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photo by @Buckeye Bill https://civilwartalk.com/threads/ge...itary-park-nps-tour-stops.101299/#post-901494
The 3rd Michigan deploys three companies that cross the Emmitsburg road and push back Kershaw’s skirmishers. Cabell’s artillery battalion occupies positions to the right of Kershaw’s brigade, while Alexander’s artillery battalion moves up quietly through the woods. Sickles has Clark’s battery fire on Hood’s men on the move to the south and orders Graham forward to the Emmitsburg road upon learning that Confederate artillery is massing in his left front. Meade is riding up to meet with Sickles. Map reflects the situation as of 3:20 p.m., July 2.
“[The Colonel] moved his regiment by the right flank to the left of the peach orchard, of which the enemy held a portion, where he deployed Companies I, F and K, deploying forward on the right of Company F. We drove the enemy’s skirmishers back” – Lieutenant Colonel Edwin S. Pierce, 3rd Michigan.
“The skirmishers of both armies were actively engaged as we came into position – those of the enemy being some distance this side [of the Emmitsburg] road and making a determined stand to hold it” – Private Andrew W. Reese, Carlton’s Battery.
“The enemy appeared [Hood’s division] … far to our left. Gen. Sickles ordered Capt. Clark to take position with his battery [B, 1st New Jersey] near Sherfy’s peach orchard. He opened fire, using shell and shrapnel, firing slowly and with good effect, about six rounds from each gun, at the enemy [Hood’s division], who were … crossing the Emmitsburg road 1,400 yards distant” – Member of Battery B, 1st New Jersey.
“We moved up toward the Peach Orchard and were within 100 yards of it when Gen. Sickles gave orders to throw a few shot into a piece of woods to the left of what I think is known as the Rose farm. We fired three rounds from each gun, and getting no response drew up close to the peach trees” – Sergeant Ellis H. Timm, Battery B, 1st New Jersey.
“Clark’s battery … delivered a few shots, receiving but little response” – Colonel Henry J. Madill, 141st Pennsylvania.
“Capt. [Joseph C.] Briscoe [aide to Major General Birney] sent in word that the enemy were massing on our left and had already 11 guns [Cabell’s Battalion] in position … to our left and front … [General Sickles] then ordered Gen. Birney to place Graham’s brigade in the Peach Orchard” – Captain J. Barclay Fassitt, senior aide to Major General David B. Birney.
“Suddenly the order came, ‘Attention!’ … order to advance given” – Sergeant J. D. Bloodgood, Company I, 141st Pennsylvania.
“Our brigade moved out” – Private Ellis C. Strouss, Company K, 57th Pennsylvania.
“The line was moved up to the brow of a hill” – Member of the 105th Pennsylvania.
“Skirmishing commenced very heavily … I was then ordered by General Birney out of the woods on an open field” – Colonel George C. Burling.
“We moved out of the grove about 100 yards to a corn-field and halted, regimental front, with the Sixth [New Jersey] Regiment in front; then General Sickles and staff halted in front of us” – Benjamin D. Cooley, Company K, 6th New Jersey.
“I returned direct to the Peach Orchard … I was here met by Captain Randolph, the [Third] corps chief of artillery, who informed me that he had been ordered to place his batteries on the new line” – Brigadier General Henry J. Hunt.
“Guns [E. Porter Alexander’s battalion] were unlimbered in the depression behind us and quietly rolled up by hand on our infantry line” – Member of Brigadier General William Barksdale’s brigade.
“Gen’l. Meade, accompanied by his staff, rode by along our [Humphreys’] front from right to left. The men jumped to their feet and cheered lustily as he passed” – Captain Adolfo F. Cavada, Assistant Inspector General to Brigadier General Andrew A. Humphreys.
Sources:
-Official Reports of Lt. Col. Edwin S. Pierce, Col. Henry J. Madill, Col. George C. Burling.
-August 8, 1863 letter of Andrew W. Reese, Southern Banner, Athens, Georgia, August 26, 1863, p. 2.
-History of Battery B, First New Jersey Artillery, by Michael Hanifen, Ottawa, IL: Republican-Times, Printers, 1905, p. 68.
-Clark’s N. J. Battery, by Sergeant Ellis H. Timm, National Tribune, January 8, 1891, p. 4.
-141st Pennsylvania, History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, by Samuel P. Bates, IV:439.
-June 12, 1886 letter of Capt. J. Barclay Fassitt, National Tribune, July 15, 1886, p. 1.
-Personal Reminiscences of the War, by Rev. J. D. Bloodgood, NY: Hunt & Eaton, 1893, p. 132.
-Address of E. C. Strouss, September 11, 1889, Dedication of Monument to the 57th Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania At Gettysburg, I:359.
-105th Pennsylvania, History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, by Samuel P. Bates, III:785.
-January 18, 1888 letter of Benjamin D. Cooley, Company K, 6th New Jersey, Final Report of the Gettysburg Battle-field Commission of New Jersey, Trenton: John L. Murphy Publishing Company, 1891, p. 103.
-The Second Day at Gettysburg, by Henry J. Hunt, Brevet Major General, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, III:303.
-Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade at Gettysburg, by J.S. McNeily, Mississippi Historical Society; reprint, Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, 1987, p. 236.
-Diary of A. F. Cavada, by Adolfo Fernandez de la Cavada, photocopy from Carolyn Hartman, Catlett Station Antiques, Catlett, Virginia, Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center, Bull Run Regional Library, Manassas, Virginia.
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