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| Catain William Saxton, Company C, 157th Regiment, New York Volunteers. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 29, 1903.
WAR REMINISCENCES.
By Captain Saxton of the 157th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.
PREPARING FOR GETTYSBURG.
Union Army Still Marching North to Head Lee Off—Loyal Friends by the Wayside—Soldier Deserts to Enter the Harvest Field—Both Armies Centering About Gettysburg—Confederate Requisitions on York, Pa.—Relative Position of the Armies—The First Shot Fired.
CHAPTER 33.
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir—Thursday, June 25, 1863—We marched up the left bank of the Potomac [river] toward Harper's Ferry. We passed numerous wheat fields some ready to harvest and some already out and in the shock.
We crossed the Monocacy river on the aqueduct for the canal. This was a splendid piece of masonry. It rained in the afternoon. We turned north and camped at night at Jefferson, Md.
The First Corps marched to Barnesville, Md. The Third to the mouth of the Monocacy; Stahl's cavalry division started for Frederick. Part of Ewell's Corps and one brigade of Confederate cavalry was enroute for Carlisle, Pa. Part of the Hill's Corps were at Hagerstown. Part of Longstreet's crossed the Potomac at Williamsport.
Friday, June 26. It rained during the night. I went to a house and bought a canteen full of milk, and when I asked the lady how much it was she said about "a bit." That was the first time I ever heard the expression and I told her she would have to talk United States to me for I did not know how much "a bit" was. She said 12 1/2 cents.
Soldier Goes Harvesting.
At 9 o'clock orders came that we would remain here all day, which was very welcome as my feet were blistered and I was lame and sore; but within an hour we were on the march again. As Co. C fell in for marching, there lay a knapsack, gun and accoutrements in a pile, but the soldier belonging to them was gone. He concluded that he would rather go harvesting than soldier any more inasmuch as there was a prospect of a big fight ahead, not many days off. When we came back from Gettysburg, one day a cavalry escort marched this man to our regiment and turned him over to the Colonel. They had picked him up in a harvest field where he had hired out to a farmer. We needed men then so badly that he was furnished a gun and put into the ranks and the offense overlooked but not forgotten.
Back Among Loyal Friends.
We passed through the town, saw some fair houses, and pretty girls standing at the gates watching us pass by. It rained nearly all day long. Near night we came to Middletown and passed through. Many demonstrations of loyalty were manifested. Handkerchiefs were waved, flags displayed, and it seemed almost like getting back into God's country again to find we were among friends once more.
We camped a mile out of town. Gen. Hooker's headquarters were moved to Poolville; the First Corps moved to Jefferson; the Second to Point of Rocks, the Eleventh to Middletown, Md.; the Twelfth to the mouth of the Monocacy; Buford's and Gregg's cavalry to Lundburg, Va.; the Pennsylvania militia had a skirmish with the Johnnies near Gettysburg.
Part of Ewell's Corps moved to Mummasburg; Gordon's brigade entered Gettysburg and occupied it a few hours. Most of the Confederate troops were near Green Castle.
Saturday, June 27. Laid in camp all day. Dr. Barnes and others of the Seventy-sixth visited us.
Gen. Hooker's headquarters were moved to Frederick, Md.
The First and Third Corps moved to Middletown; the Second to Barnesville, the Fifth to Frederick; the Sixth to Poolville; the Twelfth to Knoxville; Buford's cavalry to Jefferson; Gregg's and Stahl's to Frederick; the Pennsylvania Reserves to mouth of the Monocracy; Rodes' and Johnson's divisions of Ewell's Corps moved to Carlisle; Early's to Berlin; Longstreet's Corps to Chambersburg; Stuart with three brigades of cavalry crossed the Potomac between Edwards' Ferry and Georgetown and captured an immense train of Uncle Sam's commissary stores.
Broad View of the Army.
Sunday, June 28.—Orders came to prepare for a hard campaign, to wash and mend our clothes, as we would probably stay there all day. I washed my clothes and had got just back to camp when we were ordered to move. We marched through Middletown, turned to the east and crossed the mountain to Frederick and encamped a mile out of town, Today I had another opportunity of seeing a large number of troops. Middletown lies midway between South mountain on the west and the Catoctin mountains on the east. When we had arrived at the top of the Catoctin range we could look back for five or six miles and see into Middletown, and as far as we could see, forward and backward, the road was filled with marching soldiers in blue.
Gen. Hooker was relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac and Gen. Mead, the former commander of the Fifth Corps, appointed in his stead, Gen. Sykes succeeded to the command of the Fifth Corps.
The First, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps moved to Frederick; the Second to Monocacy Junction; the Third to Woodborough; the Fifth and Pennsylvania reserves to Ballinger creek; Buford 's cavalry moved to Middletown; Gregg's to Ridgeville; Stahl's formed the third division of the Cavalry Corps.
Part of Ewell's Corps were at York, part at Carlisle; Jenkin's cavalry was opposite Harrisburg; Stuart was between Hooker and Washington at Brookville.
Soap in the Frying Pan.
Monday, June 29. At daylight we started for Emmetsburg, 25 miles away. It rained nearly all day and the mud made it hard marching.
My feet became blistered again. We arrived near Emmetsburg at dark, tired and lame. In the darkness I emptied the contents of my haversack into my frying pan and tried to make a little stew for supper. When it was cooked I devoured it greedily but thought it tasted a little queer. I had accidently gotten my piece of soap into the pan—and—and crawled out of my pup tent, and—went to bed supperless.
Concentrating About Gettysburg.
Gen. Mead moved his headquarters to Middleburg; the First and Eleventh Corps moved to Emmetsburg; the Third and Twelfth to Taneytown; the Second to Uniontown; the Fifth to Liberty; the Sixth to New Windsor. Stuart's cavalry had marched north to Union mills between Mead and Baltimore; Lee had issued orders for his army to concentrate around Gettysburg.
Tuesday, June 30.—We moved camp about 2 miles. It rained considerably. My feet are still very sore. Gen. Mead moved his headquarters to Taneytown. The First Corps moved to Marsh Run.
There was a cavalry fight at Hanover and a skirmish near Harrisburg. Two brigades, Gamble's and Devin's of Buford's division of cavalry, marched from Emmetsburg to Gettysburg.
Confederate Requisitions.
In order that you may know what the Confederate army was doing while in Pennsylvania, I will cite you one example of what Gen. Early of Ewell's Corps demanded of the citizens of York, Pa., under penalty of burning the town, and it will give you an idea of what they did in the towns through which they passed besides taking all the horses and mules they could find in the country:
"June 28th, 1863. Required for the use of Gen. Early's division, 165 barrels of flour, 28,000 pounds of baked bread, 3,500 pounds of sugar, 1,660 pounds of coffee, 300 gallons of molasses, 1,200 pounds of salt, 32,000 pounds of fresh beef or 21,000 pounds of bacon or pork. The above articles to be delivered at the market house on Main-st. at 4 p. m.
Wm. W. Thornton, Capt. and A. C. S.
"Two thousand pairs of boots and shoes, 1,000 pairs of socks, 1,000 felt hats and $100,000 in money. C. E. Snodgrass, Maj. and Chief Q. M., Early's Div.
"Approved, and the authorities of the town of York will furnish the above articles, and the money required for which certificates will be given.
Talk about Ben Butler in New Orleans; what do you think of Early? And this is only a single instance of which many more might be given.
Confederates' Fatal Move.
The invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by the Confederate army was planned by Gen. Lee for a checkmate to Gen. Grant's move around Vicksburg. It was expected that this would neutralize Grant's movement and cause the Union armies to be withdrawn from many southern points they occupied.
The result proved that it was a fatal move, and the Confederacy not only lost Vicksburg and the Union armies were not withdrawn from their southern posts, but Lee himself was badly beaten.
Not only was Gen. Lee out-generaled and defeated, but the army of the Potomac gained in morals and prestige; something that Gen. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia could never afterward overcome.
Indeed we came away from Chancellorsville feeling, if given a fair chance, we were able to whip Lee's army, and we longed for an opportunity to meet them on equal terms.
Confederate Plans.
Before starting on this campaign, Generals Lee and Longstreet had consulted together and it was understood that Lee was not to attack the Union army, but when the time for battle came, as come it certainly would, Lee was to try and out-general the Union army and to place his army in such a position as to compel the Union commander to attack him in a position of his own choosing.
Gen. Longstreet thought that if Gen. Lee had not changed his mind at Gettysburg, and decided to attack instead of selecting a position and being attacked, the result would have been a great Confederate victory, but—"The best laid schemes o'mice and men, gang oft a-głey," and his conclusions were drawn without consulting Gen. Mead and the Army of the Potomac.
Neither Gen. Lee nor Gen. Mead had planned to fight a battle at Gettysburg. Indeed Gen. Meade had indicated a position behind Pipe creek, fourteen miles south of Gettysburg as a favorable position, and an advisory order had been issued to his Corps commands as to what they were to do, in case that place was finally chosen. Events controlled the movements of both armies in a manner different from what they had planned.
Geography of Gettysburg.
Before entering on a description of the battle of Gettysburg let us try to get acquainted with the roads leading to that place. Gettysburg was the county seat of Adams county. It was a town of about 3,000 inhabitants. It was a place of centering roads. About a dozen radiated from its center like spokes of a wheel. These roads are called by the name of an important town on them. From the north, one comes in from Carlisle, 25 miles away; from the northeast, one from York, 20 miles distant; from the east, one from Hanover, 25 miles; from the southeast the Baltimore Pike; from the south, the road from Taneytown, 15 miles; from the southwest, the road from Emmetsburg 12 miles; from the west, the road from Hagerstown; from the northwest the road from Chambersburg, 24 miles. From the north-northwest, the road from Mummasburg.
Confederate Position.
Wednesday, July 1st. finds the Confederate army concentrating toward Gettysburg.
Gen. Ewell with two divisions of his Second Corps and Jenkins' brigade of cavalry had retired from York and Carlisle and bivouacked at Heidlersburg eleven miles north of Gettysburg on the Carlisle road, his other division was 21 miles west of Gettysburg. Longstreet's First Corps was at Chambersburg, 24 miles west of Gettysburg, where also Gen. Lee had his headquarters. Stuart with three brigades of cavalry, who had marched around the Union right was still endeavoring to unite with Lee's army by the way of York and Carlisle.
The Union Army.
The Union army was more widely separated still: The Sixth Corps, Sedgwick's with Gregg's division of cavalry was at Manchester, 30 miles southeast of Gettysburg on the Hanover road, Kilpatrick's division of cavalry was midway between the Sixth Corps and Gettysburg on the same road; the Fifth Corps, Sykes, (formerly Mead's) was at Union Mills on the Baltimore Pike, 17 miles southeast from Gettysburg. The Twelfth Corps, Slocum's, was five miles near Gettysburg on the same road at Littlestown. Slocum had command of the right center: the Fifth and Twelfth Corps.
The Second Corps, Hancock's, was at Uniontown, 16 miles south of Gettysburg on the Taneytown road, 6 miles further south than Taneytown, where Gen. Mead had his headquarters.
The Third Corps, Sickles, was at Bridgeport on the road from Taneytown to Emmetsburg, 15 miles from Gettysburg. The Eleventh Corps, Howard's (ours) was at Emmetsburg 12 miles southwest of Gettysburg. The First Corps, Reynolds', was along the road from Emmetsburg to Gettysburg, the advanced division being at Marsh Run, 5 miles away. Reynolds had command of the left wing: the First, Eleventh and Third Corps.
Two brigades of Buford's cavalry, Gamble's and Devin's, had arrived at Gettysburg the day before and that night had thrown out pickets on all the roads from the west to north. Gen. Meade, unconscious of Gen. Lee's concentrating movement, had ordered Reynolds with the left wing to move to Gettysburg.
First Shot Fired.
The Ninth New York cavalry of Devin's brigade along with others was on picket that night, their line extending from the Chambersburg road around to the north. Corporal Alpheus Hodges and three others formed the vidette post on the Chambersburg road. About 5 a. m. they saw some persons coming on the road a mile away, and Hodges sent his comrades back to rouse the reserves, while he rode on across Willoughby run to see who they were. When near enough he discovered they were Confederate infantrymen and as he wheeled to return they fired on him. Under cover of the bridge he returned the shots firing several times. His were the first shots on the Union side, fired in the battle of Gettysburg. In a skirmish, a little latter, Cyrus W. James of Co. G, Ninth N. Y. cavalry was killed and he was the first man killed in the battle of Gettysburg, on the Union side. W. S.
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