1863 to 29 JUN |
On 14 June we left the lines in front of Fredericksburg and
started on the ever memorable Gettysburg campaign. By easy
marches we reached Culpepper Court House on the 17th. Continuing
the march on the 18th, passing through Berryville, Charlestown,
and other villages, we reached Shepherdstown on the 23d, and on
the 24th waded the Potomac at this point, thence proceeding
leisurely towards Gettysburg, passing through the battlefield of
Sharpsburg, crossing the Antietam river on the stone bridge, on
through Chambersburg, Pa., and halting on the 29th at Cashtown, a
village at the foot of the mountains on the Baltimore and
Chambersburg pike, and distant about six miles northwest from
Gettysburg. Here we rested until the morning of 1 July. On the
evening of the 29th Company B, Fifty-second Regiment, under
command of First Lieutenant W.E. Kyle, was detailed to picket the Emmettsburg road at a village called Millertown, about five miles to the right of the camp, and during the night had a skirmish with a picket post held by the enemy's cavalry. During the night of the 30th the company was withdrawn and reported at camp. |
1863 |
Early on the morning of 1 July we moved in the direction of
Gettysburg. Archer's Brigade of Heth's Division, leading the
advance, encountered a heavy force, commanded by General Buford, of the enemy's cavalry, on the Chambersburg road about one mile from Gettysburg, and was at once engaged; the cavalry, pressing Archer very hard, and skilfully [sic] using their artillery, checked his advance, when Pettigrew's Brigade, the Fifty-second holding the right of his line, was rapidly advanced to his support. By a vigorous attacked we succeeded in forcing Buford's line back in the direction of the town, when, being reinforced by a heavy infantry column, they in turn checked Heth's advance. By this time Pettigrew's Brigade had reached Willoughby's Run, westward from the town and halted; lying here under a heavy shelling from the enemy's guns, and greatly annoyed by their sharp-shooters, who occupied, at this time, the second story of a brick building immediately in front of our line, we awaited the arrival of Anderson's Division of Hill's Corps which was moving up to strengthen the lines. |
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About noon we advanced and Pettigrew's Brigade encountered the enemy in an open field when a most desperate fight ensued. I have already stated that Colonel Marshall's regiment held the
right of Pettigrew's line, and as we advanced through the open field our right flank was menaced by a body of the enemy's cavalry, seeking an opportunity to charge our lines. While on the advance and under heavy fire Colonel Marshall formed his regiment in quare to guard against attack from this body, and at the same time deployed Company B, under command of Lieutenant W.E. Kyle, to protect his flank. This gallant officer succeeded in holding the cavalry in check and finally drove them from our flank. This maneuver was executed by the regiment as promptly and accurately as if it had been upon its drill grounds. The fighting continued wit unabated fury until sundown, when we had gradually, but steadily, driven the enemy's lines back upon the town, but at a tremendous cost of valuable lives. About this time -- sundown or nearly so -- General Pender was sent to our relief, and passing over our lines took up the fight and drove the enemy into and through the town, halting only when commanded to do so, and thus ended the first day's fight so far as the Fifty-second Regiment was concerned. |
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The losses in the brigade were appalling, and those of the
Fifty-second Regiment very heavy. Here the gallant Captain
McCain, of Company I, fell dead, pierced by a minie ball, while leading his company in the thickest of the fight. About the same time the young and chivalrous Captain Blackburn, of Company K, fell dead at the head of his company while leading his men to victory. In addition to this great loss many valuable officers were wounded and the loss in the ranks was very heavy. At this time, over thirty-seven years have elapsed, and without access to records, I am unable to state the casualties with accuracy. |
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1863 |
On the second day our regiment was not engaged. A greater
portion of the forenoon of the 3d was consumed in perfecting the
arrangements for the assault on Cemetery Hill. General Lee was concentrating his batteries along the brow of Seminary Ridge, and by noon had massed 145 cannon to open the attack. To reply to these guns the enemy, who were able to see what was going on in our lines, had crowned Cemetery Hill, according to report, with 80 cannon. On this day Heth's Division was under command of General Pettigrew, General Heth having received a disabling wound the day before. |
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