CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS VOLUME.

BOARDMAN, Rev. HENRY A., D.D., Philadelphia. BAILEY, Rear-admiral THEODORUS.

THE

HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

Vol. VI. SECOND SERIES.]

JULY, 1869.

[No. 1.

"to expedite matters. I rode full speed towards where I

I-THE PENNSYLVANIA CAMPAIGN OF "supposed General Meade to be, but met Colonel

1863.

GENERAL HUMPHREYS' REPORT.

Now FIRST PRINTED.

"returning from him; who informed me General Meade
"recalled his Order; and that I should occupy the position
"General Sickles had directed me to take. In a second, the
"Division went about face; retrod the ground, by the right
"flank, that hey had the moment before gone over by the
"left flank: and, then, moved forward to their position,
"along the Emmettsburg-road. The whole thing was done
"with the precision of a careful exercise; the enemy's ar-
"tillery giving effect to its picturesqueness. The Division,
"Brigade, and Regimental flags were flying of course.
"When he brought the recall of the Order from General
"Meade, Colonel informed me the Fifth Corps were

[In presenting this Report of Major-general ANDREW A
HUMPHREYS, now Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., we regret
that we cannot concede a larger space to the introductory
remarks of Major-general de Peyster, by whom that Report
was obtained for us. We must make an exception, how-
ever, in favor of an extract from a letter to General de
Peyster. It presents too vivid a picture of a masterly tac"moving to the Round Top, etc.
tical manœuvre not to meet the public eye. As a fighting"newed, an Aide of General Sickles, Colonel
Division-commander, as a proficient in the handling of a
Corps, as a consummate Chief-of-staff of the Army of the
Potomac, as an intrepid gentleman, as a faithful soldier,
and as a remarkable engineer, General Humphreys has no
superior. His Survey and Reports upon the Mississippi
will be a proud memorial of his engineering capacity, as
his military record, beginning with the Florida War, in 1836,
is a record which is without a stain, as rich in historic deeds
and services as "the sacred shield of Lancelot."

"Just as the forward movement of my Division was re

General Humphreys did not mention, in his official Report, his brief but beautiful temporary movement by the flank, in the direction of Round Top, when he moved forward, at four o'clock, to take position along the Emmettsburg-road, since it resulted in nothing and did not occupy more than from three to five minutes time. It was an interesting incident of the battle; and was prettily done. It was part of the movement of his Division into position, which Hancock and others, who saw it from the Cemetery crest, described as so beautiful a sight; the opening of the enemy's artillery upon the moving mass adding to the effect. Subsequently, Hancock often spoke of it, complimenting the commanding Division General.

Having written to General Humphreys in regard to the particulars of this elegant tactical manœuvre, he kindly answered:

"Since you wish an account of the incident here it is: • When, about four o'clock, I was moving forward to the "Emmettsburg-road, my first line in line-of-battle, the sec"ond line in Battalion in mass, an Aide-de-camp of General "Meade (the name escapes me, but the officer I know very "well, Ludlow, I think-Colonel Ludlow, tall, gentlemanly, a good officer-) rode to me from the direction of the Peach "Orchard, and gave me an Order from General Meade (who "he said was on the ground in the direction he came from) "to move at once towards the Round Top and occupy the ground there, which was vacant. Some reference was "made at the time, also, I think, to the intended occupation "of that ground by the Fifth Corps. I immediately gave "the Order, by my Aides, for the Division to move by the left "flank-a movement that was made at once, and with the "simultaneousuess of a single Regiment. The Order given, "I turned to Colonel (General MEADE 8 Aid) and re"quested him to ride at full speed to General Meade and "inform him that the execution of his Order, which I was "complying with, would leave vacant the position my Di"vision was ordered to occupy: pointing out, at the same "time, the ground that would then be left vacant; and "where the left of the Second Army Corps was; etc. I "then turned my attention to guiding my Division by the "shortest line towards the Round Top, which being done, HIST. MAG. VOL. VI. 1

-, a Hun"garian, brought me an Order from General Sickles to "move to the position I had been instructed to take. To "this officer, I made a brief explanation of the facts, which "I was about doing by one of my Aides to General Sickles. "at that very moment-the first one I could do so. My official Report is, of course, a lifeless affair, an "exact statement of facts which have a certain value, "but that which makes the thrilling interest of a battle is "the personal incident; and of that I could, if I had some "leisure, tell a good deal, but I feel fatigued, and unwell, "and quite unable to attempt a description of what took "place at Gettysburg, under my own eye, A battle so lifts "a man out of himself, that he scarcely recognizes his iden"tity when peace returns, and with it be quiet occupation. "During my recent visit to Gettysburg, at the dedication "of the Monument, [in July, 1869,] I walked quietly over "the ground I had occupied, fought over, moved over, slept "on. During the night of the second of July, I lay down "on the ground about ten feet to the left of my men, my "Staff being Captain McClellan, Lieutenant Humphreys, "wounded, and Lieutenant Christiancy. I drove out on "the Fairfield (Millerstown) pike or road, to the Black "Horse tavern; then to the road by which my Division "moved (advancing from Emmettsburg) and over the "ground it occupied when halted, from the highest part of "which 1 could see back, over the greater part of the dis"tance, to the bridge across Marsh-creek; then along "the road from the Black Horse-tavern which comes out "at the School-house (Potzer's) and the road by which I "got on to the Emmettsburg-road, at the Peach Orchard. "Along that road, Longstreet moved the next morning. I "saw the keeper of the Black Horse-tavern, Bream, and "his two sons, recognized them, and had a very interesting "talk. I did not make myself known until I had got him "to speak of my coming there with my Division. He evi"dently took me and my companion, Dr. Chase, of the En"gineers, from our dress (grey) and my evident amusement "at his narrative, for Southerners, or at least sympathizers, and colored his story accordingly: it being, also, in "tavern that night, I enquired as to the character of the "accord with his own sympathy. Before reaching the "keeper, and learned that his sympathies were not with "us, or not very strongly, at least; and I therefore relied on "what a young man, by the name of Boling, (a wounded "Union soldier, home on leave,) who was there, told me of "the enemy, etc.

"Bream says my troops made a great noise coming up, talking, etc., but went away so quietly he did not hear "them. Now this is not true; and I told him so. I knew

I was coming upon the enemy, and gave the caution to

"

be quiet. What he heard was the noise of the horses, and Second (2nd) Brigade rejoined the Division, having "artillery, and ambulances, crossing and wading up Marsh-been on picket on the eleventh, (12th), from which 66 run, (or Creek) which has a rocky bottom, and that una"voidable noise that troops make in crossing a deep wad66 ing-stream of irregular depth. Now the ambulances and artillery did the same thing in returning, and so did some of the Infantry; the other and greater part of the 44 Infantry did not recross but kept along the bank. "Bream appeared mortified and annoyed when I told him who I was, but I had a long talk afterwards with h's

66

44

sons.

it was not relieved until between midnight and the morning of the twelfth (12th). On the morning of the fourteenth, (14th), before daylight, it was marched to Kelley's ford, to relieve the detachment of the Fifth (5th) Corps, holding that ford.

On the evening of the fourteenth. (14th), in "It must have been Colonel Hayden who threatened "them and ordered supper. I did not do either; and, in- compliance with Orders from the Corps Command"deed, the more intelligent of the two sons mentioned to er, as soon as it was sufficiently dark to conceal me, that the enemy's picket line was about two hundred the movements of my troops, the Division was "feet from us, and would have given the alarm in ample "time to the main body, had I attempted to surprise. I concentrated on the railroads, and the march to "was right in not attempting it. The sons (indeed Bream Manassas junction was begun. I reached Cedar"himself) mentioned that I had not been gone ten minrun, near Catlett's-station, between seven (7) and "ates when a party of twenty or thirty of the enemy came up to the tavern and passed the night there. The chance eight (8) o'clock, A. M. of the fifteenth (15), of war: the day had been rainy and sultry, and the men where, by authority of the Corps Commander, the "longed for a few minutes more at each halt. Had I rode up to the Black Horse-tavern fifteen minutes later, with Division was halted for rest until two, (2), P. M., my party of five or six. virtually unarmed, what might when the march was resumed. It was painful in "not have been the result of a deliberate volley from "twenty or thirty muskets or rifles at the distance of twenty the extreme; for, owing to the long-continued "feet? Myself, Captain McClellan. my son Harry, Colonel drought, streams, usually of considerable magni"Hayden, and Doctor Ana, of Emmet sburg, and my little tude, were dried up; the dust lay some inches on "orderly, Deniond, were the party."] the roadway; and the fields were equally uncomfortable. The suffering from heat, dust, thirst, fatigue, and exhaustion was very great. It was near midnight, when the Division reached Manassas-junction, after a march, varying in the different Brigades, from twenty-five (25) to twentynine (29) miles.

GENERAL HUMPHREYS' REPORT.]
CAMP OF HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 16th, 1863.

Lieutenant-colonel O. H. HART,

Asst. Adjt. Gen'l. Third Corps.

COLONEL:

I submit for the information of the Major-general commanding the Third Corps, the following Report of the operations of my Division, (Second (2nd) Division, Third (3rd) Corps) during the recent campaign, up to the ninth (9th) of July, on the morning of which day I was relieved from the command of the Division, having been appointed Chief-of-staff at the Head-quarters of the Army.

On the eleventh (11th) of June, about midday, while encamped near Falmouth, Va., Orders were received by me from the Head-quarters of the Corps, to march at two (2) o'clock on the Warrentonroad, which Order was complied with, the Division bivouacing for the night at Hartwood church.

On the sixteenth, (16th), we remained at Manassas-junction, resting. On the seventeenth, (17th), marched to Centerville; and, on the nineteenth, (19th), to Gum-spring, where the Division remained until the twenty-fifth, (25th); when, at ten (10) o'clock, A. M., it marched to Edward's ferry, through Fairfarm and Franklinsville; and, crossing the Potomac on the ponton bridge, about five (5) o'clock, P. M, marched on the tow-path of the canal to the mouth of the Monocacy, reaching that point about midnight, after a march not less than twenty-five (25) miles; that portion on the tow path being rendered very fatigueing and exhausting by a heavy rain that set in at nightfall. The whole command, officers and men, were more exhausted by this march than by that of the fourteenth (14th) and fifteenth (15th).

The march was resumed the next morning, at six (6) o'clock, my Division leading. Upon arriving at Morrisville, I was directed to move to On the twenty-sixth, (26th), the Division marchthe Rappahannock-river and cover that part of it ed to the vicinity of the Point-of-Rocks and bifrom Wheatley's-ford, near Kelleysville, to Bev-vouaced on the farm of Doctor Duval, near the erly-ford. near the upper Forks; and to throw up such works and make such defensive arrangements as would render it impracticable for the enemy to cross in my front. It was past midnight of the twelfth, (12th), before my command, after a march of from twenty-two (22) to twentyfive (25) miles, was in position at all the fords, it having been posted under my own supervision. Rifle-pits and batteries were thrown up at the crossings; and the railroad-bridge was rendered impassable.

On the afternoon of the thirteenth, (13th), the

summit of the Katoctin-mountain. On the twenty-seventh, (27th), marched to the vicinity of Middletown, on the Hagerstown-pike, via Jefferson. On the twenty-eighth, (28th), marched through Frederic; crossed the Monocacy, three miles above; and bivouaced for the night, seven miles from that town, on the Woodsboro'-road.

On the twenty-ninth, (29th), marched to Taneytown, through Woodsboro' and Bruceville.

On the thirtieth. (30th), made a short march, after midday, on the road to Emmettsburg, bivou acing, about midnight, between the two places.

On the first (1st) of July, marched through Em- have heretofore indicated; bivouacing, at one (1) mettsburg, and halted, one (1) mile out of the town, | o'clock A. M., on the second (2nd) of July, about on the Waynesboro'-pike. While I was engaged one (1) mile from Gettysburg, and eastward of the in a careful examination of the ground in front Emmettsburg-road. of Emmettsburg, (which I had been requested, At an early hour of the morning, my Division verbally, by the commanding General of the was massed in the vicinity of its bivouac; facing Army, Major-general Meade, to make,) the Di- the Emmettsburg-road, near the crest of the vision was ordered, at half past three (34) o'clock, ridge running from the Cemetery of Gettysburg, to move up to Gettysburg, twelve (12) miles dis- in a southerly direction, to a rugged, conicaltant, where an engagement had taken place be- shaped hill, (which I find goes by the name of tween the two Corps of General Reynolds and Gen- "Round Top") about two miles from Gettysburg. eral Howard-the First (1st) and Eleventh (11th) At nine (9) o'clock, A. M., the Third (3d) Brigade, Corps-and the enemy. A Brigade, the Third, with Smith's Battery, joined the Division, having (3rd), and a Battery, Smith's, were left, in accord-been ordered up by Major-general Meade, comance with Orders, in position on the Waynesboro'- manding the Army. It marched by the main pike. I overtook the head of the Division-First road from Emmettsburg to Gettysburg. (1st) and Second (2nd) Brigades, with one Battery of Artillery (Seeley's)—one mile from the haltingground, and found Lieutenant-colonel Hayden, Assistant Inspector-general, Third (3rd) Corps, with some guides there, for the purpose of pointing out the route the Division was to follow. This was on a road nearly parallel to the main-road from Emmettsburg to Gettysburg; and about two (2) miles West of it. When half way to Gettysburg, a dispatch from General Howard to General Sickles, commanding Third (3rd) Corps, was delivered to me by Captain McBlair of the Staff, in which the latter General was warned to look out for his left in coming up to Gettysburg; and, about the same time, I learned from a citizen, who had guided part of General Reynold's Command, that our troops occupied no ground, near Gettysburg, West of the road from that town to Emmettsburg.

Shortly after midday, I was ordered to form my Division in line-of-battle, my left joining the right of the First (1st) Division of the Third (3rd) Corps, Major-general Birney commanding, and my right resting opposite the left of General Caldwell's Division of the Second (2nd) Corps, which was massed on the crest, near my place of bivouac. The line I was directed to occupy was near the foot of the westerly slope of the ridge I have already mentioned, from which foot-slope the ground rose to the Emmettsburg-road, which runs on the crest of a ridge, nearly parallel to the Round Top Ridge. This second ridge declines again, immediately West of the road, at the distance of five or six hundred yards, from which the edge of a wood runs parallel to it. This wood was occupied by the enemy; whose pickets were exchanging shots, from an early hour in the morning, with our pickets, thrown out beyond the road, on the westerly slope.

The front allotted to me admitted of my formadier-general James B. Carr, in line-of-battle, with one (1) Regiment of the Second (2nd) Brigade on its left-the Seventy-first (71st) New York (Second (2nd) Excelsior)--commanded by Colonel H. L. Potter. The Second (2nd) Brigade, commanded by Colonel W. R. Brewster, was formed in line of Battalions in mass, two hundred (200) yards in rear of the first line; and the Third (3rd) Brigade, commanded by Colonel George C. Builing, was massed two hundred (200) yards in rear of the second line, opposite its centre.

As we approached the crossing of Marsh-run, I was directed by General Sickles, through a Staffofficer, to take position on the left of Gettysburg, as soon as I came up. For reasons that will being the First (1st) Brigade, commanded by Brigapparent from this statement, I concluded that my Division should, from this point, follow the road leading into the main road to Gettysburg, reaching the latter road in about a mile and a half, and at a distance from Gettysburg, of about two miles, at a point now known as the Peach Orchard. But Lieutenant-colonel Hayden was positive that General Sickles had instructed him to guide the Division by way of the Black Horsetavern, on the road from Fairfield to Gettysburg. Accordingly, I moved the Division in that direction; but, upon approaching the Black Horse-tavern, I found myself in the immediate vicinity of the enemy, who occupied that road in strong force. He was not aware of my presence; and I might have attacked him, at daylight, with the certainty of at least temporary success; but I was three (3) miles distant from the remainder of the Army; and I believed such a course would have been inconsistent with the general plan of opera- A series of peach-orchards extended to the left, tions of the Commanding General. I according along the Emmettsburg-road, some distance bely retraced my steps and marched by the route Iyond the point where the road from Marsh-run

On the East side of the Emmettsburg-road, opposite the middle of my line, was a log-house surrounded by an orchard. This I occupied with the Seventy-third (73rd) New York-Fourth (4th) Excelsior, Second (2nd) Brigade-Major M. W. Burns commanding. This Regiment was subsequently relieved by the Sixteenth (16th) Massachusetts, First (1st) Brigade.

to General Hancock, commanding Second (2nd) Corps, (General Caldwell's Division having been sent to the extreme left) with the request that he would send a Brigade, if possible, to my support. Seeley's Battery had now opened upon the ene

crosses the Emmettsburg-road. This Marsh Runrond extended over to the Taneytown-road and Baltimore-pike, crossing the former just North of the Round Top. The ground occupied by my Division and in my front was open; communica tion with all parts of it had been made easy by re-my's Infantry as they began to advance: Turnmoving such of the fences as were in the way. Seeley's Battery-K of the Fourth (4th) United States Artillery-was placed at my disposal.

bull's Battery was likewise directed against them: and I was about to throw forward, somewhat, the left of my Infantry and engage the enemy with it. when I received orders from General Birney (General Sickles having been dangerously wound

Shortly after these dispositions were made, I was directed to move my Third (3rd) Brigade to the rear of the right of General Birney's Divis-ed and carried from the field) to throw back my ion, and make it subject to his orders for support; which was accordingly done. I was, at the same time, authorized to draw support, should I need it, from General Caldwell's Division, Second (2nd) Corps; and, by General Hunt, Chief of Artillery, was authorized to draw from the Reserve Artillery, should I require more.

About four (4) o'clock, P. M., in compliance with General Sickles's orders, I moved my Division forward so that the first line ran along the Emmettsburg-road, a short distance behind the crest upon which that road lies. At the same time, I ordered Lieutenant Seeley to place his Battery in position on the right of the log-house. As the Division moved forward in two lines, as heretofore described, the enemy opened with artillery, which enfiladed us from the left, and subsequently with artillery on our front-both with but little effect. In reply to my inquiry, whether I should attack, was directed to remain in position: Seeley's Battery was transferred to the left of the log-house and soon silenced the Battery in our front: the position he vacated was immediately occupied by a Battery-parts of F and K, Third (3rd) United States Artillery. While engaged in supervising the posting of this Battery I was severely wounded. The Division on my left was now engaged with the enemy's Infantry, | which, on my front, merely made demonstrations, but did not drive in my pickets. Colonel Sewall, commanding the Fifth New Jersey Volunteersof my Third (3rd) Brigade-reported to me at this time, and relieved the pickets of General Graham's Brigade, on my left, some of which extended over a part of my front.

left and form a line, oblique to and in the rear of the one I then held; and was informed that the First Division would complete the line to the Round Top Ridge. This I did under a heavy fire of Artillery and Infantry, from the enemy, who now advanced on my whole front. At this time, Colonel Sewall's Regiment returned to the line, having maintained, most gallantly, its position, on picket, with very heavy loss. Seeley's Battery remained to the last moment, withdrawing without difficulty, but with severe loss in killed and wounded, including its commander among the latter. His loss was two (2) enlisted men, killed; one (1) commissioned officer and nineteen (19) enlisted men, wounded; one (1) enlisted man, missing; and twenty five (25) horses, killed and disabled.

My Infantry now engaged the enemy's; but my left was in air (although I extended it as far as possible with my Second (2nd) Brigade) and being the only troops on the field, the enemy's whole attention was directed to my Division, which was forced back, slowly, firing as it receded. Lieutenant Turnbull fell back with the Infantry, suffering severe loss in men and horses, himself wounded. His loss was one (1) commissioned officer and eight (8) enlisted men, killed; and fourteen (14) enlisted men, wounded; one (1) enlisted man, missing; and forty-four (44) horses, killed.

The two Regiments sent me by General Hancock were judiciously posted by Lieutenant Christiancy, in support of my right. At this time, I received orders, through a Staff-officer, from General Birney to withdraw to the Round Top This Regiment had been posted but a short time, Ridge-an Order previously conveyed to Genwhen a most urgent request was made, by a Staff- eral Carr, commanding First (1st) Brigade on the officer of General Sickles, that another Regiment right, by General Birney, in person. This Order should be sent to the support of General Birney, I complied with, retiring very slowly, continu(Graham's Brigade), leaving it to me, however, ing the contest with the enemy, whose fire of Arto decide whether it could be sent. At this tillery and Infantry was destructive in the exmoment, Colonel Sewall sent me word that the en-treme. Upon arriving at the crest of the ridge emy were driving in my pickets and were about advancing in two lines to the attack. The demand for aid was so urgent, however, that I sent Major Burns-Fourth (4th) Excelsior-to General Graham's Brigade; and, at the same time, despatched one of my Aides, Lieutenant Christiancy,

mentioned, the remnants of my Division formed on the left of General Hancock's troops, whose Artillery opened upon the enemy, about one hundred (100) yards distant. The Infantry joined, and the enemy broke and were driven from the field, rapidly followed by Hancock's troops and