lelliott19
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This terrific Image through a window of the Rose Barn is by @Gettysburg Greg
...I saw a sight and heard a sight and thought a sight. Shells were cutting off the arms, legs and heads of our men, cutting them in two and exploding in their bodies, tearing them to mincemeat. Then there was the solemn thud of the minie balls, men crying for water, groaning, praying and so much that was harrowing that my speech fails to describe it all. I am not writing as a soldier now, but simply as a tourist.
William A. Johnson was 20 years old when he enlisted as a Private into Company F, 2nd South Carolina at Greenwood, SC on August 9, 1862. Joseph Brevard Kershaw was the original Colonel of the regiment. Kershaw was soon promoted to Brigadier General and the 2nd SC was one of the regiments in his brigade. At Gettysburg, the brigade was comprised of the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 15th South Carolina Infantry and the 3rd Battalion SC Infantry. Thirty-eight years later, William A. Johnson submitted reminiscences of his experiences on July 2, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg to the Atlanta Journal. The article was reprinted in Winnsboro, South Carolina's The News and Herald.
AT GETTYSBURG
In the Atlanta Journal, W. A. Johnson gives the following partial account of the fight at Gettysburg.
Gettysburg was simply Malvern Hill No. 2. McLaws' division, of which my regiment and brigade was an humble part, was in line so that its right was about opposite Devil's Den. It was formed into two lines on the left of Hood's division.
The front line was: Kershaw's South Carolinians on the right and Barksdale's Mississippians on the left. The two Georgia brigades [Semmes and Wofford] were in the second line. As we marched up the slope to take position, I noticed Generals Lee and Longstreet standing in the shade of a tree looking at a map which spread on the ground. Not far from this point our brigade was formed in line of battle. My regiment was posted in a clearing between two bodies of woods, and on the edge of the wheat field. The field was inclosed [sic] with a stone fence and we sat on the ground so that the fence would shield us from the enemy's skirmishers, who were thickly posted in our front. We were near the woods on our right, and in the angle nearest us of these woods one of our batteries was unlimbered and went into action.
As soon as they began firing the Federals returned the fire from a number of batteries, and in a few minutes the air was full of fluttering, bursting shells. I noticed the Georgians in the woods behind the battery, dodging the falling limbs. The Federals had too many guns playing on our guns, and our folks were forced to retire. After a while, General Lee rode along the line, and then after a while Hood's division advanced to the attack. Between us and the Federals was an open field without any sort of protection to an advancing force, and the distance across was about one mile and a quarter. As soon as Hood started the music began. I was sitting behind the stone fence talking to Captain George McDowell, of my company [F], and Captain Pulliam, of the Butler Guards [Company B] of my regiment. I made the observation to these two that we would fail unless our division was moved forward with Hood. Both of these men were killed, and I think they had that presentment from the way they looked and talked.
<To be continued.> [Source: The News and Herald. (Winnsboro, SC), August 09, 1901, page 1.]