Accurate Route of 28th VA during picketts charge?

[trock]

I am trying to do some research on a story i read about the 28th VA and need to find accurate maps from the jump off location over to the codori farm and beyond to the wall

specifically if they cam south of, thru, or north of the codori farm

i have seen numerous maps for picketts charge but almost none of them match each other and i am sure they are just a general route

do any of you recommend a certain map of picketts charge that is considered the true route of the units?

i ask because i am fascinated by the story of Capt Michael Spessard of the 28th, who made the charge along with his son, Hezekiah, who was mortally wounded "Shortly after the unit marched north of the codori farm and cleared the family orchard"

Maj Spessard paused and knelt by his dying son, held him, left his canteen and moved on again with the charge, reaching the stone wall until being forced to retreat.

i am trying to find where the codori family orchard was, and again, the accurate route of the 28th.

i find the story very sad and compelling, especially as a father of 2 boys. what a different time that was.

i also have 2 dates of Hezekiahs death, the 3rd and the 19th so am trying to find out any more info on that if at all possible

couple of links to this story and the very little info left us

http://books.google.com/books?id=wsu...ard%22&f=false

and a picture of maj Spessard

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....en/page010.jpg

the very interesting part of this is i have actually made contact with the gr gr gr granddaughter of Maj Spessard who has been very nice about sharing info on the family.

so i wanted to try and really locate the position of the 28th, the orchard and locate as close as possible where this may have occurred

thanks for any info on a map and route, or a great book with accurate info

by the way, does anyone know if there is a monument to the 28th at Gettysburg at the jump off point for the charge?

sorry this is so long

Tim

[ole]

Not too long TRock. Someone will know. Someone always knows.

Ole

[K Hale]

Virtualgettysburg.com doesn't list a 28th Virginia monument at Gettysburg.

[trock]

cool

thanks all, i know this is a little convoluted and certainly a very small part of the battle but i now find these personal stories very compelling.

this is going to be a heck of a search

thanks!

tim

[larry_cockerham]

I am trying to do some research on a story i read about the 28th VA and need to find accurate maps from the jump off location over to the codori farm and beyond to the wall

specifically if they cam south of, thru, or north of the codori farm

i have seen numerous maps for picketts charge but almost none of them match each other and i am sure they are just a general route

do any of you recommend a certain map of picketts charge that is considered the true route of the units?

i ask because i am fascinated by the story of Capt Michael Spessard of the 28th, who made the charge along with his son, Hezekiah, who was mortally wounded "Shortly after the unit marched north of the codori farm and cleared the family orchard"

Maj Spessard paused and knelt by his dying son, held him, left his canteen and moved on again with the charge, reaching the stone wall until being forced to retreat.

i am trying to find where the codori family orchard was, and again, the accurate route of the 28th.

i find the story very sad and compelling, especially as a father of 2 boys. what a different time that was.

i also have 2 dates of Hezekiahs death, the 3rd and the 19th so am trying to find out any more info on that if at all possible

couple of links to this story and the very little info left us

http://books.google.com/books?id=wsu...ard%22&f=false

and a picture of maj Spessard

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....en/page010.jpg

the very interesting part of this is i have actually made contact with the gr gr gr granddaughter of Maj Spessard who has been very nice about sharing info on the family.

so i wanted to try and really locate the position of the 28th, the orchard and locate as close as possible where this may have occurred

thanks for any info on a map and route, or a great book with accurate info

by the way, does anyone know if there is a monument to the 28th at Gettysburg at the jump off point for the charge?

sorry this is so long

Tim

I bought a set of four very detailed maps of the battlefield that were produced in 1998 by Thomas A. Desjardin, a project of the Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg. PO Box 4622 Gettysburg, PA 17325 These are probably the best composite maps by far and show the base map which has the house of Nicholas Codori (Tenant) There are some orchards shown nearby. I can't find my July 2 map at the moment which will help with your tracing their path. On July 3 the 28th VA is shown second from the left in a line of Virginia regiments under Garnett (south to north = 8VA 18VA 19VA 28VA 56VA. This would have been their position just to the rear (west) of the cannonade and to the west of Emittsburg Road that ran by the Codori house. Judging from the July 3 map, the 28th VA would have crossed the road perhaps 1,000 feet south of the Codori house. Hope this helps. You should be able to locate these maps from the Gettsyburg website. They cost me about $10 a few years ago.

[trock]

wow

thanks a ton for that info. a bunch of the generic maps i have seen had them everywhere from south of the farm, to quite a bit north of it. i have seen recent pics of the codori farm and it does appear that whats left of an orchard is directly north of the house, right out of the yard.

my thinking is they came across to the road at a slight angle NE, came to the farm, crossed the road, and then actually turned north towards the angle

so my best guess at this time is the small remaining orchard right by the house but north of it is around where this may have occurred

i will check out and see if i can find those maps to

thanks!

tim

[M E Wolf]

Chancellorsville And Gettysburg
Appendix B.--Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, June 1, 1863.
[excerpt]
PICKETT'S DIVISION.
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE E. PICKETT COMMANDING.
Garnett's Brigade.--Brigadier-General R. B. GARNETT Commanding. 8th Virginia Regiment, Colonel Eppa Hunton; 18th Virginia Regiment, Colonel R. E. Withers; 19th Virginia Regiment. Colonel Henry Gantt; 28th Virginia Regiment, Colonel R. C. Allen; 56th Virginia Regiment, Colonel W. D. Stuart.
Armistead's Brigade.--Brigadier-General L. A. ARMISTEAD Commanding. 9th Virginia Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel J. S. Gilliam; 14th Virginia Regiment. Colonel J. G. Hodges' 38th Virginia Regiment, Colonel E. C. Edmonds; 53d Virginia Regiment, Colonel John Grammer; 57th Virginia Regiment, Colonel J. B. Magruder.
Kemper's Brigade--Brigadier-General J. L. KEMPER Commanding. 1st Virginia Regiment. Colonel Lewis B. Williams, Jr.; 3d Virginia Regiment, Colonel Joseph Mayo, Jr.; 7th Virginia Regiment, Colonel W. T. Patton; 11th Virginia Regiment, Colonel David Funston; 24th Virginia Regiment, Colonel W. R. Terry.
Toombs's Brigade--Brigadier-General R. TOOMBS Commanding. 2d Georgia Regiment, Colonel E. M. Butt; 15th Georgia Regiment, Colonel E. M. DuBose; 17th Georgia Regiment, Colonel W. G. Hodges; 20th Georgia Regiment, Colonel J. B, Cummings.
Corse's Brigade--Brigadier-General M. D. CORSE Commanding. 15th Virginia Regiment. Colonel T. P. August: 17th Virginia Regiment. Colonel Morton Marye; 30th Virginia Regiment, Colonel A. T. Harrison; 32d Virginia Regiment, Colonel E. B. Montague.
----------------------------------------------
The Life and Campaigns of Major-General J.E.B. Stuart
Roll Of The Second Regiment Virginia Cavalry.
[excerpt]
BRECKINRIDGE, P. GILMER, Captain in 28th Virginia Infantry until reorganization; joined his younger brother's company a private; promoted to Color Bearer; for gallantry assigned to command Co. B; killed at Fort Kennon on May 24, 1864, having mounted the parapet when he fell.
----------------------------------------------
Southern Historical Society Papers
Vol. VI. Richmond, Va., July, 1878. No.1
Relative Numbers at Gettysburg.
[excerpt]
PICKETT'S DIVISION -- Major General George E. Pickett -- October 10th, 1862 (date of rank).
Garnett's Brigade Brigadier General R.B. Garnett, November 14, 1861. 8th Virginia Regiment 18th Virginia Regiment 19th Virginia Regiment 28th Virginia Regiment 56th Virginia Regiment Afterwards Brigadier General Eppa Hunton.
Armistead's Brigade Brigadier General L.A. Armistead, April 1st, 1862. 9th Virginia Regiment 14th Virginia Regiment 38th Virginia Regiment 53d Virginia Regiment 57th Virginia Regiment Afterwards Brigadier General Seth M. Barton.
Kemper's Brigade Brigadier General J.L. Kemper, June 3, 1862. 1st Virginia Regiment 3d Virginia Regiment 7th Virginia Regiment 11th Virginia Regiment 24th Virginia Regiment Afterwards Brigadier General Wm. R. Terry.
Jenkins' Brigade Brigadier General M. Jenkins, July 22, 1862. 1st South Carolina Regiment{3} 5th South Carolina Regiment{3} 6th South Carolina Regiment{3} 2d South Carolina Rifles{3} Hampton's South Carolina Legion{3} Not at Gettysburg. Transferred to Hood's division October, 1863.
Corse's Brigade Brigadier General M.D. Corse, November 1, 1862. 15th Virginia Regiment{1} 17th Virginia Regiment{1} 29th Virginia Regiment{1} 30th Virginia Regiment{1} 32d Virginia Regiment{1} Not at Gettysburg.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. XXV. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1897.
Retreat From Richmond.
From the Richmond, Va., Dispatch, May 2. 1897.]
Colonel Crutchfield and the "Artillery Brigade." (*)
INTERESTING REMlNISCENCES.
A Forced March 'Mid Cold and Rain. Fight at Sailor's Creek.
RICHMOND, VA., April 27, 1897.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Being on a visit to Richmond from my home in St. Louis, I noticed in your paper of the 25th instant, a letter from Colonel R. T. W. Duke, giving some incidents of the retreat from Richmond, and the fight at Sailor's Creek. This has put me in a reminiscent mood, and I would like to give, for your Confederate column, some of my recollections of those stirring times, more especially of the retreat from Richmond, and the participation of my command in the battle of Sailor's Creek.
[excerpt]
TO POINT LOOKOUT.
The non-commissioned officers and men were mostly taken to Point Lookout, while almost all of the officers were eventually taken to Johnson's Island, in Lake Erie. We took a boat at City Point, and when we touched at Fortress Monroe, on the morning of April 15th, learned that President Lincoln had been assassinated the night before. We were taken to Baltimore and from there to Washington. The city was draped in mourning. The excitement was intense and we had to be marched through the city to the old Capitol prison under a double guard, to protect us from a threatened mob. After remaining in the old Capitol about two weeks we were taken to Johnson's Island, where I remained until June 18, 1865, when I was released, our cause being then a "Lost Cause." Arrived in Richmond June 25th.
[excerpt]
However, this dispatch goes to prove that the fight was no child's play. He then gives "a list of some of the rebel officers captured on the 6th instant," as follows:

Lieutenant-General Ewell, General Corse, General Barton, General Hunton, General J.P. Semmes, General Du Bose, General Custis Lee, General Kershaw and staff,

[excerpt]
Captain H. Nelson, 28th Virginia; Lieutenant C. K. Nelson, 28th Virginia; Lieutenant J. B. Leftwich, 28th Virginia;
[excerpt]
The above list will doubtless be of interest to old soldiers who may chance to see it.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS BALLARD BLAKE,
Late Captain Company E, 10th Va. Battalion Artillery.

[M E Wolf]

Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. XXXV. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1907
Dedication Of A Bronze Tablet In Honor Of Botetourt Battery
n Vicksburg National Park, November 23, 1907
With the Ceremonies Incident, including the Graphic Historical
Address of Miss MARY JOHNSTON.
A bronze tablet in honor of the Botetourt Artillery, which served through the siege of Vicksburg, was dedicated in the Vicksburg National Military Park, November 23, 1907. It was the first Confederate dedication since the establishment of the park. Virginia had but one command at the battle-field in 1863.
There are now only 16 surviving members of the Botetourt Artillery, and several of them were present.
The ceremony was held at night, in the First Baptist Church, and despite inclement weather the edifice was filled.
[excerpt]
On the sixteenth the Mountain Rifles reported at Camp Davis, in Lynchburg, and were mustered in as Company H, 28th Virginia Infantry, Cocke's Brigade. A fortnight's drill, and they marched into Camp Pickens, near Manassas Station. There was battle in the air. The Federal troops were on Virginia soil, possessors of Arlington Heights and Alexandria. Ten thousand Confederates were massing to meet and drive them back. Johnston and Beauregard took command, and Lee came for several days to look things over. Day and night the men were at work, throwing up breastworks. There was poor water, and there was disease, but every soldier was in spirits, and anxious for the fight.
They had what they wanted. McDowell came to Bull Run. Johnston and Beauregard waited for him there, and in the first battle of Manassas, Company H, 28th Virginia, had its baptism of blood and fire. It bivouacked in the wood before Bali's Ford on the 17th of July, and it remained, uncovered, in position until after the battle, on Sunday, July 21st. Its part was to hold this ford, and also the approaches to the Island Ford, and it did its part. "the courage, energy and obedience of the Twenty-eighth," say the reports. All day the battle raged, and it was a battle of two to one. But Jackson stood like a stone wall, and Lee's men listened to their leader, and the 2nd and 11th Mississippi did gallantly, and all the troops as well, and victory was to the South, and Manassas her first trophy of war.
Manassas was won. For the balance of the summer Company H, 28th Virginia, rested on its laurels, observed the enemy, drilled unremittingly, and did heavy picket duty at Munson's and Mason's Hill. In May it had volunteered for the very short time necessary to drive the North from the South; in the autumn it volunteered anew, "for the war." About this time also, it fell in love with the artillery. Upon recommendations of the generals in command, Captain Anderson obtained an order from the War Department, authorizing him to change his arm of the service from infantry to artillery. The Mountain Rifles, now Anderson's Battery, went home on furlough for Christmas.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Mason Hill is located on Columbia Pike, not far from Old Columbia Pike; on Columbia Pike. Mason District-Fairfax County Police Station is located on the vicinity of Mason Hill.

Munson Hill, is the current location of an Islamic temple. It is on Rt. 7 (Leesburg Pike,) as it approaches "Seven Corners." - West of Columbia Pike's intersection of Bailey's Crossroads; and "East" of Fort Buffallo (Falls Church).Libraries that have the illustrations and plates that go with the Official Record of the Rebellion; will have these maps/plates available.
---------------------------------------------------------
he Virginia Campaign Of '64 And '65
Appendix C.--Organization Of The Army Of Northern Virginia, Commanded By General Robert E. Lee, January 31, 1864.
[excerpt]
Hunton's Brigade.
Brig.-Gen. EPPA HUNTON.
8th Virginia, Col. N. Berkeley.
18th Virginia, Col. H. A. Carrington.
19th Virginia, Col. Henry Gantt.
28th Virginia, Col. William Watts.
56th Virginia, Col. P. P. Slaughter.
============================================
Best map of Gettysburg and position of Union & Confederate forces is in the book "Great Maps of the Civil War - A Museum in a book" by William J. Miller. It is also signed off by General Meade as being accurate. However, to see it - clearly, I highly recommend the most powerful magnifying glass you can buy. (Due to being reduced to book size from a large panarama map).
[[I got it at the gift shop at Manassass/Bull Run Battlefield]]

[M E Wolf]

Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. XXXVII. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1909.
General Armistead's Portrait Presented.
An Address Delivered Before R. E. Lee Camp No. 1, C. V., Richmond, Va., January 29, 1909.
By Rev. JAMES E. POINDEXTER, Late Captain in 38th Virginia Regiment, Armistead's Brigade, Pickett's Division.
Mr. Commander and Comrades:
It was my wish that this address should be made by Col. Rawley W. Martin, of Lynchburg, who led the Fifty-third Virginia in Pickett's charge, and fell by the side of Armistead on Cemetery Ridge. But this could not be, and so I come to take his place. For the task assigned me I feel myself but poorly equipped. Unlike Col. Martin, I followed our old Commander, as St. Peter followed the Master, "afar off." It is, I may say, with unfeigned diffidence that I venture to speak of war to the veteran soldiers who are here to-night.
On me, however, through your kindness, is this honor conferred, that I should present to the Camp the portrait of Lewis A. Armistead. I thank you for it with all my heart.
[excerpt]
That opportunity came at Gettysburg. Of the charge made by Pettigrew and Pickett on Cemetery Ridge, I do not propose to speak at length. On the controversies which have raged around it, I shall not touch. But in order to appreciate the heroism of Armistead we must picture in few words the part played by Pickett's Division.
During the artillery duel which preceded the charge we lay quiet and (some of us) hugged the ground. When the cannonade subsided we fell in at the word of command and moved in line of battle over the wooded ridge in front, past our artillery, and down the slope to the edge of the woods. Here, for the first time, we caught sight of the field of battle. A thousand yards away lay Cemetery Ridge, curving around on the left to Culp's Hill, and off to our right stood Round-Top and little Round-Top, crowned with artillery. Beyond that ridge and on its crest lay eighty thousand men, every breastwork finished, every reserve posted, every gun in position, awaiting our assault. Between us and Cemetery Ridge was a field as open as this floor, not a tree, not a stone to shelter one man from the storm of battle. The scene which met the eyes of Armistead's men as we descended the
slope was splendid. Before us, one hundred and fifty yards away, moving on like waves of the sea, marched Garnett and Kemper, their battle-flags flashing in the sunlight. The regiments of Armistead, marching in perfect order, with disciplined tread, followed where they led.
Soon the heavy guns on Round-Top were trained upon us, and howling shells burst around us or crashed through our ranks. The further we advanced the more tremendous was the cannonade. Our own artillery on the heights behind thundered over our heads at the enemy's guns on Cemetery Ridge. And so we marched "vaulted with fire."
As we crossed the plain beyond the Codori house, we halted at the word of command, moved by the left flanks till opposite the point we aimed to strike, then in line of battle, the guns on Cemetery Ridge blazing in our faces, and every regiment of Armistead's brigade dressed on its colors as straight as the line of yonder door.
The gallant men who met our onset thrilled with emotions of fear and admiration—they tell it themselves—at the "grandeur" of the scene, at the "magnificence" of our advance. To the Count de Paris, as he watched the Confederate column bearing down all opposition, buffeting with unshaken courage the fierce volleys that met it, "it seemed," he says, "to be driven by an irresistible force."
Meanwhile the fire of the enemy grew ever more violent, ever more destructive. The cannon on Round-Top "volleyed and thundered." From Cemetery Ridge grapeshot and canister tore through our ranks. We marched, says Longstreet, "through a fearful fire from the batteries in front and from Round-Top." "The slaughter," he says, "was terrible, the enfilade fire from batteries on Round-Top very destructive." But worse remained behind. From the stone wall which sheltered their ranks the hostile infantry "poured down," as Longstreet says, "a terrific fire." The hiss of bullets was incessant. Men fell at every step; they fell, I thought, like grass before the scythe.
Such were the scenes which some of us witnessed that day. The severity of our loss attests how deadly were the perils through which we passed. Of three Brigadiers, two were buried on the fields and one left weltering in his blood. Of the fifteen men who led the regiments of Pickett not one escaped. Seven were disabled, some with ghastly wounds, and eight of them were slain outright. Of all the field officers in the whole division only two remained unhurt. "It was a miracle," says the Count de Paris, "to see them safe and sound."
And now, bearing these things firmly in mind, let us follow Armistead. "A short time," says Col. Martin, "before the advance was ordered, the General, as his custom was, marched up and down in front of his troops, encouraging them in every way," for the shock of arms so soon to follow. "Remember, men, what you are fighting for. Remember your homes and your firesides, your mothers and wives and sisters and your sweethearts."
When the signal guns were fired, he promptly called "attention," and instantly every man was on his feet. Coming then right to the front of the Fifty-third Virginia, which was that day the battalion of direction, he said to Color-Sergeant Blackburn; "Sergeant, are you going to plant those colors on the enemy's works over yonder ? .... Yes, General," was the firm reply, "if mortal man can do it, I will." Then the chief exhorted his men to follow their colors and to remember the brave words of Sergeant Blackburn, and giving the command, "Battalion, forward; guide-centre, march," he placed himself in front of the Fifty-third Virginia, and, marching on foot, twenty yards ahead of his brigade, watched and directed our advance. It was not long before the battle was raging in all its fury.
]]]]]The brigades of Garnett and Kemper were in our front, and as we drew near the advance lines Kemper rode back to Armistead, who marched on foot, and said: "Armistead, hurry up; I am going to charge those heights and carry them, and I want you to support me." "I'll do it," he replied. Then, glorying in the conduct of his men, he said to Kemper: "Look at my line; it never looked better on dress parade."
And now came the supreme test. He quietly gave the order, "Colonel, double-quick." And putting his black felt hat on the point of his sword, he led the advance, all the time in front of his line of battle, marching straight ahead through a hail of bullets, "the very embodiment of a heroic commander." The sword pierced through the hat, and more than once it slipped down to the hilt, and we saw above it the naked steel. As often as the hat slipped down the old hero would hoist it again to the sword's point. And so, borne aloft with matchless courage, it caught the eye, it nerved the hearts of his devoted men, a standard as glorious, as worthy to be sung, as the plume that floated at Ivry above the helmet of Navarre.
]]]]]And now the battle raged with redoubled fury. "As we got within forty yards of the stone wall," says Lieutenant Whitehead, "came all along the line the order of charge, and charge we did. From behind the fence the Yankee infantry rose and poured into our ranks a murderous fire. Garnett's brigade and Kemper's had almost entirely disappeared; their brave commanders, their gallant officers, with hundreds of the rank and file, were stretched on the field, and it remained for Armistead's men to finish the work. After a desperate fight the Yankees began to give way; and as they fell back our men rushed forward to the stone wall with unfaltering steps, Armistead still leading the charge."
The advance line halted here, but only for an instant. The veteran Armistead took in with the eye of a trained soldier the whole situation, and saw in a flash that to halt there meant ruin and defeat. Just ahead, bristling with cannon, was Cemetery Ridge. Just beyond it Hancock, "a foeman worthy of his steel," was hurrying up his heavy reserves. On the right and on the left the enemy's lines were still intact. On both flanks fierce assaults would soon be made on Pickett's men. "Colonel," said Armistead to the commanding officer of the Fifty-third, "we cannot stay here."
A word to Martin was enough. "Forward with the colors," he cried, and over the wall they went, Armistead and Martin; and with them went a gallant band resolved that day to conquer or die. The flag of the Fifty-third regiment, borne by Lieutenant Carter, flashed like a meteor in the van. The indomitable Armistead, his hat on the point of his sword, towered before them like a pillar of fire. "Follow me, boys; give them the cold steel." A hundred and fifty undaunted men followed their chief.
]]]]They left behind them the stone wall. They passed the earth works. They seized the cannon that, double shotted at ten yards distance, had torn our ranks with canister. Victory seemed within their grasp. But alas! the support they looked for never came. In the nick of time Hancock's reserves were hurried to the front. They came on, he says, "four lines deep," and firing: at close range, poured into the little band that followed Armistead a destructive volley. In that "hell of fire," as Bilharz says, "nothing could live." The intrepid Martin fell maimed for life. Forty-two of his brave Virginians lay dead around him. And there, in the Bloody Angle, our heroic chief, grasping a captured cannon to turn it on the foe, fell amongst his devoted men, pierced with mortal wounds, and sealing with his heart's blood the high-water mark of the Confederate cause."
]]]]As they bore him to the rear they met the gallant Hancock hurrying to the front. (*) Each recognized the other. They had been comrades in the old army. And learning who he was, Hancock dismounted, and grasping Armistead's hand, told him with a soldier's sympathy, how sorry he was to see him wounded, and promised to send mementoes and messages to his loved ones in Virginia, and tried to cheer him with the hope that his wounds would not be mortal, as our hero said. But Armistead was right. He knew that death was near at hand.
Carried from the field a prisoner, he lingered through the 4th of July and died on the 5th, "leaving," says Martin, "an example of patriotic ardor, of heroism and devotion to duty which ought to be handed down through the ages."
When his kinsmen heard of his glorious death they came and took his body, took all that was mortal of him, down to Baltimore, and with reverent hands laid him to rest amongst his own people, in the church-yard of old St. Paul's, the hero of Gettysburg besides the hero of Fort McHenry. A granite obelisk marks the spot where he fell on Cemetery Ridge. The sword which dropped from his dying grasp you may see it now in the Confederate Museum.
[end of excerpt]
-------------------------------------------------------------------

[M E Wolf]

Confederate Military History, Vol. 3
APPENDIX.
Twenty-eighth Artillery battalion: Tabb, William B., major. Twenty-eighth Infantry regiment: Allen, Robert C., major, colonel; Paul, Samuel B., lieutenant-colonel; Preston, Robert T., colonel; Spessard, Michael P., major; Watts, William, major, lieuten-ant-colonel, colonel; Wingfield, William L., lieutenant-colonel; Wilson, Nathaniel C., major.
================================================== =============
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXVII/2 [S# 44]
JUNE 3-AUGUST 1, 1863.--The Gettysburg Campaign.
No. 441.--Report of Maj. Charles S. Peyton, Nineteenth Virginia Infantry, commanding Garnett's brigade, Pickett's division.
CAMP NEAR WILLIAMSPORT, MD., July 9, 1863.
MAJOR: In compliance with instructions from division headquarters, I have the honor to report the part taken by this brigade in the late battle near Gettysburg, Pa., July 3.

Notwithstanding the long and severe marches made by the troops of this brigade, they reached the field about 9 a.m.. in high spirits and in good condition. At about 12 m. we were ordered to take position behind the crest of the hill on which the artillery, under Colonel [E. Porter] Alexander, was planted, where we lay during a most terrific cannonading, which opened at 1.30 p.m., and was kept up without intermission for one hour.

During the shelling, we lost about 20 killed and wounded. Among the killed was Lieutenant-Colonel [John T.] Ellis, of the Nineteenth Virginia, whose bravery as a soldier, and his innocence, purity, and integrity as a Christian, have not only elicited the admiration of his own command, but endeared him to all who knew him.

At 2.30 p.m., the artillery fire having to some extent abated, the «25 R R--VOL XXVII, PT II» order to advance was given, first by Major-General Pickett in person, and repeated by General Garnett with promptness, apparent cheerfulness, and alacrity. The brigade moved forward at quick time. The ground was open, but little broken, and from 800 to 1,000 yards from the crest whence we started to the enemy's line. The brigade moved in good order, keeping up its line almost perfectly, notwithstanding it had to climb three high post and rail fences, behind the last of which the enemy's skirmishers were first met and immediately driven in. Moving on, we soon met the advance line of the enemy, lying concealed in the grass on the slope, about 100 yards in front of his second line, which consisted of a stone wall about breast-high, running nearly parallel to and about 30 paces from the crest of the hill, which was lined with their artillery.

The first line referred to above, after offering some resistance, was completely routed, and driven in confusion back to the stone wall. Here we captured some prisoners, which were ordered to the rear without a guard. Having routed the enemy here, General Garnett ordered the brigade forward, which it promptly obeyed, loading and firing as it advanced.

Up to this time we had suffered but little from the enemy's batteries, which apparently had been much crippled previous to our advance, with the exception of one posted on the mountain, about 1 mile to our right, which enfiladed nearly our entire line with fearful effect, sometimes as many as 10 men being killed and wounded by the bursting of a single shell. From the point it had first routed the enemy, the brigade moved rapidly forward toward the stone wall, under a galling fire both from artillery and infantry, the artillery using grape and canister. We were now within about 75 paces of the wall, unsupported on the right and left, General Kemper being some 50 or 60 yards behind and to the right, and General Armistead coming up in our rear.

General Kemper's line was discovered to be lapping on ours, when, deeming it advisable to have the line extended on the right to prevent being flanked, a staff officer rode back to the general to request him to incline to the right. General Kemper not being present (perhaps wounded at the time), Captain [W. T.] Fry, of his staff, immediately began his exertions to carry out the request, but, in consequence of the eagerness of the men in pressing forward, it was impossible to have the order carried out.

Our line, much shattered, still kept up the advance until within about 20 paces of the wall, when, for a moment, it recoiled under the terrific fire that poured into our ranks both from their batteries and from their sheltered infantry. At this moment, General Kemper came up on the right and General Armistead in rear, when the three lines, joining in concert, rushed forward with unyielding determination and an apparent spirit of laudable rivalry to plant the Southern banner on the walls of the enemy. His strongest and last line was instantly gained; the Confederate battle-flag waved over his defenses, and the fighting over the wall became hand to hand, and of the most desperate character; but more than half having already fallen, our line was found too weak to rout the enemy. We hoped for a support on the left (which had started simultaneously with ourselves), out hoped in vain. Yet a small remnant remained in desperate struggle, receiving a fire in front, on the right, and on the left, many even climbing over the wall, and fighting the enemy in his own trenches until entirely surrounded; and those who were not killed or wounded were captured, with the exception of about 300 who came off slowly, but greatly scattered, the identity of every regiment being entirely lost, and every regimental commander killed or wounded.

The brigade went into action with 1,287 men and about 140 officers, as shown by the report of the previous evening, and sustained a loss, as the list of casualties will show, of 941 killed, wounded, and missing, and it is feared, from all the information received, that the majority (those reported missing) are either killed or wounded.

It is needless, perhaps, to speak of conspicuous gallantry where all behaved so well. Each and every regimental commander displayed a cool bravery and daring that not only encouraged their own commands, but won the highest admiration from all those who saw them. They led their regiments in the fight, and showed, by their conduct, that they only desired their men to follow where they were willing to lead. But of our cool, gallant, noble brigade commander it may not be out of place to speak. Never had the brigade been better handled, and never has it done better service in the field of battle. There was scarcely an officer or man in the command whose attention was not attracted by the cool and handsome bearing of General Garnett, who, totally devoid of excitement or rashness, rode immediately in rear of his advancing line, endeavoring by his personal efforts, and by the aid of his staff, to keep his line well closed and dressed. He was shot from his horse while near the center of the brigade, within about 25 paces of the stone wall. This gallant officer was too well known to need further mention.

Captain [C. F.] Linthicum, assistant adjutant-general, Lieutenant [John S.] Jones, aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant Harrison, acting aide-de-camp, did their whole duty, and won the admiration of the entire command by their gallant bearing on the field while carrying orders from one portion of the line to the other, where it seemed almost impossible for any one to escape.

The conduct of Captain [Michael P.] Spessard, of the Twenty-eighth Virginia, was particularly conspicuous. His son fell, mortally wounded, at his side; he stopped but for a moment to look on his dying son, gave him his canteen of water, and pressed on, with his company, to the wall, which he climbed, and fought the enemy with his sword in their own trenches until his sword was wrested from his hands by two Yankees; he finally made his escape in safety.

In making the above report, I have endeavored to be as accurate as possible, but have had to rely mainly for information on others, whose position gave them better opportunity for witnessing the conduct of the entire brigade than I could have, being with, and paying my attention to, my own regiment.

I am, major, with great respect, your obedient servant,
[CHAS. S. PEYTON,]
Major, Commanding.
Maj. C. PICKETT,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Pickett's Division.

========================
Warfield and Rose houses are as close of an area of where the route started after clearing the woods and form into their battalions. I don't see the Codori house listed at all.

General Pickett's Division with Garnett, Armistead and Kemper are headquartered near Sam. Pitzer's grove of trees a road separates Pickett's HQ with the three Generals encampment near "Will____" (cuts off)[Willoughby's Run] unmarked road towards Round Tops, Cemetery Hill, etc.

Plate 43#1 (OR-Atlas) shows; Codori's really close to Emmittsburg Road; West side of it; Weikert House South-east' South of Cemetery Hill; North of Peach Orchard, which has an intersecting road with Emmittsburg and Tawneytown Rds.; front of "Hill's Corps" for July 2nd, 1863; L. Howell Brown 1st Lt. Engineers CSA --goes straight East - to match up with the Deihl house (in Union lines, crossing Rock Creek - Feeder spring branching West as a natual compass).
Sixth Corps would be at the 1 o'clock position, using Gettysburg Town as 12 o'clock position which is sitting 'south' of Cemetery Hill.

Bachelder Map; shows the 28th Virginia smack dab in front of Union General Hays; 56th following behind. General Garnett killed to the 28th's right (our left), one rank behind. (Inside cover, back cover of "Great Maps of the Civil War-A museum in a book" [[Note the 28th is right on the 'spine' of the book and where the pages join.']]

The 28th was in front of General Hunt's Artillery; in front of Arnold's Guns; Cushing was south of Arnold (Arnold's left) and Cushing fired straight into the 8th. (The degree of the "oblique" has a lot to do with the positions also)

[M E Wolf]

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLVI/1 [S# 95]
MARCH 29-APRIL 9, 1865.--The Appomattox (Virginia) Campaign.
No. 268.--Organization of the C. S. Forces, commanded by General Robert E. Lee.
[excerpt]
Hunton's Brigade.
Brig. Gen. EPPA HUNTON.(*)
Maj. MICHAEL P. SPESSARD.
8th Virginia, ----- -----.
18th Virginia, Lieut. Charles H. Wilkinson.
19th Virginia, ----- -----.
28th Virginia, Maj. Michael P. Spessard.
56th Virginia, Capt. John W. Jones.

[trock]

thank you so much for all the info. very interesting reading

the codori farm and orchard are mentioned in another report (will try and locate that) and it was said that "just after clearing the family orchard, hezekiah was hit" and the story we have read took place.

let me see where i can find that. i am wondering if it was an orchard on the farm and not the family one close to the house since it seems the 28th did not go thru the farmhouse area directly

[M E Wolf]

Dear Trock;

According to the "Great Maps of the Civil War" -Bachelder Map; he shows several orchards.

"The Peach Orchard" to which General Hood was directly in front, as to gain the heights; the vicinity of Devil's Den; is not close to the orchards that Bachelder records. He has four orchards that do not have the same size as "The Peach Orchard."

It could very well be that the orchard he passed happened to have peaches but, is not even near the famous "Peach Orchard" so close to Devil's Den and both "Tops." Three of them are lightly clustered in the vicinity of your focus, are not remotely close to the huge and infamous "Peach Orchard", further south from your location and the four loosely connected orchards in the vicinity of the 'route' that the 28th could have taken.

Lt. General Longstreet's Headquarters was on a connecting road to William Douglas, which was the 'end' (cul-de-sac), a very sharp turn to where the J. Biesecker home was located and looking at the map straight on, a grove of trees before a space was offered before crossing Emmittsburg Road. General Hood's wounding is identifiedd west of Emmittsburg Road; not all that far from Longstreet's Headquarters. Across the road, the "famous" Peach Orchard is in view of the two "Round Tops." The map illustration code; the orchard is identified as evenly spaced trees, verses woods a clumped mass of trees in green.

A very tiny orchard is in front of General Carr (Union); which would put it in the path of the 28th Virginia. Right off Emmittsburg Road


M. E. Wolf

[trock]

the small orchard you see, is that near the codori farm by chance? i am wondering if the after action report i read about Maj Spessard and the 28th had the route wrong, since they clearly stated that "once the family orchard was cleared hezekiah was hit" and they refer to the codori farm as to where this takes place

still looking for the report

thanks!

[trock]

ah here it is. if you open the link in that first paragraph it details what i am refering to.

http://books.google.com/books?id=wsu...essard&f=false

hopefully that works for you

thanks

tim

[larry_cockerham]

Tim, if you'll get an e-mail address to me by private message, I'll be happy to scan that portion of the maps for you?

[larry_cockerham]

I'll post my scans here as thumbnails, but they probably ain't gonna be large enough to read. I have these as jpeg files if anyone wants a copy.

[larry_cockerham]

Base map with Codori residence labeled and the orchards shown

[prroh]

Base map with Codori residence labeled and the orchards shown

I see that Brien and Zeigler were both tenants. Any idea of the landowner? Both farms were destinations of Longstreet's assault.

What was the source of the map? Does it have other interesting maps? I use the West Point maps and that one looks similiar , except that landmarks are noted.

[larry_cockerham]

I see that Brien and Zeigler were both tenants. Any idea of the landowner? Both farms were destinations of Longstreet's assault.

What was the source of the map? Does it have other interesting maps? I use the West Point maps and that one looks similiar , except that landmarks are noted.

Go back to my #5 post in this thread and read again. There is a basemap plus jul 1, jul 2 and jul 3. Apparently the 28th wasn't onsite until the 3rd. As I recall, there was quite a bit of site related information with the packet that I can't locate at the moment. Most of that kind of stuff, plus the description of the years that went into their research, combining various maps and photographs plus ground reconnaisance (sp). I doubt there's anything better. In my case I've focused on the Little Roundtop 15th AL and Culp's Hill 48th VA.

[larry_cockerham]

Here you go:

Dr. Thomas A. Desjardin was the cartographer for the development and production of this excellent set of four battlefield maps for The Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg. The four maps depict: 1 - The topography of the battlefield as it existed in July of 1863; 2 - Troop positions as of Early Afternoon July 1, 1863; 3 - Troop Positions as of Late Afternoon July 2, 1863; 4 - Troop Positions for Day 3 - July 3, 1863. The base map upon which all of the information is depicted was carefully researched and shows fences, structures, roads, etc. from the 1868-69 survey supervised by G.K. Warren for the U.S. War Department, plus information from the 1863 E.B. Cope "Horseback Survey" map as well as from information gathered from a variety of other historical sources. The maps come folded and measure 25-1/2" X 32-3/4". Follow the link from here to the Friends website then follow the links on their site to "FNPG Merchandise". These maps could prove to be one of your best investments toward understanding the Battle and the layout of the field.


http://gburginfo.brinkster.net/maps.htm

[trock]

this is great, your map actually makes the most sense from what i am reading, with the 28th in that position, and knowing the went east and then hard north east to the stone wall they would have passed right thru the farm!

gonna check some of those links out to you sent, this really makes sense though and the after action report does appear accurate

and with that being said i can start to narrow down my next visit to the battlefield. i would like to retrace the 28th and its charge route this time.

i have never done something so in detail before and its quite exciting

plus throw in making contact with the gr gr gr granddaughter and the fact she has a ton of info to to send me on Maj Spessard.

one other thing i am trying to run down is the 2 death dates for hezekiah. in a couple of reports it lists him as ding that july the 3rd, but another lists him as a drummer boy and dying the 19th

the family said their records are not complete with what happened to him. the family lore is he may still be buried at or near Gettysburg or may have been brought home to Craig county VA. however when i checked it seemed all confederate dead were moved back south by 1870?

is there any known confederate marked graves still there that anyone knows of?

and if he were wounded and survived til the 19th would there be any federal records of treating him etc?

obviously these are answers that may be lost to time but i would love to try and find out more, especially for the family

thanks

[prroh]

Here you go:

Dr. Thomas A. Desjardin was the cartographer for the development and production of this excellent set of four battlefield maps for The Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg. The four maps depict: 1 - The topography of the battlefield as it existed in July of 1863; 2 - Troop positions as of Early Afternoon July 1, 1863; 3 - Troop Positions as of Late Afternoon July 2, 1863; 4 - Troop Positions for Day 3 - July 3, 1863. The base map upon which all of the information is depicted was carefully researched and shows fences, structures, roads, etc. from the 1868-69 survey supervised by G.K. Warren for the U.S. War Department, plus information from the 1863 E.B. Cope "Horseback Survey" map as well as from information gathered from a variety of other historical sources. The maps come folded and measure 25-1/2" X 32-3/4". Follow the link from here to the Friends website then follow the links on their site to "FNPG Merchandise". These maps could prove to be one of your best investments toward understanding the Battle and the layout of the field.


http://gburginfo.brinkster.net/maps.htm

Thanks for the refeerence. It was the interior "worm fence lines" that caught my eye. These look like like keepers.
Thanks again.

[prroh]

I really wanted to make 500 posts so I'll throw in a semi-fake question.

I can't really make out the orchards at the barn site. Am I looking at a wrong image or is the resolution on my computer not good enough?

[M E Wolf]

Dear Trock;

I'd contact the National Park Service for Gettysburg, as they should have the records of who was buried at the battlefield cemetery--Union and Confederate.

Some were buried at various surrounding cemeteries as they died from wounds after the battle but, too serious to move elsewhere.

If there isn't anything found there; I'd go to the US Quartermaster's website to which their office may guide you. The graves of all Civil War soldiers are in the keeping of the U.S. Quartermaster's offices.

The next step would be in Virginia; the Museum of the Confederacy.

Then Sons of the Confederacy/Daughters of the Confederacy.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf