Reconstructed Rebel
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2021
I'm not sure if this is the place to post this, or if Sgt Finacey is mentioned in other threads, but here goes. Corrections are welcomed. How else will I learn anything?
Sgt. Finacey, Co H, 72d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, obeyed his orders. He is the only color sergeant I could find listed in his regiment who died on July 3, 1863. His death notice is found in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, July 20, 1865. He was 27 years old and left behind a wife and children. Other spellings of his name include Finecy and Finnessey.
Below is Col. Haskell's account of the heroism of Color Sergeant William Finacey as quoted from his famous eye-witness account of Pickett's charge. Watching the Confederates breach the Angle and desperate for the Union troops just behind the crest of the hill to move forward and stop their advance, he writes-
"Pistols flash with the muskets. My “Forward to the wall” is answered by the Rebel counter-command, “Steady, men!” and the wave swings back. Again it surges, and again it sinks. These men of Pennsylvania, on the soil of their own homesteads, the first and only to flee the wall, must be the first to storm it. “Major—, lead your men over the crest, they will follow.” “By the tactics I understand my place is in rear of the men.” “Your pardon, sir; I see your place is in rear of the men. I thought you were fit to lead.” “Capt. Sapler, come on with your men.” “Let me first stop this fire in the rear, or we shall be hit by our own men.” “Never mind the fire in the rear; let us take care of this in front first.” “Sergeant, forward with your color. Let the Rebels see it close to their eyes once before they die.” The color sergeant of the 72d Pa., grasping the stump of the severed lance in both his hands, waved the flag above his head and rushed towards the wall. “Will you see your color storm the wall alone?” One man only starts to follow. Almost half way to the wall, down go color bearer and color to the ground—the gallant sergeant is dead. The line springs the crest of the solid ground with a great roar, heaves forward its maddened load, men, arms, smoke, fire, a fighting mass. It rolls to the wall—flash meets flash, the wall is crossed—a moment ensues of thrusts, yells, blows, shots, and undistinguishable conflict, followed by a shout universal that makes the welkin ring again, and the last and bloodiest fight of the great battle of Gettysburg is ended and won."
Sgt. Finacey, Co H, 72d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, obeyed his orders. He is the only color sergeant I could find listed in his regiment who died on July 3, 1863. His death notice is found in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, July 20, 1865. He was 27 years old and left behind a wife and children. Other spellings of his name include Finecy and Finnessey.
Below is Col. Haskell's account of the heroism of Color Sergeant William Finacey as quoted from his famous eye-witness account of Pickett's charge. Watching the Confederates breach the Angle and desperate for the Union troops just behind the crest of the hill to move forward and stop their advance, he writes-
"Pistols flash with the muskets. My “Forward to the wall” is answered by the Rebel counter-command, “Steady, men!” and the wave swings back. Again it surges, and again it sinks. These men of Pennsylvania, on the soil of their own homesteads, the first and only to flee the wall, must be the first to storm it. “Major—, lead your men over the crest, they will follow.” “By the tactics I understand my place is in rear of the men.” “Your pardon, sir; I see your place is in rear of the men. I thought you were fit to lead.” “Capt. Sapler, come on with your men.” “Let me first stop this fire in the rear, or we shall be hit by our own men.” “Never mind the fire in the rear; let us take care of this in front first.” “Sergeant, forward with your color. Let the Rebels see it close to their eyes once before they die.” The color sergeant of the 72d Pa., grasping the stump of the severed lance in both his hands, waved the flag above his head and rushed towards the wall. “Will you see your color storm the wall alone?” One man only starts to follow. Almost half way to the wall, down go color bearer and color to the ground—the gallant sergeant is dead. The line springs the crest of the solid ground with a great roar, heaves forward its maddened load, men, arms, smoke, fire, a fighting mass. It rolls to the wall—flash meets flash, the wall is crossed—a moment ensues of thrusts, yells, blows, shots, and undistinguishable conflict, followed by a shout universal that makes the welkin ring again, and the last and bloodiest fight of the great battle of Gettysburg is ended and won."