The "Wild Cat" Regiment

[tlyne]

The 105th Pennsylvania

*That Wild Cat looks a lot like a Nittany Lion.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

The 105th Pennsylvania

*That Wild Cat looks a lot like a Nittany Lion.

Gettysburg after battle report:

Report of Col. Calvin A. Craig, One hundred and fifth Pennsylvania
Infantry.

Hdqrs. 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers,
July 11, 1863.
Lieut.: I have the honor to submit the following report of
the part taken by this regiment in the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., from
July 1 to 4, inclusive:

On the afternoon of the 1st instant, the regiment moved with the
rest of the brigade at 1.15 p. m., with 20 officers and 257 men, from a
point about 1 mile east of Emmitsburg, Md., where we had encamped
the night previous, and marched to a point about half a mile west of
the town and near the Hagerstown road, where we received orders to
encamp.

At 4 p. m. the order was countermanded, and we took up the line
of march in the direction of Gettysburg, Pa. The march was a very
severe one and fatigued the men very much, but the regiment stood
the march well, and when the brigade bivouacked for the night 1
mile south of Gettysburg, we had only 3 men who had fallen out of
the ranks on the march. These rejoined us during the night.

On the morning of the 2d, we moved with the balance of the brigade
a short distance, when line of battle was formed about half a
mile east of and parallel with the Emmitsburg road, in which position
we remained until 11.15 a. m., when we received orders to move
to the front to support the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, who
were deployed as skirmishers along the Emmitsburg road. My regiment
took position immediately in their rear, with Companies A, F,
D, I, and C deployed, the other companies in reserve. The fire from
the enemy's sharpshooters was severe. One man was killed very soon
after we got into position.

At 1 p. m. orders were received from Gen. Graham to rejoin
the brigade, and to take position in rear of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and on the right of the One hundred and fourteenth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, in column doubled on the center.

The regiment remained in this position until 2 p. m. We then
moved forward with the brigade to a point near the brick house on
the Emmitsburg road, where we halted and deployed, still maintaining
our relative positions, my right resting on a by-road running at
right angles with the Emmitsburg road. At this time the enemy
opened with his artillery a very destructive fire. My regiment suffered
a loss of some 12 men while in this position.

At 4 p. m. we again moved forward near the brick house and immediately
in its rear. At this time I noticed the enemy's infantry
advancing from the woods on the left of the house and in its rear,
and seeing that I could do nothing in the position I then occupied
(in the rear of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers), and that
I must necessarily suffer severely, I ordered the regiment forward to
fill a vacancy on the right of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers,
in the front line and a little beyond the Emmitsburg road.
Having gained this position, the fire from the enemy being very severe,
we immediately opened fire.

After occupying this position for a short time, I noticed the regiments
on my immediate left (One hundred and fourteenth and Fifty-seventh
Pennsylvania Volunteers) cluster in groups behind the brick
house and adjacent out-buildings. A few moments later the One
hundred and fourteenth fell to the rear, and the Fifty-seventh very
soon followed, leaving my left flank entirely unprotected.

The enemy, taking advantage of this, advanced across the Emmitsburg
road, in front of the house, and immediately opened fire upon
our left flank. Seeing this, I ordered my regiment to retire slowly a
short distance, and changed front to the rear on the first company. A
small remnant of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers rallied
with us, and formed line along the by-road before mentioned, where
we again opened fire, and checked the advancing rebels for a few
minutes; but the regiment being so small and both flanks being
entirely unprotected, I ordered the regiment to retire slowly, and
formed line again a short distance to the rear. The troops in our rear
by this time were beginning to be effective, and the brigade having
gone to the rear, I formed with these troops, and fought with them,
sometimes advancing and sometimes retreating, but do not know
whose troops they were.

Soon after, I saw Gen. Humphreys, and formed line with some
of his troops. From this point we advanced steadily until we had
regained nearly all the ground we had lost. Noticing at this time
three pieces of artillery that had been abandoned by our artillerists
and turned upon us by the advancing rebels (and who were in turn
compelled to abandon them), I sent forward my few remaining men
to bring them off the field, but being unable to bring them all off, I
got assistance from some men of the Excelsior Brigade with two of
the pieces, and brought the third off the field with my own men. I
withdrew all my men with this piece, and finally delivered it to Sergt.
Daniel A. Whitesell, Battery C, Fifth U. S. Artillery, who identified
it as one of the pieces belonging to that battery.

About this time, Capt. [Timothy L.] Maynard, of Gen. Graham's
staff, came up. I reported to him for orders from Gen.
Graham, and was informed that the corps was forming at a certain
point. I moved the regiment, but could not find the brigade (it was
now quite dark), but formed on the right of the Third Brigade.
Soon after, I moved under the direction of Lieut.'s Benson and
[George W.] Perkins, of Gen. Graham's staff, and joined the
brigade, and bivouacked for the night.

The next morning, July 3, we again moved forward with the brigade,
and occupied a position in the third line of battle and in the
rear of the Fifth Corps, where we remained until about 2 p. m., when
we were again ordered with the brigade to the center, our forces there
having been attacked, and formed line of battle in the rear of the
batteries at that point. We remained in this position until 9 p. m.,
when the regiment with the brigade moved to the front and formed
line of battle on the first line, relieving the Vermont Brigade, of the
First Corps. We remained in this position during the night. In the
morning, the line was withdrawn and the troops occupying it marched
a short distance to the rear. The entire rebel front line had also retired.
Several unimportant movements took place during the day,
but nothing worthy of note.

The entire loss in the regiment during this time was 1 officer killed,
13 officers wounded, 7 enlisted men killed, 101 enlisted men wounded,
and 9 enlisted men missing, making a total of 131 men.*

The regiment never fought better or with more enthusiasm. The
list of casualties proves with what determination they contested
every inch of ground. Fourteen officers out of 17 combatants were
either killed or wounded, and 117 men out of 257 were either killed,
wounded, or missing, being nearly one-half of the entire number
taken into action. No instance of cowardice occurred during the engagements.
All seemed to feel that they were fighting on the soil of
their native State, and that they would either conquer or yield up
their lives in her defense.

I cannot make particular mention of individual bravery. All,
both officers and men, seemed imbued with the same spirit, which
was one of determination never to yield, but to fight to the bitter end,
and until there was not a single rebel in arms to pollute the soil of
their native State.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. A. CRAIG,
Col. One hundred and fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Lieut. R. Dale Benson,
A. A. A. G., First Brigade, First Division, Third Corps.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

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For those wanting to learn more about the 105th Pennsylvania.

 

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