Gettysburg after battle report:
Report of Lieut. Col. George F. McFarland, One hundred and
fifty-first Pennsylvania Infantry.
McAlisterville, Juniata County, Pa.,
March 15, 1864.
Gen.: On the morning of July 1, 1863, at 8 a. m., the One
hundred and fifty-first Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers, under
my command, moved from its bivouac on George Spangler's farm,
about 6 miles from Emmitsburg, Md., and the same distance from
Gettysburg, Pa. The First Brigade, Third Division, First Army
Corps, to which it belonged, taking a northeasterly course, crossed
Marsh Creek and marched up the left bank of a small stream (Willoughby's
Run), debouching about a mile southwest of Gettysburg on
the Hagerstown road, where it formed in line of battle, at 10.30 a. m.,
on the left flank of the First Corps. The One hundred and fifty-first
Pennsylvania, being on the left of the brigade, formed the extreme
left of the corps.
Our arrival at this point was greeted by the booming of cannon,
Buford's cavalry, dismounted, with some artillery having engaged
the enemy--the advance of Pender's division of A. P. Hill's corps-a
short time previous. Without delay the brigade advanced obliquely
to the right, over a small open hollow, to the edge of a ridge
west of the Theological Seminary. Here, by the order of Gen.
Rowley, knapsacks were unslung, after which we advanced to the
top of the ridge. About the same time, Gen. Reynolds having
been killed, Gen. Doubleday, our division commander, took command
of the corps, Gen. Rowley of the division, and Col.
Biddle, of the One hundred and twenty-first Regt. Pennsylvania
Volunteers, of the brigade.
All firing now ceased for perhaps an hour, when, about noon, the
enemy opened on our right. As this was a flank fire, we were soon
ordered back into the hollow. Here, guarding the batteries, we were
subject to a constant fire of shot and shell for two hours and a half,
frequently changing our position.
About 2 p. m. the One hundred and fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers
was detached from the brigade by Gen. Rowley, and ordered
to take a position behind a fence running along the south end
of. the seminary grove.
Shortly after this it occupied a temporary breastwork made of
rails, stumps, &c., by the Second Brigade, Second Division, through
the west edge of the grove, and parallel with the seminary.
By this time a line of battle was forming in our front, which soon
after advanced to the ridge west of the seminary, occupied earlier in
the day. In this line there was a gap or interval left immediately in
our front between the balance of our own brigade and Gen. Meredith's
brigade, of the First Division, on the right. Into this interval
the One hundred and fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers was ordered
by Gen. Rowley in person, and, crossing the breastwork behind
which it lay, it advanced and closed the interval. The position of
the regiment was now such that a little more than one-half of its left
wing extended beyond the strip of woods on the ridge directly west
of the seminary. The enemy greeted me with a volley which brought
several of my men down, ere I had halted in position. Having previously
cautioned the men against excitement and firing at random,
and the enemy being partly concealed in the woods on lower ground
than we occupied, I did not order them to fire a regular volley, but
each man to fire as he saw an enemy on which to take a steady aim.
This was strictly observed, and during the next hour's terrific fighting
many of the enemy were brought low.
I know not how men could have fought more desperately, exhibited
more coolness, or contested the field with more determined courage
than did those of the One hundred and fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers
on that ever-memorable day. But the fire of the enemy, at
least two to one, was very severe and destructive, and my gallant
officers and men fell thick and fast. This was especially true after
he, while moving to outflank the forces on my left, suffered very
heavily from our deliberate oblique fire; for exasperated, no doubt, by
this, his fire was now concentrated upon us. Notwithstanding this,
the regiment held its ground and maintained the unequal contest
PAGE 328-43 N. C., VA., W. VA., MD., PA., ETC. [CHAP. XXXIX.
[Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43.]
until the forces both on my right and left had fallen back and gained
a considerable distance to the rear. Then, finding that I was entirely
unsupported, exposed to a rapidly increasing fire in front, and in
danger of being surrounded, I ordered the regiment to fall back,
which it did in good order, to the temporary breastwork from which
it had advanced, the enemy following closely, but cautiously. Here
I halted, with fragments of Meredith's brigade on my right and
portions of the Twentieth New York State Militia, One hundred and
twenty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, and One hundred and forty-second
Pennsylvania Volunteers, on my left. An unknown mounted
officer brought me the flag of this latter regiment to know whether
it was mine. The colonel having already fallen, I ordered it to be
placed on my left, and portions of the regiment rallied around it and
fought bravely.
We now quickly checked the advance of the enemy. In fact, having
the advantage of breastworks and woods, our fire was so destructive
that the enemy's lines in front were broken, and his first attempt
to flank us greeted with such an accurate oblique fire that it failed.
But in a second attempt, made soon after, he gained our left flank,
moving in single file and at double-quick. Up to this time the officers
and men under my command had fought with the determined courage
of veterans, and an effectiveness which the enemy himself respected
and afterward acknowledged (to me in conversation while a
prisoner in their hands). Not a man had left the ranks, even to carry
a wounded comrade to the rear. But the regiment had lost terribly,
and now did not number one-fourth of what it did two hours earlier
in the day. The enemy, on the contrary, had increased, and was now
rapidly forming on my left. All support had left both flanks and
were already well to the rear. Hence I ordered the shattered remnants
of as brave a regiment as ever entered the field to fall back,
and accompanied it a few paces. Then stopping, perhaps 20 paces
from the seminary, I turned, and, stooping down, examined the condition
of the enemy in front.
At this instant, 4.20 p. m., I was hit by a flank fire in both legs at
the same instant, which caused the amputation of my right leg, and
so shattered my left that it is now, at the end of eight and a half
months, still unhealed and unserviceable. I was carried into the
seminary by Private [Lyman D.] Wilson, of Company F, the only
man near me, and who narrowly escaped, a ball carrying away the
middle button on my coat-sleeve while my arm was around his neck.
The regiment, passing on, had gained the north end of the seminary,
and was fortunately covered from the flank fire (volley) which
wounded me. It moved through the town to Cemetery Hill, where
8 officers and 113 men answered to roll-call next morning, though 21
officers and 446 men had gone into the fight. Two captains remained,
one of whom (Capt. Owens, of Company D) commanded the regiment
during the second and third days of the battle. It participated
in the glorious repulse of the enemy's final charge on the left center
on the evening of the third day, and was complimented in an order
you (Gen. Doubleday) issued the next day. Adjutant Allen and
several men were wounded, and Lieut. Trexler, of Company K,
killed. It is with pleasure that I refer to the bravery and efficiency
of the officers and the heroic, self-sacrificing spirit manifested by
the men of the One hundred and fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers.
I regret the loss of the many gallant patriots who lost their lives
or received honorable scars in its ranks; but I rejoice it was in the
battle of Gettysburg and in defense of human freedom and republican
institutions.
Of course, you have a detailed statement of the losses of my regiment.*
I will add, however, that by the 6th of July 173 wounded
officers and men were collected in the seminary hospital, where I lay,
from it alone, while many others were in other hospitals or had perished
on the field.
As you doubtless have an official report, and this is prepared for
your own gratification, I have written freely and more at length
than otherwise. I have stated nothing, however, but what I know
or have good reason to believe to be correct, and consequently hope
this report may correspond to or agree with other reports and observations
you may have collected.
Respectfully submitted.
GEO. F. McFARLAND.
Maj. Gen. A. Doubleday.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43 |