Battle Report on GCM Battle 1478
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:34 am
How could I begin to explain this fight to overcome the stone walls?
We just came from a short sleep after a long, ardious march from the Baltimore Pike on the Southeast side of Culp's Hill and the woods surrounding it. I was sent to command a division other than my own for a short period as my own boys were quarantined to the rear since their stunning performance further west of the town of Gettysburg. The troops I command now are actually further experienced and seasoned than my own, but they have seem to have lost their luster when their old division commander, General Stutely, was killed.
My division was comprised of Furgenson's New Yorkers, and Steel's New York and Pennsylvania regiments. McGarvey's division consisted of Webb's New England soldiers, and Caudell's New Yorkers. The Corps was seldom rested and, I thought, deserved another day of rest. But, when the bugle is sounded, and the call for soldiers is heard, we cannot say no to Uncle Sam.
McGarvey did the daring and split his division in two, one half on my right, another on my left, the most on my left. From the Confederate occupied Gettysburg, we saw pecks of gray shifting in the forest of buildings. McGarvey and I knew an attack would soon come. Since being pushes out of the town the previous week, I was willing to smash the Confederates for taking the innocent, once-peaceful Pennsylvania city. I was in the original, going to attack them. I knew though, it would be suicidal. So I took the stone walls outside of the town, Furgenson's brigade left to a stone wall stopping a wheatfield, and to the right,
Steel's Irish men taking a stone wall on the greater side of a sloping Peach Orchard. On Cemetery Hill was one of McGarvey's Brigades, I don't know which brigade commander it was, I was paying for attention to the oncoming rebels.
Artillery on Cemetery Hill blew large chunks into the Confederate regiments below. After some time, the soldiers on the hill came down and advanced on the right flank of the Johnnies. More artillery on Steel's right was placed, and melted the Confederate left flank as they settled on the small hill at the town. The action would not stay to McGarvey though. It was only the tip of the iceberg.
From the town came a large horde, I guessed three brigades with huge regiments lined up, coming from the town, slowly approaching my stone walls. Some of my men broke and ran, most of them knew what was coming. A Fredericksburg situation. And I thought I saw their veteran faces smile.
The year before, when the division commander has been General Linden, Stutely being the second in command, the division was ordered to run up Marye's Heights, they were hacked to pieces by canister and lead. I was lucky my division was late to the battle and ended up crossing the pontoons, stopping at the town for a few hours, and crossing the pontoons back again with no casualties what so ever.
Well, now, they would get their chance.
The Confederate brigades kept up a constant rate of speed and immediately fired at the stone wall once it was in range, as was the men at the wheatfield stone wall. With the Peach Orchard stone wall, it was different. The Confederates had to go up steep, sloping ground to reach my line of fire, one by one Confederate fell as they where in column moving up to bayonet my line. I had my reserves thrown in as rebels poured over the Peach Orchard stone wall, and there erupted instense hand-in-hand combat. The left, Furgenson's brigade, was almost completely unfazed and pushing the Confederate force, three times larger than their sides, back.
Melee combat lasted for about 20 minutes with both Hand-in-Hand and close firefighting. Soon. the Johnnies were driven back, two of my regiments routed. What was left of Steel's Brigade were two regiments.
The Irish 63rd New York, and the 29th Pennsylvania. To fill in the Confederate places, and to oppose my tired 29th and scarred 63rd, came new brigades, double-quicking, but they too were extinguished. No other regiment got to the stone walls then the previous mentioned. During that, and throughout the battle, Furgenson held, his tiny regiments ,(they had gone first at Fredericksburg), poured down a strong open fire and suffered minor casualties. I, on horseback, was asked repeatedly as I strode behind the New Yorkers, Furgenson asked me to get down. I never did, and sustained no wounds, except a bullet through my hat.
McGarvey had done the same, as in, destroying the enemy. He crushed the enemy flank, captured a victory point, and sliced through the lines like a knife in butter. The 7th Maine of his on my right provided excellent enfilade fire to the ones attacking the Peach Orchard. It was evident at that point that the battle was lost for the Confederates. I couldn't feel more sorry for them, and so Herold, the army commander ordered one or two people from each regiment of mine afterwards, to at least help the wounded and provide them some water, at least let them know that they would die knowin that we know, they're still from America.
The rebels were pushed that day, and started to encamp at McPherson's Ridge, they withdrew with their dignity and courage. Even though another Fredericksburg happened, this would not be even near the end of this long, civil, struggle.
As I look on this now, these brave Southrons, can be devoted to their country more than any one I've ever seen or heard.
Good night America. North, or South.
We just came from a short sleep after a long, ardious march from the Baltimore Pike on the Southeast side of Culp's Hill and the woods surrounding it. I was sent to command a division other than my own for a short period as my own boys were quarantined to the rear since their stunning performance further west of the town of Gettysburg. The troops I command now are actually further experienced and seasoned than my own, but they have seem to have lost their luster when their old division commander, General Stutely, was killed.
My division was comprised of Furgenson's New Yorkers, and Steel's New York and Pennsylvania regiments. McGarvey's division consisted of Webb's New England soldiers, and Caudell's New Yorkers. The Corps was seldom rested and, I thought, deserved another day of rest. But, when the bugle is sounded, and the call for soldiers is heard, we cannot say no to Uncle Sam.
McGarvey did the daring and split his division in two, one half on my right, another on my left, the most on my left. From the Confederate occupied Gettysburg, we saw pecks of gray shifting in the forest of buildings. McGarvey and I knew an attack would soon come. Since being pushes out of the town the previous week, I was willing to smash the Confederates for taking the innocent, once-peaceful Pennsylvania city. I was in the original, going to attack them. I knew though, it would be suicidal. So I took the stone walls outside of the town, Furgenson's brigade left to a stone wall stopping a wheatfield, and to the right,
Steel's Irish men taking a stone wall on the greater side of a sloping Peach Orchard. On Cemetery Hill was one of McGarvey's Brigades, I don't know which brigade commander it was, I was paying for attention to the oncoming rebels.
Artillery on Cemetery Hill blew large chunks into the Confederate regiments below. After some time, the soldiers on the hill came down and advanced on the right flank of the Johnnies. More artillery on Steel's right was placed, and melted the Confederate left flank as they settled on the small hill at the town. The action would not stay to McGarvey though. It was only the tip of the iceberg.
From the town came a large horde, I guessed three brigades with huge regiments lined up, coming from the town, slowly approaching my stone walls. Some of my men broke and ran, most of them knew what was coming. A Fredericksburg situation. And I thought I saw their veteran faces smile.
The year before, when the division commander has been General Linden, Stutely being the second in command, the division was ordered to run up Marye's Heights, they were hacked to pieces by canister and lead. I was lucky my division was late to the battle and ended up crossing the pontoons, stopping at the town for a few hours, and crossing the pontoons back again with no casualties what so ever.
Well, now, they would get their chance.
The Confederate brigades kept up a constant rate of speed and immediately fired at the stone wall once it was in range, as was the men at the wheatfield stone wall. With the Peach Orchard stone wall, it was different. The Confederates had to go up steep, sloping ground to reach my line of fire, one by one Confederate fell as they where in column moving up to bayonet my line. I had my reserves thrown in as rebels poured over the Peach Orchard stone wall, and there erupted instense hand-in-hand combat. The left, Furgenson's brigade, was almost completely unfazed and pushing the Confederate force, three times larger than their sides, back.
Melee combat lasted for about 20 minutes with both Hand-in-Hand and close firefighting. Soon. the Johnnies were driven back, two of my regiments routed. What was left of Steel's Brigade were two regiments.
The Irish 63rd New York, and the 29th Pennsylvania. To fill in the Confederate places, and to oppose my tired 29th and scarred 63rd, came new brigades, double-quicking, but they too were extinguished. No other regiment got to the stone walls then the previous mentioned. During that, and throughout the battle, Furgenson held, his tiny regiments ,(they had gone first at Fredericksburg), poured down a strong open fire and suffered minor casualties. I, on horseback, was asked repeatedly as I strode behind the New Yorkers, Furgenson asked me to get down. I never did, and sustained no wounds, except a bullet through my hat.
McGarvey had done the same, as in, destroying the enemy. He crushed the enemy flank, captured a victory point, and sliced through the lines like a knife in butter. The 7th Maine of his on my right provided excellent enfilade fire to the ones attacking the Peach Orchard. It was evident at that point that the battle was lost for the Confederates. I couldn't feel more sorry for them, and so Herold, the army commander ordered one or two people from each regiment of mine afterwards, to at least help the wounded and provide them some water, at least let them know that they would die knowin that we know, they're still from America.
The rebels were pushed that day, and started to encamp at McPherson's Ridge, they withdrew with their dignity and courage. Even though another Fredericksburg happened, this would not be even near the end of this long, civil, struggle.
As I look on this now, these brave Southrons, can be devoted to their country more than any one I've ever seen or heard.
Good night America. North, or South.
