- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
During the battle, Lieutenant Edward C. Culp of the 25th Ohio Infantry served first as an aide to Brig. Gen. Francis C. Barlow, then as an aide to his successor, Brig. Gen. Adelbert Ames. Culp wrote a history of his regiment in the war, which was published in 1885. Culp also wrote an article for the National Tribune, dated March 19, 1885 in which he provides sufficient detail to determine the location, timing and circumstances of Barlow's wounding on July 1. In his own words:
"During the hottest of the fight I was returning to Gen. Barlow from executing an order, and in passing over the field I caught a glimpse through an opening in the woods of moving troops. I rode back to get a fresh look from a little eminence, and became satisfied they were rebel re-enforcements. As I reached Gen. Barlow he exclaimed: 'What is that skirmish line stopping for?' The skirmishers, a very heavy line, had advanced to the edge of the woods into which I had seen the re-enforcements marching, and of course had discovered them. Barlow's Division was moving in rapid support of the cloud of skirmishers, and he struck his spurs into his horse and dashed forward to the skirmish line before I had time to give my information. I rode by his side, however, and told him what I had seen. By that time we had reached the skirmish line, and one glance showed that I was correct. Thousands of fresh troops were hurled against our weakened lines. Gen. Barlow directed me to inform Gen. Howard, and to request artillery support. Before I had ridden 20 rods Gen. Barlow was severely wounded, and all but one of his staff officers and orderlies killed or wounded."
My interpretation of Culp's remarks: I believe the moving troops that Culp saw was the brigade of John C. Gordon advancing to the attack on the west side of the Harrisburg Road. The only eminence in that vicinity was the knoll that would eventually be named after Barlow. At that moment, I suspect Barlow was near the point of woods down the northeastern slope of the knoll, and the skirmish line that he was observing was that of the 68th and 54th New York, which evidently had advanced to a fringe of woods bordering Rock Creek, just 100 yards away. It would take less than half a minute to traverse that distance on horseback, giving Culp just enough time to explain what he had seen. When Barlow reached the edge of the woods, the Confederate line was then plainly visible, which means it was close. Culp received his orders, turned about and headed to the rear, toward the town. But he only covered 20 rods (330 feet) before a Confederate volley erupted, felling Barlow, who might have been riding up the slope a short distance behind Culp at that same moment. It is presumed that Culp glanced back to see Barlow fall from his horse (which was killed by that volley), but continued on his mission. If this interpretation is accurate, and assuming Gordon began his advance at precisely 3:00 p.m., Gordon's men would have reached Rock Creek about 10 minutes later, when the firing commenced. I figure the Confederate line opposite the point of Barlow's wounding was held by the left wing of the 13th Georgia Regiment.
My conclusion is that Barlow was wounded about 3:10 p.m. on July 1, about 75 yards west of Rock Creek, on a line drawn from the creek to the summit of the knoll. Barlow was afterwards taken to the Josiah Benner place, north of the creek, about 300 yards distant direct from the location where he was wounded, or 500 yards by way of the bridge along the Harrisburg Road that crossed Rock Creek.
"During the hottest of the fight I was returning to Gen. Barlow from executing an order, and in passing over the field I caught a glimpse through an opening in the woods of moving troops. I rode back to get a fresh look from a little eminence, and became satisfied they were rebel re-enforcements. As I reached Gen. Barlow he exclaimed: 'What is that skirmish line stopping for?' The skirmishers, a very heavy line, had advanced to the edge of the woods into which I had seen the re-enforcements marching, and of course had discovered them. Barlow's Division was moving in rapid support of the cloud of skirmishers, and he struck his spurs into his horse and dashed forward to the skirmish line before I had time to give my information. I rode by his side, however, and told him what I had seen. By that time we had reached the skirmish line, and one glance showed that I was correct. Thousands of fresh troops were hurled against our weakened lines. Gen. Barlow directed me to inform Gen. Howard, and to request artillery support. Before I had ridden 20 rods Gen. Barlow was severely wounded, and all but one of his staff officers and orderlies killed or wounded."
My interpretation of Culp's remarks: I believe the moving troops that Culp saw was the brigade of John C. Gordon advancing to the attack on the west side of the Harrisburg Road. The only eminence in that vicinity was the knoll that would eventually be named after Barlow. At that moment, I suspect Barlow was near the point of woods down the northeastern slope of the knoll, and the skirmish line that he was observing was that of the 68th and 54th New York, which evidently had advanced to a fringe of woods bordering Rock Creek, just 100 yards away. It would take less than half a minute to traverse that distance on horseback, giving Culp just enough time to explain what he had seen. When Barlow reached the edge of the woods, the Confederate line was then plainly visible, which means it was close. Culp received his orders, turned about and headed to the rear, toward the town. But he only covered 20 rods (330 feet) before a Confederate volley erupted, felling Barlow, who might have been riding up the slope a short distance behind Culp at that same moment. It is presumed that Culp glanced back to see Barlow fall from his horse (which was killed by that volley), but continued on his mission. If this interpretation is accurate, and assuming Gordon began his advance at precisely 3:00 p.m., Gordon's men would have reached Rock Creek about 10 minutes later, when the firing commenced. I figure the Confederate line opposite the point of Barlow's wounding was held by the left wing of the 13th Georgia Regiment.
My conclusion is that Barlow was wounded about 3:10 p.m. on July 1, about 75 yards west of Rock Creek, on a line drawn from the creek to the summit of the knoll. Barlow was afterwards taken to the Josiah Benner place, north of the creek, about 300 yards distant direct from the location where he was wounded, or 500 yards by way of the bridge along the Harrisburg Road that crossed Rock Creek.