonize
the plans of the General in chief. Upon receiving the
news of the death of General Reynolds and the disorder
which it was supposed had been created by that event.
(25:53):
General Meade superseded Howard by sending his junior officer, General Hancock,
to assume command of the field, with directions to notify
him of the condition of affairs at the front. He
also ordered General John Newton of the sixth Corps to
take command of the First Corps. The head of the
eleventh Corps reached Gettysburg at twelve forty five p m
(26:16):
and the rear at one forty five p m. Shimmel
Fenix's division led the way, followed by that of Barlow.
The two were directed to prolong the line of the
First Corps to the right along Seminary Ridge. The remaining division,
that of Steinweer with the reserve artillery under Major Osborne,
were ordered to occupy Cemetery Hill in rear of Gettysburg
(26:40):
as a reserve to the entire line. Before this disposition
could be carried out, however, Buford rode up to me
with the information that his scouts reported the advance of
Yule's Corps from Heidlersberg directly on my right flank. I
sent a staff officer to communicate this intelligence to General
Howard with the message that I would endeavor to hold
(27:02):
my ground against ap Hills Corps if he could, by
means of the Eleventh Corps keep Eyule from attacking my right.
He accordingly directed the Eleventh Corps to change front to
meet Eule. As it did so, Devon's cavalry brigade fell
back and took up a position to the right and
rear of this line, just south of the railroad bridge.
(27:25):
The concentration of roads and earliest divisions, the one from
Carlisle and the other from York, took place with great exactness,
both arriving in sight of Gettysburg at the same time.
The other division, that of Johnson, took a longer route
from Carlyle by way of Greenwood to escort the trains,
and did not reach the battlefield until sunset. Anderson's division
(27:49):
of Hills Corps was also back at the pass in
the mountains on the Chambersburg Road. It had haulted to
allow Johnson to pass, and then followed him to Gettysburg,
reaching their oath about dusk. The first indication I had
that Yuele had arrived and was taking part in the
battle came from a battery posted on an eminence called
(28:10):
Oak Hill, almost directly in the prolongation of my line
and about a mile north of Colonel Stone's position. This
opened fire about one thirty p m. And rendered new
dispositions necessary for Howard had not guarded my right flank
as proposed, and indeed soon had more than he could
do to maintain his line. When the guns referred to
(28:33):
open fire, Wadsworth, without waiting for orders, through Cutler's brigade
back into the woods on Seminary Ridge north of the
railroad grading, a movement I sanctioned as necessary. Morrow's brigade
was concealed from the view of the enemy in the
woods where Reynolds fell, and Biddell's brigade, by my order,
changed front to the north. It could do so with impunity,
(28:57):
as it was behind a ridge which concealed its left
flock from hillscoreps, and was further protected in that direction
by two companies of the twentieth New York State Militia,
who occupied a house and barn in advance, sent there
by the colonel of that regiment, Theodore B. Gates, whose
skill and energy were of great service to me during
(29:17):
the battle. It would of course have been impossible to
hold the line if Hill attacked on the west and
Yule assailed me at the same time on the north.
But I occupied the central position, and their converging columns
did not strike together until the grand final advance at
the close of the day, and therefore I was able
(29:38):
to resist several of their isolated attacks before the last
crash came. Stone's brigade in the center had a difficult
angle to defend, but was partially sheltered by a ridge
on the west. His position was, in truth the key
point of the first day's battle. It overlooked the field,
and its possession by the enemy would cut our f
(30:00):
force in two unflayed Moros and Biddle's brigades, and compel
a hasty retreat. End of Part A
Part two, Chapter four of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain and is read by
Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Chancellorsville and Gettysburg by
Abner Doubleday, Part two, Chapter four, Part A, The First
(00:22):
Day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Wednesday, July one, eighteen
sixty three. On the morning of the first of July,
General Buford, as stated, held the ridges to the west
of Gettysburg with his cavalry division composed of gambles and
devons brigades. His fidets were thrown far out toward the
(00:42):
enemy to give timely notice of any movement, for he
was determined to prevent the rebels from entering the town
if possible, and knew the first Corps would soon be
up to support him. The enemy were not aware that
there was any considerable force in the vicinity, and in
the morning sent forward Heath's division of Hill's Corps to
occupy the place, anticipating no difficulty in doing so. Buford,
(01:06):
in the meantime, had dismounted a large part of his force,
had strengthened his line of skirmishers, and planted his batteries
at the most commanding points. General Reynolds, in consequence of
the duties devolving upon him as commander of the left
wing of the Army, that is, of the first, third,
and eleventh Corps, had turned over the command of the
(01:27):
First Corps to me. He now made immediate dispositions to
go forward to assist Buford, as my corps was largely
engaged in the first day's operations. I must be excused
for having a good deal to say in the first
person in relation to them. Reynolds sent for me about
six o'clock in the morning, read to me the various
(01:48):
dispatches he had received from Meade and Beauford, and told
me he should go forward at once with the nearest division,
that of Wadsworth, to aid the cavalry. He then instructed
me to draw in in my pickets, assemble the artillery
and the remainder of the corps, and join him as
soon as possible. Having given these orders, he rode off
at the head of the column, and I never saw
(02:10):
him again. The position of the two armies on the
morning of the first of July was as follows, the
First Corps at Marsh Creek, the Second and Third Corps
at Teaneytown, the latter being under orders to march to
Ammittsburg to relieve the eleventh Corps, which was directed to
join the First Corps at Gettysburg. The twelfth Corps was
(02:32):
at two taverns, the fifth Corps at Hanover, and the
sixth Corps about thirty five miles off to the right
at Manchester. Kilpatrick's and Gregg's divisions of cavalry were also
at Hannover. The Confederate Army was advancing on Gettysburg from
the west and north. The concentration of their troops and
(02:52):
the dispersion of ours are indicated on the map. It
must be remembered that the enemy had but three corps,
while the Union Army had seven. Each of their corps
represented a third and each of ours a seventh of
our total force. The same ratio extended to divisions and brigades.
(03:13):
Heth's division, which started early in the morning to occupy
the town, soon found itself confronted by Beauford's skirmishers and
formed line of battle with archers and Davis's brigades in front,
followed by those of Pettigrew and Brockenborough. At nine a m.
The first gun was heard, Beauford had three cannon shots
fired as a signal for his skirmish line to open
(03:36):
on the enemy, and the Battle of Gettysburg began. Lieutenant
Colonel Cress of General Wadsworth's staff entered Gettysburg about this
time and found General Buford surrounded by his staff in
front of the tavern. There. Beauford turned to him and said,
what are you doing here? Sir Crest replied that he
came on to get some shoes for Wadsworth's division. Beauford
(04:00):
and told him that he had better return immediately to
his command. Cres said, why, what is the matter? General?
At that moment, the far off sound of a single
gun was heard, and Beauford replied, as he mounted his
horse and galloped off, that's the matter. As the rebels
had had several encounters with militia who were easily dispersed,
(04:22):
they did not expect to meet any serious resistance at
this time and advanced confidently and carelessly. Buford gave way slowly,
taking advantage of every accident of ground to protract the struggle.
After an hour's fighting, he felt anxious and went up
into the steeple of the theological seminary from which a
wide view could be obtained to see if the First
(04:44):
Corps was in sight. One division of it was close
at hand, and soon Reynolds, who had preceded it, climbed
up into the belfry to confer with him there and
examine the country around. Although there was no positive testimony
to that effect, his attention was doubtless attracted to Cemetery
Ridge in his rear, as it was one of the
(05:06):
most prominent features of the landscape. An aid of General Howard,
presumably Major Hall, soon after Reynolds descended from the belfry,
came up to ask if he had any instructions with
regard to the Eleventh Corps. Reynolds, in reply, directed that
General Howard bring his corps forward at once and form
(05:26):
them on Cemetery Hill as a reserve. General Howard has
no recollection of having received any such orders, but as
he did get orders to come forward, and as his
corps was to occupy some place in rear as a
support to the First Corps, nothing is more probable than
that General Reynolds directed him to go there, for its
(05:48):
military advantages were obvious enough to any experienced commander Lieutenant
Rosengarten of General Reynolds's staff, states positively that he was
present and heard the order given for Howard to post
his troops on Cemetery Ridge. The matter is of some moment,
as the position in question ultimately gave us the victory,
(06:09):
and Howard received the thanks of Congress for selecting it.
It is not to be supposed that either Howard or
Rosengarten would mistake the matter. It is quite probable that
Reynolds chose the hill simply as a position upon which
his force could rally if driven back, and Howard selected
it as a suitable battlefield for the army. It has
(06:30):
since been universally conceded that it was admirably adapted for
that purpose. It will be seen from the above map
that there are two roads coming to Gettysburg from the west,
making a considerable angle with each other. Each is intersected
by ridges running north and south. On that nearest to
the town. In about three fourths of a mile from
(06:52):
the central square, there was a large brick building which
was used as a Lutheran theological seminary. A small all
stream of water called Willoughby's Run winds between the next
two ridges. The battle on the first day was principally
fought on the heights on each side of this stream. Beuford,
being aware that Eule's Corps would soon be on its
(07:14):
way from Heidlersberg to the field of battle, was obliged
to form line facing north with Devon's brigade and leave
Gamble's brigade to keep back the overpowering weight of Hills
Corps advancing from the west. While this fighting was going on,
and Reynolds and Wadsworth were pressing to the front, I
was engaged in withdrawing the pickets and assembling the other
(07:37):
two divisions together with the corps artillery. As soon as
I saw that my orders were in process of execution,
I galloped to the front, leaving the troops to follow,
and caught up with Meredith's brigade of Wadsworth's Division, commonly
called the Iron Brigade, just as it was going into action.
In the meantime, the enemy approaching from the west were
(08:00):
pressing with great force against Beauford's slender skirmish line, and
Reynolds went forward with Cutler's brigade to sustain it. He
skillfully posted Hall's second main battery in the road and
threw forward two regiments, the fourteenth Brooklyn and the ninety
fifth New York, a short distance in advance on the left.
(08:21):
At the same time, he directed General Wadsworth to place
the remaining three regiments of the brigade, the one forty
seventh New York, the seventy sixth New York, and the
fifty sixth Pennsylvania, on the right of the road. When
this formation was completed, the cavalry brigade under Gamble, which
had been fighting there withdrew and formed in column on
(08:42):
the left of the infantry, but the other cavalry brigade
under Devon, which was not facing in that direction, still
held the position, awaiting the advance of Yule's corps from
the north. As Davis's rebel brigade of Heath's Division fronting
Wadsworth were hidden behind an intervening ridge, Wadsworth did not
(09:02):
see them at first, but formed his three regiments perpendicularly
to the road without a reconnaissance. The result was that
Davis came over the hill almost directly on the right
flank of this line, which, being unable to defend itself,
was forced back and directed by Wadsworth to take post
in a piece of woods in rear on Seminary Ridge.
(09:23):
The two regiments on the right accordingly withdrew, but the
one forty seventh New York, which was next to the road,
did not receive the order, as their colonel was shot
down before he could deliver it. They were at once
surrounded and very much cut up before they could be
rescued from their perilous position. The two regiments on the
(09:44):
right which were forced back were veterans conspicuous for gallantry
in every battle in which the Army of the Potomac
had been engaged since the Peninsula campaign. As Wadsworth withdrew
them without notifying Hall's battery in the road or the
two regiments posted by Reynolds on the left, both became
exposed to a disastrous flank attack on the right. Hall,
(10:08):
finding a cloud of skirmishers launched against his battery, which
was now without support, was compelled to retreat. The horses
of the lost gun were all shot or bayoneted. The
non military reader will see that while a battery can
keep back masses of men, it cannot contend with the
line of skirmishers. To resist them would be very much
(10:29):
like fighting mosquitos with musket balls. The two regiments posted
by Reynolds, the fourteenth Brooklyn and the ninety fifth New York,
finding their support, gone on the right while Archer's Rebel
brigade was advancing to envelop their left, fell back leisurely
under Colonel Fowler of the fourteenth Brooklyn, who assumed command
(10:49):
of both as the ranking officer present. I reached the
field just as the attack on Cutler's brigade was going on,
and at once set my adjutant, General Major Halstone, and
young Meredith L. Jones, who was acting as aid on
my staff, to General Reynolds to ask instructions. Under the
impression that the enemy's columns were approaching on both roads.
(11:12):
Reynolds said, tell double day, I will hold on to
this road, referring to the Chambersburg road, and he was
told on to that one, meaning the road to Fairfield
or Haggerstown. At the same time he sent Jones back
at full speed to bring up a battery. The rebels, however,
did not advance on the Fairfield road until late in
(11:34):
the afternoon. They must have been in force upon it
some miles back for the cavalry so reported, and this
caused me during the entire day to give more attention
than was necessary to my left, as I feared the
enemy might separate my corps from the third and eleventh
Corps at Emmittsburg. Such a movement would be equivalent to
interposing between the first Corps and the main army. There
(11:58):
was a piece of woods between them the two roads,
with open ground on each side. It seemed to me
this was the key of the position, for if this
woods was strongly held, the enemy could not pass on
either road without being taken in flank by the infantry
and in front by the cavalry. I therefore urged the
men as they filed past me to hold it at
(12:19):
all hazards. Full of enthusiasm and the memory of their
past achievements, they said to me proudly, if we can't
hold it, where will you find men who can? As
they went forward under command of General Morrow of the
twenty fourth Michigan Volunteers, a brave and capable soldier who,
when a mere youth was engaged in the Mexican War.
(12:42):
I rode over to the left to see if the
enemy's line extended beyond ours, and if there would be
any attempt to flank our troops. In that direction. I saw, however,
only a few skirmishers, and returned to organize a reserve.
I knew there was fighting going on between Cutler's brigade
and the rebels in his front, but as General Reynolds
(13:03):
was there in person, I only attended to my own
part of the line and halted the sixth Wisconsin Regiment
as it was going into the action, together with a
hundred men of the brigade Guard taken from the one
forty ninth Pennsylvania, to station them in the open space
between the seminary and the woods as a reserve, the
whole being under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R. R.
(13:26):
Dawes of the sixth Wisconsin. A note here I sent
orders tomorrow under the supposition that he was the ranking
officer of the brigade. Colonel W. W. Robinson, seventh Wisconsin
was entitled to the command and exercised it during the
remainder of the battle. End of note, it is proper
(13:48):
to state that General Meredith, the permanent commander of the brigade,
was wounded as he was coming up some time after
its arrival, by a shell which exploded in front of
his horse. Both parties were now trying to obtain possession
of the woods. Archer's rebel brigade, preceded by a skirmish line,
(14:09):
was crossing Willoughby's run to enter them on one side,
as the Iron brigade went in on the other. General
Reynolds was on horseback in the edge of the woods,
surrounded by his staff. He felt some anxiety as to
the result, and turned his head frequently to see if
our troops would be up in time. While looking back
in this way, a rebel sharpshooter shot him through the
(14:32):
back of the head, the bullet coming out near the eye.
He fell dead in an instant without a word. The
country sustained great loss In his death. I lamented him
as almost a lifelong companion. We were at West Point
together and had served in the same regiment, the old
third Artillery, upon first entering service, along with our present
(14:54):
commander in chief, General Sherman and General George H. Thomas,
quite young, we had fought in the same battles in Mexico.
There was little time, however, to indulge in these recollections.
The situation was very peculiar. The rebel left under Davis
had driven in Cutler's brigade, and our left under Morrow
(15:14):
had charged into the woods, preceded by the second Wisconsin
under Colonel Fairchild, swept suddenly and unexpectedly around the right
flank of Archer's brigade and captured a large part of it,
including Archer himself. The fact is the enemy were careless
and underrated us thinking. It is said that they had
(15:36):
only militia to contend with. The Iron Brigade had a
different headgear from the rest of the army, and were
recognized at once by their old antagonists. Some of the
latter were heard to exclaim, there, all those damn black
headed fellows again, tain't no militia, It's the Army of
the Potomac. Having captured Archer and his men, many of
(15:58):
the Iron Brigade kept on beyond Willoughby's Run and formed
on the heights on the opposite side, the command now
devolved upon me with its great responsibilities. The disaster on
the right required immediate attention. For the enemy, with loud yells,
were pursuing Cutler's brigade toward the town. I at once
(16:19):
ordered my reserve under Lieutenant Colonel Dawes, to advance against
their flank. I reasoned that they would present their other
flank to Cutler's men, so that I felt quite confident
of the result in war. However, unexpected changes are constantly occurring.
Cutler's brigade had been withdrawn by order of General Wadsworth,
(16:40):
without my knowledge, to the suburbs of Gettysburg. Fortunately, Fowler's
two regiments came on to join Dawes, who went forward
with great spirit, but who was altogether too weak to
assail so large a force. As he approached, the rebels
ceased to pursue Cutler and rushed into the rear dad
Rogue cut to obtain the shelter of the grating. They
(17:03):
made a fierce and obstinate resistance, but while Fowler confronted
them above, about twenty of DAWs Men were formed across
the cut by his adjutant E. P. Brooks, to fire
through it. The rebels could not resist this. The greater
number gave themselves up as prisoners, and the others scattered
over the country and escaped. This success relieved the one
(17:27):
forty seventh New York, which, as I stated, was surrounded
when Cutler fell back, and it also enabled us to
regain the gun which Hall had been obliged to abandon
the enemy having vanished from our immediate front, I withdrew
the Iron Brigade from its advanced position beyond the creek,
reformed the line on the ridge where General Reynolds had
(17:49):
originally placed it, and awaited a fresh attack or orders
from General Meade. The two regiments of Cutler's brigade were
brought back from the town, and not with step sanding
the check they had received, they fought with great gallantry
throughout the three days battle that ensued. There was now
a lull in the combat. I was waiting for the
(18:11):
remainder of the first Corps to come up, and Heath
was reorganizing his shattered front line and preparing to bring
his two other brigades forward. The remnant of Archer's brigade
was placed on the right and made to face south
against Buford's cavalry, which it was feared might attack that flank.
What was left of Davis's brigade was sent to the
(18:32):
extreme left of the line, and Pegram's artillery was brought
forward and posted on the high ground west of Willoughby's Run.
Thus prepared, and with Pender's strong division in rear ready
to cover his retreat if defeated, or to follow up
his success if victorious, hath advanced to renew the attack.
(18:53):
As I had but four weak infantry brigades at this
time against eight larger brigades which were about to assail
my line, I would have been justified in falling back,
but I determined to hold on to the position until
ordered to leave it. I did not believe in the
system so prevalent at that time of avoiding the enemy.
(19:14):
I quite agreed with Reynolds that it was best to
meet him as soon as possible, for the rebellion, if
reduced to a war of positions, would never end so
long as the main army of the Confederates was left
in a condition to take the field. A retreat, too
has a bad effect on the men. It gives them
the impression that their generals think them too weak to
(19:35):
contend with the enemy. I was not aware at this
time that Howard was on the ground, for he had
given me no indication of his presence. But I knew
that General Meade was at Teineytown, and as on the
previous evening he had informed General Reynolds that the enemy's
army were concentrating on Gettysburg. I thought it probable he
(19:56):
would ride to the front to see for himself what
was going on, and issued definite orders of some kind.
As Gettysburg covered the great roads from Chambersburg to York, Baltimore,
and Washington, and as its possession by Lee would materially
shorten and strengthen his line of retreat, I was in
favor of making great sacrifices to hold it. While we
(20:18):
were thus temporarily successful, having captured or dispersed all the
forces in our immediate front. A very misleading dispatch was
sent to General Meade by General Howard. It seems that
General Howard had reached Gettysburg in advance of his corps
just after the two regiments of Cutler's Brigade, which had
been outflanked, fell back to the town by General Wadsworth's order.
(20:43):
Upon witnessing this retreat, which was somewhat disorderly, General Howard
hastened to send a special messenger to General Meade with
the baleful intelligence that the first corps had fled from
the field at the first contact with the enemy, thus
magnifying a force to retreat of two regiments acting under
orders into the flight of an entire corps, two thirds
(21:06):
of which had not yet reached the field. It is
unnecessary to say that this astounding news created the greatest
feeling against the Corps, which were loudly cursed for their
supposed lack of spirit in patriotism. About eleven a m.
The remainder of the First Corps came up, together with Cooper's, Stewart's, Reynolds,
(21:28):
and Stephen's batteries. By this time the enemy's artillery had
been posted on every commanding position to the west of US,
several of their batteries firing down the Chambersburg Pike. I
was very desirous to hold this road, as it was
in the center of the enemy's line, who were advancing
on each side of it, and Caliph exposed as his
(21:49):
battery was fired over the crest of ground where he
was posted, and notwithstanding the storm of missiles that assailed him,
held his own handsomely and inflicted great damage on his adversaries.
He was soon after relieved by Reynolds battery l of
the First New York which was sustained by Colonel Roy
Stone's brigade of Pennsylvania troops, which I ordered there for
(22:13):
that purpose. Stone formed his men on the left of
the pike, behind a ridge running north and south, and
partially sheltered them by a stone fence some distance in
advance from which he had driven the rebel skirmish line
after an obstinate contest. It was a hot place for troops,
for the whole position was alive with bursting shells. But
(22:36):
the men went forward in fine spirits, and under the
impression that the place was to be held at all hazards,
they cried out, we have come to stay. The battle
afterward became so severe that the greater portion did stay,
laying down their lives there for the cause they loved
so well. Morrow's brigade remained in the woods where Reynolds
(22:58):
was killed, and Biddle's brigade was posted on its left
and the open ground along the crest of the same
ridge with Cooper's battery. In the interval, Cutler's Brigade took
up its former position on the right of the road.
Having disposed of Wadsworth's Division and my own division, which
was now under the command of Brigadier General rally, I,
(23:19):
directed General Robinson's Division to remain in reserve at the
seminary and to throw up a small semi circular rail
entrenchment in the grove in front of the building. Toward
the close of the action. This defense weak and imperfect,
as it was proved to be of great service. The
accompanying map shows the position of troops and batteries at
(23:42):
this time. It will be seen that Heath's division is
formed on the western ridge which bounds Willoughby's Run and
along a crossroad which intersects the Chambersburg Road. At right
angles Penders Division, posted in the rear as a support
to Heath, was formed in the following order by Brigades Thomas, Lane, Scales,
(24:04):
and McGowan under Perrin, the first named on the rebel
left and Perrin on the right, to sustain Hess's advance
and crush out all opposition. Both Pegram's and Mackintosh's artillery
were posted on the crest of the ridge west of
the run. While this was going on, General Howard, who
was awaiting the arrival of his corps, had climbed into
(24:27):
the steeple of the seminary to obtain a view of
the surrounding country. At eleven thirty a m. He learned
that General Reynolds was killed and that the commander of
the three corps, the first, eleventh, and third, constituting the
left wing of the army, devolved upon him by virtue
of his rank. He saw that the First Corps was
(24:47):
contending against large odds, and sent back for the eleventh
Corps to come up at double quick. Upon assuming command
of the left wing, he turned over his own corps
to Major General Carl Schertz, who then gave up the
command of his division to General Barlow. Howard notified General
Mead of Reynold's death, but forgot to take back or
(25:09):
modify the false statement he had made about the First
Corps now engaged before his eyes in a most desperate
contest with a largely superior force, so that General Mead
was still left under the impression that the First Corps
had fled from the field. Howard also sent a request
to Slocum, who was at two taverns, only about five
(25:30):
miles from Gettysburg, to come forward, but Slocum declined without
orders from Meade. He probably thought if any one commander
could assume the direction of other corps, he might antagonize
the plans of the General in chief. Upon receiving the
news of the death of General Reynolds and the disorder
which it was supposed had been created by that event.
(25:53):
General Meade superseded Howard by sending his junior officer, General Hancock,
to assume command of the field, with directions to notify
him of the condition of affairs at the front. He
also ordered General John Newton of the sixth Corps to
take command of the First Corps. The head of the
eleventh Corps reached Gettysburg at twelve forty five p m
(26:16):
and the rear at one forty five p m. Shimmel
Fenix's division led the way, followed by that of Barlow.
The two were directed to prolong the line of the
First Corps to the right along Seminary Ridge. The remaining division,
that of Steinweer with the reserve artillery under Major Osborne,
were ordered to occupy Cemetery Hill in rear of Gettysburg
(26:40):
as a reserve to the entire line. Before this disposition
could be carried out, however, Buford rode up to me
with the information that his scouts reported the advance of
Yule's Corps from Heidlersberg directly on my right flank. I
sent a staff officer to communicate this intelligence to General
Howard with the message that I would endeavor to hold
(27:02):
my ground against ap Hills Corps if he could, by
means of the Eleventh Corps keep Eyule from attacking my right.
He accordingly directed the Eleventh Corps to change front to
meet Eule. As it did so, Devon's cavalry brigade fell
back and took up a position to the right and
rear of this line, just south of the railroad bridge.
(27:25):
The concentration of roads and earliest divisions, the one from
Carlisle and the other from York, took place with great exactness,
both arriving in sight of Gettysburg at the same time.
The other division, that of Johnson, took a longer route
from Carlyle by way of Greenwood to escort the trains,
and did not reach the battlefield until sunset. Anderson's division
(27:49):
of Hills Corps was also back at the pass in
the mountains on the Chambersburg Road. It had haulted to
allow Johnson to pass, and then followed him to Gettysburg,
reaching their oath about dusk. The first indication I had
that Yuele had arrived and was taking part in the
battle came from a battery posted on an eminence called
(28:10):
Oak Hill, almost directly in the prolongation of my line
and about a mile north of Colonel Stone's position. This
opened fire about one thirty p m. And rendered new
dispositions necessary for Howard had not guarded my right flank
as proposed, and indeed soon had more than he could
do to maintain his line. When the guns referred to
(28:33):
open fire, Wadsworth, without waiting for orders, through Cutler's brigade
back into the woods on Seminary Ridge north of the
railroad grading, a movement I sanctioned as necessary. Morrow's brigade
was concealed from the view of the enemy in the
woods where Reynolds fell, and Biddell's brigade, by my order,
changed front to the north. It could do so with impunity,
(28:57):
as it was behind a ridge which concealed its left
flock from hillscoreps, and was further protected in that direction
by two companies of the twentieth New York State Militia,
who occupied a house and barn in advance, sent there
by the colonel of that regiment, Theodore B. Gates, whose
skill and energy were of great service to me during
(29:17):
the battle. It would of course have been impossible to
hold the line if Hill attacked on the west and
Yule assailed me at the same time on the north.
But I occupied the central position, and their converging columns
did not strike together until the grand final advance at
the close of the day, and therefore I was able
(29:38):
to resist several of their isolated attacks before the last
crash came. Stone's brigade in the center had a difficult
angle to defend, but was partially sheltered by a ridge
on the west. His position was, in truth the key
point of the first day's battle. It overlooked the field,
and its possession by the enemy would cut our f
(30:00):
force in two unflayed Moros and Biddle's brigades, and compel
a hasty retreat. End of Part A
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.