Brigades of Gettysburg: The Union and Confederate Brigades at the Battle of Gettysburg
704
Brigades of Gettysburg: The Union and Confederate Brigades at the Battle of Gettysburg
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Overview
- Learn about the paper brigade and the battle of Gettysburg in this incredible book
- Includes Gettysburg maps, maps of Antietam, artillery at Gettysburg, and more
- Based on first-hand accounts
Author Bradley M. Gottfried painstakingly pieced together each brigade’s experience at the Battle of Gettysburg. This brutal battle lasted for days and left soldiers with boredom and dread of what was to come when the guns stopped firing. Visual resources are also in Gottfried’s book, including Gettysburg National Military Park maps, Savas Beatie military atlas, and more.
Readers will experience every angle of this epic fight through stories of forced marches, weary troops, and the bitter and tragic end of the battle. This collection is a fascinating and lively narrative that empowers the soldiers who fought fiercely and died honorably. Every moment of the Battle of Gettysburg is in this comprehensive book.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781616084011 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Skyhorse |
| Publication date: | 02/01/2012 |
| Pages: | 704 |
| Sales rank: | 546,114 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.60(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
CORPS —
Major General John Reynolds/ Major General Abner Doubleday/ Major General John Newton
* * *
Not to be confused with the I Corps of the ill-fated Army of Virginia, Major General John Reynolds's I Corps of the Army of the Potomac was formed on September 12, 1862. The corps had the distinction of opening the battle of Antietam under General Joseph Hooker. It ran into several gritty Confederate divisions in the East Woods and Miller's cornfield and suffered horrendous losses before being withdrawn. The heavy losses continued at the battle of Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville was a reprieve for the corps, but by this point it had become a crack unit.
Reynolds had commanded the corps since September 29, 1862. A West Point graduate, he had had an illustrious military career up to the Gettysburg campaign. Reynolds and his brigade fought in the Seven Days battles, and he was captured at Gaines's Mill. Exchanged soon after, Reynolds returned to lead the Pennsylvania Reserve Division with distinction at Second Bull Run. He did not see action at Antietam, because Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin had Reynolds detached from the army to assist in the recruitment and organization of the militia during Lee's first invasion of the North. Returning to the army after the battle, Reynolds assumed command of the I Corps and led it at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Prior to appointing General George Meade to take over the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg campaign, Lincoln offered the command to Reynolds. The latter would not accept the position as long as Washington tied his hands. Lincoln was unwilling to turn over so much responsibility to a field officer, so Reynolds rejoined his corps.
The corps' long march to Gettysburg continued on June 28, when the men broke camp at Middletown, Maryland, and reached Frederick that night. The corps reached Emmitsburg on June 29 and camped just north of town. Reynolds thought a fight was imminent, so he selected high ground for the bivouac. The march on June 30 was much shorter — only about four miles to the banks of Marsh Creek, another strong defensive position. According to General Abner Doubleday, "it was General Reynolds's intention to dispute the enemy's advance at this point." During this period Reynolds commanded the army's right wing, composed of the I, III, and XI Corps.
Through a series of telegrams, Reynolds learned that the enemy was concentrating ahead of him. Galloping ahead of his men, Reynolds reached the battlefield at about 10:00 A.M., and sent a number of messages to General Meade and XI Corps commander General Oliver Howard. Reynolds brought up Wadsworth's 1st Division and Hall's battery, and his remaining two divisions hit the road around 90 to 120 minutes later. According to Doubleday, this action caused Wadsworth's two brigades to face the brunt of the initial Confederate onslaught alone and without support. Doubleday did not believe that Reynolds had any grand plan in mind, except to "simply to defend the two roads entering the town from the northwest and southwest, and to occupy and hold the woods between them." Wadsworth's two brigades were attacked by units of General Harry Heth's Division almost as soon as they deployed west of town on McPherson Ridge. After initial setbacks, Reynolds's men defeated two Confederate brigades, causing severe losses. Casualties on the Union side were also heavy — and included John Reynolds. Leading the 2nd Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade to its position, he yelled, "Forward men, forward for God's sake and drive those fellows out of those woods." He was struck by a minié ball and died almost instantly. Doubleday assumed command of the 1st Corps.
General Thomas Rowley, now in command of Doubleday's 3rd Division, formed his two brigades on either side of the Iron Brigade on McPherson Ridge, while Robinson's 2nd Division remained in reserve on Seminary Ridge at midday. The latter did not remain there long, as Rodes's Confederate Division (Second Corps) made its appearance on Oak Hill, forcing Doubleday to send first Baxter's Brigade, and then Paul's, to the right to extend the Federal line. The Confederate attacks were again piecemeal, allowing the outnumbered Federal troops to maintain their positions on McPherson Ridge and Oak Ridge. By 3:00 P.M. the Confederates had finally brought their immense manpower to bear on Doubleday's beleaguered I Corps. The coordinated attacks forced the I Corps to withdraw to Seminary Ridge and then to retreat into Gettysburg.
Unlike the XI Corps, which also battled the Confederates on July 1, Reynolds's men fought like tigers. Rather than make excuses or comparisons, the XI Corps veterans bestowed respect upon their comrades. For example, Private Andrew Sweetland of the 55th Ohio wrote, "I have believed since that day that the First Corps did the hardest and most persistent fighting of any organization in that army up to and including that day."
Reaching Cemetery Hill, Doubleday met General Winfield Hancock of the II Corps, who informed him that he had assumed command of the I and XI Corps. Doubleday was told to deploy his men, but confusion arose almost immediately when General Howard sent contradictory orders. "This occasioned at the time some little delay and confusion," wrote Doubleday. Fortunately, the enemy did not attack during this chaotic period. During the early morning hours of July 2, General John Newton of the VI Corps was ordered to take over the I Corps, forcing a bitterly disappointed Doubleday to return to his 3rd Division. The remainder of the battle found the I Corps on Cemetery and Culp's Hills. Several units were moved south to support the rest of the army on July 2 and 3, and Stannard's Brigade and two regiments of Rowley's (Biddle's) Brigade helped repulse Wright's Brigade (Anderson's Division, Third Corps) on July 2 and Pickett's Division (First Corps) on July 3. The corps left the battlefield on July 6. Although decimated, the men knew that their spirited defense had contributed to the defeat of Lee's army.
1ST DIVISION —
Brigadier General James Wadsworth
* * *
The 1st Division had four commanders from the time it was formed on September 12, 1862, until Brigadier General James Wadsworth assumed command on December 27, 1862. Wadsworth's life up to the Gettysburg campaign was unusual. Reared in a wealthy family and without formal military training or experience, Wadsworth climbed the command chart. Initially a volunteer on the staff of General Irvin McDowell, he was soon in command of a brigade and in the late winter of 1862 was placed in charge of the Washington defenses as military governor of the District of Columbia. While in the army, he was on the ballot to be governor of New York, but lost the election, probably because he did not campaign. His meteoric rise continued when in late December 1862 he became the commander of the 1st Division of the I Corps. The men loved him because he took care of them. Gettysburg would be his first real test as division commander.
The evening of June 28 found Wadsworth's Division camped in a meadow. Driving rain drenched the men, so the rail fences looked very tempting. A roaring fire could provide a welcome cup of coffee and dry clothing. Unfortunately, orders prohibited using fences for firewood. Realizing the plight of his men and being independently wealthy, Wadsworth sought out the farmer to purchase his fence. The farmer did not wish to sell, but Wadsworth finally convinced him that it was the right thing to do. The astronomically high amount of $250 also helped. "In less than three minutes every rail had left the fence ... and prolonged cheers for General Wadsworth fairly rent the heavens," noted one of the men. They had seen Wadsworth's first rule of command: "First protect your men."
The division broke camp on Marsh Creek at 8:00 A.M. on July 1. Cutler's Brigade led the column, followed by Meredith's Iron Brigade. When less than a mile from Gettysburg, at about 10:00 A.M., Reynolds ordered the men to the sound of the fighting. This meant crossing the fields to the left of Emmitsburg Road. Wadsworth immediately deployed three of Cutler's Regiments on the north side of Chambersburg Pike; the two others were on the south side of the road, near McPherson's farm buildings. The three regiments on the north side of Chambersburg Pike were almost immediately attacked by Davis's Brigade, approaching from the west. After less than half an hour, Cutler's Regiments were flanked and forced to retreat. On the opposite side of the road, the two remaining regiments battled skirmishers from Archer's Brigade. The Iron Brigade appeared and formed on their left in Herbst Woods. The left regiments of the Iron Brigade flanked Archer's Brigade, causing it to flee. A number of prisoners from Archer's Brigade fell into the Iron Brigade's hands, including its commander, General James Archer. The decisive victory permitted Cutler's two regiments on the south side of Chambersburg Pike, and the 6th Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade, to turn and take on Davis's Brigade, which was approaching from the north. Although taking heavy losses, the three regiments charged across Chambersburg Pike and captured over two hundred men in the unfinished railroad cut. By 11:00 A.M. Wadworth's two brigades had bested two Confederate brigades from Heth's Division.
The next attack on the Wadsworth's Division came around 3:00 P.M., when the Iron Brigade was again attacked by portions of Heth's Division, and Cutler's Brigade battled units from Rodes's Division. After initially holding their ground, both brigades were ultimately forced back to Seminary Ridge. A sharp encounter occurred there, but the division was again flanked, forcing it to withdraw to Cemetery Hill. The division was sent over to Culp's Hill the next day, where it helped battle Johnson's Division during the evening of July 2 and the morning of July 3. The division remained on the battlefield until July 6.
Without question, the stout defense of Wadsworth's Division helped buy time for the Union army to assemble at Gettysburg and ultimately defeat the Army of Northern Virginia.
* * * 1st Brigade — Brigadier General Solomon Meredith
Units: 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan, 2nd Wisconsin, 6th Wisconsin, 7th Wisconsin
Strength: 1829
Losses: 1153 (171-720-262) — 63%
Arguably the finest fighting unit in the Army of the Potomac, the Iron Brigade deserved both its name and its designation as the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps. The five western regiments had been forged into a formidable fighting force that was both feared and respected by the enemy. The men could be easily distinguished by their tall black Hardee hats, pinned back on one side and sporting a feather. "There was something of the 'Western' frontier mentality in all this, a quiet determination to see the job through with the same resolve it took to clear a field of stones, build a rail fence or wait out a Wisconsin winter," wrote two modern historians.
The brigade also had another distinction. At 6'7", its commander, Brigadier General Solomon Meredith, towered above any other officer in the army. Born in North Carolina, Meredith made his way north to Indiana as a young man and became a prosperous farmer and politician. Unfortunately, his leadership did not match his height, and many of his men and senior officers openly questioned his abilities.
The division began its final march to Gettysburg at 8:00 A.M. on July 1. Cutler's Brigade led the column, but the Iron Brigade was about a mile behind. As a result, the veterans of the two units fought over which of them actually led the column to Gettysburg, long after the battle ended. Detached to perform picket duty about two and a half miles up the road toward Gettysburg the night before, the 19th Indiana was ordered to "fall into its proper place in the column as it came marching by," reported its commander, Colonel Samuel Williams. This occurred between 8:30 and 9:00 A.M. The brigade marched toward Gettysburg in the following order: 2nd Wisconsin — 7th Wisconsin–19th Indiana–24th Michigan–6th Wisconsin.
Although the men knew that Lee's army was somewhere in front of them, they did not expect an immediate battle. The men were in good spirits, and songs broke out as they marched along. This quickly changed when up ahead "the sullen booming of the artillery and the white smoke of the exploding shells" told them that the enemy was nearby. The pace quickened, and the men knew that it was just a matter of time before they entered the fray. As the column approached Gettysburg, Lieutenant Colonel Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin ordered his drum corps to the front of his regiment and had the flags unsheathed. Within moments, the men were marching to the tune "The Campbells are Coming."
Upon reaching the Codori house at about 10:00 A.M., the brigade followed Cutler's Brigade to the left (west), across fields, toward the Lutheran seminary. The brigade band, which had been playing the tune "Red, White, and Blue," now changed to "Yankee Doodle." The men double-quicked across the open fields. The march was relatively easy because Cutler's men had already flattened the fences.
Passing the seminary, the column went by a two-gun section of Calef's battery tossing shells at the unseen enemy. Led by the 2nd Wisconsin, the Iron Brigade hurried toward McPherson Ridge. They could see Buford's cavalry division hotly engaged with the enemy. Except for the 19th Indiana, which had been on picket duty the night before, the men rushed toward the enemy with unloaded muskets. Some of the officers realized this fact almost too late. Colonel William Robinson of the 7th Wisconsin recalled that "we had not halted to load, and no orders had been received to do so, for the reason, I suppose that no one expected we were to be engaged so suddenly." Colonel Henry Morrow of the 24th Michigan ordered his men to halt to load, but the order was revoked by one of General Wadsworth's staff, who waved them toward Herbst Woods. Some of the officers ordered their men to load while sprinting to the front. Although a difficult task for green troops, the Iron Brigade accomplished this order without missing a step. As the last regiment in the column, the 6th Wisconsin, passed the seminary, a boyish-looking staff officer galloped up to its commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Dawes, with information that General Reynolds was dead and General Doubleday was now in command of the field.
Reynolds was still alive when the 2nd Wisconsin reached the crest of McPherson Ridge. He saw the line shudder when met by a volley from the 7th Tennessee and 14th Tennessee (Archer's Brigade, Heth's Division, Third Corps) that killed and wounded a number of men. Reynolds yelled, "Forward men, forward, for God's sake and drive those fellows out of the woods." He died soon after. Not waiting for the remainder of the brigade, the men plunged down the slope toward Archer's troops in the woods below, obliquing slightly to the right because of the intensing of the gunfire. The next regiment in line, the 7th Wisconsin, waited momentarily, while the 19th Indiana and then the 24th Michigan formed on its left. Through the dense smoke, Colonel Robinson of the 7th Wisconsin could not discern whether the shots being fired at his men were from the enemy, or from the 2nd Wisconsin, which was somewhere up ahead and to the right. While he was pondering what to do, a staff officer rode up. Robinson asked if he knew the identity of the troops in front of him. The staff officer merely pointed to the left; following his arm, Robinson saw a Confederate battle flag in the ravine below. The staff officer ordered Robinson to charge the enemy. Robinson first ordered a volley, then, drawing his sword, ordered his men to charge. They responded by rushing down the hill, yelling at the top of their lungs. Because there was no time to waste, the three regiments went into action en echelon.
While the 7th Wisconsin and part of the 19th Indiana smashed into Archer's front, the left of the 19th Indiana and the 24th Michigan overlapped the right of the Confederate line and circled around it. The battle flared on the banks of Willoughby Run. Realizing their peril, members of the 13th Alabama on the right of the Conferedate line either fell back or were captured. Within a matter of minutes, the entire right side of Archer's Brigade was rolled up and forced backward. Some hand-to-hand combat broke out, but most of the Confederates realized the futility of resisting an attack on their front, flank, and rear. Colonel Robinson recalled that "the enemy — what was left of them able to walk — threw down their arms, ducked through between our files, and passed to the rear." One of the Confederates purportedly yelled to his comrades, "That ain't no milishy! There's them damn black hats again — that's the Army of the Potomac."
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Brigades of Gettysburg"
by .
Copyright © 2012 Bradley M. Gottfried.
Excerpted by permission of Skyhorse Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Preface,
Battle of Gettysburg Maps,
UNION BRIGADES,
I Corps (Reynolds, Doubleday, Newton),
1st Division (Wadsworth),
1st Brigade (Meredith),
2nd Brigade (Cutler),
2nd Division (Robinson),
1st Brigade (Paul),
2nd Brigade (Baxter),
3rd Division (Doubleday, Rowley),
1st Brigade (Rowley, Biddle),
2nd Brigade (Stone),
3rd Brigade (Stannard),
II Corps (Hancock),
1st Division (Caldwell),
1st Brigade (Cross),
Irish Brigade (Kelly),
3rd Brigade (Zook),
4th Brigade (Brooke),
2nd Division (Gibbon),
1st Brigade (Harrow),
2nd Brigade (Webb),
3rd Brigade (Hall),
3rd Division (Hays),
1st Brigade (Carroll),
2nd Brigade (Smyth),
3rd Brigade (Willard),
III Corps (Sickles),
1st Division (Birney),
1st Brigade (Graham),
2nd Brigade (Ward),
3rd Brigade (de Trobriand),
2nd Division (Humphreys),
1st Brigade (Carr),
2nd Brigade (Brewster),
3rd Brigade (Burling),
V Corps (Meade, Sykes),
1st Division (Barnes),
1st Brigade (Tilton),
2nd Brigade (Sweitzer),
3rd Brigade (Vincent),
2nd Division (Sykes, Ayres),
1st Brigade (Ayres, Day),
2nd Brigade (Burbank),
3rd Brigade (Weed),
3rd Division (Crawford),
1st Brigade (McCandless),
3rd Brigade (Fisher),
VI Corps (Sedgwick),
1st Division (Wright),
2nd Division (Howe),
3rd Division (Newton, Wheaton),
3rd Brigade (Wheaton, Nevin),
XI Corps (Howard, Schurz),
1st Divison (Barlow, Ames),
1st Brigade (von Gilsa),
2nd Brigade (Ames),
2nd Division (von Steinwehr),
1st Brigade (Coster),
2nd Brigade (Smith),
3rd Division (Schurz, Schimmelfennig),
1st Brigade (Schimmelfennig, von Amsberg),
2nd Brigade (Krzyzanowski),
XII Corps (Slocum, Williams),
1st Division (Williams, Ruger),
1st Brigade (McDougall),
2nd Brigade (Lockwood),
3rd Brigade (Ruger, Colgrove),
2nd Division (Geary),
1st Brigade (Candy),
2nd Brigade (Kane, Cobham),
3rd Brigade (Greene),
CONFEDERATE BRIGADES,
First Corps (Longstreet),
McLaws's Division,
Kershaw's Brigade,
Barksdale's Brigade,
Semmes's Brigade,
Wofford's Brigade,
Hood's Division (Hood, Law),
Law's Brigade,
Robertson's Brigade,
Benning's Brigade,
Anderson's Brigade,
Pickett's Division,
Kemper's Brigade,
Armistead's Brigade,
Garnett's Brigade,
Second Corps (Ewell),
Early's Division,
Gordon's Brigade,
Hoke's Brigade (Avery),
Hays's Brigade,
Smith's Brigade,
Rodes's Division,
Daniel's Brigade,
Doles's Brigade,
Iverson's Brigade,
Ramseur's Brigade,
O'Neal's Brigade,
Johnson's Division,
Steuart's Brigade,
Nicholl's Brigade (Williams),
Walker's Brigade,
Jones's Brigade,
Third Corps (Hill),
Anderson's Division,
Wilcox's Brigade,
Mahone's Brigade,
Perry's Brigade (Lang),
Posey's Brigade,
Wright's Brigade,
Heth's Division(Heth, Pettigrew),
Pettigrew's Brigade,
Davis's Brigade,
Brockenbrough's Brigade,
Archer's Brigade,
Pender's Division (Pender, Lane, Trimble),
McGowan's Brigade (Perrin),
Lane's Brigade,
Scales's Brigade,
Thomas's Brigade,
Bibliography of Union and Confederate Brigades,
Index,