- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
While examining the arrival of the Sixth Corps on the Union left flank, the following observations on timing and deployment may be of interest, and will hopefully stimulate further discussion.
The last major Confederate threat to Little Round Top occurred about 7 p.m. on July 2, when Brig. Gen. Wofford’s brigade of Georgians exploited a gap in the Union lines at the Wheatfield. Wofford’s fresh regiments were bolstered by fragments of several other Confederate brigades who had long been engaged that afternoon, and they were assisted by the third and final push of Robertson’s 4th and 5th Texas against the southwestern face of Little Round Top, helped by a portion of Law’s Alabama brigade. It seems to have been an all-out last ditch effort.
Vincent’s brigade (now under Col. Rice) and Weed’s brigade (now under Col. Gerrard) still occupied Little Round Top, but they now had help from two fresh brigades of Pennsylvania Reserves (PR) under Brig. Gen. Crawford. However, one of these brigades, Fisher’s, was sent further south to bolster Rice’s left flank just before Wofford broke through, with the exception of a single regiment, the 11th PR, which Crawford held in place because of the sharp increase in firing in his front. Absent Fisher’s brigade, Confederate odds had now considerably improved. It was at this critical moment that the lead elements of the Sixth Corps appeared on the scene to sharply tilt the scales in the Union’s favor.
In the lead was the brigade commanded by Col. David J. Nevin, which evidently came up the Wheatfield road. Here occurred an incident that never made the official records. Nevin found Crawford in his way and unwilling to move. Nevin launched into a tirade, ignoring the fact that Nevin was a colonel and Crawford was a general (apparently Crawford never mentioned this encounter in later years.) Crawford’s two brigades had earlier deployed on the north side of the Wheatfield road, before soon being shifted to the opposite (south) side of the road. I lean toward the latter being the case when Nevin appeared, meaning that he was supposed to have deployed on the south side of the road. Nevin actually deployed on the north side of the road, upon Crawford’s right, but one of his regiments, the 98th Pennsylvania, wound up on the south side of the road. When in place, Nevin’s large 139th Pennsylvania would likely have touched the Wheatfield road on its left, while the right of the 139th would have been just behind the center section of Battery L, 1st Ohio (under Lt. James Gildea).
Bolstering this scenario is the fact that the next Sixth Corps brigade, under Brig. Gen. Bartlett, was coming up on the right side of the Wheatfield road, and Bartlett was clearly surprised and perhaps miffed when he saw Nevin’s brigade moving to block his path, meaning his brigade would now play a minor supporting role. Bartlett’s entire loss for the day was two wounded privates. It is the clearest indication that the regimental monuments set up in the vicinity mark positions that were taken up after the fighting was over for the day.
While these movements were taking place, the last of Caldwell’s men, Sweitzer’s battered brigade, and all of Ayres’ U.S. Regulars were falling back in their direction from the Wheatfield, closely pursued by victorious and exultant Confederates.
The 11th PR moved forward a short distance to where Fisher’s lead regiment formerly stood, and Crawford’s other brigade (under Col. McCandless) moved up to join it. This left Nevin’s brigade to their right rear. Nevin’s men had been told to hold their fire until directed to deliver a volley, but they could not restrain themselves when they observed the first enemy soldiers approaching. Opening a scattering fire they wounded two of the Ohio artillerymen in an instance of "friendly fire."
Crawford and Nevin probably advanced to the charge at about the same time, but Crawford had a slight lead as noted. McCandless’ 6th PR on the right moved by the right oblique and soon crossed the Wheatfield road, compelling Nevin to also move at a right oblique. His men halted upon reaching the bluff just south of the John T. Weikert place, where his men reclaimed two guns of Battery C, 3rd Massachusetts that had been abandoned on Wofford’s advance. Crawford afterwards took full credit for the charge and ignored Nevin’s participation. The time was about 7:30 p.m. – sunset occurred at 7:32 p.m.
Col. Eustis’ brigade received urgent orders to hurry forward when it was about half-way to Little Round Top. The plea was probably made at the time when Union fugitives from the Wheatfield made it seem like the day would be lost. In that case, they probably filed in just behind Bartlett at about 7:30 p.m., just in time to hear the last few Confederate infantry overshots. They were followed about ten minutes later by Shaler’s brigade coming into line behind them, just a few yards west of the Taneytown road, in the fading light of dusk.
It could be argued that the battle on the Union left that day could have been won without the Sixth Corps, but their arrival lifted the spirits and inspired confidence among the weary veterans of the Fifth Corps, while at the same time dashing the last remaining hopes of the Confederates on this part of the field.
The last major Confederate threat to Little Round Top occurred about 7 p.m. on July 2, when Brig. Gen. Wofford’s brigade of Georgians exploited a gap in the Union lines at the Wheatfield. Wofford’s fresh regiments were bolstered by fragments of several other Confederate brigades who had long been engaged that afternoon, and they were assisted by the third and final push of Robertson’s 4th and 5th Texas against the southwestern face of Little Round Top, helped by a portion of Law’s Alabama brigade. It seems to have been an all-out last ditch effort.
Vincent’s brigade (now under Col. Rice) and Weed’s brigade (now under Col. Gerrard) still occupied Little Round Top, but they now had help from two fresh brigades of Pennsylvania Reserves (PR) under Brig. Gen. Crawford. However, one of these brigades, Fisher’s, was sent further south to bolster Rice’s left flank just before Wofford broke through, with the exception of a single regiment, the 11th PR, which Crawford held in place because of the sharp increase in firing in his front. Absent Fisher’s brigade, Confederate odds had now considerably improved. It was at this critical moment that the lead elements of the Sixth Corps appeared on the scene to sharply tilt the scales in the Union’s favor.
In the lead was the brigade commanded by Col. David J. Nevin, which evidently came up the Wheatfield road. Here occurred an incident that never made the official records. Nevin found Crawford in his way and unwilling to move. Nevin launched into a tirade, ignoring the fact that Nevin was a colonel and Crawford was a general (apparently Crawford never mentioned this encounter in later years.) Crawford’s two brigades had earlier deployed on the north side of the Wheatfield road, before soon being shifted to the opposite (south) side of the road. I lean toward the latter being the case when Nevin appeared, meaning that he was supposed to have deployed on the south side of the road. Nevin actually deployed on the north side of the road, upon Crawford’s right, but one of his regiments, the 98th Pennsylvania, wound up on the south side of the road. When in place, Nevin’s large 139th Pennsylvania would likely have touched the Wheatfield road on its left, while the right of the 139th would have been just behind the center section of Battery L, 1st Ohio (under Lt. James Gildea).
Bolstering this scenario is the fact that the next Sixth Corps brigade, under Brig. Gen. Bartlett, was coming up on the right side of the Wheatfield road, and Bartlett was clearly surprised and perhaps miffed when he saw Nevin’s brigade moving to block his path, meaning his brigade would now play a minor supporting role. Bartlett’s entire loss for the day was two wounded privates. It is the clearest indication that the regimental monuments set up in the vicinity mark positions that were taken up after the fighting was over for the day.
While these movements were taking place, the last of Caldwell’s men, Sweitzer’s battered brigade, and all of Ayres’ U.S. Regulars were falling back in their direction from the Wheatfield, closely pursued by victorious and exultant Confederates.
The 11th PR moved forward a short distance to where Fisher’s lead regiment formerly stood, and Crawford’s other brigade (under Col. McCandless) moved up to join it. This left Nevin’s brigade to their right rear. Nevin’s men had been told to hold their fire until directed to deliver a volley, but they could not restrain themselves when they observed the first enemy soldiers approaching. Opening a scattering fire they wounded two of the Ohio artillerymen in an instance of "friendly fire."
Crawford and Nevin probably advanced to the charge at about the same time, but Crawford had a slight lead as noted. McCandless’ 6th PR on the right moved by the right oblique and soon crossed the Wheatfield road, compelling Nevin to also move at a right oblique. His men halted upon reaching the bluff just south of the John T. Weikert place, where his men reclaimed two guns of Battery C, 3rd Massachusetts that had been abandoned on Wofford’s advance. Crawford afterwards took full credit for the charge and ignored Nevin’s participation. The time was about 7:30 p.m. – sunset occurred at 7:32 p.m.
Col. Eustis’ brigade received urgent orders to hurry forward when it was about half-way to Little Round Top. The plea was probably made at the time when Union fugitives from the Wheatfield made it seem like the day would be lost. In that case, they probably filed in just behind Bartlett at about 7:30 p.m., just in time to hear the last few Confederate infantry overshots. They were followed about ten minutes later by Shaler’s brigade coming into line behind them, just a few yards west of the Taneytown road, in the fading light of dusk.
It could be argued that the battle on the Union left that day could have been won without the Sixth Corps, but their arrival lifted the spirits and inspired confidence among the weary veterans of the Fifth Corps, while at the same time dashing the last remaining hopes of the Confederates on this part of the field.