- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
James “Jamie” McNeill of the 40th New York attempted to explain, in a letter to his love, Mary, his experience on the battlefield of Gettysburg. This excerpt details the charge of his regiment through the “Valley of Death” against the foe, which may have included the 2nd Georgia, in the rocky fastness of the Devil’s Den.
“We formed up and marched across a large open field, then accelerated to a general charge towards the Rebs at Devil’s Den. Within a short time the fighting had reduced itself to bayonets and hand-to-hand fighting. I did my share without more than one or two thoughts (I confess) for my own safety. I tried to keep my command together, but it was difficult among the rocks and trees. With friends falling around me, my resolve became clear – first to protect them, and then to avenge them. In the next half-hour I hardly remember how many I killed. I remember climbing over rocks to stab a man in gray with my bayonet before he could reload. I remember wedging myself between two trunks of a tree and shooting at men below me. I remember wrestling with a Reb and tearing his gun from his hands and bashing him in the head with it. At one time, a man on the ground cut at my leg with his knife and I fired into his face. I was crazed and will not try to explain it. … After a while I realized I was alone among the rocks and the dead. I had used up my ammunition and took a moment to raid the cartridge boxes of some of the fallen nearby. I also picked up a pistol I found and loaded it as well with bullets from the pockets of its dead owner. Then I went out in search of my regiment. … Our company roll call that night was a dismal affair with less than half answering to their names. Somebody began telling a story of how I had saved my command by wiping out a nest of Reb marksmen that had them pinned down among the rocks. I truthfully do not remember this incident. It could be true. Perhaps it is true. I do not know. Can you understand this?”
McNeill never received a medal for his actions that day. He must have earned the respect of his comrades, but we will never completely understand what it cost him, during his remaining days.
http://www.groundbreaking.com/Jean_Marie_McLain/gettysburg.htm
“We formed up and marched across a large open field, then accelerated to a general charge towards the Rebs at Devil’s Den. Within a short time the fighting had reduced itself to bayonets and hand-to-hand fighting. I did my share without more than one or two thoughts (I confess) for my own safety. I tried to keep my command together, but it was difficult among the rocks and trees. With friends falling around me, my resolve became clear – first to protect them, and then to avenge them. In the next half-hour I hardly remember how many I killed. I remember climbing over rocks to stab a man in gray with my bayonet before he could reload. I remember wedging myself between two trunks of a tree and shooting at men below me. I remember wrestling with a Reb and tearing his gun from his hands and bashing him in the head with it. At one time, a man on the ground cut at my leg with his knife and I fired into his face. I was crazed and will not try to explain it. … After a while I realized I was alone among the rocks and the dead. I had used up my ammunition and took a moment to raid the cartridge boxes of some of the fallen nearby. I also picked up a pistol I found and loaded it as well with bullets from the pockets of its dead owner. Then I went out in search of my regiment. … Our company roll call that night was a dismal affair with less than half answering to their names. Somebody began telling a story of how I had saved my command by wiping out a nest of Reb marksmen that had them pinned down among the rocks. I truthfully do not remember this incident. It could be true. Perhaps it is true. I do not know. Can you understand this?”
McNeill never received a medal for his actions that day. He must have earned the respect of his comrades, but we will never completely understand what it cost him, during his remaining days.
http://www.groundbreaking.com/Jean_Marie_McLain/gettysburg.htm