In compliance with orders, having recovered sufficiently from the events of July 5-7 of the year present, I have the honor herewith to submit a report of the operations of this division on those dates known hereto as the conflict of the Gettysburg Campaign.
On July 5th, in pursuance of the order to rejoin the army, the 44th Georgia, Company C, “The Johnson Guards” initiated maneuvers to approach Gettysburg, Pa. from the North and East, filtering into camp on the Hanover Turnpike just east of Benner’s Hill in a field on a farm belonging to Daniel Lady.
Having reconnoitered the area just three days prior I set out for supplies and forage upon arrival, frequenting the Farnsworth House with Corporal and Mrs Lordi, and returned to camp for a restful evening.
By Saturday morning our street was complete with canvas whereupon we uncased the colors, participated in battalion drill and awaited our call to action.
Shortly before eleven o’clock the brigade formed up and we marched towards the town of Gettysburg, having combined our forces with remnants of another unit under the leadership of Captain Robinson with myself accepting the breveted duties as second Sergeant. Skirmish fire in our front revealed Federal Cavalry in an unexpected position as well as Union batteries to our left front. To our right additional Confederate units advanced upon Federal infantry and likewise we advanced, inch by inch, joining in the fray. Slowly, the outnumbered Yankee vedettes began to fall back, time and again setting up new defensive positions. Vicious fighting took place as the growing battle ebbed and flowed with both sides mounting attacks and counterattacks. The volleys from our Brigade were crisp (as usual) and our fire was effective. The line of Union soldiers yielded ground in increments, abandoning the protection of a worm fence to our advance, whereby we, in turn, utilized their sacrifice to our advantage, and made it our own. Urged by our officers to “pour it into them” our fire remained hot, as volley after volley crossed the fields between the two armies. The taste and smell of spent powder, and the barking of musketry surrounded us and stimulated our senses, our only task being to load and fire.
Fallen bodies began to litter the earth as casualties mounted, whilst depleting ammo pouches slowed our fire. We left the “safety” of the rail fence to advance again, loading on the move, pushing the men in blue. Losses to our forces began to mount as I witnessed the fall of several of our gallant warriors. Our advance continued until, ultimately, we heard the bugle call of cease fire.
Turning to our flank we retired to camp for respite, recovery and resupply. Our rest was brief.
Mid-afternoon we were summoned to form up, marched to an open field and began our advance in glorious fashion. We were startled and our line interrupted by a sudden unexpected volley from concealed Federal units hidden from our view behind a stone wall in our front. A sheet of lead and smoke ripped into our line. Momentarily stunned and falling to the earth I witnessed massive casualties along our line and we were forced to fall back a whereupon many of our fallen became prisoners of our adversaries. That single volley had halted our advance and sent us reeling. A small contingent of the enemy tried to rush our lines only to become prisoners as well and were sent to our rear. Libby awaits them.
Under fire from Union artillery our brigade was obliqued left following the advance of another brigade, and when they wheeled right the whole of our army attacked a Union salient pouring fire upon the hapless northern units from two sides. This all out and well coordinated attack had extremely devastating effects to the Union. Federal losses were heavy and with a pincer movement the Union forces were virtually surrounded. With an overwhelming wave of Confederate Infantry coming straight at them the outlook was bleak. Nothing could stop the gray tide. The few remaining Union infantry knew there was no escape. Before being overtaken an officer of a Maine unit gathered his remaining men with orders not to surrender their flag, choosing instead to rip the banner into pieces, distributing them to each surviving gladiator to bear beneath their uniforms rather than surrender the flag to us. No tokens of victory from the 16th Maine fell into the hands of the Confederate troops that took them captive.
Complete in our victory we marched back to camp satisfied in our efforts with hopes of continuing our fortunes in the morrow.
Sunday morning Private Otter, Corporals Lordi and Downey, Sergeant Sasor and I visited the Daniel Lady barn where a vendor was in the process of creating daguerreotypes of some troops to the enjoyment of locals. To satisfy our desire to preserve our images to posterity we agreed to pose for the cameraman upon promise that he would provide us with copies of his ware. To date we remain patient in waiting for him (obviously a Yankee scoundrel) to complete his promise.
On our trek back to camp we came across a small contingent of Union boys who we determined had been pulled from the defenses of nearby Culps Hill to scout our position. Despite being outnumbered (but not outmanned) we taunted the youngsters with a cry of “Here we are boys, what are you gonna do about it?”. Taken by surprise the Lincoln youth, startled by our appearance, hesitated, then charged our positions and a close quarter skirmish with hand-to-hand combat occurred. We left the field and returned to camp well satisfied that we indeed had shown the boys the elephant and given them a tale to remember.
Around 2:30 we were summoned to take position on Culp’s Hill. Our efforts were to attempt a breakthrough of the Union line or to at least prevent the Yankees from pulling troops from that section to reinforce other areas. On our advance we encountered a grueling fire from the heights beyond. In response we introduced our opponents to a hail of fire and men began to fall. In the open meadow both armies met with some of the most destructive fire I have ever witnessed. Believing that the Federal defenders were demoralized and that an easy victory was within reach we started forward and met a devastating fire. Halting to return fire we became stationary targets and were mowed down like hay to the scythe, the unit to our right eliminated by a single blast of artillery fire. The 44th suffered losses as well and as the fighting ended we relinquished the field.
Shortly afterwards the 44th Georgia, Company C., and those who shared the field and camp with us, departed the fields of Gettysburg, headed home, to gather again when we hear the call, “To Arms”.
Respectfully submitted,
Corporal James Marshall
44th Georgia VI, Co. C, ANV, CSA
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