19th Maine at Gettysburg

[19ME1863]

My 3rd GGrandfather served with H/19ME and was wounded on July 2nd at Gettysburg. He was shot through the thigh, and while going to the rear, was hit when a shell exploded near him. know things were chaotic, but is it possible to narrow down who he was going up against on that day? I believe it was the Florida Brigade, but anything more specific? Thank you

 

[Bob Velke]

See https://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/maine/19th-maine/

 

[Tom Elmore]

A fine regiment. Here's my interpretation of the close encounter between the Florida brigade and the 19th Maine (which blocked their path forward), around 7:05 p.m. on July 2:

Confederates Momentarily Breach the Union Center on the Evening of July 2 | Gettysburg

Hancock directs counterattacks along his entire line. Willard advances to press back Wilcox's center and right. A charge by Harrow's 1st Minnesota stops Wilcox's left, but at a heavy cost. Lang's right flank is exposed, and he is checked in front by Thomas' Battery C, 4th U.S. and the 19th...

civilwartalk.com

Would you be willing to share your ancestor's name and details/sources regarding his wounds? There are not many who were struck both by small-arms and artillery during the battle. My list of casualties from the 19th Maine (July 2 only) where the type of wound is described:

Adams, John B., Pvt, C/19 ME, wounded, minie balls in abdomen, right leg, and left leg, the last received while crawling off the field on his hands and knees.
Lowe, Charles M., Pvt, K/19 ME, mortally wounded, gunshot groin, head and arm, died July 12.
Shea, Samuel B., K/19 ME, mortally wounded, minie ball left breast, died July 9.

 

[19ME1863]

A fine regiment. Here's my interpretation of the close encounter between the Florida brigade and the 19th Maine (which blocked their path forward), around 7:05 p.m. on July 2:

Confederates Momentarily Breach the Union Center on the Evening of July 2 | Gettysburg

Hancock directs counterattacks along his entire line. Willard advances to press back Wilcox's center and right. A charge by Harrow's 1st Minnesota stops Wilcox's left, but at a heavy cost. Lang's right flank is exposed, and he is checked in front by Thomas' Battery C, 4th U.S. and the 19th...

civilwartalk.com

Would you be willing to share your ancestor's name and details/sources regarding his wounds? There are not many who were struck both by small-arms and artillery during the battle. My list of casualties from the 19th Maine (July 2 only) where the type of wound is described:

Adams, John B., Pvt, C/19 ME, wounded, minie balls in abdomen, right leg, and left leg, the last received while crawling off the field on his hands and knees.
Lowe, Charles M., Pvt, K/19 ME, mortally wounded, gunshot groin, head and arm, died July 12.
Shea, Samuel B., K/19 ME, mortally wounded, minie ball left breast, died July 9.

Thank you so much! My ancestor's name was Reuben D. Martin, Pvt. H/19ME. Please see the attached document(s)and let me know what you think!

 

[RedRover]

Here's an 1898 report on the regiment's doings at Gettysburg, from "Maine at Gettysburg." Includes a roster of the regiment's battle participation, etc.

Maine At Gettysburg, 19th Regt., Hathi Trust

He is listed as among the men of Company H, 19th Maine in the battle:

P. 309 mentions his wound:

The map in the report indeed shows the 19th Maine taking on Lang's Florida brigade...

 

[19ME1863]

Thank you!

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Had absolutely no idea about the 19th Maine… thanks for posting @Sowbelly and Hardtack

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

In case this would be new to anyone else - a memoir by John Day Smith of Company F

https://www.maine.gov/civilwar/books/the_history_of_the_Nineteenth_regiment.pdf

 

[Tom Elmore]

Of 3,247 Gettysburg casualties that I have thus far identified as to type of wound received, only 65 (2 percent) sustained both gunshot and artillery injuries. Actually, it was rather risky for Confederate artillery to be firing at that time, given the close proximity of friendly infantry. On that day (July 2), the 19th Maine would have received the great majority of its casualties while repelling Lang's Floridians, thus it was most likely that Private Martin received his wounds in that encounter. When the Floridians fell back, the 19th Maine followed them for about 400 yards, but the fighting was winding down by that time - sunset occurred at 7:32 p.m.

At the end of the day on July 2, the 19th Maine tallied their loss at about 125 killed and wounded (including several officers), according to Captain Silas Adams. They lost approximately 75 more on July 3, being again in the thick of the fighting to repulse Pickett's division. The 19th has never received the accolades they deserve, in my opinion.

Edit to add: It's helpful to have a college professor handy to record your deeds for posterity. Speaking of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, I recall a member of the 19th Maine attending attending one of his post-war talks as he extolled the valor of the 20th Maine. Afterwards, the 19th Maine veteran approached Chamberlain to mention that he had always thought the 19th Maine deserved such honors. To which Chamberlain graciously replied that he was correct, and remarked to the effect that: "Every picket that sticks to the fence can claim the honor of keeping the pigs out of the garden." I frequently used that line before personnel representing multiple government agencies when making the point that everyone must do their job to keep the nation safe. The Navy equivalent is: "A chain is only as strong as the weakest link."

 

[19ME1863]

Thank you!

 

[Fairfield]

Reuben D. Martin came from the town of Canaan (which is next-door) but he was born in Waldoboro which is down by the coast. According to his service card, he was a blacksmith.

His son was Reuben C. Martin who served in the 16th Maine. The younger Martin was a farmer at the time of his enlistment but, by the time of his 2nd marriage many years later, he was a blacksmith like his father.

There is a historical society in Canaan which has a facebook page. It might be worth contacting it because it very well may have a member who is researching Civil War.

 

[19ME1863]

Thank you!

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Thank you!

Make sure to check out page 71 of Smith's memoir in post #9 for information on Gettysburg. His memoir covers the entire history of the regiment and gives a very detailed account of all the actions. His comments on the story of Col. Heath and a supposed order by General Humphreys for the 19th to bayonet the fleeing 3rd Corps survivors is a different twist to the story.