Creek, they found Johnson in possession of their intrenchments, and immediately prepared to drive him out at daylight.
It had been ordered that when Johnson engaged Culp’s Hill, Early and Bodes should assault Cemetery Hill. Early’s attack was made with great spirit, by Hoke’s and Avery’s brigades, Gordon’s being in reserve; the hill was ascended through the wide ravine between Cemetery and Culp’s hills, a line of infantry on the slopes was broken, and Wiedrieh’s Eleventh Corps and Rickett’s reserve batteries near the brow of the hill were overrun; but the excellent position of Stevens’s 12-pounders at the head of the ravine, which enabled him to sweep it, the arrival of Carroll’s brigade sent unasked by Hancock,— a happy inspiration, as this line had been weakened to send supports both to Greene and Sickles,— and the failure of Rodes to cooperate with Early, caused the attack to miscarry. The cannoneers of the two batteries, so summarily ousted, rallied and recovered their guns by a vigorous attack — with pistols by those who had them, by others with hand-spikes, rammers, stones, and even fence-rails — the “Dutchmen” showing that they were in no way inferior to their “ Yankee ” comrades, who had been taunting them ever since Chaneellorsville. After an hour’s desperate fighting the enemy was driven out with heavy loss, Avery being among the killed. At the close of this second day a consultation of corps commanders was held at Meade’s headquarters. I was not present, although summoned, but was informed that the vote was unanimous to hold our lines and await an attack for at least one day before taking the offensive, and Meade so decided.
THE THIRD DAY AT GETTYSBURG-— THE UNION SIDE.
BY HENRY J. HUNT, BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL, U. S. A.
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac.
These successes were:
1st. On the right, the lodgment at the bases of the Round Tops, the possession of Devil’s Den and its woods, and the ridges on the Emmitsburg road, which gave him the coveted positions for his artillery.
2d. On the left, the occupation of part of the intrenchments of the Twelfth Corps, with an outlet to the Baltimore pike, by which all our lines could be taken in reverse.
3d. At the center, the partial success of three of Anderson’s brigades in penetrating our lines, from which they were expelled only because they lacked proper support. It was thought that better concert of action might have made good a lodgment here also.
Both armies had indeed lost heavily, but the account in that respect seemed in favor of the Confederates, or at worst balanced. Pickett’s and Edward Johnson’s divisions were fresh, as were Posey’s and Mahone’s brigades of R. H. Anderson’s, and William Smith’s brigade of Early’s division. These could be depended upon for an assault; the others could be used as supports, and to follow up a success.
cock now brought up Willard’s brigade of the Second Corps. Placing the 39th New York in reserve, Willard with his other three regiments charged Barksdale’s brigade and drove it back nearly to the Emmitsburg road, when he was himself repulsed by a heavy artillery and infantry fire, and fell back to his former position nearthe sources of Plum Run. In this affair Willard was killed and Barksdale mortally wTounded. Meanwhile the 21st Mississippi crossed the run from the neighborhood of the Trostle house, and drove out the men of Watson’s battery (“I,” 5th United States), on the extreme left of McGilvery’s line, but was in turn driven off by the 39th New York, led by Lieutenant Peeples of the battery, musket in hand, who thus recovered his guns, Watson being severely wounded.
Blrney’s division once broken, it was difficult to stem the tide of defeat. Hood’s and McLaws’s division-excepting Barksdale’s brigade — compassed the Devil’s Den and its woods, and as the Federal reinforcements from other corps came piecemeal, they were beaten in detail until by successive accretions they greatly outnumbered their opponents, who had all the advantages of position, when the latter in turn retired, but were not pursued. This fighting was confined almost wholly to the woods and wheat-field between the Peach Orchard and Little Round Top, and the great number of brigade and regimental commanders, as well as of inferior officers and soldiers, killed and wounded on both sides, bears testimony to its close and desperate character. General Meade was on the ground active in bringing up and putting in reinforcements, and in doing so had his horse shot under him. At the close of the day the Confederates held the base of the Round Tops, Devil’s Den, its woods, and the Emmitsburg road, with skirmishers thrown out as far as the Trostle house; the Federáis had the two Round Tops, the Plum Run line, and Cemetery Ridge. During the night the Plum Run line, except the wood on its left front (occupied by Mc-Candless’s brigade, Crawford’s division, his other brigade being on Big Round Top), was abandoned; the Third Corps was massed to the left and rear of Caldwell’s division, which had reoccupied its short ridge, with McGilvery’s artillery on its crest. The Fifth Corps remained on and about Round Top, and a division [Ruger’s] which had been detached from the Twelfth Corps returned to Culp’s Hill.
When Longstreet’s guns were heard, Ewell opened a cannonade, which after an hour’s firing was overpowered by the Federal artillery on Cemetery Hill. Johnson’s division then advanced, and found only one brigade — Greene’s — of the Twelfth Corps in position, the others having been sent to the aid of Sickles at the Peach Orchard. Greene fought with skill and determination for two or three hours, and reinforced by seven or eight hundred men of the First and Eleventh corps, succeeded in holding his own intrenchments, the enemy taking possession of the abandoned works of Geary and Ruger. This brought Johnson’s troops near the Baltimore pike, but the darkness prevented their seeing or profiting by the advantage then within their reach. When Ruger’s division returned from Round Top, and Geary’s from Rock
MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK, U. S. A.
Commanding the Second Army Corps at Gettysburg. (From a photograph taken during the war, or soon after.)
ken up; Humphreys’s was slowly falling back, under cover of McGilvery’s guns; Anderson’s line was advancing. On its right Barksdale’s brigade, except׳ the 21st Mississippi, was held in check only by McGilvery’s artillery, to whose support Han-
When Sickles was wounded General Meade directed Hancock to take command of the Third as well as his own corps, which he again turned over to Gibbon. About 7:15 p. M. the field was in a critical condition. Birney’s division was now bro-