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Report of Captain George W. Jones, CAMP NEAR BERLIN, MD., SIR: I have the honor to report that, on the 1st instant, this regiment was drawn into line of battle on the west side of Gettysburg, Pa., in front of the enemy, and ordered to divest themselves of everything but their guns, accouterments, haversacks, and canteens. This being done, Company B was detailed as skirmishers, who advanced about one-half mile, and engaged the enemy for three-quarters of an hour, when the main body of the regiment became engaged, and did not retire until compelled to do so by the advance of a line of battle of the enemy, when they fell back to the main line of the regiment. After the skirmishers were sent out, the regiment advanced a short distance, and took advantage of a slight rise in the ground as a protection against the enemy’s shells. Here the regiment lay for nearly three hours under a heavy fire of artillery, when the enemy’s line of battle advanced from the woods into the open field, and we were ordered to advance to a fence on the highest ground in our front. The enemy’s line of infantry opened fire upon us as soon as we made our appearance, and we became hotly engaged for some time, when the enemy’s line was compelled to give way, and they fled in con- fusion. A second line advanced and met with the same fate. A third and much stronger line appeared in our front and on both flanks, which forced our flanks to retire, and we were ordered by you to fall back, which was done in good order, to a battery in our rear. Here we rallied, and engaged the enemy for a short time, when we again received the order to fall back, which was done through the second line of defenses on Cemetery Hill, and formed into line. Our ammunition being entirely exhausted, we were here supplied with 60 rounds of cartridges. On the 2d, we supported a battery until about 6 p. m., when we were ordered to the front and on the left of the Fifth Corps as pickets. We were ordered to advance our line until we encountered the enemy’s line of pickets, which was done, and we exchanged a few shots and were ordered to fall back, bringing with us two guns and caissons. Our line of pickets was stationed about 600 yards in front of the defenses, and remained here until the morning of the 3d, when we were relieved by a line of skirmishers, and retired to the second line of defenses, under a heavy fire of shell from the enemy’s batteries. This command lay all day and night of the 3d under all the heavy cannonading of that memorable day. Inclosed is a statement of the casualties in this command. Officers and men. Commissioned officers: 1 Killed, 6 Wounded, 4 Missing. TOTAL: 11 Enlisted men: 28 Killed, 141 Wounded, 80 Missing. TOTAL: 249 Total* 29 Killed, 147 Wounded, 84 Missing. Total: 260 Most respectfully, yours, G. W. JONES, Captain Company B, Comndg. 150th Pennsylvania Vols. Colonel DANA, Comdg. Second Brig., Third Div., First Army Corps. |