- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
The Confederate capture of Devil’s Den and the Rose woods prompted a second advance by Robertson and Sheffield against the southwestern face of Little Round Top. However, it made little impression against Rice’s brigade and was promptly turned back. The U.S. Regulars of the Fifth Corps under Burbank and Day advanced across Plum Run valley as Caldwell’s division of the Second Corps filed into position. Map attachment depicts the situation at 6:10 p.m. on July 2.
“Being joined by the Fifth Texas on my right, I again attempted to drive the enemy from the heights by assaults, but with like results” – Major John P. Bane, 4th Texas.
“The regiments were again ordered forward … and regained their first position” – Major J. C. Rogers, 5th Texas.
“We made two more ineffectual assaults upon this point … all terminating in great loss to us” – Member of Company I, 5th Texas.
“Charged back near the same place but was again forced to retire. We found [Private] William Gaylor still behind the rock but he came out with us this time” – Private Jesse Gilley, Company E, 47th Alabama.
“The brigades [Burbank and Day] crossing the intermediate swampy ground rapidly and forming on the left of a division of the Second Corps” – Brigadier General Romeyn B. Ayres.
“We went forward … but in doing so our left flank was greatly exposed to the sharpshooters of the rebels, who were concealed behind rocks on our left” – Colonel Sidney Burbank.
“Advanced at a double quick down a steep hill and across a marsh fifty yards wide and ankle deep with mire. During this movement the regiment suffered from a severe fire of sharpshooters” – Member of the 2nd U.S. Regulars.
“Our brigade commander gave the command ‘forward.’ Away we went, over rocks and in the marsh. A dozen paces forward, and we came within this enfilading fire. Men began to fall very fast, but the line kept steadily on” – Lieutenant James Pratt, 11th U.S. Regulars.
“A Lieutenant [was] temporarily attached to my company … When we made the run across the marsh, this Lieutenant was particularly vociferous, swinging his sword, etc., and in the center of the marsh he fell and was covered with mud. His sword scabbard had gotten between his legs and tripped him. All who saw his misadventure laughed” – Captain Dudley H. Chase, Company A, 17th U.S. Regulars.
Sources:
-Official Reports of Maj. John P. Bane, Maj. J. C. Rogers, Brig. Gen. R. B. Ayres.
-Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, ed. by Janet B. Hewett, part II, vol. 68, serial no. 80, Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1998, p. 647.
-Jesse Gilley, History of Thurman Earl Hendricks and 20 Others in Service of the Confederate States of America, Gen. T. J. Churchill Chapter no. 1373, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Arkansas Division, 1931, p. 212.
-Excerpts from the diary of Sidney Burbank, Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, ed. by Janet B. Hewitt, Noah A. Trudeau, Bryce A. Suderow, Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1995.
-The Second Regiment of Infantry, The Army of the United States, ed. by Theo. F. Rodenbough and William L. Haskin, NY: 1896.
-July 13 letter from James Pratt to his father, The Soldier of Indiana, Greg Coco Collection, Capt. John W. Ames file, Gettysburg National Military Park.
-Gettysburg, by Capt. Dudley H. Chase, U.S.A., War Papers of the Indiana Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Indianapolis, IN: 1898; Reprint, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC: 1992, vol. 24, p. 303.
“Being joined by the Fifth Texas on my right, I again attempted to drive the enemy from the heights by assaults, but with like results” – Major John P. Bane, 4th Texas.
“The regiments were again ordered forward … and regained their first position” – Major J. C. Rogers, 5th Texas.
“We made two more ineffectual assaults upon this point … all terminating in great loss to us” – Member of Company I, 5th Texas.
“Charged back near the same place but was again forced to retire. We found [Private] William Gaylor still behind the rock but he came out with us this time” – Private Jesse Gilley, Company E, 47th Alabama.
“The brigades [Burbank and Day] crossing the intermediate swampy ground rapidly and forming on the left of a division of the Second Corps” – Brigadier General Romeyn B. Ayres.
“We went forward … but in doing so our left flank was greatly exposed to the sharpshooters of the rebels, who were concealed behind rocks on our left” – Colonel Sidney Burbank.
“Advanced at a double quick down a steep hill and across a marsh fifty yards wide and ankle deep with mire. During this movement the regiment suffered from a severe fire of sharpshooters” – Member of the 2nd U.S. Regulars.
“Our brigade commander gave the command ‘forward.’ Away we went, over rocks and in the marsh. A dozen paces forward, and we came within this enfilading fire. Men began to fall very fast, but the line kept steadily on” – Lieutenant James Pratt, 11th U.S. Regulars.
“A Lieutenant [was] temporarily attached to my company … When we made the run across the marsh, this Lieutenant was particularly vociferous, swinging his sword, etc., and in the center of the marsh he fell and was covered with mud. His sword scabbard had gotten between his legs and tripped him. All who saw his misadventure laughed” – Captain Dudley H. Chase, Company A, 17th U.S. Regulars.
Sources:
-Official Reports of Maj. John P. Bane, Maj. J. C. Rogers, Brig. Gen. R. B. Ayres.
-Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, ed. by Janet B. Hewett, part II, vol. 68, serial no. 80, Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1998, p. 647.
-Jesse Gilley, History of Thurman Earl Hendricks and 20 Others in Service of the Confederate States of America, Gen. T. J. Churchill Chapter no. 1373, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Arkansas Division, 1931, p. 212.
-Excerpts from the diary of Sidney Burbank, Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, ed. by Janet B. Hewitt, Noah A. Trudeau, Bryce A. Suderow, Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1995.
-The Second Regiment of Infantry, The Army of the United States, ed. by Theo. F. Rodenbough and William L. Haskin, NY: 1896.
-July 13 letter from James Pratt to his father, The Soldier of Indiana, Greg Coco Collection, Capt. John W. Ames file, Gettysburg National Military Park.
-Gettysburg, by Capt. Dudley H. Chase, U.S.A., War Papers of the Indiana Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Indianapolis, IN: 1898; Reprint, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC: 1992, vol. 24, p. 303.