- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
Colgrove's regiments return to occupy their former position in McAllister's woods, but avoid a confrontation with Steuart north of Spangler's Spring. McDougall regroups behind a hill (off the map) and deploys a skirmish line. Map shows positions as of 11:30 p.m., July 2.
"The way being clear, I moved the regiment forward and occupied the ground" – Lieutenant Colonel John B. Fesler, 27th Indiana.
"The line as established threw the Thirteenth Regiment along the Creek, which was in our front, the left company of the Regiment being formed at right angles to it" – Member of the 13th New Jersey.
"The two leading regiments which had occupied the ground to the right of the meadow … followed their instructions and resumed their position. The 'Second' crossed the meadow above 'Spangler's Spring' and entered a narrow dark wood-path which was the shortest route to their former line. On entering the woods, [Lt.] Col. [Charles R.] Mudge sent forward a few scouts from the lead company, who almost immediately returned and reported a body of men in front. The colonel at once quietly ordered a halt and then facing the column about, withdrew it to the meadow, where he changed front on the center company and brought the command facing the woods; then 'facing by the rear rank' he withdrew it to the edge of the 'swale'" – Major Charles F. Morse, 2nd Massachusetts.
"The line was brought facing the woods in the edge of the swale and at right angles to the old breastworks. The moon shone fitfully, and the stillness of the night only broken by shots from distant skirmishers. … Gen. [Thomas H.] Ruger … sent orders to move the 'Second' back, placing it on the far [south] side of the swale" – Member of the 2nd Massachusetts.
"My regiment, by the flank, [moved] about 50 paces to their [2nd Massachusetts] left and rear, into the woods. I halted when the battalion was about three-quarters its length into the bushes, and proceeded on foot forward alone to see the situation of the ground, etc. I had proceeded about 20 rods [110 yards] when I found myself very near a regiment of the enemy, who were in line some distance to the left, and in or near the breastworks. Not being discovered by them, I hastily retired, and meeting the acting major of the Second Massachusetts, he informed me that his regiment was retiring. I at once moved my battalion out of the woods across the swale" – Colonel Nirom M. Crane, 107th New York.
"Halted in column … ready for a deploy, about forty rods [220 yards] in the rear of our works. Colonel Crane said to me, 'I guess we had better go down and see what is there before we advance the men.' I told him I thought it would be well. It was too dark to distinguish troops, and as we got to our works, some command was just breaking ranks in them. The colonel said: 'What command is this, sir?' I think the answer was [a Confederate regiment]. Colonel Crane said: 'Oh, yes, sir; all right, sir.' As we did not care to associate with them then and there, we changed direction to the rear and got back to our command" – N. G. Brigham, 107th New York.
"Brigade … was moved a short distance to the rear, where they were, in a measure, concealed by a rise of ground in front" – Colonel Archibald L. McDougall.
"Company G was advanced as skirmishers to a line near the woods" – Lieutenant Colonel William B. Wooster, 20th Connecticut.
"I … detailed Company C, Capt. S. [Samuel] T. Allen commanding, as skirmishers" – Colonel E. Livingston Price, 145th New York.
"The Regiment fell back over the crest of the hill, sent [Company] A out [as] a strong picket line and lay down on their arms" – 2nd Lieutenant Robert Cruikshank, Company H, 123rd New York.
Sources:
-Official reports of Lt. Col. John B. Fesler, Col. N. M. Crane, Col. Archibald L. McDougall, Lt. Col. William B. Wooster, Col. E. Livingston Price.
-Reminiscences of the War, Thirteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, by Samuel Toombs, Orange, NJ: Printed for the Journal Office, 1878, p. 79.
-History of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry, Gettysburg, A Paper read at the officers' reunion in Boston, May 10, 1878, by Charles F. Morse, Boston, MA: George Ellis, Printer, 1882, pp. 9-10.
-Account of the part taken by the "Second Mass. Inf.," Bachelder Papers, 1:156.
-The Campaigns of the 107th, Capt. N. G. Brigham, Dedication of Monument, 107th Regiment Infantry, New York at Gettysburg, III:771.
-The Civil War Letters of Robert Cruikshank, http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/barrycruik/1863.html, 10/23/2002.
"The way being clear, I moved the regiment forward and occupied the ground" – Lieutenant Colonel John B. Fesler, 27th Indiana.
"The line as established threw the Thirteenth Regiment along the Creek, which was in our front, the left company of the Regiment being formed at right angles to it" – Member of the 13th New Jersey.
"The two leading regiments which had occupied the ground to the right of the meadow … followed their instructions and resumed their position. The 'Second' crossed the meadow above 'Spangler's Spring' and entered a narrow dark wood-path which was the shortest route to their former line. On entering the woods, [Lt.] Col. [Charles R.] Mudge sent forward a few scouts from the lead company, who almost immediately returned and reported a body of men in front. The colonel at once quietly ordered a halt and then facing the column about, withdrew it to the meadow, where he changed front on the center company and brought the command facing the woods; then 'facing by the rear rank' he withdrew it to the edge of the 'swale'" – Major Charles F. Morse, 2nd Massachusetts.
"The line was brought facing the woods in the edge of the swale and at right angles to the old breastworks. The moon shone fitfully, and the stillness of the night only broken by shots from distant skirmishers. … Gen. [Thomas H.] Ruger … sent orders to move the 'Second' back, placing it on the far [south] side of the swale" – Member of the 2nd Massachusetts.
"My regiment, by the flank, [moved] about 50 paces to their [2nd Massachusetts] left and rear, into the woods. I halted when the battalion was about three-quarters its length into the bushes, and proceeded on foot forward alone to see the situation of the ground, etc. I had proceeded about 20 rods [110 yards] when I found myself very near a regiment of the enemy, who were in line some distance to the left, and in or near the breastworks. Not being discovered by them, I hastily retired, and meeting the acting major of the Second Massachusetts, he informed me that his regiment was retiring. I at once moved my battalion out of the woods across the swale" – Colonel Nirom M. Crane, 107th New York.
"Halted in column … ready for a deploy, about forty rods [220 yards] in the rear of our works. Colonel Crane said to me, 'I guess we had better go down and see what is there before we advance the men.' I told him I thought it would be well. It was too dark to distinguish troops, and as we got to our works, some command was just breaking ranks in them. The colonel said: 'What command is this, sir?' I think the answer was [a Confederate regiment]. Colonel Crane said: 'Oh, yes, sir; all right, sir.' As we did not care to associate with them then and there, we changed direction to the rear and got back to our command" – N. G. Brigham, 107th New York.
"Brigade … was moved a short distance to the rear, where they were, in a measure, concealed by a rise of ground in front" – Colonel Archibald L. McDougall.
"Company G was advanced as skirmishers to a line near the woods" – Lieutenant Colonel William B. Wooster, 20th Connecticut.
"I … detailed Company C, Capt. S. [Samuel] T. Allen commanding, as skirmishers" – Colonel E. Livingston Price, 145th New York.
"The Regiment fell back over the crest of the hill, sent [Company] A out [as] a strong picket line and lay down on their arms" – 2nd Lieutenant Robert Cruikshank, Company H, 123rd New York.
Sources:
-Official reports of Lt. Col. John B. Fesler, Col. N. M. Crane, Col. Archibald L. McDougall, Lt. Col. William B. Wooster, Col. E. Livingston Price.
-Reminiscences of the War, Thirteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, by Samuel Toombs, Orange, NJ: Printed for the Journal Office, 1878, p. 79.
-History of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry, Gettysburg, A Paper read at the officers' reunion in Boston, May 10, 1878, by Charles F. Morse, Boston, MA: George Ellis, Printer, 1882, pp. 9-10.
-Account of the part taken by the "Second Mass. Inf.," Bachelder Papers, 1:156.
-The Campaigns of the 107th, Capt. N. G. Brigham, Dedication of Monument, 107th Regiment Infantry, New York at Gettysburg, III:771.
-The Civil War Letters of Robert Cruikshank, http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/barrycruik/1863.html, 10/23/2002.
Bringing the