jameswoods
Private
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2015
The following is a map oriented description of the critical role played by Willard's brigade on July 2, taking into consideration the other forces at play while it was so engaged.
Part 2: Maps 7:12 p.m., 7:23 p.m. 7:37 p.m. p.m.
At about 7:12 p.m., General Hancock had reached the point where he reported that he, "… put in Willard's brigade which had been previously sent to General Birney by General Meade's order…." Hancock's statement would seem to indicate that while Willard's brigade had completed its leftward movement, it had not yet advanced against the enemy. However, this was not true. Willard had started the 125th and 126th New York regiments forward just minutes before Hancock arrived and was advancing in a southwestern direction, potentially leaving his right flank exposed to possible flanking movement from Wilcox's 10th Alabama.
Captain Phillips, 5th Massachusetts Battery, hadn't noticed any infantry nearby when he first took position on the "McGilvery line". However, "...In 20 minutes or half an hour I noticed some troops on our right and front moving by the left flank and finally advancing a little, but I could not make out who they were, though I have always had an impression they belonged to the 2d Corps." (Phillips' and Thompson' guns had gone into position at 6:45 p.m.) Through the battle smoke, Phillips had probably glimpsed the 125th and 126th New York moving toward Barksdale's disordered line.
Upon not immediately finding Willard, Hancock galloped up to Colonel McDougall, 111th New York, and ordered his regiment, "…to the right in great haste, to charge the rebel advance, which had broken through our lines on the right of the Third Brigade and had advanced between 20 and 30 rods beyond our lines, and was in the act of turning the right flank of the brigade." Looking for additional support, Hancock sent an aide back to Meade's headquarters (resulting in Newton's 1st Corps being sent) while he and his aide, Captain Miller, proceeded north only to find Wilcox's Alabamians advancing through the still unprotected interval in the Federal line.
Fired upon by the Confederates, Miller was twice wounded while Hancock, determined to find immediate reinforcements, was able to successfully dodge the rebel bullets. Coming upon the 1st Minnesota's eight companies lying prone in battle line (unnoticed by Hancock when he earlier rode south along the line), Hancock gave the terrible order that had to be given. It was about 7:20 p.m. when the 1st Minnesota started forward "to take the colors" of the enemy brigade advancing toward them.
By 7:23 p.m. the 111th New York had joined its left with the right of the 126th York and the three regiments were forcing Barksdale's Mississippians back. Any opportunity presented to the 10th Alabama for a flanking movement had now passed and the Rebel brigade's attention was most likely diverted by the coincidental advance of the 1st Minnesota against its center.
A short time earlier, the commanding officer of the 39th New York had been approached by Captain Fassett of General Sickles' staff who impressed upon Major Hildebrandt the necessity of recapturing Battery I, 5th U. S. from the Confederates. One of the battery's officers, Lieutenant Peeples, had flagged down the mounted Fassett and pointed out the danger posed by the guns in Confederate hands to the 3rd Corps troops (Brewster's and Carr's brigades) then in the process of reforming. Rightfully reluctant to leave his assigned position, Major Hildebrandt only consented to do so when Fassett gave the order in the name of General Hancock.
By 7:37 p.m., the 39th New York had succeeded in reclaiming Watson's battery from the small party of Confederates apparently left behind to bring the captured guns off the field (the rest of the 21st Mississippi had fallen back to take up a defensive position just north of Trostle's woods).
The rest of Barksdale's brigade was in full retreat, its commander lying mortally wounded as the victorious "Harper Ferry Cowards" swept over and past him. Changing their forward direction to the right, the New Yorkers unfortunately presented a tempting target for Woolfolk's and Jordan's guns on the high ground opposite the Sherfy barn. Captain A. P. Seeley, 111th New York, reported, "…As we emerged upon the open ground, we were met by a terrible storm of grape and canister...in obedience to the order of Colonel Willard, the regiment then came to the right-about, and at quick time, the rebel fire of shell and canister continuing, [the brigade] moved back...". More than 600 officers and men were killed or wounded in the charge and return through the swale. Colonel Willard, unfortunately, is included in that statistic. Just as brigade fell back east of the swale, "…A piece of shell carried away a part of his face and head and he fell from his horse instantly killed". [NY at Gettysburg, Vol. 2, 886]
Wilcox's brigade had also had enough, its commander reporting, "…without support on either my right or left, my men were withdrawn to prevent their entire destruction or capture. The enemy did not pursue, but my men retired under a heavy artillery fire…."
The artillery fire mentioned was probably "friendly fire" overshoots from Jordan's and Woolfolk's guns.
Part 2: Maps 7:12 p.m., 7:23 p.m. 7:37 p.m. p.m.
At about 7:12 p.m., General Hancock had reached the point where he reported that he, "… put in Willard's brigade which had been previously sent to General Birney by General Meade's order…." Hancock's statement would seem to indicate that while Willard's brigade had completed its leftward movement, it had not yet advanced against the enemy. However, this was not true. Willard had started the 125th and 126th New York regiments forward just minutes before Hancock arrived and was advancing in a southwestern direction, potentially leaving his right flank exposed to possible flanking movement from Wilcox's 10th Alabama.
Captain Phillips, 5th Massachusetts Battery, hadn't noticed any infantry nearby when he first took position on the "McGilvery line". However, "...In 20 minutes or half an hour I noticed some troops on our right and front moving by the left flank and finally advancing a little, but I could not make out who they were, though I have always had an impression they belonged to the 2d Corps." (Phillips' and Thompson' guns had gone into position at 6:45 p.m.) Through the battle smoke, Phillips had probably glimpsed the 125th and 126th New York moving toward Barksdale's disordered line.
Upon not immediately finding Willard, Hancock galloped up to Colonel McDougall, 111th New York, and ordered his regiment, "…to the right in great haste, to charge the rebel advance, which had broken through our lines on the right of the Third Brigade and had advanced between 20 and 30 rods beyond our lines, and was in the act of turning the right flank of the brigade." Looking for additional support, Hancock sent an aide back to Meade's headquarters (resulting in Newton's 1st Corps being sent) while he and his aide, Captain Miller, proceeded north only to find Wilcox's Alabamians advancing through the still unprotected interval in the Federal line.
Fired upon by the Confederates, Miller was twice wounded while Hancock, determined to find immediate reinforcements, was able to successfully dodge the rebel bullets. Coming upon the 1st Minnesota's eight companies lying prone in battle line (unnoticed by Hancock when he earlier rode south along the line), Hancock gave the terrible order that had to be given. It was about 7:20 p.m. when the 1st Minnesota started forward "to take the colors" of the enemy brigade advancing toward them.
By 7:23 p.m. the 111th New York had joined its left with the right of the 126th York and the three regiments were forcing Barksdale's Mississippians back. Any opportunity presented to the 10th Alabama for a flanking movement had now passed and the Rebel brigade's attention was most likely diverted by the coincidental advance of the 1st Minnesota against its center.
A short time earlier, the commanding officer of the 39th New York had been approached by Captain Fassett of General Sickles' staff who impressed upon Major Hildebrandt the necessity of recapturing Battery I, 5th U. S. from the Confederates. One of the battery's officers, Lieutenant Peeples, had flagged down the mounted Fassett and pointed out the danger posed by the guns in Confederate hands to the 3rd Corps troops (Brewster's and Carr's brigades) then in the process of reforming. Rightfully reluctant to leave his assigned position, Major Hildebrandt only consented to do so when Fassett gave the order in the name of General Hancock.
By 7:37 p.m., the 39th New York had succeeded in reclaiming Watson's battery from the small party of Confederates apparently left behind to bring the captured guns off the field (the rest of the 21st Mississippi had fallen back to take up a defensive position just north of Trostle's woods).
The rest of Barksdale's brigade was in full retreat, its commander lying mortally wounded as the victorious "Harper Ferry Cowards" swept over and past him. Changing their forward direction to the right, the New Yorkers unfortunately presented a tempting target for Woolfolk's and Jordan's guns on the high ground opposite the Sherfy barn. Captain A. P. Seeley, 111th New York, reported, "…As we emerged upon the open ground, we were met by a terrible storm of grape and canister...in obedience to the order of Colonel Willard, the regiment then came to the right-about, and at quick time, the rebel fire of shell and canister continuing, [the brigade] moved back...". More than 600 officers and men were killed or wounded in the charge and return through the swale. Colonel Willard, unfortunately, is included in that statistic. Just as brigade fell back east of the swale, "…A piece of shell carried away a part of his face and head and he fell from his horse instantly killed". [NY at Gettysburg, Vol. 2, 886]
Wilcox's brigade had also had enough, its commander reporting, "…without support on either my right or left, my men were withdrawn to prevent their entire destruction or capture. The enemy did not pursue, but my men retired under a heavy artillery fire…."
The artillery fire mentioned was probably "friendly fire" overshoots from Jordan's and Woolfolk's guns.
Forum Host
Bringing the