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Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
fired in the
direction of and beyond Big Round Top; this was followed by the sharp rattle of musketry
and the heavy booming of artillery. Very soon aides and orderlies began to gallop in all
directions. One soon found his way to division headquarters when General Crawford and his
staff quickly mounted and the order was passed along to fall in.
We moved in the rear and east of the
Round Tops, filed to the left and crossed the ridge between Little Round Top and the
Cemetery. We were then moved to the left and took position on the western slope of Little
Round Top, massed in a battalion front with the Third Brigade leading. This formation
placed my regiment in the rear of the brigade. We remained in this position but a short
time when the firing became very heavy on our left and in the direction of Big Round Top,
when a staff officer rode up and directed Colonel Fisher to move his brigade in that
direction and aid Colonel Vincent's Brigade in holding that important position. In
obedience to this order the brigade commenced filing out from the head of the column,
first, the Twelfth Regiment, next the Fifth, and then the Tenth which unmasked the right
of my regiment. While these movements were going on the battle in our front became
terrific and very soon we could see that our troops were being driven back. At this
moment, and just as I was about to move off to the left with my regiment. Major Speer of
the division staff, rode up and said, "Colonel Jackson, General Crawford directs that
you remain in position and hold this hill at all hazards."
In obedience to this order I faced my
regiment to the front and moved forward to the position just vacated by the Twelfth
Regiment, and ordered the men to lie down and withhold their fire until I would give the
command. This very trying order was most heroically obeyed as we were wholly exposed to
the galling fire of the enemy from the direction of Devil's Den, and quite a number of my
officers and men were here killed and wounded. Our position gave us a complete view of
much of the day's battlefield, including the wheatfield and part of the peach orchard
beyond, together with the woods on the right and left of the wheatfield and the greater
portion of Devil's Den, that stronghold so tenaciously held by the foe.
A discouraging, yet sublime view it
was about 6 o'clock, that hot July afternoon. The enemy forcing back foot by foot the
struggling heroes of the Third Corps and the First Division of the Fifth Corps, down
through the wheatfield and the woods on the right and left of the wheatfield, while the
artillery to our right and left were playing upon them with shot and shell. Still on they
came, a seeming irresistible mass of living gray. The First Ohio Battery, commanded by a
German captain, had gone into action on my left-front, and when it seemed that nothing
could stop the onward progress of the enemy, this gallant officer became very much
exercised over the safety of his guns and loudly announced that he would be compelled to
limber to the rear to save his pieces from capture. I told him to double-shot his guns,
hold his position, and we would see to their safety.
The boys along the line of the
regiment hearing this colloquy between the German captain and myself, holloed out,
"Stand by your guns, Dutchy, and we will stand by you." This seemed to put new
confidence in the cap-
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at Gettysburg. 281
tain, who
returned to his guns and served them most heroically, inflicting frightful execution upon
the foe, as he poured the shot and shell into their very faces.
All this time my regiment remained
quiet and motionless save in carrying back our killed and wounded. The men hugged the
ground closely, which, by the help of a scrubby growth of pine which stood along the
western slope of the hill, screened them pretty effectually from the enemy's view. The
smoke by this time had literally filled the valley in our front, and it was almost
impossible to even see the troops. It was a trying moment. We could with difficulty see a column commencing to
ascend the slope, but could not tell whether it was our troops retreating, or the enemy
advancing. Finally two men came up the hill and as they approached us, I inquired if the
front was clear of our men. They replied, "Yes; those fellows (pointing to the line
moving up the hill a few rods in our front are Johnnnies." I immediately gave the
command to fire, which was obeyed with alacrity,
and we poured a terrible volley into the very faces of the enemy. This evidently was a
surprise, for they faltered in the onward march and began to collect in groups. Their
galling fire, however, was kept up on our line, particularly from Devil's Den, and I soon
realized the fact that the only way to hold the hill was to charge forward. Therefore, I
gave the command to fix bayonets and charge. This order was obeyed with a will, and, with
that familiar yell peculiar to the Pennsylvania Reserves, we I rushed upon the foe with a
determination to either drive the invaders back or sacrifice ourselves on our native soil.
Our fondest hopes were realized. The tide was turned, the enemy broke and fell back in
much disorder.
As we neared the swamp or run, about
midway between Little Round Top and the wheatfield, I noticed troops deploying to my right
and left and observing the well-known Bucktails rushing up in the line with us on our
left, I was assured that the regiments of the First Brigade which had been laying in rear of us on Little Round Top, had
joined us in the charge. On nearing the wheatfield fence, General Crawford rode up to the
rear of my line with hat in hand and complimented the regiment in the most extravagant
terms, saying, "Colonel Jackson, you have saved the day, your regiment is worth its
weight in gold; its weight in gold, sir." He directed me to establish my line at the
edge of the wheatfield and have temporary works thrown up at once.
In locating my line, I discovered
that the Bucktails and First regiments were on my left, and the Second and Sixth on my
right. This formation placed my regiment in the center of the First Brigade, which
position we occupied during the remaining days of the battle.
Just as darkness was closing around us, an officer rode up in rear of my line and asked
"what command is this?" On telling him that it was the Pennsylvania Reserves, he
replied that Pennsylvania would support us, that he was Colonel Collier of the One hundred
and thirty-ninth Pennsylvania, and that his regiment was directly in our rear and would
gladly take our place if needed. On looking back I beheld the mountain side and away
toward Cemetery Ridge, literally covered with troops.
The colonel said that was a division of the Sixth Corps, which had just arrived on
the field. This was the first intimation I had that the Sixth Corps had got
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up, and it
was comforting indeed to know that such a grand body of true and tried troops were on the
ground. This fact in itself assured to us the victory.
The position taken at the wheatfield
was held throughout the night and next day until after Pickett's repulse on Cemetery
Ridge, when General Meade rode over to the left and directed Colonel McCandless to drive
the enemy from the woods to the left of the wheatfield, which he did by moving his brigade
in line to near the top of the hill in the wheatfield, when he ordered a left-half wheel
and charged up through the woods at a double-quick, yelling lustily as we advanced. This
forced the enemy to abandon their stronghold at Devil's Den, and as we reached the open
ground extending out to and beyond the Emmitsburg road, we saw a large body of the enemy
moving by flank at a double-quick, far off to our left, hastening to gain their forces in
our front beyond the Emmitsburg road.
Here we remained through the night,
and very early on the morning of the 4th a terrific rain storm set in which continued the
greater portion of the day. Along in the afternoon the Sixth Corps was moved out to feel
the enemy, but beyond a light skirmish line which they quickly dislodged they met no
opposition. We were then moved back to near the wheatfield from whence we started the
evening before, where rations and ammunition were issued to the men.
Thus ended the battle of Gettysburg.
The foe was conquered and we stood victorious on the field. The record of which shall ever
illumine the pages of American history, as the greatest battle, both in results and
casualties in proportion to the troops engaged, ever fought on the American continent.
ADDRESS OF BREVET MAJOR H. K. SLOAN.
THE Pennsylvania Reserve Corps
originally consisted of twelve regiments infantry, one regiment rifles (Bucktails), one
regiment cavalry and one regiment artillery, in all fifteen regiments, fifteen thousand
eight hundred enlisted men, field, staff and line.
After the battle of Fredericksburg,
Va., December 13, 1862, the division was ordered back to defenses of Washington, D. C. The
Third Brigade at Minor's Hill. The Eleventh Regiment was ordered from this position to
Vienna, Va., and lay there until the movement culminating in the battle of Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, commenced.
Two brigades, the First, under
command of Colonel McCandless, consisting of Bucktails (First Rifles), First, Second and
Sixth infantry regiments. The Third under command of Colonel Fisher, consisting of
Twelfth, Fifth [Ninth], Tenth and Eleventh infantry regiments. The Second Brigade,
consisting of [Third], Fourth, Seventh and Eighth regiments, were detached from the
division. At battle of Gettysburg the First and Third brigades formed the Third Division,
Fifth Army Corps, under command of General S. W. Crawford, the Fifth Army Corps commanded
by General Sykes.
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at Gettysburg. 283
The Eleventh Regiment was at
Uniontown, Md., on the morning of July i 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel D. S. Porter, by command
of Colonel S. M. Jackson, colonel commanding regiment, moved out of bivouac at 5 o'clock
a.m. with a portion of our regiment (Companies "A," "B," and I think
other companies but cannot remember number) as a guard for wagon-trains, etc. This detail
marched with the train until toward sunset, when the news was received that the advance of
our army was engaged with the enemy at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and we were ordered to
rejoin our commands. The trains were ordered to Westminster. We rejoined our regiment and
marched steadily until I0 or 11 o'clock in the night, when all were tired, sleepy, cross
and inquiries were made with all the emphasis tired, hungry and sleepy soldiers could,
"When will the officers halt?" etc.— cheering was heard on the road upon
which we were marching, in advance of us, on other roads running parallel to our road, and
the boys wondered what those fools were yelling for. The cheering came nearer and nearer,
increasing in volume, and finally some one at the side of the road called out, "Boys,
General McClellan is in command," and then for the time being, empty stomachs, sleep
and fatigue were all forgotten, and we joined madly in the cheers.
Predictions were freely offered that
we were going to whip the enemy, aye destroy their army, etc. This news helped us along on
the weary march until about 1 o'clock of the morning of the 2d of July, when tired nature
asserted its power and men fell out of ranks, even the strongest and most energetic gave
out and fell into the ditch by the roadside, and lay there. This weary and almost
intolerable march was continued until 3 o'clock of the morning of the 2d, when, just after
passing through the village of McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, the regiment, having been
twenty-three hours on the march was turned into what seemed a meadow, on the right-hand
side of the road, we laid down and slept—were awakened at 5 o'clock, having had about
two hours sleep and rest, and found we were laying in a swamp. The coarse swamp grass had
served us for a bed, a softer bed I do not believe was ever given human beings—being
composed largely of water. Immediately on being awakened at 5 o'clock a. m., on the
morning of July 2, 1863, the regiment, being the left of the brigade, moved out into the
road, and after marching some two or three miles was halted and leave given to make coffee
and get breakfast. We were given about thirty minutes to do this—then the march for
Gettysburg began in good earnest. I do not know exactly when our brigade struck the
Baltimore pike, but I remember marching along the Baltimore pike some distance before we
filed off. The point at which we marched off the Baltimore pike was, I think, at what is
known as the White Church, at which point, whilst marching on the pike to Gettysburg, we
filed off the pike and marched along a country road for a distance of about one mile, when
we were marched into a field on right-hand side of road looking towards Gettysburg, we
lay here until about 3.30 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when orders were received to
advance (I do not know where the First Brigade of our division was at this time). Our
brigade marched along the same road we had entered on leaving the Baltimore pike, passed
the rear of Big Round Top and passed up onto Little Round Top, when the brigade was formed
en masse battalion front. We were then moved to the right-front
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Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
of Little
Round Top and formed at the foot of the hill towards Gettysburg . This formation for some
reason was not satisfactory and we were marched back onto the hill close to the artillery
on the top of the hill. The brigade remained there a short time preserving the same
formation, viz: en masse battalion or regimental front; after a very short interval
an officer rode up and directed the brigade to move over and retake Big Round Top, that
the enemy had or were about to obtain possession of that hill. The brigade in obedience to
this order was moved rapidly, commencing on the right. The Twelfth marched around our
right and rear— as soon as the Twelfth had unmasked the Fifth, that regiment marched
and the Tenth followed—as soon as the Tenth unmasked our regiment. Colonel Jackson
gave the command, "Shoulder arms, right face." At this instant an officer rode
up, gave the compliments of some general with directions that he halt his regiment and
hold the hill at all hazards until reinforcements could be got up. Colonel Jackson, in
obedience to this order, gave the regiment the order, "front, forward march,"
and we marched in line of battle to the position which had been held by the Twelfth in our
brigade formation, on the slope of the hill looking towards the wheatfield, and woods to
right of wheatfield. The Devil's Den, and woods to left of wheatfield, were also in plain
view of the position thus taken, and also in direct line of the enemy's fire from Devil's
Den. I am positive that at this time the Eleventh Regiment, containing about four hundred
men and officers, was the only infantry on this part of Little Round Top. This regiment
was all of the Third Brigade that engaged in the action from Little Round Top. The other
regiments, viz: Twelfth, Fifth and Tenth regiments having been sent to Big Round Top, as
already stated.
When the regiments reached the
position vacated by the Twelfth, Colonel Jackson ordered a halt and directed the men to
lie down, and further ordered the men not to fire under any circumstances until the
command to open fire should be given by him. This order was obeyed to the letter, although
the regiment suffered severely from the enemy's fire, directed at it from Devil's Den, yet
the men bore it with quiet bravery, and with a firm determination to hold the hill in the
face of all obstacles and all dangers.
Matters looked gloomy at 6 o'clock or
thereabouts on that hot afternoon. of July 2, the enemy driving our forces in our front, a
reported taking by them of Big Round Top.
The peach orchard in, possession of
the enemy, the wheatfield and the woods around it and in view of the Devil's Den all in
their possession and all completely filled with their troops—infantry and artillery,
and the valley in front and right and left-front of Little Round Top filled with smoke,
hiding from the view of the few anxious watchers on Little Round Top, the struggling,
suffering and dying combatants below in the valley of the shadow of death.
The enemy's hosts seemed innumerable
and unconquerable, and what of the little band of infantry and artillery on Little Round
Top? They rested in quietness awaiting the order they knew must soon come; removing their
dead and wounded quietly and in silence, and finally the regulars were driven past the
base of the hill, but what wonderful bravery did they
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at Gettysburg. 285
display!
retreat whilst loading—about-face and deliver a fire in the face of the enemy. This
was grand and inspiring; finally two men came up the hill—Colonel Jackson asked,
"How many of our people are down there?'' They replied, "not one. Those people
you see coming up the hill are 'Johnnies.'" Colonel Jackson then gave the order
"Fire." It was obeyed and some three or four rounds were fired when Colonel
Jackson gave the order, "Fix bayonets—charge," etc. This order was obeyed.
Allow me to remark just here—that I was near Colonel Jackson when he received the
order to hold the hill at all hazards. I was also near him when he gave the order to fix
bayonets and charge. I would certainly have seen any officer giving him the order, and as
certainly have heard such an order if it had been given to him by any one. There were no
orders given him and therefore am I positive in my belief, and deliberate in my statement,
when I say, that Colonel Jackson alone determined the action of his regiment, and of his
own motion and as the only possible way to hold that hill until reinforcements could be
got up, gave his order to fix bayonets and charge. The charge was made down the hill
through the smoke across the valley of death to the fence at the wheatfield and in front
of woods to the right of the road and to the right of the wheatfield. After our regiment
reached this position, hearing cheering in our rear, I turned, looked back, and the
Bucktails, that grandest of regiments, composed of men who were bravest among the brave,
were coming on a double-quick. With them came the First, Second and Sixth regiments, the
First Brigade of our division, and as they came up they formed line of battle on the right
and left of our regiment as follows: The Bucktails and First regiments on our left
covering the wheatfield and extending over towards Devil's Den, the Sixth and Second
regiments on our right extending along the stone fence in front of woods on our right.
(This is as nearly as I can fix the formation of First Brigade and our regiment; our
regiment being, as nearly as I can remember, in the center of this line of battle.)
General Crawford, division commander, then rode up and speaking to Colonel Jackson said,
"Colonel Jackson, your regiment is worth its weight in gold, worth its weight in
gold, sir." This the general repeated three or four times. This was a compliment and
all felt proud and were glad we were there.
The line of battle remained in same
position along the stone fence until the afternoon of 3d of July, when, after the repulse
of Pickett's charge, General Meade came over to Little Round Top and ordered our line to
go over and see how many people the enemy had in the woods at the head of the wheatfield.
The enemy had a battery beyond the woods and when we moved over the stone fence into the
woods this battery opened a close and galling fire. The Sixth Regiment was deployed as
skirmishers with orders to silence that battery, and the line of battle, consisting of
Second, Eleventh, Bucktails and First regiments, moved diagonally across the wheatfield
and just entered the woods beyond it, when the order was given to open fire. This was
done, and after a few volleys (the Sixth having in the meantime silenced the battery)
Colonel McCandIess commanding the First Brigade gave the order "by the rear rank
right-about face, right-turn, march." This movement when completed threw us on
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Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
the enemy's right flank, and we drove them in great disorder. The prisoners stated they had six thousand men in their line, whilst we had scarcely fifteen hundred men. On we went and finally the recall was sounded, a mistake as we afterwards learned, as no order of that kind was either given or thought of. The fruit of this day's movement was all of the enemy's dead on that part of the field, about six thousand stand of arms and a number of prisoners. We lay in the edge of the woods the night of the 3d. The enemy's dead in the field were just at edge of woods, on the Rose farm. I do not know exactly the point we reached this evening before the mistake was made, withdrawing us from the position we had won, but in my opinion it was considerably in advance of the Rose farm. During the night of the 3d a cold rain set in and on the morning of the 4th of July, 1863, we were withdrawn from our position near Rose's house to the position at the stone fence front of wheatfield and woods occupied by us prior to our charge on 3d. Shortly after being so withdrawn ammunition was issued and we were informed that there would be a general advance made by the whole army, but the rain was falling, literally in sheets of water, and we were afterwards told that the advance had been abandoned by reason of the severity of the rain, and so ended the battle of Gettysburg, so far as our regiment was concerned. In view of the statements heretofore given I feel that I can safely assert:
First. That Colonel Jackson
with his regiment, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves, and the artillery held that part of
Little Round Top on the afternoon of the 2d of July, 1863, at the supreme crisis of the
battle.
Second. That Colonel Jackson
assumed all the responsibility of issuing the order to his regiment and did make the
charge successfully, driving back the enemy which had defeated the Third Army Corps and
two divisions and one brigade (the First and Second divisions, Second Brigade Third
Division) of the Fifth Army Corps, and this with a force of less than four hundred men.
Third. That the First Brigade
of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps did not reach the position in the front of the
wheatfield and woods until some time after it had been occupied by the Eleventh Regiment
under command of Colonel Jackson.
Fourth. General Crawford was
not seen by our regiment until after the First Brigade had come up and formed line of
battle on the right and left of the Eleventh Regiment in the manner of formation
heretofore given.
Fifth. And that when General
Crawford did join the line of battle, he gave the credit for leading the charge to the
Eleventh Regiment, and did compliment Colonel Jackson as above stated on the wonderful
results attained by the charge made by his regiment under his orders.
Sixth. At that time no man dreamed that the action of the Eleventh in leading the charge on that day and saving the day to the Union army would ever be belittled or ignored, both of which has been done.
The above hasty and very brief
statement has been written with a view of comparing notes and arranging the evidence
relative to the duty performed by the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps at
the battle of Gettysburg—specially so as to the evening of July 2, 1863—and is
written solely with a view to obtain justice for a regiment that always
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at Gettysburg. 287
Performed
its duty, whether in camp, on the march, or on the field of battle. Other regiments were as good, but none better; and
now when more than a quarter of a century has elapsed since the organization of the
regiment, it is meet and proper that the survivors should gather the testimony and show
that this regiment did its duty. Otherwise
history will record that---it was organized, mustered into service, served three years and
was mustered out. This won’t do--- we must brighten our memories, refer to our
diaries, look up and write up our history, and demand that the truth be told of us and
justice be done to our dead and to the survivors if the regiment.
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