CETTYS URG 

ST FF RI E 

BRIEFING BOOK 

U.S. ARMY CENTER 

OF 

MILITARY HISTORY 
FOREWORD 

Buford came to Gettysburg late one night 

Riding west with his brigades of blue horses, 

While Pettigrew with his North Carolinians 

Were moving east toward the town with a wagon-train, 

Hoping to capture shoes. The two came in touch. 

Benet, John Brown's Body 

If neither General Meade nor General Lee planned to fight at Gettysburg, how did it 

happen that the first three days of July 1863 were to become arguably the most important 

span in the Civil War? That question cannot be fully answered without viewing McPherson's 

Ridge or Oak Hill, nor can one really understand the urgency of Chamberlain's bayonet 

charge nor the audacity of Pickett's division at the Angle without visiting those places. 

Accordingly, the purpose of a Gettysburg staff ride is to visit these and other locations on 

the battlefield and analyze the battle through the eyes of the men who were there, both leaders 

and rank and file soldiers. Hopefully, by understanding the actions, inactions and reactions of 

commanders and their troops in real situations we may gain insights into the human condition 

under stress and decision making during combat. 

In 1906, Major Eben Swift took twelve officer-students from Fort Leavenworth's General 

Service and Staff School to the Chickamauga Battlefield on the Army's first staff ride. Since 

then staff rides have been used to varying degrees in the education of Army officers, usually 

in the formal school system to add realism to training and narrow the gap between peacetime 

and war. The staff ride, therefore, not only assists participants to understand the realities of 

war, it is mental training for warfighting. Indirectly, it enhances unit readiness. 

In summary, the staff ride is a training method which commanders can use for the 

professional development of their subordinates and to enliven the unit's esprit de corps -

constant objectives of all commanders in peacetime. 

At some time in their careers most officers have memorized the in-vogue principles and 

maxims of military art, probably without fully understanding or analyzing them. Now, 

whether you think of yourself as a tactician, operational artist, strategist, or just a soldier as 

you walk the battlefield, you should search for those principles and human characteristics 

which do not change over time. Place yourself in the minds of the leaders in the battle, 

analyze their decisions and determine if they could have done better. In this way you can fix 

in your mind the principles and thought processes that must be second nature to you in the 

crisis of combat. 

We are convinced that the staff ride is the one of the best ways to do this. 

Billy Arthur Ted Ballard 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

"The Gettysburg Campaign" ............................................................................................................ 1 

Order of Battle - Army of the Potomac ........................................................................................ 15 

Order of Battle - Army of Northern Virginia ............................................................................... 23 

Casualties ......................................................................................................................................... 29 

Organization .................................................................................................................................... 30 

Logistics ........................................................................................................................................... 32 

Small Arms ..................................................................................................................................... 35 

Artillery ............................................................................................................................................ 37 

Tactics .............................................................................................................................................. 42 

Gettysburg weather reports ............................................................................................................. 44 

Selected Biographical Sketches of Union Leaders: 

Lincoln ........................................................................................................................................ 46 

Stanton ........................................................................................................................................ 48 

Halleck ......................................................................................................................................... 49 

Meade ........................................................................................................................................... 50 

Chamberlain ................................................................................................................................ 52 

Hancock ....................................................................................................................................... 53 

Howard ......................................................................................................................................... 54 

Reynolds ...................................................................................................................................... 55 

Sedgwick ...................................................................................................................................... 57 

Sickles .......................................................................................................................................... 58 

Slocum .......................................................................................................................................... 59 

Sykes ............................................................................................................................................. 61 

Selected Biographical Sketches of Confederate 

Leaders: 

Davis ............................................................................................................................................. 62 

Lee ................................................................................................................................................ 63 

Ewell ............................................................................................................................................ 65 

Hill, A. P. ................................................................................................................................... 66 

Longstreet .................................................................................................................................... 67 

Pickett .......................................................................................................................................... 68 

Stuart ............................................................................................................................................ 69 

Map - United States in 1861 .......................................................................................................... 71 

Chronology of Events of the Civil War - 1863 ............................................................................. 72 

Chamberlain and the 20th Maine at Little Round Top ................................................................. 73 

Selected reports and cables ............................................................................................................. 87 

ii 
THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 

"Extracted from The West Point Atlas of American Wars, Volume I, 1689-1900, and 

printed with permission of the Department of History, U.S. Military Academy." 

FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY 

Following the Battle of Chancellorsville, Hooker's and Lee's contending armies 

resumed their former positions along the opposite banks of the Rappahannock River. Hooker 

was temporarily restricted to the mission of ensuring the safety of Harpers Ferry and 

Washington. On the Confederate side, morale was at its highest pitch. Chancellorsville had 

been a deceptive victory; a feeling of invincibility spread through the Army of Northern 

Virginia. 

It was now a far stronger army than the one Hooker had faced at Chancellorsville. 

The Confederacy's conscription enabled Lee to fill up his weakened veteran regiments, and 

new, relatively untrained regiments were brought up from the Carolinas. Accordingly, he had 

reorganized the Army of Northern Virginia into three infantry corps--commanded respectively 

by Longstreet, Ewell, and A. P. Hill--and Stuart's oversized cavalry division. (It might be 

well to note here that, for at least the first three years of the war, the average Southern corps 

and division had almost twice as many men as their Northern counterparts.) Each division 

now had its own battalion of artillery. The whole organization was efficient and flexible, but 

the excellent combat units were not backed up by well-organized staffs or an efficient service 

of supply. 

The over-all military situation shown here was not promising for the Confederacy. 

The Army of the Potomac was still strong, and Lee knew that it was only a matter of time 

until it would launch a new offensive. The Federal naval blockade was becoming 

increasingly tight, and one after another of the Southern seaports was being occupied in a 

series of minor amphibious operations. Though such expeditions drew troops from the main 

Federal armies, they also pinned down almost equal numbers of Confederates and provided 

beachheads from which attacks inland might be launched. 

In the center, Rosecrans and Bragg neutralized one another for the time being, but the 

war along the Mississippi River was definitely being lost by the Confederacy. Grant, after 

several failures, had driven Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton into Vicksburg, where he now held 

him under siege. Downstream, New Orleans had been captured by Rear Admiral David G. 

Farragut in April, 1862, and now Banks (of Shenandoah Valley experience) was besieging 

Port Hudson. Only between Vicksburg and Port Hudson could the eastern and western 

sections of the Confederacy maintain a tenuous connection--and this only in the absence of 

prowling Federal gunboats. Lee had skillfully defended the Confederacy's front door, but 

behind him various Federal commanders were steadily making serious inroads. 

There were operations in minor theaters. Pope was stamping out a major Sioux 

uprising. War with other tribes flickered across the trails to California, killing soldiers as 

effectively as Chancellorsville or Shiloh (and sometimes far more brutally). In Missouri, 

Kansas, and Arkansas, an even more savage guerrilla struggle smoldered; neither side fought a 

1 
"gentlemen's war," the Confederate effort in particular being tainted by gangs of professional 

criminals, such as that of Charles Quantrill. 

In Virginia, Longstreet weighed the situation of the Confederacy and offered a 

solution--to consider the war as a whole, instead of as a series of separate theaters. He 

reasoned: the South still retained interior lines and could therefore shift troops by railroad 

from one theater to another faster than the Federals could; Lee could leave Ewell and Hill to 

contain Hooker, move west with Longstreet's corps and all other available eastern troops, 

incorporate Bragg's, Buckner's, and Johnston's forces into his army, and throw the whole 

against Rosecrans; a victory there would paralyze the North; Grant undoubtedly would be 

recalled from Vicksburg. 

This proposal had possibilities, though it overrated the capabilities of the Confederate 

railroads. But Lee had gone to war primarily to defend Virginia, and he hesitated to concern 

himself with matters outside the area of his command. Lee's own plan was simple: defensive 

strategy would never win the war; therefore, invade the North. Hooker's position was too 

strong to attack, but the threat of an invasion would force him to leave it. That done, Lee 

was confident of inflicting a decisive defeat upon him which might end the war. Also, 

between natural shortages and chronic ineptness of the Confederate supply system, Lee's 

troops were in constant want. Across the river, in Maryland and Pennsylvania, there were 

ample resources of food and clothing. 

So Lee began shifting his army quietly westward for an advance up the Shenandoah 

and Cumberland Valleys. By holding the passes in the Blue Ridge and South Mountains, he 

could both screen his advance and protect his supply line. A. P. Hill's corps remained around 

Fredericksburg, spread thin to keep Hooker thinking that the whole Confederate army was still 

there. 

Hooker's nerve might fail in a crisis, but he had the instincts of a good commander, 

and his staff included an efficient intelligence section. By late May, he had indications of 

Lee's general plan. His first reaction (5 June) was to cross the river as soon as Lee moved 

west and to attack A. P. Hill. His second inspiration (10 June) was to move directly on 

Richmond. Lincoln and Halleck vetoed both plans, stating that Lee's main army must be the 

objective. On 5-6 June, Hooker sent Sedgwick across the river to test the Confederate 

strength in the Fredericksburg area. Hill reacted aggressively and convinced Sedgwick that 

the main Confederate army was still there. Dissatisfied with this report, Hooker ordered 

Pleasonton (now commanding the Cavalry Corps) on a reconnaissance toward Culpeper 

Stuart's cavalry division lay at Brandy Station with orders to march west on 10 June. 

Early on 9 June, Pleasonton suddenly arrived, taking Stuart completely by surprise. This 

started the biggest cavalry fight in American history--a highly confused affair with some 

10,000 sabers on each side. Late in the afternoon, Stuart slowly began to get the upper hand, 

and Confederate infantry appeared. Pleasonton therefore withdrew--his mission accomplished-

-to report that large forces of infantry were around Culpeper and that Stuart had marching 

orders. Stuart did not pursue. This fight encouraged Federal cavalrymen. Though they had 

frequently done as well, or better, this was their biggest fight yet. 

Hooker began shifting his forces farther west. On the 13th, at last certain that Lee was 

moving into the Shenandoah, he moved his army swiftly and efficiently toward Manassas. As 

his rear guard left Falmouth, (Fredericksburg), A. P. Hill followed Lee. (MAP 1) 

2 
WHITE 

June 29 

York 

EARLY 

June 2-8 

.ettY

ME

l

D

b4:11 ) Hanover 

Af7:t STUART 

ne13o 6r 

T .-- 0 

/". 1=) 1 STMaL/AnRTch.fUn5te r29. ■ :Westminster 

, 11 GREGG 

June 30 

K1LPATRiCK 

JENKINS 

June 13 

rederick .•• - 

................. 

Baltimore 

•Brookville 

• I 

• I 

/ 

0 f/f 

MAP 1 

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 

3 - 30 JUNE 1863 

A.F!HILL 

June 13 ROUTE OF 

Union Army 

MILES 

3 

MAP 1

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN

3 - 30 JUNE 1863

30

ROUTE OF

Union Army -_._---..

Cavalry

._--------.....

IS

mgron

/

+

o 5

r - Brookville

~TUART ~JUne28

-Rock.ville

Cavalry

)

ROUTE OF

Confederate Anny

'.

~I L l S

3
Maj. Gen. Robert H. Milroy, at Winchester, had innocently reported a big Confederate 

"raid" building up to his south. On 10 June, he received orders to withdraw to Harper's 

Ferry, but was slow to obey. Consequently, Ewell almost bagged him (12-15 June), Milroy 

losing over a third of his command and all his guns. The survivors and other small Federal 

garrisons in the area concentrated on Maryland Heights. Stanton called for militia from the 

surrounding states, but only New York could furnish any appreciable number. 

By 17 June, the Confederates were strung over a distance of 100 miles. By 24 June, 

they had closed up north of the Potomac and on that day Hooker set his Army of Potomac in 

motion toward Frederick, Maryland. Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden's cavalry brigade raided 

westward to damage the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and collect livestock. Stuart screened the 

right flank of Lee's advance as far as the Potomac, and at the same time tried to watch 

Hooker's movements. But Pleasonton, in a series of fights along the eastern slopes of the 

Blue Ridge Mountains, prevented him from obtaining information. Lee, therefore, remained 

in ignorance of Hooker's whereabouts, while Hooker's scouts north of the Potomac had little 

trouble determining Lee's numbers and line of march. 

On 27 June, Hooker had the Army of the Potomac concentrated between Frederick and 

South Mountain and had ordered cavalry sent forward toward Emmitsburg and Gettysburg. 

He appears to have been planning an operation against Lee's line of communications but had 

issued no definite orders. So far, he had handled his army expertly, but his relations with 

Halleck--and even with Lincoln--were becoming increasingly tense. The President and his 

general in chief have been frequently criticized for being so nervous about the safety of 

Washington that they hampered Hooker; actually, their principal worry at this time must have 

been Hooker's psychological fitness as an army commander. The United States could not 

afford another Chancellorsville--especially one fought on Northern soil. They had given 

Hooker all available reinforcements, including a large part of the Washington garrison, yet 

Hooker was beginning to complain loudly that Lee's army outnumbered his own! Matters 

came to a climax over Hooker's desire to evacuate the garrison of Maryland Heights. Piqued 

at Halleek'sinsistence on leaving them there as a threat to Lee's communications, Hooker 

asked to be relieved. Lincoln hastily acquiesced. At about 3:00 a.m., 28 June, a special 

courier from Washington awoke Maj. Gen. George G. Meade and told him that he was the 

new commander of the Army of the Potomac. 

Meanwhile, the Confederate forces had entered Pennsylvania. Their marches had been 

easy and uneventful. There had been no opposition, except for a handful of Pennsylvania 

militia, which Early had scattered just west of Gettysburg on the 26th during his march to 

York. Another militia unit had withdrawn hastily across the Susquehanna at Wrightsville, 

burning the bridge there behind it. The town caught fire, and Brig. Gen. John G. Gordon's 

men helped to save it from the flames. Lee was feeding and supplying his troops off the 

countryside, taking what he needed by forced purchase (with Confederate money) or formal 

requisitions on local authorities. Early demanded $100,000 in United States currency from 

the town of York, but compromised for the $28,000 immediately available. Ewell, especially, 

was collecting food; but he was authorized to take Harrisburg, if he could. Under such 

favorable conditions, Confederate morale and discipline were excellent. 

But, below the Potomac, "Jeb" Stuart was brewing trouble for Lee. On the 23rd, when 

Lee's army was safely across the Potomac, Stuart had received his orders. They were so 

4 

Halleck's
vague and allowed such latitude that he could interpret them to suit himself. Stuart still 

smarted under the thorough lashing he had received from the Southern press for having been 

taken by surprise by Pleasonton at Brandy Station, and his ego had been severely irritated. 

He now planned a campaign of his own to restore his reputation. Detaching the commands of 

Brig. Gens. Beverly H. Robertson and William E. Jones to guard the gaps of the Blue Ridge 

Mountains, he took his three favorite brigades and rode east. Almost immediately, Stuart 

found himself entangled among Union columns that had not yet crossed the Potomac, and in a 

countryside that was stripped bare of forage for his hard-worked horses. Not until late on the 

27th could he find a ford across the Potomac. The next day, he resumed his march, heading 

for Hanover. During the day, he captured a 125-wagon Federal supply train, which he took 

with him. 

Meanwhile, Lee had no information concerning the Army of the Potomac; he 

proceeded, therefore, under the very optimistic assumption that it was still sitting south of the 

Potomac. Now, late in the evening of the 28th, Longstreet's personal spy reached 

Chambersburg from Washington, and made his report: the Army of the Potomac was around 

Frederick, and General Meade was in command. The spy's news was actually out of date; the 

Union army not only was at Frederick, but was preparing to march. At 4:00 a.m., 29 June, 

Meade began moving north in the announced hope of catching Lee's army at a disadvantage. 

Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade was a cautious, canny fighter, nervous and irritable. 

The responsibility suddenly dropped upon him was crushing; he knew little about the over-all 

situation, since Hooker had been as secretive with his subordinates as the 

late Stonewall Jackson had been with his. Also, Meade was facing Lee--the champion who 

had been the ruin of McClellan, Pope, Burnside, and Hooker--while Stuart was loose 

somewhere in his rear. 

His major advantages were the support of a seasoned group of corps commanders and 

an excellent knowledge of Lee's position and actual strength. Halleck gave him no 

instructions except that he was to "maneuver and fight in such a manner as to cover the 

capital, and also Baltimore, as far as circumstances will admit." All Federal troops in the area 

of operations were placed under his command. 

The night of 28-29 June had been a busy one for Lee's staff; orders went out on the 

gallop for all Confederate units to concentrate at Cashtown. Lee's exact plan is unknown--

probably he had not yet formulated one--but Cashtownoffered a strong defensive position, 

and a Confederate concentration there would be on the flank of any Union advance from 

Frederick. In all this, it must be remembered that Lee was operating blindly. Stuart, "The 

Eyes of the Army," was struggling northward toward Hanover, fighting a few petty skirmishes 

and doing minor damage to the railroads he crossed. Even so, there was still plenty of 

cavalry with the Army of Northern Virginia, but Lee seems to have forgotten it. Jenkin's 

activities are obscure; Imboden was still collecting livestock; below the Potomac, Jones and 

Robertson were left watching the empty landscape west of the Blue Ridge Mountains until 29 

June, when Lee suddenly remembered them and ordered them forward. 

Meade's earlier determination to find and fight Lee was weakening. He suffered under 

his new responsibility--losing sleep, missing meals, and frequently changing his mind. On the 

30th, while his engineers reconnoitered a defensive position along Big Pipe Creek (MAP 2), 

he ordered Reynolds to advance the next day with the I, XI, and III Corps--the first two 

5 

Cashtown
Manchester 

X 

Baltimore 

25 miles 

4 8 

1 

Washington 

45 miles 

SCALE IN MILES 

MAP 2 

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 

MEADE'S DEFENSIVE POSITION ALONG PIPE CREEK, 30 JUNE 1863 

The order assigning Meade to command of the Army of the Potomac also reminded 

him that, though he was free to act as he saw proper, a primary mission of his army 

was to defend Washington and Baltimore. After reviewing reports of Confederate 

movements from Chambersburg, Gettysburg and Carlisle, Meade had a defensive line 

prepared along Pipe Creek from Manchester to Middleburg (shown on the map as a 

heavy broken line ► . While Meade remained at Taneytown the main army moved 

northward in search of the enemy. By 30 June the various Union corps had reached 

the positions shown. 

6 

8

!

Baltimore

25 miles

4

I

PENNSYLVANIA

SCALE IN MILES

o

\

--------------------- MARYLAND

MAP 2

GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN

MEADE'S DEFENSIVE POSITION ALONG PIPE CREEK, 30 JUNE 1863

The order assigning Meade to command of the Army of the Potomac also reminded

him that, though he was free to act as he saw proper, a primary mission of his army

was to defend Washington and Baltimore. After reviewing reports of Confederate

movements from Chambersburg, Gettysburg and Carlisle, Meade had a defensive line

prepared along Pipe Creek from Manchester to Middleburg (shown on the map as a

heavy broken line). While Meade remained at Taneytown the main army moved

northward in search of the enemy. By 30 June the various Union corps had reached

the positions shown.

6
corps to Gettysburg, and the III Corps to Emmitsburg.At the same time, he left the VI Corps 

far to the rear at Manchester. 

Also on the 30th, Buford, with two brigades of cavalry, rode through Gettysburg 

toward the Cashtown gap. West of the town, his leading riders clashed briefly with the 

brigade of Brig. Gen. James J. Pettigrew, which was enroute from Cashtown to Gettysburg in 

search of a supply of shoes reported there. Lacking cavalry to scout the Union force 

confronting him, Pettigrew fell back to Cashtown and reported its presence to his division 

commander, Maj. Gen. Harry Heth, and his corps commander, A. P. Hill. Both men were 

certain that all the Federal infantry was still far to the south; Heth secured permission to take 

his division to Gettysburg the next morning and "get those shoes." 

Buford examined the terrain and road net around Gettysburg and concluded that this 

was a key point. Pushing out patrols to the north and west, he reported the situation to 

Meade and Reynolds, and prepared to hold the town. 

This same day, Stuart's tired command came into Hanover and collided with 

Kilpatrick in a mutually unsatisfactory engagement. Therefore, learning from captured 

newspapers that Early had been in York on the 28th, Stuart made a strenuous night march 

toward that town, his men sleeping in their saddles. But he took those 125 wagons. The 

terrain around Gettysburg shaped the course of the coming battle; it therefore is worth 

examining. 

Northwest of Gettysburg is the dominating height of Oak Hill. (MAP 3) From Oak 

Hill, two high ridges run generally south: Seminary Ridge, the longer one, extends to the 

Peach Orchard and along the Emmitsburg Road beyond; just to the west is McPherson's 

Ridge (not labeled), wider but lower. North of Gettysburg, the ground is relatively open and 

level; south of the town, Cemetery Hill rises abruptly some eighty feet. A lower ridge runs 

eastward from Cemetery Hill, ending in the rugged, wooded mass of Culp's Hill, while 

Cemetery Ridge extends for approximately a mile to the south. At its southern tip, Cemetery 

Ridge dwindles into a low, timbered area, after which come the bold elevations of Little 

Round Top and Round Top. From Round Top to Culp's Hill, along this "fish hook" line, is 

approximately four miles. Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge run parallel, about a mile 

apart, across open fields, but the ground between Seminary Ridge and the Round Tops is 

rough and broken. 

Heth's division, followed by that of Maj. Gen. W. Dorsey Pender, left Cashtown at 

5:00 a.m., 1 July; about 8:00 a.m., they encountered Buford's outposts. Buford was ready. 

One of his brigades were deployed, dismounted, along McPherson's Ridge; the other was 

across the Carlisle Road, considerably north of Gettysburg, awaiting Ewell. His troopers were 

badly outnumbered, but their position was good, and their breech-loading carbines gave them 

the firepower of several times their number of infantry. For almost two hours, this single 

brigade and one battery of artillery stopped Heth's advance. By 10:30 a.m., Reynolds was on 

the field, the divisions of his I Corps (temporarily under Doubleday) strung out along the road 

behind him. Buford's line had been pushed back to Seminary Ridge, and his brigade on the 

Carlisle Road was reporting pressure from Ewell at Heidlersburg. Reynolds did not know of 

Meade's decision to defend at Big Pipe Creek; he was a fighter, and Gettysburg looked like a 

good place for a battle. He ordered Howard's XI Corps forward. 

Around 11:00 a.m., Brig. Gen. James S. Wadsworth's division relieved Buford's 

7 

Emmitsburg.
Mil III& (1, ..a111(11...1.• 4,„<„ ,t.: 

.allaibo...„„pI4 

Se3NN313 ) 

inl"-`oilll'''''' 
brigade on Seminary Ridge, meeting Heth's attack with a furious counterattack which 

wrecked the latter's two leading brigades. Reynolds was killed by a sharpshooter; stodgy 

Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday took command and organized a line along McPherson's and 

Seminary Ridges. There was a lull then, while Heth waited for Pender, but Buford reported 

increased difficulty in delaying Ewell. About noon, Howard arrived and took command 

(giving his corps to Brig. Gen. Carl Schurz), and promptly called for help from Slocum and 

Sickles. Recognizing the importance of Cemetery Hill, he dropped one of his divisions there 

as a reserve and began moving the other two toward Oak Hill on Doubleday's right flank. 

However, the arrival of Ewell's leading division, under Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes, forced 

him to form them in line directly north of the town. Anxious to avenge Chancellorsville, the 

XI Corps smashed Rodes' first attack. But Confederate strength was building up too fast. A. 

P. Hill renewed his attack from the west; Early arrived from York and outflanked the Union 

right; Confederate artillery on Oak Hill was enfilading the lines of both corps, despite 

effective Union counterbattery fire. The Union lines gave, slowly and stubbornly in most 

places, but more and more rapidly on the right as Early's attack gathered momentum. 

On the morning of this same day, Stuart's sleepy command entered Dover (just west 

of York). Early was gone, and the local citizens were unwilling to furnish information. 

Stuart reasoned that Ewell should be somewhere in the direction of Harrisburg, if the invasion 

were going well. Halting only to water his mounts, he took the road to Carlisle. 

The XI Corps became disorganized during its retreat through Gettysburg, losing a 

considerable number of prisoners. The I Corps withdrew in relatively good order, covered on 

its left by Buford. 

A. P. Hill was content to halt on Seminary Ridge, but Ewell's advance flowed into 

Gettysburg. Howard rallied the remnants of the XI Corps on Cemetery Hill, where Brig. Gen. 

Adolph von Steinwehr, the commander of the division he had left there, had turned the 

cemetery on the north end of the hill into a strong point. Both Union corps had suffered 

losses of over 50 per cent, but most of their artillery had fought its way clear. Cemetery Hill 

and Cemetery Ridge soon bristled with guns. 

Shortly after 4:00 p.m., Hancock arrived on the field, under orders from Meade to take 

command. Howard was senior to Hancock, and stood stiffly on that seniority, but he 

cooperated. They rapidly organized the position; Hancock grasped the importance of Culp's 

Hill and browbeat Doubleday into sending the survivors of the Iron Brigade (of Wadsworth's 

division) to occupy it. The XII Corps began arriving shortly after 5:00 p.m.; the III Corps, an 

hour later. 

Robert E. Lee had become enmeshed in a trap of his own making. He had invaded 

the North in the hope of winning a decisive battle, yet he had scattered his infantry across 

south-central Pennsylvania and had lost control of his cavalry. Now, with his army half 

concentrated, aggressive subordinates had plunged him into a major battle. He had won a 

partial success against a weaker enemy, but he did not know where the rest of the Union army 

might be. Now, eager to destroy the withdrawing Union forces, he ordered Ewell to take 

Cemetery Hill "if possible." 

Ewell studied the battered condition of his troops, the emplaced artillery on the hill 

above him, and a false report that a Federal column was advancing down the York Pike, and 

did not consider it "possible" to take the hill. Johnson arrived at 7:30 p.m. with Ewell's last 

9 
division, but by then it was almost dark. Ewell, despite the mutters of his staff and Lee's 

gentle hints, still would not risk an attack. Later, he received a report that Culp's Hill was 

unoccupied, and ordered Johnson to seize it. Johnson's patrols found the Iron Brigade in 

possession and withdrew hurriedly. Ewell needed cavalry badly. Jenkin's whereabouts were 

obscure; Stuart was at Carlisle, unsuccessfully trying to bluff a newly arrived militia garrison 

into surrendering. 

That night and the next morning, both armies massed around Gettysburg. Lee's 

numerical superiority grew slimmer. Meade had arrived at midnight and somewhat regretfully 

decided to fight there. 

Lee's plan for 2 July (MAP 4) was for Longstreet to get around the Federal left 

(which Lee mistakenly thought was along the Emmitsburg Road) and attack north. 

Anderson's division would then join the assault; Ewell would attack when he heard 

Longstreet's guns. Lee had wanted an early attack, but it was 11:00 a.m. before his orders 

were issued. 

Longstreet did not approve. He had strongly favored taking up a defensive position 

and letting Meade attack, and he had thought that Lee had accepted his ideas. Now, 

disgruntled, he advanced over strange ground, trying to avoid detection by the Federal signal 

station on Little Round Top. Sharpshooters of the III Corps ambushed his advance guard; the 

Federal line was not forming for the attack. At 3:00 p.m., Longstreet's artillery opened. 

There were three flaws in the Federal position: the Round Tops were not occupied; 

Pleasonton had ordered Buford from the south flank back to Westminster and had forgotten to 

replace him; and Sickles had moved his corps forward from the ground just north of the 

Round Tops without permission from Meade. Sickles' new position was on higher ground, 

but its salient shape permitted Confederate artillery to take it under fire from two directions; 

also, it was too extensive for his one corps. Hearing Longstreet's artillery, Meade rode to the 

Union left flank and expressed displeasure over Sickles' new position, with its apex at the 

Peach Orchard. However, Confederate infantry was advancing, and it was too late to 

withdraw. Meade had already ordered Sykes to support the left flank; now he began shifting 

most of the XII Corps to this area. The leading units of the VI Corps were arriving, but these 

were exhausted from a thirty-four-mile march. 

At 4:00 p.m., Longstreet attacked. From the start, it was a jumbled effort. Divisions 

and brigades went in piecemeal, but with savage enthusiasm. Hood's division rapidly 

smashed Sickles' left flank, overran the Devil's Den; and went clawing up the west side of 

Little Round Top. This was the key to the Federal position. Its west and north slopes had 

recently been cleared, and from its crest artillery could fire straight down the Union line. 

(Round Top was higher, but so heavily timbered that it offered neither observation nor fields 

of fire.) 

At this desperate moment, Brig. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren, chief engineer of the 

Army of the Potomac, reached Little Round Top and found it held only by a small signal 

detail. On his own responsibility, he ordered two V Corps brigades and a battery onto its 

summit. These units got there a few yards ahead of Hood's men and drove them off in 

furious hand-to-hand fighting. 

Sickles' center and right flank held longer, but were eventually driven back. 

Anderson's division joined the assault, but its advance also was poorly coordinated. One of 

10 
wia 

e•Q 

" - `:• 

I 

nr 1110e 

++, 

\•-• --- /1 

0 01 /11117/) 

„ ----------- -------- 

----- 

----- 

•••■I 

umotAauel 

Iiiimo,„.„„mi I) im 

AUVNIVI3S 

-.?-#'!..1). 4 : 

I ; 

'd .) 

_ .. 

•,..V4-7.c: ,. 

, 

43: , 

mi 

?: , 

,' '' i,:iii. :,,,,,,, II ''i / 

„..:;,..•.4.. 

✓

i:' 

1 '41.4111.11111„i ,,,, , i:4 '4‘ ''''.(.:1:';';';'' :1:1111/:::' 

/I/ 

, 

. , o' 

1-x3 ' pe.• • 

,„. 

I I / 

; 1 I, IOW " r.)),' 

gi...". 

'*r' ,,, ,, iiiitll 

47- 1;,?"f01000 

f.'rc e . L 

04.61)1' 

z

C!' .. r ~tl,(')

« ;v~~ "

.~ "S

«S

~M " ... .. e CIJ

~<t~ t::'U

!~ o~

O~ - t::

~C!'>

t:: 0

lI"f

;:>u

<ta:...J II

~::>::>

IIII "

CD' !i ,<~, I

ON

> JJ.. 0

tt- .!: E .. ]z

w 3.f5~~

C!'

/

/,

,,'

/I
its brigades momentarily broke through the Federal center, but was immediately expelled. 

Ewell's artillery opened at the sound of Longstreet's guns, but Union batteries soon 

silenced it. It was almost dark when Ewell's infantry attacked. Johnson occupied some 

empty entrenchments at the foot of Culp's Hill, but could not carry the hill itself Attacking 

the eastern side of Cemetery Hill, two of Early's brigades got to the top. Only their dead 

stayed there. That night, Meade called a council of war: should the army stay and fight, or 

should it retire? His corps commanders voted to stay. 

Also during the night, Slocum regrouped his XII Corps and prepared to recover his 

former position around Culp's Hill. Johnson, heavily reinforced, attacked first but, by 11:00 

a.m., 3 July, had been driven back to his original position. 

Lee's last uncommitted forces were Pickett's division and Stuart's cavalry. Longstreet 

urged that the Confederates should envelop the Federal left, get across Meade's 

communications, and so force him to attack them. But a blind combativeness gripped Lee. 

He could not delay and maneuver, for his army was living off the country and would soon 

strip it bare; his own communications were highly vulnerable; the enemy was before him. He 

gave his orders: Longstreet [Pickett, Heth and Pender, see (MAP 5)] would penetrate the 

Federal center, while Stuart, with all the army's cavalry, struck the Union rear. 

Longstreet protested, but made the necessary preparations. He had 159 guns massed 

opposite the Union center; approximately 15,000 infantry under Picket concentrated for the 

assault. At 1:00 p.m., the Confederate guns opened; Union artillery answered until about 2:00 

p.m., when their firing was stopped to conserve ammunition. Confederate artillerymen 

concluded that they had silenced the Union cannon. Their own ammunition being almost 

exhausted, they urged Pickett to advance while they still could support him. 

Confederate infantry poured from the woods along Seminary Ridge. Converging 

Union artillery fire tore gaps in their ranks, but they closed up and came on gallantly. Union 

infantry came forward against their flanks. Yet, for a moment, the central mass of 

Confederates stormed into the first Union line. Then the Federals closed in, and the attack of 

Pickett's men collapsed. Some quit, more ran, and many died. 

Behind this fight, Brig. Gen. David M. Gregg intercepted Stuart and drove him back. 

Hancock, wounded in Pickett's final assault, urged an immediate counterattack by the V and 

VI Corps. The VI Corps was fresh--it had hardly fired a shot--and Slocum had already 

offered one or two brigades from the XII Corps. 

Meade, however, had contented himself with fighting a purely defensive battle and had 

made no plans to seize the initiative from Lee. Instead of keeping the VI Corps concentrated 

for a decisive counterstroke at the critical time, he had scattered it behind his lines to form 

local reserves. In so doing, he lost his chance to destroy Lee's army. 

Lee took the blame for Pickett's repulse: "It's all my fault," he told the throng of 

fugitives that straggled back to Seminary Ridge, still mercilessly hammered by the Union 

guns. Aided by Longstreet, he hastily rallied them to meet the counterattack which he 

expected, but which never came. That night, he pulled his army together and dug in on a line 

running from Oak Hill to the Peach Orchard. 

Both armies were badly mauled. The Federals had lost 23,049 killed, wounded, or 

missing--approximately one man out of every four. The Confederates reported losses totaling 

20,451, but their returns are incomplete; their actual casualties appear to have been nearer 

12 
Sti3NN30 ) 

/////1'""Nilt)100° 

apo 

Si* 9 ii I s 

s 1 

 „, ,,32- i Y,,,

, iiritrir • 

........_...,............L..... . j 

. A. •6!:r ///////filli 

4?)* I I 

) 

0,1111111 

al 

„„r4,11;c'46F

ai II 1.1 , 

0.131B,Ajq rt, 

nit„. 
28,000, or one-third of their force. 

Undoubtedly, Gettysburg was the lowest point of Lee's generalship. He was careless; 

his orders were vague; he suggested when he should have commanded; and he sacrificed the 

pick of his infantry in a foredoomed attempt to win a battle he had already lost. But, on 4 

July, he reasserted himself. All day--as he had the year before at Antietam--he held his army 

in position, defying Meade to attack and so reestablishing something of the old tradition of 

invincibility. Meanwhile, his long convoy of wounded started to the rear. That night, in a 

driving rain, the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia followed. 

Meade spent the 4th reorganizing. He had already begun to talk about the need for 

resting and resupplying his army. All through the day, his observation stations reported 

Confederate trains assembling or moving to the rear, but he remained cautious and passive, 

planning a reconnaissance in force for the 5th. On the 5th, Lee was gone. 

During this campaign, a relatively small Federal force under French had remained in 

the vicinity of Frederick. On 3 July, French had sent a cavalry raid against Lee's pontoon 

bridge over the Potomac at Falling Waters; the guard there was surprised, and the bridge 

destroyed. Constant rains had the river running bankfull. Without a bridge, Lee would be 

trapped on the north blank. 

Meanwhile, Lee's retreat and Meade's slow pursuit went on. The Union cavalry 

harried the Confederate trains aggressively, but they were outnumbered by Stuart. 

Meade now began to exaggerate Confederate strength and to worry that Lee would try 

to fight another pitched battle. Actually, Lee had arrived at Williamsport on the 7th. He was 

almost out of ammunition, and straggling and desertion had further thinned his forces to about 

35,000. In desperation, he entrenched with his back to the river and began improvising a 

bridge, tearing down warehouses to build pontoons. On the 12th, Meade, with over 85,000 

men, carefully approached this position. Then he called a council of war. The aggressive 

corps commanders--Reynolds, Hancock, Sickles--were dead or wounded; a majority of the 

council voted not to attack. Lee got his command across the river during the night of 13-14 

July, catching Meade completely unaware. Buford and Kilpatrick detected the last phases of 

the movement early on the 14th and drove Lee's rear guard into the river, gathering up a 

considerable number of prisoners. But Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia had escaped. 

14 

28,000, or one-third of their force.

Undoubtedly, Gettysburg was the lowest point of Lee's generalship. He was careless;

his orders were vague; he suggested when he should have commanded; and he sacrificed the

pick of his infantry in a foredoomed attempt to win a battle he had already lost. But, on 4

July, he reasserted himself. All day--as he had the year before at Antietam--he held his army

in position, defying Meade to attack and so reestablishing something of the old tradition of

invincibility. Meanwhile, his long convoy of wounded started to the rear. That night, in a

driving rain, the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia followed.

Meade spent the 4th reorganizing. He had already begun to talk about the need for

resting and resupplying his army. All through the day, his observation stations reported

Confederate trains assembling or moving to the rear, but he remained cautious and passive,

planning a reconnaissance in force for the 5th. On the 5th, Lee was gone.

During this campaign, a relatively small Federal force under French had remained in

the vicinity of Frederick. On 3 July, French had sent a cavalry raid against Lee's pontoon

bridge over the Potomac at Falling Waters; the guard there was surprised, and the bridge

destroyed. Constant rains had the river running bankfull. Without a bridge, Lee would be

trapped on the north blank.

Meanwhile, Lee's retreat and Meade's slow pursuit went on. The Union cavalry

harried the Confederate trains aggressively, but they were outnumbered by Stuart.

Meade now began to exaggerate Confederate strength and to worry that Lee would try

to fight another pitched battle. Actually, Lee had arrived at Williamsport on the 7th. He was

almost out of ammunition, and straggling and desertion had further thinned his forces to about

35,000. In desperation, he entrenched with his back to the river and began improvising a

bridge, tearing down warehouses to build pontoons. On the 12th, Meade, with over 85,000

men, carefully approached this position. Then he called a council of war. The aggressive

corps commanders--Reynolds, Hancock, Sickles--were dead or wounded; a majority of the

council voted not to attack. Lee got his command across the river during the night of 13-14

July, catching Meade completely unaware. Buford and Kilpatrick detected the last phases of

the movement early on the 14th and drove Lee's rear guard into the river, gathering up a

considerable number of prisoners. But Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia had escaped.

THE LI1oo~ OF DEFENSE AT THE CEMETERY GATE-HOUSE. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

14
ORDER OF BATTLE 

UNITED STATES ARMY 

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC 

Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, Commanding 

FIRST ARMY CORPS (Maj. Gen. John R. Reynolds) 

(Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday) 

(Maj. Gen. John Newton) 

First Division (Brig. Gen. James S. Wadsworth) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. Solomon Meredith) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. Lysander 

19th Indiana Cutler) 

24th Michigan 7th Indiana 

2d Wisconsin 76th New York 

6th Wisconsin 84th New York (14th Militia) 

7th Wisconsin 95th New York 

147th New York 

56th Pennsylvania 

Second Division (Brig . Gen. John C. Robinson) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. Gabriel R. Paul) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. Henry 

(Col. Samuel H. Leonard) Baxter) 

(Col. Adrian R. Root) 12th Massachusetts 

(Col. Richard Coulter) 83rd New York (9th Militia) 

(Col. Peter Lyle) 97th New York 

(Col. Richard Coulter) iith Pennsylvania 

16th Maine 88th Pennsylvania 

13th Massachusetts 9oth Pennsylvania 

94th New York 

1o4thNew York 

1o7thPennsylvania 

Third Division (Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Rowley) 

(Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday) 

First Brigade (Col. Chapman Biddle) Second Brigade (Col. Roy Stone) 

(Brig. Gen. Thomas Rowley) (Col. Langhorne Wister) 

(Col. Chapman Biddle) (Col. Edmund L. Dana) 

Both New York (loth Militia) 143d Pennsylvania 

121st Pennsylvania 49th Pennsylvania 

142nd Pennsylvania 15oth Pennsylvania 

151st Pennsylvania 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. George J. Stannard) Artillery Brigade (Col. Charles S. 

(Col. Francis Randall) Wainwright) 

13th Vermont 4th United States, Battery B 

4th Vermont Maine Light, 2d Battery (B) 

16th Vermont Maine Light, 5th Battery (E) 

istNew York Light, Batteries E and 

istPennsylvania Light, Battery B 

15 

1St

1St
SECOND ARMY CORPS (Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock) 

(Brig. Gen. John Gibbon) 

(Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock) 

First Division (Brig. Gen. John C. Caldwell) 

First Brigade (Col. Edward E. Cross) Second Brigade (Col. Patrick Kelly) 

(Col. H. Boyd McKeen) 28th Massachusetts 

5th New Hampshire 63rd New York (two companies) 

GistNew York 69th New York (two companies) 

8istPennsylvania 88th New York (two companies) 

148thPennsylvania ii6thPennsylvania (four companies) 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. Samuel K. Zook) Fourth Brigade (Col. John R. Brooke) 

(Lieut. Col. John Fraser) 27th Connecticut (two companies) 

52nd New York 2dDelaware 

57thNew York 64th New York 

66th New York 53rd Pennsylvania 

i4oth Pennsylvania 145thPennsylvania (seven companies) 

Second Division (Brig. Gen. John Gibbon) 

(Brig. Gen. William Harrow) 

(Brig. Gen. John Gibbon) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. William Harrow) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. Alexander S. 

(Col. Francis E. Heath) Webb) 

19thMaine 69th Pennsylvania 

15thMassachusetts 71st Pennsylvania 

istMinnesota 72d Pennsylvania 

zndCompany Minnesota Sharpshooters io6th Pennsylvania 

82nd New York (2d Militia) 

Third Brigade (Col. Norman J. Hall) 

19thMassachusetts 

loth Massachusetts 

7th Michigan 

42nd New York 

59th New York (four companies) 

Third Division (Brig. Gen. Alexander Hays) 

First Brigade (Col. Samuel S. Carroll) 

14thIndiana 

4th Ohio 

8th Ohio 

7th West Virginia 

Second Brigade (Col. Thomas A. Smyth) 

(Lieut. Col. Francis E. Pierce) 

14thConnecticut 

ist Delaware 

izthNew Jersey 

loth New York (battalion) 

io8thNew York 

16 

6ISt

81st

148th li6th

2d

57th

145th

12th

lo8th
Third Brigade (Col. George L. Willard) 

(Col. Eliakim Sherrill) 

(Lieut. Col. James M. Bull) 

39th New York (four companies) 

'nthNew York 

125th New York 

126th New York 

Artillery Brigade (Capt. John G. Hazard) 

istUnited States, Battery I 

4th United States, Battery A 

istNew York, Battery B and 14th New 

York Battery 

istRhode Island Light, Battery A 

ist Rhode Island Light, Battery B 

THIRD ARMY CORPS (Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles) 

(Maj. Gen. David B. Birney) 

First Division (Maj. Gen. David B. Birney) 

(Brig. Gen. J.H. Hobart Ward) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. Charles K. Graham) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. J. H. Hobart 

(Col. Andrew H. Tippin) Ward) 

57th Pennsylvania (Col. Hiram Berdan) 

63rd Pennsylvania ist United States Sharpshooters 

68th Pennsylvania zd United States Sharpshooters 

losthPennsylvania zoth Indiana 

n4thPennsylvania 3rd Maine 

141st Pennsylvania 4th Maine 

86th New York 

124th New York 

99th Pennsylvania 

Third Brigade (Col. P. Regis de Trobriand) 

17th Maine 

3d Michigan 

5th Michigan 

40th New York 

nothPennsylvania (six companies) 

Second Division (Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Carr) Second Brigade (Col. William R. 

1st Massachusetts Brewster) 

11thMassachusetts loth New York 

16th Massachusetts 71st New York 

tzthNew Hampshire 72nd New York 

nth New Jersey 73rd New York 

26th Pennsylvania 74th New York 

izothNew York 

Third Brigade (Col. George C. Burling) Artillery Brigade (Capt. George E. 

2d New Hampshire Randolph) 

5th New Jersey (Capt. A. Judson Clark) 

6th New Jersey 4th United States, Battery K 

7th New Jersey New Jersey Light, zd Battery 

8th New Jersey 1st New York Light, Battery D 

115th Pennsylvania New York Light, 4th Battery 

istRhode Island Light, Battery E 

17 

IIIth

nth

12th

lIoth

1St

1St

1St

J20th

1St
FIFTH ARMY CORPS (Maj. Gen. George Sykes) 

First Division (Brig. Gen. James Barnes) 

First Brigade (Col. William S. Tilton) Second Brigade (Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer) 

18thMassachusetts 9th Massachusetts 

22d Massachusetts 32d Massachusetts 

ist Michigan 4th Michigan 

118thPennsylvania 62nd Pennsylvania 

Third Brigade (Col. Strong Vincent) 

(Col. James C. Rice) 

zothMaine 

16thMichigan 

44thNew York 

83d Pennsylvania 

Second Division (Brig. Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres) 

First Brigade (Col. Hannibal Day) Second Brigade (Col. Sidney Burbank) 

3dUnited States (six companies) 2d United States (six companies) 

4th United States (four companies) 7th United States (four companies) 

6th United States (five companies) ioth United States (three companies) 

12th United States (eight companies) iith United States (six companies) 

14chUnited States (eight companies) 17th United States (seven companies) 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. Stephen H. Weed) 

(Col. Kenner Garrard) 

4othNew York 

146thNew York 

gist Pennsylvania 

155thPennsylvania 

Third Division (Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Crawford) 

First Brigade (Col. William McCandless) Third Brigade (Col. Joesph W. Fisher) 

istPennsylvania Reserves 5th Pennsylvania Reserves 

2nd Pennsylvania Reserves 9th Pennsylvania Reserves 

6th Pennsylvania Reserves loth Pennsylvania Reserves 

i3thPennsylvania Reserves nth Pennsylvania Reserves 

12th Pennsylvania Reserves 

Artillery Brigade (Capt. Augustus P. Martin) 

5th United States, Battery D 

5th United States, Battery I 

Massachusetts Light, 3d Battery (C) 

ist New York Light, Battery C 

istOhio Light, Battery L 

18 

18th

118th

1st

1st
SIXTH ARMY CORPS (Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick) 

First Division (Brig. Gen. Horatio G. Wright) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. A. T A. Torbert) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. Joseph J. 

1st New Jersey Bartlett) 

2d New Jersey 5th Maine 

3d New Jersey 12ISt New York 

15th New Jersey 95th Pennsylvania 

96th Pennsylvania 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. David A. Russell) 

6th Maine 

49th Pennsylvania (four companies) 

119th Pennsylvania 

5th Wisconsin 

Second Division (Brig. Gen. Albion P. Howe) 

Second Brigade (Col. Lewis A. Grant) Third Brigade (Brig. Gcn.Thomas H. 

2d Vermont Neill) 

3d Vermont 

4th Vermont 

5th Vermont 

6th Vermont 

7th Maine (six companies) 

33rd New York (detachment) 

43rd New York 

49th New York 

77th New York 

61st Pennsylvania 

Third Division (Maj. Gen. John Newton) 

(Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. Alexander Shaler) Second Brigade (Col. Henry L. Eustis) 

65th New York 7th Massachusetts 

67th New York loth Massachusetts 

122d New York 37th Massachusetts 

23d Pennsylvania 2d Rhode Island 

82d Pennsylvania 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton) 

(Col.David J. Nevin) 

62d New York 

93d Pennsylvania 

98th Pennsylvania 

139th Pennsylvania 

Artillery Brigade (Col. Charles H. 

Tompkins) 

2d United States, Battery D 

ad United States, Battery G 

5th United States, Battery F 

Massachusetts Light, istBattery (A) 

New York Light, istBattery 

New York Light, 3rd Battery 

istRhode Island Light, Battery C 

istRhode IslandLight, Battery G 

19 

(Col.

121St

1St

1St Island

Gen.

1st

1st
ELEVENTH ARMY CORPS (Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard) 

(Maj. Gen. Cad Schurz) 

(Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard) 

First Division (Brig. Gen. Francis C. Barlow) 

(Brig. Gen. Adelbert Ames) 

First Brigade (Col. Leopold von Gilsa) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. Adelbert 

istNew York 

54th New York 

68th New York 

153dPennsylvania 

Ames) 

17thConnecticut 

25th Ohio 

75thOhio 

lo7thOhio 

Second Division (Brig. Gen. Adolph von Steinwehr) 

First Brigade (Col. Charles R. Coster) Second Brigade (Col. Orlando Smith) 

134thNew York 33d Massachusetts 

154thNew York 136th New York 

27th Pennsylvania 55th Ohio 

73rd Pennsylvania 73d Ohio 

Third Division (Maj. Gen. Cad Schurz) 

(Brig. Gen. Alexander Schimmelfennig) 

(Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. Alexander 

Schimmelfennig) 

(Col. George von Amsberg) 

82d Illinois 

45th New York 

157thNew York 

6rstOhio 

74th Pennsylvania 

Second Brigade (Col. W. Krzyzanowski) 

58th New York 

ii9thNew York 

82d Ohio 

75th Pennsylvania 

26th Wisconsin 

Artillery Brigade (Maj. Thomas W. Osborn) 

4th United States, Battery G 

1st New York Light, Battery I 

New York Light, i3thBattery 

istOhio Light, Battery I 

istOhio Light, Batt-ryK 

20 

1St

157th

61st

1st

1St

S~himmdfennig)

13th

Ban-ry
TWELFTH ARMY CORPS (Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum) 

(Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams) 

First Division (Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams) 

(Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger) 

First Brigade (Col. Archibald L. McDougall) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. Henry H. 

5th Connecticut Lockwood) 

zothConnecticut ist Maryland, Potomac Home Brigade 

;d Maryland ist Maryland, Eastern Shore 

123d New York 15oth New York 

145th New York 

46th Pennsylvania 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger) 

(Col. Silas Co!grove) 

27th Indiana 

zdMassachusetts 

13th New Jersey 

1o7thNew York 

3d Wisconsin 

Second Division (Brig. Gen. John W. Geary) 

First Brigade (Col. Charles Candy) Second Brigade (Col. George A. 

5th Ohio Cobham, Jr.) 

7th Ohio (Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Kane) 

29th Ohio (Col. George A. Cobham, Jr.) 

66th Ohio 29th Pennsylvania 

28th Pennsylvania iogth Pennsylvania 

147th Pennsylvania iiith Pennsylvania 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. George S. Greene) Artillery Brigade (Lieut. Edward D. 

bothNew York Muhlenberg) 

78th New York 4th United States, Battery F 

102nd New York 5th United States, Battery K 

137th New York ist New York Light, Battery M 

149th New York Pennsylvania Light, Battery E 

CAVALRY CORPS (Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton) 

First Division (Brig. Gen. John Buford) 

First Brigade (Col. William Gamble) Second Brigade (Col. Thomas C. Devin) 

8th Illinois 6th New York 

12th Illinois (four companies) 9th New York 

3d Indiana (six companies) 17th Pennsylvania 

8th New York 3d West Virginia (two companies) 

Reserve Brigade (Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt) 

istUnited States 6th United States 

2d United States 6th Pennsylvania 

5th United States 

21 

20th

60th

2d

107th

1St
Second Division (Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg) 

First Brigade (Col. John B. McIntosh) Third Brigade (Col. Irvin Gregg) 

ist Maryland istMaine 

Purnell (Maryland) Legion, Company A loth New York 

istMassachusetts 4th Pennsylvania 

istNew Jersey i6thPennsylvania 

istPennsylvania 

3d Pennsylvania 

3d Pennsylvania Artillery, Section Battery H 

Third Division (Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. EtonJ. Farnsworth) Second Brigade (Brig. Gen. George A. 

(Col. Nathaniel P. Richmond) Custer) 

5th New York istMichigan 

18thPennsylvania 5th Michigan 

ist Vermont 6th Michigan 

istWest Virginia 7th Michigan 

Horse Artillery 

First Brigade (Capt. James M. Robertson) Second Brigade (Capt. John C. Tidball) 

zdUnited States, Batteries B, L and M ist United States, Batteries E, K and G 

4th United States, Battery E zd United States, Battery A 

9th Michigan Battery 

6th New York Battery 

(Brig. Gen. Robert O. Tyler) 

(Capt. James M. Robertson) 

First Volunteer Brigade (Lieut. Col. 

Freeman McGilvery) 

Massachusetts Light, 5th Battery (E) 

and 10th New York Battery 

Massachusetts Light, 9th Battery 

New York Light, 15thBattery 

Pennsylvania Light, Batteries C and F 

ARTILLERY RESERVE 

First Regular Brigade (Capt. Dunbar R. 

Ransom) 

istUnited States, Battery H 

3rd United States, Batteries F and K 

4th United States, Battery C 

5th United States, Battery C 

Second Volunteer Brigade (Capt. Elijah D. 

Taft) 

Connecticut Light, zdBattery 

New York Light, 5th Battery 

Fourth Volunteer Brigade (C 

Third Volunteer Brigade (Capt. James F. 

Huntington) 

New Hampshire Light, istBattery 

istOhio Light, Battery H 

istPennsylvania Light, Batteries 

F and G 

West Virginia Light, Battery C 

apt. Robert H. Fitzhugh) 

Maine Light, 6th Battery (F) 

Maryland Light, Battery A 

New Jersey Light, istBattery 

istNew York Light, Battery G 

istNew York Light, Battery K and nthNew York Battery 

22 

1St

1St

1St

18th

1St

zd

1St

1St

1St

zd

E10n

1St

1St

16th

1St

1St

1St

11th

15th

1St

F.
ORDER OF BATTLE 

CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY 

THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA 

(General Robert E. Lee) 

FIRST ARMY CORPS (Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet) 

McLaws' Division (Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws) 

Kershaw's Brigade (Brig. Gen. J. B. Kershaw) Semmes' Brigade (Brig. Gen.P J. 

zdSouth Carolina Semmes) 

3d South Carolina (Col. Goode Bryan) 

7th South Carolina loth Georgia 

8th South Carolina 5oth Georgia 

15th South Carolina 51st Georgia 

3d South Carolina Battalion 53rd Georgia 

Barksdale's Brigade (Brig. Gen. William Wofford's Brigade (Brig. Gen. W. T. 

Barksdale) Wofford) 

(Col. B. G. Humphreys) 16th Georgia 

13th Mississippi 18th Georgia 

17th Mississippi 4th Georgia 

18th Mississippi Cobb's (Georgia) Legion 

21st Mississippi Philips (Georgia) Legion 

Artillery (Col. H. C. Cabell) 

istNorth Carolina Artillery, Battery A 

Pulaski (Georgia) Artillery 

istRichmond Howitzers 

Troup (Georgia) Artillery 

Pickett's Division (Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett) 

Garnett's Brigade (Brig. Gen . R. B. Garnett) Kemper's Brigade (Brig. Gen. J. L. 

(Maj. C. S. Peyton) Kemper) 

8th Virginia (Col. Joseph Mayo, Jr.) 

18th Virginia 1st Virginia 

19thVirginia 3d Virginia 

28th Virginia 7th Virginia 

56th Virginia nth Virginia 

4th Virginia 

Armistead's Brigade (Brig. Gen. L. A. Artillery (Maj. James Dearing) 

Armistead) Fauquier (Virginia) Battery 

(Cot. W. R. Aylett) Hampden (Virginia) Battery 

9th Virginia Richmond Fayette Artillery 

14th Virginia Virginia Battery 

38th Virginia 

53d Virginia 

57th Virginia 

23 

2d

IS<

1st

Longs""et)

Cen.
Hood's Division (Maj. Gen. John B. Hood) 

(Brig. Gen. E. M. Law) 

Law's Brigade (Brig. Gen. E. M. Law) Robertson's Brigade (Brig. Gen. J. B. 

(Col. James L. Sheffield) Robertson) 

4th Alabama 3d Arkansas 

15thAlabama 1st Texas 

44th Alabama 

47th Alabama 

45tthh 

 Texas 

48th Alabama 

Anderson's Brigade (Brig. Gen. George T. Benning'sBrigade (Brig. Gen. Henry L. 

Anderson) Benning) 

(Lieut. Col. William Luffman) 2dGeorgia 

7th Georgia r5thGeorgia 

8th Georgia 17thGeorgia 

9th Georgia 20 t h Georgia 

iithGeorgia 

59th Georgia 

Artillery (Maj. M. W. Henry) 

Branch (North Carolina) Artillery 

German (South Carolina) Artillery 

Palmetto (South Carolina) Light Artillery 

Rowan (North Carolina) Artillery 

Artillery Reserve (Col. J. B. Walton) 

Alexander's Battalion (Col. E. P. Alexander) Washington (Louisiana) Artillery (Major 

Ashland (Virginia) Artillery B. F. Eshleman) 

Bedford (Virginia) Artillery First Company 

Brooks (South Carolina) Artillery Second Company 

Madison (Louisiana) Light Artillery Third Company 

Virginia Battery Fourth Company 

Virginia Battery 

SECOND ARMY CORPS (Lieut. Gen. Richard S. Ewell) 

Early's Division (Maj. 

Hays' Brigade (Brig. Gen. Harry T. Hays) 

5th Louisiana 

6th Louisiana 

7th Louisiana 

8th Louisiana 

9th Louisiana 

Hoke's Brigade (Col. Isaac E. Avery) 

(Col. A. C. Goodwin) 

6th North Carolina 

zestNorth Carolina 

57th North Carolina 

Gen. JubalA. Early) 

Smith's Brigade (Brig. Gen. William 

Smith) 

31st Virginia 

49th Virginia 

52dVirginia 

Gordon's Brigade (Brig. Gen. J. B. 

Gordon) 

13thGeorgia 

26th Georgia 

31stGeorgia 

38th Georgia 

both Georgia 

61stGeorgia 

24 

15th

4th

5th

T. Benning's

2d

15th

17th

11th

]ubal

pd

21St

31st

61St
Artillery (Lieut. Col. H. P. Jones) 

Charlottesville (Virginia) Artillery 

Courtney (Virginia) Artillery 

Louisiana Guard Artillery 

Staunton (Virginia) Artillery 

Johnson's Division (Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson) 

Steuart's Brigade (Brig. Gen. George H Nicholl's Brigade (Col. J. M. Williams) 

Steuart) ist Louisiana 

1st Maryland Battalion Infantry zd Louisiana 

1st North Carolina loth Louisiana 

3d North Carolina 14th Louisiana 

rothVirginia 15th Louisiana 

23d Virginia 

37th Virginia 

Stonewall's Brigade (Brig. Gen. James A. Jones's Brigade (Brig. Gen. John M. 

Walker) Jones) 

2d Virginia (Lieut. Col. R. H. Duncan) 

4th Virginia 2ISI Virginia 

5th Virginia 25th Virginia 

27th Virginia 42d Virginia 

33d Virginia 44th Virginia 

48th Virginia 

5oth Virginia 

Artillery (Maj. J. W. Latimer) 

(Capt. C. I. Raine) 

istMaryland Battery 

Alleghany (Virginia) Battery 

Chesapeake (Maryland) Artillery 

Lee (Virginia) Battery 

Rodes's Division (Maj. Gen. R. E. Rodes) 

Daniel's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Junius Daniel) Iverson's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Alfred 

32d North Carolina Iverson) 

43d North Carolina 5th North Carolina 

45th North Carolina 12th North Carolina 

53d North Carolina loth North Carolina 

2d North Carolina Battalion 23d North Carolina 

Doles's Brigade (Brig. Gen. George Doles) Ramseur's Brigade (Brig. Gen. S. D. 

4th Georgia Ramseur) 

12th Georgia 2d North Carolina 

zestGeorgia 4th North Carolina 

44th Georgia 14th North Carolina 

3oth North Carolina 

25 

IOlh

21st

lSI
O'Neal's Brigade (Brig. Gen. E. A. O'Neal) 

3d Alabama 

5th Alabama 

6th Alabama 

i2thAlabama 

26th Alabama 

Artillery (Lieut. Col. Thomas H. Carter) 

Jeff. Davis (Alabama) Artillery 

King William (Virginia) Artillery 

Morris (Virginia) Artillery 

Orange (Virginia) Artillery 

Artillery Reserve (Col. J. Thompson Brown) 

First Virginia Artillery (Captain Willis J. Nelson's Battalion (Lieut. Col. William 

Dance) Nelson) 

2d Richmond (Virginia) Howitzers Amherst (Virginia) Artillery 

3d Richmond (Virginia) Howitzers Fluvanna (Virginia) Artillery 

Powhatan (Virginia) Artillery Georgia Battery 

Rockbridge (Virginia) Artillery 

Salem (Virginia) Artillery 

THIRD ARMY CORPS (Lieut. Gen. Ambrose P. Hill) 

Anderson's Division (Maj. 

Wilcox's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. 

Wilcox) 

8th Alabama 

9th Alabama 

loth Alabama 

iithAlabama 

i4thAlabama 

Mahone's Brigade (Brig. Gen. William 

Mahone) 

6th Virginia 

i2thVirginia 

i6th Virginia 

4istVirginia 

Gist Virginia 

Posey's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Carnot Posey) 

12th Mississippi 

i6th Mississippi 

19th Mississippi 

48th Mississippi 

Gen. R. H. Anderson) 

Wright's Brigade (Brig. Gen. A. R. 

Wright) 

(Col. William Gibson) 

(Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright) 

3d Georgia 

22d Georgia 

48th Georgia 

2d Georgia Battalion 

Perry's Brigade (Col. David Lang) 

2dFlorida 

5th Florida 

8th Florida 

Artillery (Sumter Battalion) (Maj. John 

Lane) 

Company A 

Company B 

Company C 

Heth's Division (Maj. Gen. Henry Heth) 

(Brig. Gen. J. J. Pettigrew) 

First Brigade (Brig. Gen. J. J. Pettigrew) Second Brigade (Col. J. M. 

(Col. J. K. Marshall) Brockenbrough) 

nth North Carolina 4oth Virginia 

26th North Carolina 47th Virginia 

47th North Carolina 55th Virginia 

52d North Carolina 22d Virginia Battalion 

26 

12th

11th

14th

12th

41St
Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. James J. Archer) Fourth Brigade (Brig. Gen. Joseph R. 

(Col. B. D. Fry) Davis) 

(Lieut. Col. S. G. Shepard) 2d Mississippi 

13th Alabama 11thMississippi 

5th Alabama Battalion 42d Mississippi 

istTennessee (Provisional Army) 55th North Carolina 

7th Tennessee 

4th Tennessee 

Artillery (Lieut. Col. John J. Garnett) 

Donaldsonville (Louisiana) Artillery 

Huger (Virginia) Artillery 

Lewis (Virginia) Artillery 

Norfolk Light Artillery Blues 

Fender'sDivision (Maj. Gen. William D. Pender) 

(Brig. Gen. James H. Lane) 

(Maj. Gen. William D. Pender) 

(Brig. Gen. James H. Lane) 

First Brigade (Col. Abner Perrin) Second Brigade (Brig. General James H. 

istSouth Carolina (Provisional Army) Lane) 

istSouth Carolina Rifles (Col. C. M. Avery) 

12thSouth Carolina (Brig. Gen. James H. Lane) 

13th South Carolina (Col. C. M. Avery) 

4th South Carolina7th North Carolina 

18th North Carolina 

28th North Carolina 

33d North Carolina 

37th North Carolina 

Third Brigade (Brig. Gen. Fourth Brigade (Brig. Gen. A. M. Scales) 

Edward L. Thomas) (Lieut. Col. G. T Gordon) 

4th Georgia (Col. W. Lee J. Lowrance) 

35th Georgia 13th North Carolina 

45th Georgia 16th North Carolina 

49th Georgia 22d North Carolina 

34th North Carolina 

38th North Carolina 

Artillery (Maj. William T Poague) 

Albemarle (Virginia) Artillery 

Charlotte (North Carolina) Artillery 

Madison (Mississippi) Light Artillery 

Virginia Battery 

27 

1st

1st

1st

12th

Pender's

nth
Artillery Reserve (Col. 

Macintosh'sBattalion (Maj. D. G. McIntosh) 

Danville (Virginia) Artillery 

Hardaway (Alabama) Artillery 

2d Rockbridge (Virginia) Artillery 

Virginia Battery 

R. Lindsay Walker) 

Pegram's Battalion (Maj. W. J. Pegram) 

(Capt. E. B. Brunson) 

Crenshaw (Virginia) Battery 

Fredericksburg (Virginia) Artillery 

Letcher (Virginia) Artillery 

Pee Det(South Carolina) Artillery 

Purcell (Virginia) Artillery 

CAVALRY 

Stuart's Division (Maj. 

Hampton's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Wade 

Hampton) 

(Col. L. S. Baker) 

istNorth Carolina 

istSouth Carolina 

zdSouth Carolina 

Cobb's (Georgia) Legion 

Jeff. Davis. Legion 

Phillips (Georgia) Legion 

Jones's Brigade (Brig. Gen. William E. Jones) 

6th Virginia 

7th Virginia 

nth Virginia 

Jenkins' Brigade (Brig. Gen. A. G. Jenkins) 

(Col. M. J. Ferguson) 

14th Virginia 

16thVirginia 

17th Virginia 

34th Virginia Battalion 

36th Virginia Battalion 

Jackson's (Virginia) Battery 

Stuart Horse Artillery (Maj. R. F. Beckham) 

Breathed's (Virginia) Battery 

Chew's (Virginia) Battery 

Griffin's (Maryland) Battery 

Hart's (South Carolina) Battery 

McGregor's (Virginia) Battery 

Moorman's (Virginia) Battery 

Imboden's Command (Brig. Gen. J. D. Imboden) 

18th Virginia Cavalry Virginia Partisan Rangers 

62d Virginia Infantry, Mounted Virginia Battery 

Gen. J. E. B. Stuart) 

Robertson's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Beverly 

H. Robertson) 

4th North Carolina 

5th North Carolina 

Fitz. Lee's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh 

Lee) 

1st Maryland Battalion 

1st Virginia 

2d Virginia 

3d Virginia 

4th Virginia 

5th Virginia 

W. H. F. Lee's Brigade (Col. J. R. 

Chambliss, Jr.) 

2d North Carolina 

9th Virginia 

loth Virginia 

13thVirginia 

28 

Macintosh's

1st

1st

2d

16th

Legion
CASUALTIES 

Estimates of numbers engaged in Civil War battles vary, and statistics on killed, wounded, 

captured and missing are incomplete. Participants attempted to fill gaps as they wrote their 

official reports, and historians have tried to refine the data. The tabulation below is drawn from 

the Official Record, and from Thomas L. Livermore, Numbers and Losses in the Civil War in 

America, 1861-1865 (New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1901). 

Battle of Gettysburg 

1-3 July 1863 

Army of the Potomac: 

(Strength - 95,170*) 

Killed 

Captured/ 

Wounded Missing Aggregate 

General Headquarters 4 4 

I Corps 666 3,231 2,162 6,059 

II Corps 797 3,194 378 4,369 

III Corps 593 3,029 589 4,211 

V Corps 365 1,611 211 2,187 

VI Corps 27 185 30 242 

XI Corps 369 1,922 1,510 3,801 

XII Corps 204 812 66 1,082 

Cavalry Corps 91 354 407 852 

Artillery Reserve 43 187 12 242 

Total 3,155 14,529 5,365 23,049 

Army of Northern Virginia: 

(Strength - 65,510*) 

Captured/ 

Killed Wounded Missing Aggregate 

I Corps 910 4,339 2,290 7,539 

II Corps 809 4,823 1,305 5,937 

III Corps 837 4,407 1,491 6,735 

Stuart's Cavalry Div 36 140 64 240 

Total 2,592 13,709 5,150 20,451 

*As of 31 May 1863 

29 
ORGANIZATION 

The infantry regiment was the basic administrative and tactical unit of the Civil War 

armies. Regimental headquarters consisted of a colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, adjutant, 

quartermaster, surgeon (with rank of major), two assistant surgeons, a chaplain, sergeant 

major, quartermaster sergeant, commissary sergeant, hospital steward, and two principal 

musicians. Each company was staffed by a captain, a first lieutenant, a second lieutenant, a 

first sergeant, four sergeants, eight corporals, two musicians, and one wagoner. 

The authorized strength of a Civil War infantry regiment was about 1,000 officers and men, 

arranged in ten companies plus a headquarters and (for the first half of the war at least) a 

band. Discharges for physical disability, disease, special assignments (bakers, hospital nurses, 

or wagoners), court martials, and battle injuries all combined to reduce effective combat 

strength. Before too long a typical regiment might be reduced to less than 500 troops. 

Brigades were made up of two or more regiments, with four regiments being most 

common. Union brigades averaged 1,000 to 1,500 infantry, while a Confederate brigade 

averaged 1,500 to 1,800. Union brigades were designated by a number within their division, 

and each Confederate brigade was designated by the name of a current or former commander. 

Divisions were formed of two or more brigades. Union divisions contained 2,500 to 4,000 

infantry, while the Confederate infantry division was somewhat larger, containing 5,000 to 

6,000 men. Union divisions were designated by a number within their corps, and Confederate 

divisions took the name of a current or former commander. 

Corps were formed of two or more divisions. Two or more corps usually constituted an 

army, the largest operational organization. In the Eastern Theater the two principal 

adversaries were the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern 

Virginia. During the Gettysburg campaign the Army of the Potomac was organized into 

seven infantry and one cavalry corps. As of 31 May 1863 the strength of the Army of the 

Potomac was about 95,000. 

On 31 May 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia consisted of three infantry corps and a 

cavalry division, totalling about 65,000 men. 

During the Gettysburg campaign Union artillery was organized into brigades of about five 

batteries each, with each corps having one brigade. The artillery reserve consisted of four 

brigades and could be assigned as needed. Confederate artillery was organized into brigades 

of about four batteries, each brigade assigned to a division. An artillery reserve of about nine 

batteries was assigned to each corps. 

30 
CHART OF CIVIL WAR ARMY ORGANIZATION 

ARMY 

General (GSA) 

Major General (USA) 

CORPS 

Lieutenant General 

(CSA) 

Major General (USA ) 

DIVISION 

Major General 

BRIGADE 

Brigadier General 

BATTALION 

(less than 

10 companies) 

Lieutenant Colonel 

or Major 

REGIMENT 

(10 companies) 

Colonel or 

Lieutenant Colonel 

COMPANY 

Captain 

COMPANY 

75-100 men 

31 

CHART OF CIVIL \VAR ARMY ORGANIZAnON

ARMY

Gener:ll (CSA)

Major General (USA)

I I

CORPS

DIVISION

M:a;or Gener:al

Lieutenant General

(CSA)

Major General (USA)

I

I I

I BRIGADE I Bri~:ldier General

BATTALION

(less th:tn

10 companies)

Lieutenant Colonel

or Major

I I

REGIMENT

( I0 companies)

Colonel or

Lieutenant Colonel

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

COMPANY

Captain

COMPANY

75-IOOmcn

31
LOGISTICS 

BUREAU SYSTEM. Bureau chiefs and heads of staff departments were responsible for 

various aspects of the Army's administration and logistics and reported directly to the 

Secretary of War. The division of responsibility and authority over them among the Secretary 

of War, the Assistant Secretaries, and the General in Chief was never spelled out, and the 

supply departments functioned independently and without effective coordination throughout 

most of the Civil War, although much improved after Grant took command. 

Logistical support was entrusted to the heads of four supply departments in 

Washington: the Quartermaster General, responsible for clothing and equipment, forage, 

animals, transportation, and housing; the Commissary General for rations; the Chief of 

Ordnance for weapons, ammunition, and miscellaneous related equipment; and the Surgeon 

General for medical supplies, evacuation, treatment, and hospitalization of the wounded. 

For other support there were the Adjutant General, the Inspector General, the 

Paymaster General, the Judge Advocate General, the Chief of Engineers, and the Chief of 

Topographical Engineers. 

The military department was the basic organizational unit for administrative and 

logistical purposes, and the commander of each department controlled the support in that area 

with no intervening level between his departmental headquarters and the bureau chiefs in 

Washington. There were six departments when the war started (East, West, Texas, New 

Mexico, Utah, and Pacific); however, later on, boundaries changed and several geographical 

departments might be grouped together as a military "division" headquarters. 

Army depots were located in major cities: Boston, New York, Baltimore, Washington, 

Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco. Philadelphia was 

the chief depot and manufacturing center for clothing. Advanced and temporary supply bases 

were established as needed to support active operations. Until 1864 most depots were 

authorized the rank of captain as commander, who despite their low rank and meager pay, had 

tremendous resources of men, money, and material under their control. There were a few 

exceptions, notably COL Daniel H. Rucker at the Washington QM Depot and COL George D. 

Ramsay at the Washington Arsenal. The primary function of the depots was to procure 

supplies and prepare them for use in the field by repacking, assembling, or other similar tasks. 

Procurement was decentralized. Purchases were made on the market by low-bid 

contract in the major cities and producing areas by depot officers. Flour and some other 

commodities were procured closer to the troops when possible. Cattle were contracted for at 

specific points, and major beef depots were maintained at Washington (on the grounds of the 

unfinished Washington Monument), Alexandria, VA, and Louisville, KY. The 

Subsistence Department developed a highly effective system of moving cattle on the hoof to 

the immediate rear of the armies in the field, to be slaughtered by brigade butchers and issued 

to the troops the day before consumption. 

The Confederate Army used a similar system with depots at Richmond, Staunton, 

Raleigh, Atlanta, Columbus (GA), Huntsville, Montgomery, Jackson (MS), Little Rock, 

Alexandria (LA), and San Antonio. 

32 
SUPPLY OPERATIONS. Most unit logistics were accomplished at regimental level. The 

regimental QM was normally a line lieutenant designated by the regimental commander. His 

duties included submitting requisitions for all QM supplies and transport, accounting for 

regimental property including tentage, camp equipment, extra clothing, wagons, forage, and 

animals; issuing supplies and managing the regimental trains. The regimental commissary 

officer, also designated from the line, requisitioned, accounted for, and issued rations. The 

regimental ordnance officer had similar duties regarding arms and ammunition and managed 

the movement of the unit ammunition train. 

In theory, logistical staff positions above the regiment were filled by a fully qualified 

officer of the supply department concerned, However, experienced officers were in perpetual 

short supply, and many authorized positions were filled by officers and noncommissioned 

officers from line units or left vacant, the duties performed by someone in addition to their 

own. This problem existed in both armies, where inexperience and ignorance of logistical 

principles and procedures generally reduced levels of support. 

The Soldier's Load: About 45 lbs. (Union) - Musket and bayonet (14 lbs.), 60 rounds, 3-8 

days rations, canteen, blanket or overcoat, shelter half, ground sheet, mess gear (cup, knife, 

fork, spoon, skillet), personal items (sewing kit, razor, letters, Bible, etc.). Confederates 

usually had less, about 30 lbs. 

Official US Ration: 20 oz. of fresh or salt beef or 12 oz. of pork or bacon, 18 oz. of flour 

or 20 of corn meal (bread in lieu if possible), 1.6 oz. of rice or .64 oz. of beans or 1.5 oz of 

dried potatoes, 1.6 oz of coffee or .24 oz. of tea, 2.4 oz. of sugar, .54 oz. of salt, .32 gill of 

vinegar. 

Union Marching Ration: 16 oz. of "hardtack," 12 oz. salt pork or 4 oz. fresh meat, 1 oz. 

coffee, 3 oz. sugar, and salt. 

Confederate Ration: Basically the same but with slightly more sugar and less meat, coffee, 

vinegar and salt, and seldom issued in full. For the Army of Northern Virginia usually half 

of meat issued and coffee available only when captured or exchanged through the lines for 

sugar and tobacco. During the Maryland campaign foraging was disappointing, so 

Confederate soldiers supplemented the issue ration with corn from the fields and fruit from 

the orchards. 

Forage: Each horse required 14 lbs. of hay and 12 of grain per day; mules needed the same 

amount of hay and 9 lbs of grain. No other item was so bulky and difficult to transport. 

Union Annual Clothing Issue: 2 caps, 1 hat, 2 dress coats, 3 pr. trousers, 3 flannel shirts, 3 

flannel drawers, 4 pr. stockings and 4 pr. bootees (high top shoes). Artillerymen and 

cavalrymen were issued jackets and boots instead of bootees. Allowance = $42. 

Confederate: Officially, the Confederate soldier was almost equally well clothed, but the 

QM was seldom able to supply the required items and soldiers wore whatever came to hand, 

33 
the home-dyed butternut jackets and trousers being characteristic items. Shortages of shoes 

were a constant problem. 

Tents: Sibley (tepee) held 20 men feet to center pole; early in war Union introduced the tente 

de'Abri (shelter half), used by the French Army, and called "dog" tent by witty soldiers, now 

pup tent. 

Baggage: Enlisted men of both armies were required to carry their own. Union order of 

Sep 1862 limited officers to blankets, one small valise or carpet bag and an ordinary mess 

kit. Confederate standards allowed generals 80 lbs., field officers 65 lbs., and captains and 

subalterns 50 lbs. 

Wagons: Union's standard 6-mule Army wagon could haul 4,000 lbs on good roads in the 

best of conditions but seldom exceeded 2,000 or with 4 mules 1,800 lbs. at rate of 12-24 

miles a day. Confederates often used 4-mule wagon with smaller capacity. 

Army of the Potomac authorized wagons as follows: 

corps hq 4 

div and bde hq 3 

regt of Inf 6 

arty bty and cav 3 

One wagon per regiment was reserved for hospital stores and one for grain for 

officers' horses. 

The Army of Northern Virginia used 4-mule wagons as follows: 

div hq 3 

bde hq 2 

regt hq 1 

regt's medical stores 1 

regt's ammunition 1 

1/100 men per regt for baggage, 

camp equipment, rations, etc. 

Numbers of supply wagons per 1,000 men: 

Army of the Potomac (1862) 29 

Jackson in the Valley (1862) 7 

Army of Northern Virginia (1863) 28 

Army of the Potomac (1864) 36 

Sherman's March to the Sea (1864) 40 

Napoleon's standard 12.5 

34 
SMALL ARMS 

In 1855 the U. S. Army adopted a .58 caliber rifled-musket to replace a .69 caliber smoothbore musket. The new infantry arm was muzzle-loaded, its rifled barrel taking a hollowbased cylindro-conical bullet slightly smaller than the bore. Loading procedure required the 

soldier to withdraw a paper cartridge (containing powder and bullet) from his cartridge box, 

tear open one end with his teeth, pour the powder into the muzzle, place the bullet in the 

muzzle and ram it to the breech using a metal ramrod. A copper percussion cap was then 

placed on a hollow cone at the breech. To fire the weapon the hammer was cocked, and 

when the trigger was pulled the hammer struck the cap and ignited the powder charge. Each 

soldier was expected to be capable of loading and firing three aimed shots per minute. 

Although the maximum range of a rifled-musket might be over 1,000 yards actual fields of 

fire were often very short, the emphasis of musketry fire resting upon volume at close range 

rather than accuracy at long. 

The basic ammunition load for each infantry soldier was 40 rounds in the cartridge box. 

When a large action was expected 20 additional rounds were issued to each soldier, who 

placed them in his uniform pockets or knapsack. In addition, 100 rounds per man were held 

in the brigade or division trains and 100 rounds in the corps trains. 

At the beginning of the war a shortage of rifled-muskets on both sides forced the Northern 

and Southern governments to issue the older smooth-bore weapons, or purchase weapons 

from European nations. As the war progressed most soldiers eventually were armed with 

rifled-muskets, although even late in the war some troops on both sides still carried smoothbores. 

Before and during the war there were dozens of breech-loading rifles and carbines, both 

single and multiple-shot. Several types were purchased by the Government but were not 

issued in any numbers because of complicated construction, mechanical problems and cost. 

Three breech-loading rifles used by infantry were the .52 caliber, single-shot Sharps, .52 

caliber, seven-shot Spencer, and .44 caliber fifteen-shot Henry. While the Sharps used a 

linen cartridge, the Spencer and Henry weapons used metallic, rimfire cartridges. 

Handguns, both single and multiple shot, generally were generally carried by officers and 

possibly artillerymen. Although the types of handguns used by both sides were innumerable, 

two of the most common were six-shot revolvers produced by Colt and Remington, both in 

.36 and .44 caliber. 

Union cavalry were initially armed with sabers and handguns, but soon added breechloading carbines. In addition to Sharps and Spencer carbines, dozens of other types of 

breech-loaders, from .52 to .56 caliber, were issued. Confederate cavalrymen might be 

armed with a wide variety of handguns, shotguns, muzzle-loading carbines or captured 

Federal weapons. 

35 
TYPICAL CIVIL WAR SMALL ARMS 

WEAPON EFF. RANGE RATE OF FIRE 

U.S. rifled- 200-500 yds 3 rds/min 

musket, muzzleloaded, cal .58 

English Enfield 200-500 yds 3 rds/min 

rifled-musket, 

muzzle-loaded, 

cal .577 

Smooth-bore musket, 50-80 yds 3 rds/min 

muzzle-loaded, 

cal .69 

Henry rifle, 

fifteen-shot magazine, 

breech-loaded, 

cal .44 

Spencer carbine, 

seven-round magazine, 

breech-loaded, 

cal .52 

Sharps carbine, 

single-shot, breechloaded, cal .52 

Burnside carbine, 

single-shot, 

breech-loaded, 

cal .54 

Revolvers, 

six-shot, 

cal .44 

200-500 yds 16 rds/ 11 sec 

150-200 yds 8 rds/20 sec 

150-200 yds 9 rds/min 

150-200 yds 9 rds/min 

20-50 yds 

36 
ARTILLERY 

Civil War field artillery was organized into batteries of four or six guns. Regulations 

prescribed a captain as battery commander, while lieutenants commanded two-gun "sections." 

Each gun made up a platoon, under a sergeant ("chief of the piece") with 8 crewmen and six 

drivers. 

During transportation each gun was attached to a limber, drawn by a six-horse team. The 

limber chest carried thirty to fifty rounds of ammunition, depending on the type of guns in the 

battery. In addition to the limbers, each gun had at least one caisson, also drawn by a six-horse 

team. The caisson carried additional ammunition in its two chests, as well as a spare wheel and 

tools. A horse-drawn forge and a battery wagon with tools accompanied each battery. A battery 

at full regulation strength, including all officers, noncoms, buglers, horse holders and other 

specialized functions, might exceed 100 officers and men. With spare horses included, a typical 

six-gun battery might have about 100-150 horses. 

A battery could unlimber and fire an initial volley in about one minute, and each gun could 

continue firing two aimed shots a minute. The battery could limber up in about three 

minutes. Firing was by "direct fire," that is fire in which the target is in view of the gun. The 

prescribed distance between guns was fourteen yards from hub to hub. Therefore, a six-gun 

battery would represent a normal front of a little over 100 yards. Depth of the battery position, 

from the gun muzzle, passing the limber, to the rear of the caisson, was prescribed as 47 yards. 

In practice these measurements might be altered by terrain. 

During firing cannoneerstook their positions as in the diagram below. At the command 

"Commence firing," the gunner ordered "Load." While the gunner sighted the piece, Number 1 

sponged the bore, Number 5 received a round from Number 7 at the limber and carried the round 

to Number 2, who placed it in the bore. Number 1 rammed the round to the breech while 

Number 3 "thumbed the vent." When the gun was loaded and sighted, Number 3 inserted a vent 

pick in the vent and punctured the cartridge bag. Number 4 attached a lanyard to a friction 

primer and inserted the primer in the vent. At the command "Fire," Number 4 yanked the 

lanyard. Number 6 cut fuses (if needed). The process was repeated until the command "Cease 

firing." 

37 

cannoneers

o

@ n

6

-----,!

-

CD
CIVIL WAR FIELD ARTILLERY - STATISTICS 

WEAPON TUBE COMPOSITION EFF. RANGE 

6-Pdr bronze 1500 yds 

smooth-bore 

3.67 in. bore 

12-Pdr bronze 1600 yds 

smooth-bore 

(Napoleon) 

4.62 in. bore 

10-Pdr iron 1800 yds 

rifle 

(Parrott) 

3.00 in. bore* 

3-inch iron 1800 yds 

rifle 

(Ordnance) 

3.00 in. bore 

20-Pdr iron 1900 yds 

rifle 

(Parrott) 

3.67 in. bore 

12-Pdr iron 2800 yds 

rifle 

(Whitworth)** 

2.75 in. bore 

Number of field guns at Gettysburg: 

Union - 360 (Mostly 10-pounder Parrott and 3-inch Ordnance rifles) 

Confederate - 241 (Mostly 12-pounder Napoleons, 10-pounder Parrott and 3-inch 

Ordnance rifles) 

*Caliber of Parrott M1861 is 2.9 in.; M1863 is 3.0 in. 

**The Confederate army had only two of these breech-loading rifles, the Union army none. 

38 
ARTILLERY PROJECTILES 

Four basic types of projectiles were employed by Civil War field artillery: 

SHOT BOLT 

SOLID PROJECTILES - Round (spherical) projectiles of solid iron for smooth-bores were 

commonly called "cannonballs" or just plain "shot." When elongated for rifled weapons the 

projectile was known as a "bolt." Solid projectiles were used against opposing batteries, wagons, 

buildings, etc., as well as enemy personnel. While shot could ricochet across open ground against 

advancing infantry or cavalry, bolts tended to bury themselves upon impact with the ground and 

therefore were not used a great deal by field artillery. 

SPHERICAL SHELL RIFLED SHELL 

SHELL - The shell, whether spherical or conical, was a hollow iron projectile filled with a 

black powder bursting charge. It was designed to break into several ragged fragments. Spherical 

shells exploded by fuses set into an opening in the shell, and were ignited by the flame of the 

cannon's propelling charge. The time of detonation was determined by adjusting the length of 

the fuse. Conical shells were detonated by similar timed fuses, or by impact. Shells were 

intended to impact on the target. 

39 
SPHERICAL CASE SHOT RIFLED CASE SHOT 

CASE SHOT - Case shot, or "shrapnel" was the invention of Henry Shrapnel, an English 

artillery officer. The projectile had a thinner wall than a shell and was. filledwith a number of 

small lead or iron balls (27 for a 12-pounder). A timed fuse ignited a small bursting charge 

which fragmented the casing and scattered the contents in the air. Case shot was intended to 

burst from fifty to seventy-five yards short of the target, the fragments being carried forward by 

the velocity of the shot. 

CANISTER 

CANISTER - Canister consisted of a tin cylinder in which was packed a number of iron or 

lead balls. Upon discharge the cylinder split open and the smaller projectiles fanned out. 

Canister was an extremely effective anti-personnel weapon, with a maximun range of 400 yards. 

In emergencies double loads of canister could be used at ranges less than 200 yards, using a 

single propelling charge. 

40 

was filled
JI limir 

TABLE OF FIRE. LIGHT 12-POUNDER GUN. MODEL 1857. 

SHOT. 

Charge 2; Pounds. 

SPHERICAL CASE SHOT. 

Charge 2; Pounds. 

SHELL. 

Charge 2 Pounds. 

ELITISM,/ 

laDegrees. 

RANGE 

In Yards. 

ELEVATION 

In Degrees 

TIME OF FLIGHT. 

Seconds. 

RANGE 

In Yenta 

ELEVATION 

In Degrees. 

TIME OF FLIGHT 

In Seconds. 

RANGE 

In Yards. 

0° 

1° 

2° 

3° 

4° 

,,,,,, ft.

0 

323 

620 

875 

1200 

1325 

1680 

0°50' 

1° 

1°30' 

2° 

3° 

3°30' 

3

0

40' 

1" 

1"75 

2"5 

3"

4"

4"75 

5"

300 

575 

635 

730 

96() 

1080 

1135 

0° 

0°30 

1° 

1°30' 

2° 

2°30' 

3° 

3°45' 

0"75 

1"25 

1'75 

2"25 

2"75 

3"5 

4"

5"

300 

425 

615 

700 

785 

925 

1080 

1300 

Use SHOT at niamesof troops, and to batter, from 600 up to 2,000 yards. Use S'HELLfor tiring buildings, at troops posted in woods, in pursuit, rind 

to produce Itamoral rather than a physical effect; greatest effective range 1,500 yards. Use SPHERICAL CASE SHOT at massesof troops, at not less thoir 

500 yards; generally up to 1,500 yards. CANISTER is not effective at 600 yards; it should not be used beyond 500 yards, and but very seldom rind 

over the most favorable ground at that distance; at short ranges. (less than 200 yards,) in emergency. use double canister, with single charge. Do not 

employ RICOCHET at lessdistance than 1,000 to 1,100 yards. 

CARE OF MOWNITIONCHEST, 

lot. Keep everything out that does not belong in them, except a bunch of cord or wire for breakage; beware of loose tacks, nails, bona, m. scraps. 

2d. Keep friction primers in their papers, tied up. The pouch containing those for instant service must be closed, and so placed as to he secure. 

Take every precaution that primers do not get loose ; a single one may cause all explosion. Use plenty of tow in packing. 

(This sheet is to be glued on to the inside of Limber Chest Cover.) 

TABLE OF FIRE 

20-PDR.PARROTT GUN 

Charge, 2 lbs. of Mortar Powder 

ELEVATION 

In Degrees P ROJICTILE 

RANGE 

I n Yards 

TIME OF FLIGHT 

I n tieonds 

1 

2 

3

5

/8 

5 

10 

15 

Case Shot, 19 1/2 lbs. 

Case Shot, 19 1

/2 lbs. 

Shell, 183

/4 lbs. 

Shell, 183

/4 lbs. 

Shell, 183

/4 lbs. 

Shell, 183

/4 lbs. 

620 

950 

1500 

2100 

3350 

4400 

1

7

/8 

3

1

/8 

4

3

/4 

6

1

/2 

11 1

/4 

171/4 

CARE OF AMMUNITION CHEST 

1st. Keep everything out that does not belong in them, except a bunch of cord or wire for breakage; beware of loose tacks, nails, bolts, or scraps. 

2nd. Keep friction primers in their papers, tied up. The pouch containing those for instant service must be closed, and so placed as to be secure. 

Take every precaution that primers do not get loose; a single one may cause an explosion. Use plenty of tow in packing. 

(This sheet is to be .1,luedto the inside of Limber Chest Cover.) 

Firing tables were glued to the inside of limber ammunition chest lids. 

41 

5

I...

l'HELL

0"

20-PDR.

ROJECTILE

~Iued

1"75

2"75

'1""."'. UIIlI

tllIIll
TACTICS 

The tactical legacy of the eighteenth century had emphasized close order formations of 

soldiers trained to maneuver in concert and fire by volleys. These "linear" tactics stressed 

the tactical offensive. Assault troops advanced in line, two ranks deep, with cadenced steps, 

stopping to fire volleys on command and finally rushing the last few yards to pierce the 

enemy line with a bayonet charge. 

These tactics were adequate for troops armed with single-shot, muzzle-loading, smoothbore muskets with an effective range of about eighty yards. The close-order formation was 

therefore necessary to concentrate the fire power of these inaccurate weapons. Bayonet 

charges might then succeed because infantry could rush the last eighty yards before the 

defending infantrymen could reload their muskets after firing a volley. 

The U.S. Army's transition from smooth-bore muskets to rifled-muskets in the midnineteenth century would have two main effects in the American Civil War: it would 

strengthen the tactical defensive and increase the number of casualties in the attacking force. 

With a weapon which could cause casualties out to 1,000 yards defenders firing rifles could 

decimate infantry formations attacking according to linear tactics. 

During the Civil War the widespread use of the rifled-musket caused infantry assault 

formations to loosen up somewhat, with individual soldiers seeking available cover and 

concealment. However, because officers needed to maintain visual and verbal control of 

their commands during the noise, smoke and chaos of combat, close-order tactics to some 

degree would continue to the end of the war. 

A typical combat formation of a regiment might be six companies in the main line, with 

two in reserve, and two out in front in extended skirmish order. During battle additional 

companies might be fed into the skirmish line, or the skirmishers might regroup on the main 

line. 

Rapid movement of units on roads or cross country, was generally by formation of a 

column four men abreast. The speed of such columns was prescribed as 2 miles per hour. 

Upon reaching the field each regiment was typically formed into a line two ranks deep, the 

shoulders of each man in each rank touching the shoulders of the man on either side. The 

distance beween ranks was prescribed as thirteen inches. A regiment of 500 men (250 men 

in each rank), might have a front of about 200 yards. Both front and rear ranks were 

capable of firing, either by volley or individual fire. 

42 
3Lt 

2Lt lLt 

) 

5Sgt 3Sgt 2Sg 

4 Sgt 

File Closers 

(positioned behind each company) 

Legend: cl CPT C CPT I 2LT 

IA 1SG y 1LT 

14 IX aV Ix 

Co. AB C D E 

a 

Regimental and National colors 

and color guard 

rear 

rank 

front 

rank 

Band Sergeant Major 

I 

LTC 

Adjutant 

NM 

Junior Major Senior Major 

f;) ci cl 4 4 4 cl 4 4 [al 4 4 4 1;1 

Regiment Formed Into Line of Battle 

Legend: gCPT g 2LT

[g] ISO OILT

3Lt

2Lt lLt

5Sgt~~ii~~!~ 3Sgt 2Sg

4Sgt

File Closers

(positioned behind each company)

D Adjutant I LTC I

ICOLI

D

Junior Major

Band

1--_- D

Senior Major

Sergeant Major

Cl

FRONT

QQQQf;lQQQr;JQ r;JOf;lOQQQQQQ

:::~ fX1 ~ ~ I8l I 0 ~ ~ ~""--- j ! I I

I J I I I J :

J I J I I I : 1

~:~~~ ~~~I

Regimental anl..ional colors

and color guard

Regiment Fanned Into Line ofBattle
GETTYSBURG WEATHER REPORTS 

During the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania the Rev. Dr. Michael Jacobs of Pennsylvania 

College at Gettysburg kept detailed records of the local weather. These excerpts from those 

records do not include humidity readings, which at high levels can make temperatures seem 

hotter. 

"From June 15th until July 22nd, 1863, there was not an entirely clear day.... On the day 

before the battle, both at 7 a.m., and 2 p.m., the obscuration was again complete, with cumulostratus clouds moving from S.S.E. At 9 p.m., only four-tenths of the heavens were covered. 

During these days of somber suspense, the records of the wind are those of almost an entire calm. 

The thermometer [at Fahrenheit] registers as follows during the period: 

7 a.m. 2 p.m. 9 p.m. 

June 25th, 59 51 63 

June 26th, 60 63 62 

June 27th, 61 63 67 

June 28th, 63 67 68 

June 29th, 66 72 69 

June 30th, 68 79 71 

All through the first day [of July], the entire sky was covered with clouds, viz: cumulo-stratus 

at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and cirro-stratus at 2 p.m. A very gentle southern breeze, (2 miles per 

hour). Thermometer: 

7 a.m. 2 p.m. 9 p.m. 

72 76 74 

At 8 a.m. [July 2nd], sky still covered, (cumulo-stratus). At 2 p.m., three-tenths are clear. At 

9 p.m., there are cirrus clouds; wind as on preceding day. Thermometer: 

7 p.m. 2 p.m. 9 p.m. 

74 81 76 

At 8 a.m. [July 3rd], sky again completely covered with cumulo-stratus clouds; at 2 p.m., only 

four-tenths of the heavens are covered, but with cumulus or the massive thunder-cloud of 

summer; 

44 
at 9 p.m., seven-tenths cumulus. Wind S.S.W., very gentle. Thunder storm in neighborhood at 

6 p.m. The thunder seemed tame, after the artillery firing of the afternoon. Thermometer: 

7 p.m. 2 p.m. 9 p.m. 

73 87 76 

Rain in showers at 6 p.m., from 2:15 to 4 p.m. [July 4th], and at 4 p.m. of the 5th, aggregating 

1.330. Thermometer: 

7 p.m. 2 p.m. 9 p.m. 

69 72 70 

...The maximum temperature for the month of July 1863, was 87 [degrees Fahrenheit], at the 

time of Pickett's charge...." 

SOURCE: Records on file in the Gettysburg National Military Park. 

Comments of some participants regarding the weather during the battle: 

"Having become exhausted from fatigue and the excessive heat of the day..." 

COL Oates, 15th AL, OR, p. 393 

"The scene of action was reached by a march of several miles under a broiling sun..." 

COL White, 7th GA, OR, p. 396 

"The scene of action was reached by a march of several miles under a burning sun..." 

MAJ McDaniel, 11 th GA, OR, p. 401 

"Not withstanding the extreme heat and the fatiguing march..." 

LTC Shepherd, 2d GA, OR, p. 420 

"Owing to the excessive heat, dry weather, and dust, the march was a severe one..." 

MAJ Eshleman, Wash Arty, OR, p. 433 

SOURCE: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies... 

45 
SELECTED BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

OF UNION LEADERS 

LINCOLN, Abraham. 

1809-1865, KY 

Lincoln was born in Kentucky and raised on the edge of the frontier, growing up with scant 

formal education. His family then settled in Ill., where Lincoln held various clerking jobs, 

and was partner in a grocery store that failed and left him heavily in debt. He studied law 

and his forceful character and honesty made him a favorite in the community and elected him 

to the state legislature as a Whig. Licensed as a lawyer in 1836, he settled in Springfield 

where he married Mary Todd in 1842. After one term in Congress (1847-49) he was not 

returned by his constituents and retired from public life. 

While a lawyer for the Illinois Central Railroad he became acquainted with George 

McClellan (vice-president) and Ambrose Burnside (treasurer). It was also during this time he 

became acquainted with Edwin Stanton, having been temporarily hired by Stanton's law firm. 

In opposition to Stephen A. Douglas and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Lincoln entered into the 

growing debate of sectionalism, joining the Republican party in 1856. 

The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 ended in Douglas' election to the Senate, but 

Lincoln emerged as a powerful national figure. He was a serious contender for the 

Republican presidential nomination in 1860, and after his campaign managers struck a deal 

with Pennsylvania political boss Simon Cameron, that if elected Lincoln would name 

Cameron secretary of war, Lincoln gained the nomination (In Jan '62 Lincoln, unhappy with 

Cameron's performance, replaced him with Edwin Stanton). 

When Lincoln was elected on 6 Nov '60 the South saw the end of their political power in 

the Union, and southern states began seceding. After the attack on Fort Sumter, S.C., in Apr 

'61, he called upon the various states to furnish 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion. 

Frequently advised by governors and congressmen, Lincoln selected many generals from 

46 
among leading politicians in order to give himself a broader base of political support. Some 

political generals, such as John A. Logan and Francis P. Blair, distinguished themselves, 

whereas others proved military hindrances. Other commissions were given to Regulars on 

active duty, former West Pointers like McClellan and Burnside, who had resigned to pursue 

business careers, or those who had held volunteer commissions in the Mexican War. 

During the war Lincoln appointed and discarded a secession of commanding generals as he 

was subjected to repeated humiliation in the defeat of Union arms. After McDowell's defeat 

at First Manassas in Jul '61, he made McClellan commander-in-chief of all armies, and 

acquiesced in that commander's oblique movement with the Army of the Potomac against 

Richmond via the Peninsula. After this unsuccessful campaign, however, Lincoln relieved 

McClellan of supreme command, allowing him to retain command of the Army of the 

Potomac, and put John Pope in command of a separate Army of Virginia. 

After Pope's defeat at Second Manassas (29-30 Aug '62) Lincoln reconsolidated both 

armies under McClellan, who led the hastily assembled force to block Lee's invasion of 

Maryland. 

Earlier, Lincoln had drafted a proclamation freeing slaves in the rebellious states but 

withheld it because, after Union reverses, it might appear an act of desperation. When 

McClellan's army successfully halted Lee at Antietam (17 Sep '62), the Emancipation 

Proclamation was issued, changing the war's focus (heretofore fought to preserve the Union 

and not to disrupt the South's social fabric) to include ending slavery. 

When McClellan failed to pursue Lee after Antietam Lincoln relieved him. The failure of 

McClellan's successors - Burnside at Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62) and Hooker at 

Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63) - added to Lincoln's perplexity and tended to discredit his 

ability in military matters. Meade's success at Gettysburg (1-3 Jul '63) was marred by the 

failure to pursue and crush Lee's army. Even under Grant, whom Lincoln brought East in the 

spring of 1864, there were months of sanguinary fighting with hope deferred. 

Lincoln's political enemies mustered strength before the '64 election, and it looked as 

though he would be displaced in the White House by Democratic challenger George 

McClellan. But the military successes of Grant's overland campaign and Sherman's capture 

of Atlanta swung sentiment to him, and Lincoln was re-elected. He was assassinated by John 

Wilkes Booth on 14 Apr '65 at Ford's Theater, Washington, five weeks after his second 

inauguration and five days after Lee's surrender. 

47 
STANTON, Edwin McMasters 

1814-1869, OH 

In 1827 Stanton's father died, forcing the 13-year-old to leave school and work in a 

bookstore to supplement the family's income. He studied law in Columbus and was admitted 

to the bar in 1836. From 1849 to 1856 he was counsel for the state of Pennsylvania, 

establishing a national reputation. In 1859 he successfully defended Congressman Daniel 

Sickles in a celebrated Washington murder case, and in the waning days of the Buchanan 

administration he was appointed attorney general. 

Nominally a Democrat, Stanton backed John C. Breckinridge in the election of 1860, and 

after Lincoln was inaugurated he returned to private life. In Jan '62 Lincoln offered him the 

position of secretary of war, which he accepted, sacrificing a yearly income of $40,000 as a 

successful lawyer for a cabinet post of $8,000. 

With no military experience, he moved into office with zeal, fighting fraud and waste in the 

rapidly enlarged military. A capable organizer, he brought order out of chaos. He generally 

worked well with congressional leaders and generals in the field. However, when George 

McClellan, a personal friend, failed to perform adequately Stanton was one of the leading 

forces pushing for his removal. His manner and restrictions on the press earned him few 

friends and later led to some apparently unfounded charges that he was involved in the 

assassination of Lincoln. 

After the war Stanton worked with the Radical Republicans in their efforts to secure 

harsher treatment for the South. This brought him into conflict with his new president, 

Andrew Johnson. Matters came to a head in 1868 when the president removed him from 

office. Congress reinstated him under the Tenure of Office Act but Johnson persisted, naming 

Grant as secretary of war. Stanton, however, barricaded himself in his office and Grant, 

supportive of Stanton, refused to take office. The crisis ended on 26 May '68 when Stanton 

finally resigned and resumed his legal practice. 

In Dec '69, on Grant's election to the presidency, Stanton was named to the U.S. Supreme 

Court, but died four days after Congress confirmed the nomination. 

48 
HALLECK, Henry W. 

1815-1872, NY 

USMA 1839 (3/31); Engrs. 

After graduating from West Point Halleck was assigned to work on the fortifications in 

New York Harbor, then toured Europe and inspecting fortifications. Afterwards he was 

invited by the Lowell Institute of Boston to deliver a series of twelve lectures on the elements 

of military art and science. When the Mexican War broke out Halleck, then a first lieutenant, 

was assigned to Monterey, California, where he filled varied and responsible positions. He 

was brevetted captain for gallantry "in affairs with the enemy" on 1 May '47. After the war 

he was an inspector and engineer of light-houses and acted a member of a board of engineers 

for fortifications on the Pacific Coast. He was promoted CPT, 1 Jul '53, but because of cuts 

in the army after the war and the hopeless future in a profession little rewarded by the 

government, he resigned 1 Aug '54. The same year he became head of the leading law firm 

in California, refusing offers to run for the U.S. Senate. Halleck later became director of the 

New Almaden quick-silver mine and a major general of California militia. 

At the beginning of the Civil War Halleck was commissioned MG in the R.A. (19 Aug 

'61), and commanded the Department of the Missouri. The success of his subordinates, Grant 

and Foote at Donelson, Curtis at Pea Ridge, Pope at Island No. 10, and Grant at Shiloh, 

brought prestige to Halleck'sdepartment. The departments of Kansas and Ohio were added 

to his command on 11 Mar '62, and the whole named the Department of the Mississippi. 

Halleck then took to the field in person. Although his army had double the number of his 

opponent's forces, Halleck'slabors in the field were not so meritorious as in the office. 

Though he captured Corinth he allowed the enemy's forces to escape and failed to pursue 

them with vigor. This movement ended Halleck'sactive campaigning, during which he was 

known to the soldiers as "Old Brains." 

On 11 Jul '62, he was summoned to Washington and made military advisor to the President 

with the title of general-in-chief. Brusque, mathematical, direct, wholly impersonal and 

impartial, Halleck not only antagonized office seekers and politicians but also his subordinates 

far away in the field. His counsels to his generals were frequent and often superfluous and he 

49 

Halleck's

Halleck's

Halleck's
devoted much of his time to minutiae and the manner of raising soldiers and equipment. 

On 12 Mar '64, after Grant was promoted to LTG, Halleck's status was changed from 

general-in-chief to chief of staff. Although the new office was more logical and appropriate 

to the work Halleck had been doing, it nevertheless was a demotion. Unlike other generals, 

who asked to be relieved or reassigned when they could not have positions to which they 

believed themselves entitled, Halleck pursued his duties with his same unflagging energy. On 

19 Apr '65, after Appomattox, he was relieved from the office of chief of staff and three days 

later assigned to command the Military Division of the James, with headquarters in 

Richmond. On 30 Aug '65 he was transferred to command the Military Division of the 

Pacific with headquarters at San Francisco and on 16 Mar '69 he was placed in command of 

the Division of the South, at Louisville, Ky., his last assignment before his death. 

MEADE, George G. 

1815-1872, Spain 

USMA 1835 (19/56); Arty. 

Meade's first military assignment was to the 3d Artillery in Florida, at the outbreak of the 

Seminole War. After serving a year Meade was stricken with fever which rendered him 

unfit for active service, and he was sent to Watertown Arsenal, Mass., for ordnance work. 

There he resigned on 26 Oct '36 to become assistant engineer of the Alabama, Florida & 

Georgia Railroad. Six years later, after marrying Margaretta Sergeant, Meade applied for 

reinstatement in the army and was appointed 2LT of Topographical Engineers on 19 May '42. 

As a military engineer Meade worked on the northeastern boundary survey until the end of 

1843 when he was transferred to Philadelphia to work on the design and construction of 

lighthouses in the Delaware Bay. He was on that duty until Aug '45, when ordered to 

Aransay Bay, Texas, with Taylor's army of Occupation. 

During the Mexican War, Meade, still with Taylor's army, participated in the battles of 

Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and Monterey. He was later transferred to Scott's army, and 

50 
served on the general's staff along with a number of other West Point graduates, including 

Robert E. Lee. After the war Meade then returned to Philadelphia and lighthouse construction 

and making surveys and maps of the Florida reefs. From 1849 to 1850 he again served in 

Florida in service against the Seminoles, before returning once more to Philadelphia. 

On 4 Aug '51 Meade was promoted 1 LT and returned to Florida, promoted CPT, 17 May 

'56, and then ordered to Detroit on the Geodetic survey of the Great Lakes. When the Civil 

War broke out he was made BG of vols, 31 Aug '61, and commanded a Pennsylvania 

brigade. Meade's first duty was in the defenses of Washington where he assisted in the 

construction of forts. In Mar '62 he transferred with his command to McDowell's army, and 

after the evacuation of Manassas he was sent to the Department of the Shenandoah. 

In Jun '62 Meade was promoted MAJ in the R.A. and ordered to the Peninsula, 

commanding a brigade of the V Corps, Army of the Potomac. Participating in the battles of 

Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, and Glendale, he was seriously wounded at the latter battle, an 

injury that would trouble him the remainder of his life. 

Before he was fully recovered Meade returned to field service and commanded a brigade of 

the III Corps, Army of Virginia, at Second Manassas (29-30 Aug '62). At Antietam (17 Sep 

'62) he was in temporary command of Reynolds' division, I Corps, Army of the Potomac, 

and when Hooker was wounded Meade assumed temporary command of the I Corps. On 29 

Nov '62 he was promoted MG of vols, and when Reynolds succeeded to the command of 

Hooker's corps Meade was given command of Reynolds' division. 

At the Battle of Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62) Meade's command temporarily broke through 

the Confederate right at Hamilton's Crossing, but was driven back. On 25 Dec '62 he was 

assigned command of the V Corps. At Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63) the V Corps formed 

the left of the army, but moved to the right flank after the rout of the XI Corps. Only a 

portion of Meade's command were engaged. 

At the beginning of the Gettysburg campaign, while the army was moving northward, 

Meade was awakened in the early morning of 28 Jun '63 by a messenger from the President. 

At first believing he was being placed under arrest, Meade was surprised to learn he had been 

placed in command of the Army of the Potomac. Three days later, at Gettysburg (1-3 Jul 

'63), his army halted Lee's second invasion of the North. On the last day of the battle he 

was promoted BG in the R.A. and pursued the enemy back to Virginia. In the fall and winter 

of '63, Meade's army maneuvered against Lee's forces during the Rapidan and Mine Run 

campaigns before going into winter quarters. 

When Grant, who had been made LTG in command of all Union forces in Mar '64, chose 

to accompany the Army of the Potomac, Meade's powers were mechanically curtailed and his 

work was relegated to the tactical rather than the strategical realm. He was promoted MG in 

the R.A. on 18 Aug '64, and remained commander of the Army of the Potomac until 

Appomattox (9 Apr '65). After the war he commanded the Military Division of the Atlantic 

and the Department of the East at Philadelphia. In 1868 he commanded the third military 

district of the Department of the South, comprising the states of Georgia, Alabama, and 

Florida, and then, in 1869, was again assigned the Military Division of the Atlantic. 

51 
CHAMBERLAIN, Joshua 

1828-1914, ME 

After graduating from a military school in Ellsworth, Maine, Chamberlain attend Bowdoin 

College and Bangor Theological Seminary. In 1855 he joined the Bowdoin faculty as 

instructor in natural and revealed religion, and over the course of several years taught rhetoric 

and modern languages, becoming a professor at Bowdoin in 1856, and then at Bangor five 

years later. Chamberlain was granted a leave of absence in '62 to study abroad but, over the 

protest of the college faculty, he enlisted as a LTC in the 20th Maine Infantry, participating in 

the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was slightly wounded during the latter action. 

He was promoted COL in May '63, in time to command his regiment at the Battle of 

Chancellorsville. 

At the Battle of Gettysburg, two months later, Chamberlain performed with distinction in 

defending the Union left flank on Little Round Top, for which he was awarded the Medal of 

Honor. In the same he was again slightly wounded. In Nov '63 he went on temporary leave 

from field service suffering from malaria. After recuperating Chamberlain resumed 

command of the 20th Maine in May '64. He was assigned command of a brigade the 

following month and was severely wounded while personally leading an attack at Petersburg. 

After being promoted BG of vols on the spot by Grant Chamberlain was carried to the rear, 

not expected to survive. He did survive, however, and after convalescing in Maine returned 

to the army. He was wounded a fourth and fifth time during the Petersburg campaign, and 

later brevetted MG of vols. After Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, 

Chamberlain was designated to receive the formal surrender of arms and colors on 9 Apr '65. 

Refusing an appointment as COL in the R.A. on account of poor health, Chamberlain was 

mustered out of service in Jun '66. He returned to Maine to be elected Governor, a post he 

held through four elections, until 1871. Afterward he became president of Bowdoin College 

(1871-1883). Chamberlain was appointed U.S. surveyor of customs for the port of Portland 

in 1900, a post held until 1914, when he succumbed to the effects of his third wound. 

52 
HANCOCK, Winfield Scott 

1824-1886, PA 

USMA 1840 (18/25); Inf. 

Hancock served on the frontier, in the Mexican War (1 brevet), and the Seminole War, and 

in Kansas during the border disturbances, and was later appointed chief Q.M. of the Southern 

District of California (until Aug '61). Named BG of vols in Sep '61, Hancock commanded a 

brigade of the IV Corps and later of the VI Corps during the Pensinsula campaign (13 Mar-18 

May '62), and at the Battle of Antietam (17 Sep '62). He was promoted MG of vols (29 Nov 

'62) and commanded a division of the II Corps at Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63), then was 

assigned command of the corps (22 May-3 Jul '63). When Meade, then commander of the 

Army of the Potomac, first heard of the initial fighting at Gettysburg he sent Hancock 

forward to investigate. Hancock assisted in forming a defensive line and advised Meade to 

concentrate the entire army at Gettysburg. On the morning of 2 Jul '63 the II Corps occupied 

Cemetery Ridge. In the afternoon, when the III Corps collapsed under the weight of 

Longstreet's attack, Hancock personally forwarded reinforcements to weak points in the line. 

During Pickett's attack on 3 Jul the II Corps bore the brunt of the assault, and Hancock was 

severely wounded. 

Hancock was promoted MAJ in the R.A. (30 Nov '63) and continued to command the II 

Corps through the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor and the 

siege of Petersburg to Nov '64. He was promoted BG in the R.A. and first assigned to 

organize and command the 1st Corps of Veterans, then various departments until the end of 

the war. He was appointed MG in the R.A. in Jul '66. Hancock was an unsuccessful 

presidential candidate in 1880, losing to Garfield. 

53 
HOWARD, Oliver O. 

1830-1909, ME 

USMA 1854 (4/46); Ord. 

Howard saw brief service in the Watervliet and Kennebec arsenals before becoming chief of 

ordnance in Florida during hostilities with the Seminoles (1857). He was promoted to 1LT 1 

Jul '57, returned to West Point as instructor in mathematics, and remained there until Jun '61, 

when he resigned to become COL of the 3d Maine Infantry. Howard commanded a brigade 

at First Manassas (21 Jul '61), and was promoted BG of vols 3 Sep '61. 

During the Peninsula Campaign Howard was wounded twice, losing his right arm at Fair 

Oaks (1 Jun '62) and did not return to duty until 27 Aug. Returning to field service he 

commanded a brigade of the II Corps at Antietam (17 Sep '62), assuming temporary 

command of the division after Sedgwick was wounded. Howard was promoted to MG of vols 

29 Nov '62, and commanded a division of the II Corps at Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62). 

On 1 Apr '63 he was assigned command of the XI Corps, composed mostly of GermansAmericans. Because he had displaced the popular (at least among the Germans) MG Franz 

Sigel, Howard was generally disliked by his troops. In addition they were not impressed with 

his reputation as a great Biblical soldier, "the Havelock of the Army." Having studied for the 

ministry in the Presbyterian Church, Howard was intensely pious and was a temperance 

leader. This led to friction between Howard and his commanding officer, Joe Hooker, whose 

reputation in the army was that of a profane and hard drinking womanizer. Hooker was not 

impressed with Howard's moral philosophy, later stating that Howard was a good deal more 

qualified to "command a prayer meeting" than an army corps. At the Battle of 

Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63), while Howard's corps held the army's right flank, Jackson's 

corps struck the surprised XI Corps in the flank and rear and it. When Hooker was ultimately 

forced to withdraw from the battlefield, the XI Corps, specifically the Germans, was held 

responsible for the failure of the campaign. 

54 
On the first day at Gettysburg (1-3 Jul '63) Howard's XI Corps again held the right flank 

of the army and, as at Chancellorsville, was outflanked and routed. The remnants of the 

corps fell back to Cemetery Ridge. 

On 24 Sep '63 Howard's corps was ordered to Tennessee and participated in the battles 

around Chattanooga. On 10 Apr '64, after the XI and XII Corps' were consolidated to form 

the XX Corps, he was placed in command of the IV Corps, Army of the Cumberland. He 

took part in the battles around Atlanta and in Jul '64 was given command of the Army of the 

Tennessee, passing over Hooker, his senior in rank. 

Howard and his command participated in the March to the Sea, the surrender of Savannah 

(21 Dec '64), and the surrender of the Confederate Army under Johnston (26 Apr '65). 

On 12 May '65 Howard was appointed commissioner of the newly established Bureau of 

Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. He was instrumental in founding Howard 

University in Washington, D.C., and was its president from 1869 until 1874. In 1872 

President Grant had sent Howard to the Southwest as a peace commissioner to the Apache 

Indians under Cochise (1872), with whom he concluded a treaty. In 1874 Howard 

commanded the Department of Columbia and in 1877 he commanded an Expedition against 

the Nez Perce Indians. The following year he was on an expedition against the Bannocksand 

Piutes. In 1881 he became superintendent of West Point and two years later took command 

of the Department of the Platte. Promoted MG in 1886 Howard commanded the Division of 

the East until his retirement in 1894. 

REYNOLDS, John F. 

1820-1863, PA 

USMA 1841 (26/52); Arty. 

Reynolds first assignments after graduation were garrison duties at various posts in 

Maryland South Carolina, Florida and Texas. He was promoted 1LT (18 Jun '46) and 

accompanied Taylor's army to Mexico, where he was brevetted CPT for bravery at Monterey 

55 

Bannocks
and MAJ for gallantry at Buena Vista. After the war Reynolds returned to garrision duty, this 

time at various posts in New England, and at New Orleans. Promoted CPT 3 Mar '55, he 

crossed the plains two years later in the campaign against the Mormans. After a short term of 

duty at Ft. Vancouver, Washington, Reynolds was appointed commandant of cadets at West 

Point, serving as instructor of arty, cav,and inf. 

With the outbreak of the Civil War Reynolds was promoted LTC (14 May '61). Due to the 

influence of Pennsylvania Governor Curtin the Federal Government promoted Reynolds BG 

of vols on 20 Aug '61 and assigned him to a brigade of Pennyslvania Reserves, in the 

defenses of Washington. During the Peninsula campaign Reynolds' Pennsylvanians were 

assigned to the V Corps and participated at Mechanicsville and Gaines' Mill. At the latter 

battle Reynolds was captured and sent to Richmond. He was exchanged and returned to duty 

on 8 Aug '62, and assigned to command a division of Pennsylvania Reserves. 

His command joined the III Corps of Pope's Army of Virginia on 21 Aug '62 where it 

participated at Second Manassas (29-30 Aug '62). At the request of Governor Curtin, 

Reynolds' was sent to Pennsylvania to command the state militia during the Maryland 

campaign. On 29 Nov '62 he was promoted MG of vols and returned to command the I 

Corps, Army of the Potomac. His corps participated at Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62), where a 

portion of his troops drove through the Confederate line at Hamilton's crossing, but were 

forced back. At Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63) the I Corps was held in reserve. Reynolds 

was promoted COL R.A. in early June. 

On 28 Jun '63, after Meade assumed command of the army of the Potomac, he assigned 

Reynolds command of a wing, consisting of the I, III, XI Corps. While personally 

supervising the placement of I Corps troops during the opening stages of the battle of 

Gettysburg, on 1 Jul '63, Reynolds was shot and killed. 

56 

cay,
SEDGWICK, John 

1813-1864, CT 

USMA 1837 (24/50); Arty. 

After graduation Sedgwick saw action in the Seminole War in Florida, 1837-1838, took 

part in supervising the removal of the Cherokee Indians west beyond the Mississippi, and 

served on garrison duty along the Maine-Canada border. He was promoted 1LT 19 Apr '39, 

later serving with Scott in the Mexican War, winning brevets to CPT at Contreras and 

Churubusco, and MAJ at Chapultepec. He was promoted to CPT 26 Jan '49, and MAJ in the 

1st Cavalry Regiment, 8 Mar '55. 

Sedgwick took part in the Morman Expedition 1857-1858 and saw considerable action 

against various Indian tribes in the west during the same time. In Mar '61 Sedgwick was 

promoted to LTC in 2d Cavalry Regiment and in Apr COL of the 4th Cavalry Regiment. In 

Aug '61 he was appointed BG of vols and placed in command of a division guarding the 

Potomac near Poolesville, Maryland. Sedgwick then served with the Army of the Potomac, 

commanding a division of Sumner's II Corps through the Peninsula Campaign, was badly 

wounded at Frayser's farm (30 Jun '62), and promoted MG of vols 4 Jul '62. While leading 

his division at Antietam (17 Sep '62) he was twice more wounded. 

In Feb '63 he returned to active duty and was assigned command of the VI Corps. At 

Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63) his command stormed Marye's Heights (3 May) and fought at 

Salem Church (3-4 May). At Gettysburg (1-3 Jul '63) the VI Corps arrived on the afternoon 

of 2 Jul and remained generally in reserve. Afterwards, Sedgwick commanded the right wing 

of the army (VI and V Corps), Sep-Dec '63, during the Rapidan and Mine Run campaigns. 

On 4 May '64 he once again was assigned to command the VI Corps, and in Grant's 

overland campaign participated in the battle of the Wilderness (5-6 May '64). While directing 

artillery emplacements at Spotsylvania, 9 May '64, he was shot and killed by a sniper. 

57 
SICKLES, Daniel E. 

1825-1914, NY 

Sickles attended the University of New York, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 

1846. He was elected to the state legislature in 1847, and as corporation counsel for NYC in 

1853 he was part of the commission that acquired the site of Central Park for the city. From 

1853-1855 Sickles was in London as secretary of the U.S. legation, then served a term in the 

New York state senate, and was elected as a Democrat to Congress (1857-1861). In 1859, 

after shooting and killing his wife's lover, Sickles was found not guilty by reason of 

temporary insanity, the first use of that plea in American jurisprudence. 

Sickles had been an officer of the New York militia since 1852 and with the outbreak of 

the Civil War, raised troops for the "Excelsior Brigade." In Jun '61 he was appointed COL of 

one of its regiments. He commanded a brigade of the III Corps, Army of the Potomac during 

the Peninsula campaign, and in Jul '62 he returned to New York to recruit for the Excelsior 

Brigade. Sickles was promoted in Sep '62 to BG of vols and returned to command a division 

of the III Corps at Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62). 

In Mar '63, Sickles was promoted MG of vols and assigned command of the III Corps. At 

Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63) the III Corps occupied the right center of the Union army, the 

XI Corps on its right and XII on the left. On 2 May Sickles spotted Jackson's flanking 

column and struck the rear of Jackson's force at Chatharine Furnace. When the XI Corps 

gave way on the Union right flank, however, Sickles' command fell back to halt the 

Confederate advance on the Plank Road. That evening Sickles ordered one of his brigades on 

a night attack. In the darkness and dense woods the unit gallantly charged a breastwork, only 

to discover it belonged to the XII Corps. Later, the brigade charged and captured one of its 

own batteries, "but, on learning the mistake, of course relinquished it." 

The III Corps arrived at Gettysburg (1-2 Jul '63) on the second day and was ordered to 

58 
hold the southern end of Cemetery Ridge at the Round Tops. Instead, Sickles moved his 

entire corps forward to what he considered better ground and was struck by Longstreet's 

attack, the III Corps losing almost half its men. Sickles was wounded in the attack and his 

leg amputated, ending his war service. 

After a diplomatic mission to South America in 1865 he was military governor of South 

Carolina. In Jul '66 he was commissioned COL in the R.A., and in Mar '67 brevetted BG 

and MG for "gallant and meritorious service" at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Sickles was 

mustered out of volunteer service in Jan '68 and retired from the R.A. as MG Apr '69. 

From May '69 to Dec '73 he was U.S. minister to Spain, causing some embarrassment to 

the U.S. Government by publicly advocating the annexation of Cuba. He was recalled as 

minister and moved to Europe for seven years before returning to the U.S. Sickles held 

various offices in NYC during the 1880s, being elected in 1892 to the U.S. House of 

Representatives. It was during this time he was instrumental in having the Federal 

government acquire Gettysburg acreage for a national military park. Having lost in the 

election of 1894 he retired to private life. In 1897 Sickles was awarded the Medal of Honor 

for action at Gettysburg. 

SLOCUM, Henry W. 

1827-1894, NY 

USMA 1852 (7/43); Arty. 

Slocum served on garrison duty in Florida and South Carolina until 1856. He then 

resigned to practice law, and was admitted to the New York bar in 1858. He was elected to 

the state legislature the following year and appointed COL of the state militia as instructor of 

artillery. At the outbreak of the Civil War Slocum volunteered his services to the state and 

was appointed COL of the 27th New York Infanty. He was wounded while commanding his 

regiment at the Battle of First Manassas (21 Jul '61). 

While recuperating Slocum was promoted BG of vols (9 Aug '61), and assigned to the 

59 
defenses of Washington until Mar '62. He then returned to active field duty and was 

appointed division commander of the VI Corps, participating in the Peninsula campaign. On 

4 Jul '62 Slocum was promoted to MG of vols. His division fought at Second Manassas (29- 

30 Aug '62), South Mountain (14 Sep '62), and was lightly engaged at Antietam (17 Sep 

'62). 

On 15 Oct '62, Slocum was appointed commander of the XII Corps and at Chancellorsville 

(1-4 May '63), his command occupied the left center of the army, near the Chancellor House. 

About midnight on 2 May Slocum repelled what he assumed to be a Confederate attack. 

Instead, it turned out to be a night attack by elements of Sickles' III Corps. In his after 

action report Slocum states "I have no information as to the damage suffered by our troops 

from our own fire, but fear that our losses must have been severe." 

At Gettysburg (1-3 Jul '63) Slocum's corps arrived in the evening of 2 Jul, occuping 

Culp's Hill. Later the corps moved to the Union left, to assist in repelling Longstreet's 

attack, then returned to Culp's Hill for the remainder of the battle. 

In Sep '63 Slocum's XII Corps, along with Howard's XI Corps were sent west to reinforce 

Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga, and both corps placed under command 

of Hooker, between whom and Slocum there was considerable friction. 

In Apr '64, when the XI and XII Corps' were merged to form the XX Corps Slocum was 

placed in command of the District of Vicksburg until Jul, when he returned to command the 

XX Corps. His command participated in the Atlanta campaign and his troops were the first to 

enter the city on 2 Sep '64. Slocum was assigned command of the left wing of Sherman's 

army in the march through Georgia and the Carolinas, and his new command, consisting of 

the XX Corps and XIV Corps, were redesignated the Army of Georgia. After the surrender 

of Johnston's army in N.C., in Apr '65, Slocum commanded the Department of the 

Mississippi at Vicksburg, before resigning on 28 Sep '65. 

In the post-war years Slocum resumed his law practice in Brooklyn, served as a Democrat 

in the U.S. Congress, 1868-70, and was commissioner of public works in Brooklyn in 1876. 

In 1882 he was elected to a third term in Congress. 

GENERAL G.K. WARREN AT THE SIGNAL STATION ON LITTLE ROUND TOP. 

FROM A SKETCH MADE AT THE TIME. 

60 

G.
SYKES, George 

1822-1880, DE 

USMA 1842 (39/56); Inf. 

After graduating from West Point Sykes served in Florida and on the frontier until he 

joined the army under GEN Taylor in Texas. Later, in Mexico with Scott's army, Sykes 

participated in most of the campaigns, being brevetted CPT for gallantry at Cerro Gordo. 

With the end of the war Sykes served again on the frontier, being promoted CPT in the 

R.A. (30 Sep '53). Promoted MAJ (14 May '61) he commanded a battalion of Regular 

infantry at Manassas, his unit acting as rear guard to the disorganized mob of volunteers 

which fled back to Washington. Sykes was appointed BG of Vols (28 Sep '61), and assigned 

to command first a brigade then a division of the V Corps. Composed mostly of Regular 

troops, Sykes' division participated in the Penninsula campaign (Mar-Jul '62) then moved 

north to join Pope's Army of Virginia. Sykes' command fought at Second Manassas (29-30 

Aug '62) and was lightly engaged at Antietam (17 Sep '62), Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62) and 

Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63). Sykes was promoted MG of vols (29 Nov '62). When 

Meade, who was then V Corps commander, was appointed commander of the army in Jun '63 

Sykes was assigned command of the corps. At Gettysburg (1-3 Jul '63) the V Corps was 

mainly in reserve, although some brigades participated in the fighting on Little Round Top on 

2 Jul. The entire corps moved to both Round Tops the following day. 

Sykes was promoted LTC R.A., in Oct '63, and upon the reorganization of the Army of the 

Potomac in early '64, was relieved from command. He then was assigned duty in Kansas, 

until mustered out of volunteer service in '66. The rest of his Regular army service was 

mainly on garrison duty in the west. Sykes was promoted COL of the 20th Infantry in '68, 

and served as its commander until his death. 

61 
SELECTED BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

OF CONFEDERATE LEADERS 

DAVIS, Jefferson 

1808-1889, KY 

USMA 1828 (23/33); Inf.-Dragoons. 

After West Point Davis spent the first seven years of his army career on the Northwest 

frontier. Eloping with Zachary Taylor's daughter, he resigned as 1LT (1835) and settled 

down in Mississippi as a planter, his wife dying three months after their marriage. In 1845 he 

remarried and was elected the same year to the US Congress, resigning the following year to 

fight in the Mexican War. He was severely wounded at Buena Vista while commanding a 

volunteer regiment known as the "Mississippi Rifles." 

Davis declined the appointment of BG in the Regular Army in 1847 and instead was 

elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1853 he was appointed Secretary of War by Pierce, served four 

years then re-entered the Senate, serving there until Jan '61, when Mississippi seceded. 

Appointed MG of the State Militia, he was chosen provisional president of the government set 

up by the Confederate Congress at Montgomery, Ala., and inaugurated there on 9 Feb '61. In 

November he was elected to a six-year term of the permanent government at Richmond and 

inaugurated on Washington's Birthday in Feb '62. 

As the war progressed, Davis kept a close hand upon the management of the Confederate 

armies. His war secretaries served as little more than clerks as Davis supervised the affairs of 

the department. To Lee alone does he appear to have conceded preeminence. He made 

frequent trips to the field, arriving at First Manassas as the fight was ending, and was under 

fire at Seven Pines. Later he toured the Western Theater. His handling of high command 

was extremely controversial. There were long standing feuds with Beauregard and Johnston, 

and his defense of generals such as Bragg and Pemberton irritated many in the South. On the 

political front his autocratic ways fostered a large and well-organized anti-Davis faction in 

62 
the Confederate Congress, especially in the senate. Issues arising from strong states rights 

sentiments did much to hamper Davis' efforts. When the President suspended habeas corpus, 

some states reacted by refusing to hold prisoners arrested under the act. The Georgia 

legislature even "nullified" Davis' act by declaring it unconstitutional. It was not uncommon 

for Confederate state governments to obstruct tax collection and to interfere with the process 

of conscription for constitutional reasons. 

Newspapers proved to be a constant source of criticism of the government. The Richmond 

Examiner, The Charleston Mercury, and a number of other influential southern papers 

denounced the President regularly. Under these conditions Davis was never able to 

accumulate wartime powers in the Confederate Presidency such as Lincoln assumed in the 

North. 

With the fall of Petersburg imminent Davis fled Richmond (2 Apr '65) with his cabinet for 

Danville, calling on his people to resist to the last and promising the recapture of the capitol. 

After Lee's surrender (9 Apr '65) the group turned south, where Davis was captured one 

month later at Irwinsville, Ga. He was held for two years at Fort Monroe, accused of 

complicity in the Lincoln assassination. He was finally released (13 May '67) and after travel 

in Europe, and several unsuccessful business ventures, he settled in New Orleans, where he 

died in poverty at the age of 82. 

LEE, Robert E. 

1807-1870, VA 

USMA 1829 (2/46); Engrs. 

Scion of a prominent Va. family, Lee served at Forts Pulaski, Monroe, and Hamilton, 

before being superintending engineer for the St. Louis harbor. In 1846 he was sent to San 

Antonio as assistant engineer but soon joined GEN Scott in the Vera Cruz expedition. During 

the Mexican War (1 wound, 3 brevets) Lee's extraordinary industry and capacity won him the 

lasting confidence and esteem of Scott and he emerged from the war with a brilliant 

63 
reputation. He then supervised the construction of Fort Carroll in Baltimore Harbor, until his 

appointment as superintendent at West Point (1852-1855). Being in Washington when John 

Brown made his raid on Harpers Ferry (1859), Lee was sent to capture the raiders with a 

force of Marines from the Navy Yard. 

At the beginning of the Civil War, at Scott's urging, Lincoln offered Lee command of the 

Federal armies (18 Apr '61). Lee declined, and resigned two days later to take command of 

Virginia troops. After his first campaign in the field led to failure at Cheat Mountain, West 

Virginia (10-15 Sep '61), Lee commanded forces along the South Atlantic coast before being 

recalled to Richmond to serve as military advisor to President Davis. On 1 Jun '62, Lee 

succeeded J. E. Johnston (wounded during the Peninsula Campaign) in the command of the 

force that then became known as the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Lee then embarked upon an offensive campaign known as the Seven Days Battles in which 

the Federal Army of the Potomac fell back from Richmond. With the immediate danger to 

the Confederate capitol ended Lee moved against a second Federal army, the Army of 

Virginia under John Pope. After defeating Pope at Second Manassas (29-30 Aug '62) Lee 

was determined to retain the initiative and crossed the Potomac into Maryland in his first 

invasion of the North. McClellan, having been placed in command of the combined troops of 

his own and Pope's forces, moved to counter the Confederate maneuver. When McClellan 

came into possession of Lee's march orders Lee was forced to concentrate his army along 

Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Md. In the Battle of Antietam (17 Sep '62) the two armies 

fought to a bloody stalemate and Lee recrossed the Potomac two days later. 

After McClellan was replaced by Ambrose Burnside the new Federal commander attempted 

to move on Richmond by way of Fredericksburg. In the Battle of Fredericksburg (13 Dec 

'62) Lee successfully blocked the maneuver and both armies went into winter quarters. 

In the spring, Lee achieved his military masterpiece at Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63), but 

his army was too weakened by the death of Jackson and dwindling supplies of manpower and 

material ever to recover its former combat effectiveness. Furthermore, the Federal armies 

were increasing in strength and proficiency and competent military leadership was finally 

being found. The high tide of the Confederacy was reached when Lee was unable to destroy 

the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg (1-3 Jul '63) and was forced to retreat into Virginia. 

Coming East from the simultaneous and equally decisive victory at Vicksburg, Grant 

assumed command of all Federal armies, formulated an over-all strategic plan, and then 

proceeded to destroy Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in a costly 11-month campaign of 

attribution. It was not until Feb '65 - two months before his surrender - that Lee was given 

over-all command of all Confederate armies. Accepting the presidency of Washington 

College, after the war, Lee served until his death (22 Oct '70) at the age of 64, and was 

buried there. (The name was later changed to Washington and Lee University.) 

64 
EWELL, Richard Stoddert 

("Dick") 

1817-1872, DC 

USMA 1840 (13/42); Dragoons 

Ewell served on the frontier, in the Mexican War (1 brevet), and in action against various 

Indian tribes before resigning 7 May '61 as CPT. He was commissioned COL, C.S.A., and 

took command of a camp of cavalry instruction before being appointed BG. He commanded 

a brigade at the Battle of First Manassas (21 Jul '61) and was promoted MG on 23 Jan '62. 

In the Shenandoah Valley he commanded a division under Jackson at Winchester and Cross 

Keys and went with him to the Peninsula, where he fought in the Seven Days campign. 

Ewell led his division at Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas, being wounded at the latter 

and losing a leg. Although his wound had not fully healed, Ewell returned to duty 23 May 

'63, now as LTG in command of the II Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. During the 

Gettysburg campaign he had to be lifted onto his horse and strapped to the saddle. During 

the ensuing battle a bullet imbedded itself in his new wooden leg, a souvenir he proudly 

exhibited for years. He was again wounded at Kelley's Ford (Nov '63) and led his corps at 

the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, until poor health compelled his retirement from active 

service. Ewell was subsequently given command of the defenses of Richmond until its 

evacuation. On the retreat to Appomattox he was captured at Saylor's Creek (6 Apr '65) and 

was not paroled until 19 Aug '65. After his release Ewell resided in Tennesee until his death 

in 1872. 

65 

t\

., ..
HILL, Ambrose Powell 

1825-1865, VA 

USMA 1847 (15/38); Arty 

Hill served in the Mexican War, the Seminole wars and on the frontier before resigning 1 

Mar '61 as 1LT. He was commissioned COL of the 13th Virginia Infantry, and served in 

West Virginia and at First Manassas (21 Jul '61). Stationed in Northern Virginia during the 

winter of 1861-1862, Hill was appointed BG (26 Feb '62) and placed in command of a 

brigade. His command fought at Williamsburg, after which he was promoted MG (26 May 

'62). Hill led commanded a division at Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill and Frayser's Farm. 

Called "Hill's Light Division" for its speed in marching, Hill's command was transferred to 

Jackson's corps after Hill quarreled with Longstreet. Under Jackson, the Light Division 

fought at Cedar Mountain (9 Aug '62) and Second Manassas (29-30 Aug '62). 

In the Antietam Campaign Hill's division was one of several under Jackson assigned to 

capture Harpers Ferry. After the surrender of that post (15 Sep '62) Jackson's forces rejoined 

Lee at Sharpsburg, while Hill's division remained to parole Federal prisoners. On 17 

September Hill led his men on a 17 mile forced march to rejoin Lee. In the afternoon, as 

Burnside's IX Corps was threatening to turn Lee's right flank, Hill arrived and drove the 

Federals to the banks of Antietam Creek. 

At Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62) Hill's command occupied Hamilton's Crossing, south of 

the town, and helped repel the Union attacks of Meade and Gibbon. 

Hill marched with Jackson during Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63) and, upon Jackson' 

wounding, succeeded to corps command until wounded himself. Named LTG (23 May '63), 

Hill took command of the newly created III Corps, leading it through the battles of 

Gettysburg (1-3 Jul '63) and Wilderness (5-6 May '64), during both of which he was ill with 

prostatitis. 

66 
Hill was on sick leave during the period 8-21 May '64, during which Ewell assumed 

temporary command of the III Corps. Hill rejoined his corps for North Anna, Cold Harbor, 

and the Petersburg campaign. In late Mar '65 he was again away on sick leave. On 2 April, 

while returning to his unit at Petersburg he was shot and killed by a Union straggler. 

LONGSTREET, James ("Pete") 

1821-1904, SC 

USMA 1842 (54/56); Inf. 

Longstreet served in the Seminole wars, the Mexican War (1 wound, 2 brevets), and on the 

frontier before resigning 1 June '61. Appointed BG, C.S.A. 17 Jun '61, Longstreet 

commanded a brigade at First Manassas (21 Jul '61). He was promoted MG, 7 Oct. '61, and 

commanded a division at Yorktown and Williamsburg, Fair Oaks and Seven Pines. In the 

reorganization that followed the Peninsular campaign Longstreet was given command of a 

wing containing over half of Lee's infantry. During Second Manassas (29-30 Aug '62) his 

command fell on the Union left flank to route the Federals. At Antietam Longstreet's 

command held the Confederate right flank. He was promoted LTG on 9 Oct '62. Shortly 

thereafter his command was reorganized and designated the First Corps, Army of Northern 

Virginia. At Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62) his corps performed with distinction, throwing back 

multiple attacks on Lee's left flank. In Feb '63 Longstreet was sent to the Suffolk, Virginia 

as temporary commander of the Confederate Department of North Carolina and Southern 

Virginia. 

Rejoining Lee's army after Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63), Longstreet joined the army's 

march into Pennsylvania. He was opposed to the Gettysburg campaign in general and instead 

favored an offensive by Lee in the West. But since Lee was determined to invade 

Pennsylvania, Longstreet felt the campaign should be strategically offensive but tactically 

defensive and had the erroneous impression that Lee subscribed to this theory. His delay in 

attacking on the second day at Gettysburg, and his perceived lethargy in organizing "Pickett's 

67 
Charge" on 3 Jul exposed him to the most vindictive criticism by Southerners after the 

war. However, Lee never gave any intimation that he considered Longstreet's failure at 

Gettysburg more than the error of a good soldier. 

In Sep '63 Longstreet was sent with two of his divisions to support Bragg's army in 

the West. After the Battle of Chickamauga he was sent to oppose Burnside in the Knoxville 

Campaign. In '64 he led his command back to join Lee for the Wilderness campaign and was 

seriously wounded on 6 May '64 by his own men, almost precisely a year after Jackson had 

been mortally wounded under similar circumstances nearby. Longstreet was out of action 

until 19 Oct, when he was put in command of the forces at Bermuda Hundred and north of 

the James River. Longstreet joined Lee's army on its retreat to Appomattox where he 

surrended (9 Apr '65). After the war he became president of an insurance company and 

joined the Republican party. He was at one time Minister Resident to Turkey. 

PICKETT,George E. 

1825-1875, VA 

USMA 1846 (59/59); Inf. 

After graduating from West Point Pickett saw combat duty in the Mexican War, where he 

was brevetted twice for gallantry. Afterwards he served at various posts on the frontier. 

In Jun '61, Pickett resigned his Regular commission to accept the rank of COL in the 

Confederate army. After serving on the lower Rappahannock River, he was promoted to BG 

(Feb '62) and commanded a brigade under Longstreet during the Peninsula campaign. 

Wounded at the Battle of Gaines Mill Pickett did not return to duty until after the Battle of 

Antietam, when he was given command of a division. He was promoted MG (Oct '62) and 

his division was lightly engaged at Fredericksburg (13 Dec '62). During the Battle of 

Chancellorsville (1-4 May '63) Pickett's division was at Suffolk, Virginia collecting supplies. 

Rejoining the main army in time for the march on Gettysburg Pickett's division arrived on the 

field early on the morning of 3 Jul. Lee had originally intended for Longstreet's three 

68 

PICKETT,
STUART, James Ewell Brown 

("Jeb") 

1833-1864, VA 

USMA 1854 (13/46); 

Mounted Rifles-Cay. 

divisions to lead the attack that day, but after Longstreet argued against the use of Hood's and 

McLaws' divisions Lee organized a task force of Pickett's division and six brigades of Hill's 

corps. The ensuing attack, known as "Pickett's Charge," failed. After the assault Pickett's 

division mustered less than one thousand of the four and a half thousand men engaged, with 

only one field officer not wounded or killed. In consequence of these losses Lee assigned 

Pickett's division to provost duty guarding prisoners on the retreat South. 

In Sep '63 Pickett's division was sent to recuperate and recruit in Department of Virginia 

and North Carolina. Pickett's division participated in the battles at Nerw Berne (Jan '64) and 

Drewry's Bluff (May '64), then rejoined Lee's army, participating in the siege of Pettersburg 

and the subsequent retreat westward. When most of his division was captured during the 

retreat, and the remnants merged with other commands, Pickett was relieved of command and 

authorized to return home. However, he chose to remain, surrendering with the army at 

Appomattox. 

Although offered a generalship by the Khedive of Egypt and the position of U.S. Marshal 

by President Grant, Pickett declined both to enter the insurance business in Virginia. 

Stuart served on the frontier in Indian fighting (seriously wounded) and in Kansas during 

the border disturbances. While on a leave of absence he was Lee's volunteer aide during 

the capture of John Brown at Harpers Ferry (1859). Stuart resigned from the R.A. on 3 May 

'61, he determined to follow his state, although his Virginia-born and West Point educated 

father-in-law, Philip St. George Cooke, stayed with the Union. Stuart was commissioned 

69 

(ttJeb")

Rifles-Cav.
latLarti.-.4W 

N7.4 

THE CHARGE OF PICKETT, PETTIGREW, AND TRIMBLE. FROM A WAR-TIME SKETCH FROM THE UNION POSITION, 

70 

LTC of Virginia infantry on 10 May '61 and 14 days later was named CPT of cavalry. 

During that summer he was stationed at Harpers Ferry and First Manassas. He was appointed 

BG, on 24 Sep '61. At the beginning of the Peninsular campaign Stuart's cavalry fought at 

Williamsburg, and in Jun '62 participated in the "ride around McClellan." Stuart's command 

fought in the Seven Days' Battles and at Harrison's Landing, before his promotion to MG (25 

Jul '62). He then took command of all the cavalry in the Army of Northern Virginia. He led 

his command at Second Manassas (29-30 Aug '62), and at Antietam (17 Sep '62) his horse 

artillery held Lee's left flank near the Potomac River. 

Stuart commanded his cavalry division at Fredericksburg and briefly served as acting 

commander of the II Corps (3 May '63) at Chancellorsville after Jackson's wounding. In the 

Gettysburg campaign Stuart's Cavalry Corps fought at Brandy Station (9 Jun '63) and in a 

number of cavalry skirmishes before attempting to ride around the Union army. His 

command became separated from the main army, however, and he did not rejoin Lee's army 

until the evening on 2 Jul, at Gettysburg. The following day Stuart's cavalry fought on the 

Confederate left, but was held in check by Gregg's cavalry. In the spring of '64 Stuart fought 

in the Wilderness and Spotsylvania campaigns, and at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, where he 

was mortally wounded (11 May '64), while attempting to block Sheridan's raid on Richmond. 

He died the next day. 

TBE OHABGIII OIl' PIOXETT, PE'l'TIG.REW, AND TRIMBLE. FROM.A WAR-TIllE SKETCH .FROM THill UNION P08ITION,

70
UNITED STATES IN 1861 

;' ........... - .....- ..... I -, I

I )

(

OREGON

/

r I'

I

J )

~-- I

I -- /

I -- I

( I

I - -- ) I

l I

, I

t~ \

,

-J

,I...' \

- \ \ J

\ ,

,

,

\

CALlF' \ \

, , ....... , " \

"-', \

,/ , (

\

L __ ('

-

,

[J NORTH

H,!"!!!u] SOUTH

BORDER STATES

WESTERN TERRITORIES

............

............ ...... , .

:: ':: i: :~A~,i: :ii:' ii
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR 1863 

1863 EAST WEST 

JAN. Hooker Replaces 

Burnside 

1 

VICKSBURG 

CAMPAIGN 

FEB. 

Period of 

Unsuccessful 

MAR. 

Attempts 

OPERATIONS 

AGAINST 

PORT HUDSON 

APR. CHANCELLORSVILLE 

CAMPAIGN 

Grant Crosses 

Operations West 

of New Orleans 

MAY 

E Chancellorsville 

GETTYSBURG 

• the Mississippi 

,.. Jackson 

m• Champioris Hill Siege of Port 

"Siege Begins _1" Hudson Begins 

JUNE 

CAMPAIGN 

Lee Crosses 

the Potomac 

Meade Replaces Hooker 

TULLAHOMA 

CAMPAIGN 

JULY 

Gettysburg 

Lee Recrosses 

the Potomac 

6Surrender l Surrender 

CHICKAMAUGA OPERATIONS IN 

CAMPAIGN 

Bragg Evacuates 

Chattanooga 

EAST 

TENNESSEE 

AUG. 

SEPT. OPERATIONS ALONG 

ORANGE & ALEXANDRIA RY. 

Chickamauga 

Union Retreat to 

Chattanooga 

■ Burnside 

Captures 

Knoxville 

OCT. 

..Lee Crosses 

the Rapidan 

Confederates Retire 

CHATTANOOGA 

CAMPAIGN 

Thomas Replaces 

Rosecrans 

Supply Line 

NOV. 

Lee Recrosses 

the Rapidan 

Mine Run 

Cleared " Longstreet Sent 

to Knoxville 

Lookout Mountain Confederate 

and Assault 

72 

Missionary Ridge 

" Siege Raised 

DEC. 

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR 1863

1863 EAST WEST

1

VICKSBURG

JAN. Hooker Replaces CAMPAIGN

Burnside

FEB.

Period of

Unsuccessful

Attempts

MAR. OPERATIONS

AGAINST

PORT HUDSON

APR. CHANCELLORSVILLE Operations West

CAMPAIGN of New Orleans

r Grant Crosses

EChancellors~ille the Mississippi

MAY ~Jackson

""'Champiorls Hill Siege of Port

GETTYSBURG Siege Begins Hudson Begins

CAMPAIGN TULLAHOMA ~. CAMPAIGN

JUNE .Lee Crosses

the Potomac [ ~Meade Replaces Hooker

~Gettysburg -Surrender

Lee Recrosses -Surrender

JULY ~the Potomac

lot

CHICKAMAUGA OPERATIONS IN

CAMPAIGN EAST - TENNESSEE

Br·agg Evacuates

AUG. Chattanooga

Chickamauga "" Burnside

Captures

SEPT. OPERATIONS ALONG .. Union Retreat to Knoxville

ORANGE & ALEX- Chattanooga

ANDRIA RY.

"" Lee Crosses CHATTANOOGA

the Rapidan CAMPAIGN

OCT. '" Thomas Replaces

Confederates Retire Rosecrans

.. Supply Line

Cleared

Lee Recrosses '" Longstreet Sent

the Rapidan to Knoxville

NOV.

~Mine Run .. Lookou~ Mountain Confederate

.. and Assault

- Nfissionary Ridge

III Siege Raised

DEC.

72
Extracted from FM 22-100: Military Leadership, and printed FOR INSTRUCTIONAL 

PURPOSES ONLY. 

'74c, 

CHAPTER 1 

The Face of Battle 

and the L:a•er 

' " • 

•(tir, 

1, 1`,77, 

We can learn much from studying past battles. 

This is especially true when we look for the human 

dimension in war—confidence, morale, courage—and 

the leadership required to inspire these qualities of the 

human spirit. The following case shows the human 

side of small-unit combat. It reveals the attributes of 

leadership required to deal with the stress of battle. 

PAST BATTLE 

As you read this case, focus on the following 

questions: 

• How did the leaders carry out their major responsibilities—accomplishing the mission while looking out 

for the well-being of their soldiers? 

• How did the leaders on both sides influence their 

soldiers' courage and will to fight? 

• What leadership actions caused one side to be 

defeated? 

• What leadership actions caused success? 

73 

-\.),o'1-.....~\.". .".

""1\ \',

'Ii.' _ - " '". ,~..t\l\l

CHAPTER 1

!" Im,~' ;tl"i H::'· 'IlU 1'1,11, 'ill i

Wcan le,arn much from studying pas( battles, ,/1,,',:',1 t ~"I :~,::: ThIS IS especIally true when we look for the human I j ii- ,r:;

dimension in war-confidence, morale, courage-and i'; . . I

the leadership required to inspire these qualities of the ~i \ '(

human spirit. The following case shows the human

side of small-unit combat. It reveals the attributes of

leadership required to deal with the stress of battle.

PAST BATTLE

As you read this case, focus on the following

questions:

• How did the leaders carry out their major responsibilities-accomplishing the mission while looking out

for the well-being of their soldiers?

• How did the leaders on both sides influence their

soldiers' courage and will to fight?

• What leadership actions caused one side to be

defeated?

• What leadership actions caused success?

73
The Face of Past Battle 

The fight at Little Round Top on 2 July 1863 

between the 20th Maine Regiment and two Alabama 

regiments—the 15th and the 47th—provides a case 

study of leadership and unit cohesion in battle. It gives 

us a picture of leadership in one of the most significant 

small-unit actions in the Civil War. 

The 20th Maine marched more than 100 miles in the 

5 days before the fight. On 1 July, they had just 

stopped to bivouac when a staff officer galloped up 

with orders to continue the march immediately. There 

was no time to eat. The situation was urgent. A decisive battle had begun that day between General Lee's 

invading Confederate Army and the Union Army at 

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. All Union Army units were 

badly needed by the next day. 

The soldiers would always remember that strange 

night. A rumor ran through the ranks that the beloved 

General McClellan was back in command of the Union 

Army. A more incredible rumor was that General 

George Washington's spirit had been seen riding with 

them on a white horse! Both rumors raised morale. 

At about 0200 they stopped to sleep. At 0400—again 

without food—they continued their march, reaching 

Gettysburg around noon. They were allowed to rest for 

several hours. 

The 20th Maine was one of four regiments in the 

brigade commanded by Colonel Strong Vincent. About 

1600, as the 20th Maine was moving to its assigned 

defensive position, an officer rode up and spoke excitedly to Colonel Vincent. There was much gesturing 

toward a rocky hill called Little Round Top. The 

soldiers of the 20th Maine did not know it then, but 

because of a series of mistakes, this key terrain was 

unprotected. 

General Buford's two cavalry brigades had been 

defending it, but after taking over 50 percent losses the 

previous day, they were allowed to withdraw. The Army 

commander assumed that the cavalry commander would 

74 
To Harrisburg 

Confederate Troops 

Union Troops 

... ■ Position planned fore.,.. 

but not occupied by=.? 

Sickles' Third Corps.? 

4). 

oCs 

151-1 

es Sickles' ma 

Third 071 

Corps 

Wheat 

field 

Devils Den 

S-4.4 5,4:4;1, Little 

ti3:-.„.:=,Round Top 

.z..z40),‘ ..!Big Round 

f: 

si tt" 4'44 .:44. 1

Top 

124Z?gOs 

—4 

1 Mile 

Map from John J. Pullen, The Twentieth Maine, p 101. 

replace Buford's unit. But the cavalry commander did 

not think he was supposed to replace it. Wrong 

assumptions, failure to communicate clearly, and failure 

to check had left Little Round Top unguarded. 

At about 1545 General Warren, the Army's chief 

engineer, climbed to the top of Little Round Top to 

observe enemy movements. He saw its importance to 

the battle and, to his horror, realized it was unguarded. 

General Warren sent for help. This led to a staff officer 

going to Colonel Vincent and explaining the need for 

troops on the hill. Colonel Vincent immediately volunteered his brigade to defend Little Round Top. 

INITIAL POSITIONS 

AT GETTYSBURG, 

ABOUT 4 P.M. 

JULY 2, 1863 

75 

1

Map from John J. Pullen, TM ~ntuth MaiM, p 101.

'h 1 Mile

.:." r;:.. '" ';""

INITIAL POSITIONS

AT GETTYSBURG,

ABOUT 4 P.M.

JULY 2, 1863

.; (~:'¥'~l:';~~:~.~i~~ ~'~' .

.replace Buford's unit., 'But ·the· caYR.lii;.;~coDlJ;nander did

not ··think ,he was supposed ~to'~:replace>;iL Wrong

assumptions, failure to communicate' cle'arly;·<s.nd failure

to ;check had left Little Round Top linguarded.' . , " '.' . .:11';"'" ';~':';~~?~;.~~: .. l'~~~ •

,< :At. about 1545 General W~r~~~:;~h~::A.r~'~,s,chief

engineer, climbed·to ,the top of::L.;ittle,:noun.d Top to

:observe enemy'movements. He ;s~wiits importance to

the .battle and, to his horror, realized;it was,:unguarded.

·Gener~I,·War:ren, ,sen(for,help. Thi,s:Je4,~to a'~~~ff..officer

going,"to Colonel ~Vince!1t:.,.fJ;nd..,;exJ>J~~pg th~ rp.~e<l: .for

"troops on the hill. Colonel Vincent immediately, volun-

,teered his brigade to defend Little Round Top.

75
The soldiers of the 20th Maine watched as Colonel 

Vincent gave orders to his staff, galloped to Little 

Round Top, and disappeared into the trees. During the 

15 minutes remaining before the Confederates attacked, 

Colonel Vincent did an outstanding job of reconnaissance of terrain and selection and occupation of a 

defensive position. His brigade followed him up Little 

Round Top. 

Colonel Vincent led the 20th Maine to its position. 

He told Colonel Chamberlain, "This is the left of the 

Union line. You understand. You are to hold this 

ground at all costs!" 1 

Chamberlain quickly gathered his company commanders and stressed the importance of their mission. 

He ordered them to move into a defensive line with the 

right flank company firmly anchored on the 83d Pennsylvania Regiment and the left flank on a large boulder that he pointed to. He showed them the trace of 

ground he wanted defended. He ordered them to move 

into a line by using a battle drill maneuver to form a 

defensive line two ranks deep. This ensured that all companies were tied in on their flanks and that a soldier 

was ready to fight the moment he was in position. 

After placing his regiment, Chamberlain's thoughts 

turned to his exposed left flank. He studied the terrain 

there, dominated by Big Round Top. The soldiers saw 

him gazing intently at Big Round Top. They remembered past battles where he had shown a skill common 

to all good combat leaders. He could study the terrain 

closely, imagine the possible dangers, and take actions 

in advance to guard against them. 

He realized the disaster that would occur if the 

enemy got around his weak left flank. So he ordered 

Captain Morrill to take B Company toward Big Round 

Top for 100 or 200 meters, screen the left flank, and 

take appropriate actions. Captain Morrill positioned his 

company behind a stone wall at the base of Big Round 

1

JohnJ. Pullen, The Twentieth Maine, p 111. 

76 

• John

costs!"
Top. They were soon joined by 14 US sharpshooters 

who had been driven back from their earlier positions 

by General Hood's attacking division. 

The 20th Maine's defensive line was barely in position when they were fiercely attacked all along their 

front. An officer reported to Chamberlain that he had 

seen a large body of troops moving behind the attacking Confederates. Climbing up on a rock, Chamberlain 

saw the force moving to attack his exposed left flank. 

B Company would not be able to stop this large force. 

Chamberlain had to think fast and creatively. Nothing in the tactical manuals covered this type of situation. His companies were in a defensive line, two ranks 

deep, as shown below. 

THE 20TH MAINE 

DEFENSIVE LINES 

15th Alabama 

77 

Top. They were soon joined by 14 US sharpshooters

who had been driven back from their earlier positions

by General Hood's attacking division.

The 20th Maine's defensive line was barely in position when they were fiercely attacked all along their

front. An officer reported to Chamberlain that he had

seen a large body of troops moving behind the attacking Confederates. Climbing up on a rock, Chamberlain

saw the force moving to attack his exposed left flank.

B Company would not be able to stop this large force.

Chamberlain had to think fast and creatively. Nothing in the tactical manuals covered this type of situation. His companies were in a defensive line, two ranks

deep, as shown below.

15th Alabama

77

THE 20TH MAINE

DEFENSIVE LINES
Quickly analyzing the situation, he ordered his company commanders to extend left and back to block the 

flank attack. Pointing to the large boulder at the left 

end of the line, he ordered the new line to be formed 

there—at right angles to the existing line. (See dashed 

line in diagram on page 7.) This meant that each company would cover twice the normal defensive frontage. 

Their defense would be thin—one rank deep. To deceive 

the enemy, Chamberlain directed that the maneuver be 

achieved while continuing the same volume of fire to 

the front. 

The noise of heavy fire made normal voice control 

impossible. Still, the regiment performed this difficult, 

unpracticed tactic with remarkable speed and coordination. It was as if the entire regiment had seen the 

move diagramed and had rehearsed it several times. 

Each soldier and squad moved together, keeping up the 

fire and avoiding gaps in the defense. After the battle, 

the survivors of the 20th Maine would always marvel 

at how well and how quickly they accomplished that 

maneuver under fire! It was a unique combination of 

tactical battle drills—created in the mind of Colonel Chamberlain to fit the particular situation on that day. 

Minutes after the new line was formed, it was 

attacked by the fierce, battle-hardened soldiers of the 

15th Alabama Regiment. (This regiment and the 47th 

Alabama Regiment were under the command of Colonel 

Oates.) Because they had marched all-night and all 

day, they were tired. And because they were unable to 

wait for a lost watering party sent out just prior to the 

attack, they were thirsty. Even so, they attacked with 

great courage and violence. 

From this point on, the battle was so fierce that 

none of the participants were able to describe exactly 

what happened. For the soldiers involved, the battle 

took on the quality of a dream. Chamberlain saw that 

2

Punen,p 118. 

78 

~PulJen.
a cross fire had demolished the center of his line. The 

color bearer and a single comrade were gallantly 

defending the entire center. Chamberlain filled the gap 

with his brother and an orderly. 

The Alabama Regiments charged at least six times. 

Chamberlain said that at times there were more of the 

enemy around him than of his own soldiers. Squads of 

attacking Confederate soldiers bayoneted their way 

through the defenses, but somehow they were thrown 

back by the determined Maine men. Many soldiers on 

both sides were killed or wounded during this phase of 

the battle. Chamberlain was wounded in the foot by a 

flying shell fragment. His thigh was severely bruised 

where a bullet had struck his sword scabbard. 

A lull in the battle came after the sixth violent 

charge. Chamberlain knew he was outnumbered and 

that each of his soldiers had only one or two rounds of 

ammunition. He then showed his ability to analyze the 

important forces in a situation and to choose the 

course that had the best chance of success. He learned 

that the Confederates were forming for another charge. 

He knew his unit, out of ammunition, would be overpowered by the superior numbers and firepower of 

another Confederate assault. To withdraw would cause 

the defeat of the Union Army. 

His mind searched for a solution and it came. He 

would fix bayonets and charge—not for heroics, but 

because that was their best chance for success. He 

reasoned his unit would have the advantage of attacking downhill. Furthermore, the surprise and violence of 

the attack might take the initiative from the enemy 

and give the 20th Maine the psychological advantage. 

That decision left Chamberlain with a tactical problem that the manuals did not address. He had to keep 

the two halves of his regiment together. Therefore, he 

ordered the left flank to charge first, anchoring its 

right flank company in place. 

79 
Half the 

The hinge 20th Maine 

of the ...............4■ 

swinging 

/ Regiment 

door. Anchor 

Company 

0 dt 

1) %.? 0 0), Anchor 

ija .0> . Company Of '41 

THE CHARGE OF 

THE 20TH MAINE 

When the left half of the regiment was abreast of 

the right half, the entire regiment was to charge down 

and to the right—like a great swinging door—the right 

flank company firmly hinged on the 83d Pennsylvania 

Regiment. 

After Chamberlain gave the order, young Lieutenant 

Melcher leaped in front of his company, sword flashing 

in the sun. Already under attack, the left half of the 

regiment charged, driving the Confederates before 

them. When the left half of the regiment was abreast 

of the right, Chamberlain strode forward, leading his 

men down and to the right. The regiment was a raging 

body, charging toward the Alabama soldiers 30 yards 

away. Before the Alabamans could fire, the 20th Maine 

80 

THE CHARGE OF

THE 20TH MAINE

When the left half of the regiment was abreast of

the right half, the entire regiment was to charge down

and to the right-like a great swinging door-the right

flank company firmly hinged on the B3d Pennsylvania

Regiment.

After Chamberlain gave the order, young Lieutenant

Melcher leaped in front of his company, sword flashing

in the sun. Already under attack, the left half of the

regiment charged, driving the Confederates before

them. When the left half of the regiment was abreast

of the right, Chamberlain strode forward, leading his

men down and to the right. The regiment was a raging

body, charging toward the Alabama soldiers 30 yards

away. Before the Alabamans could fire, the 20th Maine

A

(\)~ ., ~& .,« \i0' ~;;:~ Anchor

(\)":'J'~/companY

Half the

The hinge 20th Maine

of the

swinging

door.

J;': : 'i ,\'

80
was upon them. At point-blank range a Confederate 

officer fired his pistol at Chamberlain. He missed and 

handed his sword to Chamberlain in surrender—as 

Chamberlain's sword was at the officer's throat. 

The Confederates were stunned. They fell back to 

the position of the 4th and 5th Texas Regiments. There 

the 20th Maine charge might have failed if not for a 

great stroke of surprise—that powerful weapon of war 

that explodes in the mind, destroys reason, and incites 

panic. Captain Morrill's B Company and some US sharpshooters were hiding behind a wall at the base of Big • 

44 Ala.0 

Little Round Top 

-..7.---* 

\\"51: ji Union 

0-- wagon. 

4 Tex .

.

,

--. % , A, 

t.-,4" LIcl e A 

..-- 

trains 

48 Ala. 5 Tex N4k..--- ARA 

4 Ala. / / 

'Illif 47 Ala. Ni 

15 Ala. 

i Stone 

wall 

Co. B of 

20th Me. and 

U.S. sharpshooters 

I

Big Round Top 

THE 20TH MAINE 

ON LITTLE 

ROUND TOP 

81 

was upon them. At point-blank range a Confederate

officer fired his pistol at Chamberlain. He missed and

handed his sword to Chamberlain in surrender-as

Chamberlain's sword was at the officer's throat.

The Confederates were stunned. They fell back to

the position of the 4th and 5th Texas Regiments. There

the 20th Maine charge might have failed if not for a

great stroke of surprise-that powerful weapon of war

that explodes in the mind, destroys reason, and incites

panic. Captain Morrill's B Company and some US sharpshooters were hiding behind a wall at the base of Big

THE 20TH MAINE

ON LITTLE

ROUND TOP

Co. B of

20th Me. and

U.S. sharpshooters

Stone

~\\II~ wall

.

.~III ~Round Top

44 Ala!l

81
Round Top. They had not been able to see the 15th Alabama moving to attack Chamberlain's left flank. After 

the 20th Maine's charge, however, the retreating Alabamans came into view. Captain Morrill's force started 

firing into the flank and rear of the Confederates. 

According to Colonel Oates, it was the devastating 

surprise fire of B Company that caused panic in his 

soldiers. They thought a large force of Union cavalry 

was attacking their rear—even though there was no 

Union cavalry in the battle. Colonel Oates and his company commanders thought they were surrounded. He 

ordered a retreat—each man to break out as best he 

could. At that point the two Alabama regiments panicked and ran. They did not realize that one more attack 

could have started the entire Union line tumbling like 

a house of cards. 

THERE IS NO 

SUBSTITUTE FOR 

LEADERSHIP 

BY EXAMPLE 

82 
Colonel Oates said later that General Lee was never 

so close to victory as that day on Little Round Top. He 

also said that he never knew a greater regiment than 

the 20th Maine, or a greater leader than their gallant 

colonel. 

The 20th Maine swept their brigade's entire front. 

They wanted to keep attacking General Lee's whole 

army. Some were yelling that they were "on the road 

to Richmond.' That Colonel Chamberlain was able to 

stop them is a tribute to the discipline of the unit. They 

had captured about 400 prisoners from four different 

Confederate regiments. The slopes of Little Round Top 

were littered with hundreds of dead bodies—blue and 

gray. The 20th Maine started the battle with 358 riflemen; they suffered 90 casualties. Forty were killed or 

died of wounds. 

For a few moments, the fate of an Army and a 

nation rested on the shoulders of 358 farmers, woodsmen, and fishermen from Maine. They were led by a 

colonel who had been a teacher of languages less than 

a year before the battle. 

Colonel Chamberlain's leadership at Little Round 

Top demonstrates the kind of creative, thinking leadership we will need, at all levels, to succeed on the 

modern battlefield. 

It is important to trace the development of Chamberlain, his subordinate leaders, and the 20th Maine. They 

came together as a volunteer regiment in August 

1862—knowing little about war. They knew only that 

someone was trying to break up the Union, and that 

was unacceptable to them. Most had a deep belief in 

the Union and in the ideals of America. 

Initially, Chamberlain was the lieutenant colonel of 

the regiment under Colonel Adelbert Ames. Ames had 

won the Medal of Honor at the First Battle of Bull 

Run. He was a professional. 

3WillardM. Wallace, Soul of the Lion. p 103. 

83 

"W,Uatd
Ames was a hard, fair disciplinarian and an excellent trainer. He led by example. He taught the officers 

and NCOs how to be professional leaders. He set up an 

individual training program called the school of the soldier and a collective training program, the school of the 

company and regiment. He trained the trainers. 

Every night after taps Ames gave Chamberlain a 

special course in tactics. Together, Chamberlain and 

Ames read and discussed books such as Jomini's Art of 

War. Colonel Ames put the regiment through hundreds 

i

f hours of dusty, complex battle drill so they could 

unction as a team under the enormous stress of battle. 

This paid off)whenthey had to extend and protect their 

left flank at Little Round Top. 

The regiment fought in two battles prior to Little 

Round Top, and the soldiers gained real respect for 

Ames, Chamberlain, and their other officers and NCOs. 

At Antietam in September 1862, and at Fredericksburg 

in December 1862, the leaders led by example, heading 

off panic through cool, imaginative thinking, giving the 

unit real confidence. 

In April 1863, Colonel Ames was promoted to general and given command of a brigade. At that time 

Chamberlain assumed command of the 20th Maine and 

was promoted to colonel. 

Between battles, the 20th Maine trained constantly. 

Sound leadership, good training, and tough combat experience developed the unit into a cohesive, disciplined 

regiment. By the time Chamberlain took command, he 

and his subordinates were professionals. They had mastered the knowledge and skills required of soldiers at 

that time. In addition, they had developed a consciousness of the regiment. They felt a part of something bigger and more important than themselves. Strong bonds 

of confidence, trust, and respect made them a cohesive 

unit that fought well throughout the war. 

f

f.
For his day of courage and skill at Little Round Top, 

Joshua Chamberlain received the Medal of Honor. He 

became one of America's most remarkable soldiers. 

Fourteen horses were shot out from under him, and he 

was wounded six times. At Petersburg, leading his brigade in a charge on a strongly fortified Confederate position, he was severely wounded in both hips. General 

Grant promoted him to brigadier general for his bravery—the only instance of on-the-field-of-battlepromotion 

in the war. 

Five months after his terrible wound, Chamberlain 

left the hospital against doctors' wishes and returned 

to the front, barely able to walk or ride. From January 

1865 through the surrender at Appomattox in April 

1865, Chamberlain suffered terrible pain and seriously 

weakened health. But his was a triumph of spirit and 

character over the body. His heroic leadership during 

the campaign in March and April 1865 led to crucial 

Union victories at Quaker Road and Five Forks. 

In the battle on Quaker Road on 29 March, Chamberlain was leading his brigade in an attack on the 

Confederate defenses. A bullet passed through the large 

muscle of his horse's neck, hit a metal mirror in his 

shirt pocket, penetrated the skin, followed his ribs 

around to his back, and came out the other side of his 

coat. Horse and rider slumped, bleeding profusely. 

When he regained consciousness, Chamberlain saw 

the entire right of his attacking brigade retreating, 

about to panic. Hat gone, blood all over his chest and 

head, he spurred his bleeding horse to the center of the 

retreating troops—ordering them to turn and attack. 

Awed by his courage and will, they attacked and won 

the battle. 

That victory—made possible by Chamberlain's leadership—seriously weakened the Confederate position. It 

was critical in leading to General Lee's surrender within 

on-the,field-of-battle
2 weeks. For his "conspicuous gallantry" on the Quaker 

Road, General Grant promoted Chamberlain to major 

general. 

Grant chose Chamberlain to command the special 

honor division of veteran brigades formed to receive 

the surrender of arms and colors of General Lee's 

Army at Appomattox. The 20th Maine was among the 

units chosen for this honor. At the surrender, Chamberlain saw the once great Confederate Army, dejected in 

defeat, starting to march past his division. Feeling 

deep respect for the great Confederate soldiers, Chamberlain shocked the world by ordering his division to 

present arms. This gesture of human compassion 

sparked pride and an answering respect from the Confederates. Those who were there thought Chamberlain's 

gesture a fitting end to the tragic struggle to save the 

Union. 

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain had the professional 

values and character traits that we seek to instill in 

today's soldiers and leaders. He was tactically and 

technically proficient. He was an expert soldier. He 

understood human nature. He focused his attention on 

accomplishing his mission while looking out for the 

well-being of his soldiers. He had the attributes of honorable character, professional knowledge, and inspirational leadership that are explained and illustrated in 

this manual. 

We can develop leaders like Joshua Chamberlain in 

our schools and in our units. You can become this 

kind of leader, and you can teach your subordinates to 

be this kind of leader. This is your challenge and responsibility. 
SELECTED OFFICIAL MESSAGES 

The following messages were extracted from The War of the 

Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and 

Confederate Armies, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1889. 

UNION MESSAGES 

JUNE 13, 1S63-7 p. m. (Received 7.45 p. 

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK : 

All my sources of information confirm the statement that Longstreet's and Ewell's corps have passed through Culpeper and Sperryville, toward the Valley. The instructions of the President, approved 

by yourself, and your original letter of instructions, compel me, in 

view of this movement of the enemy, to transfer the operations of this 

army from the line of the Aquia to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Accordingly, directions have been given for the First, Third, 

Fifth, and Eleventh Corps to rendezvous at Manassas Junction with 

the cavalry. The Second, Sixth, and Twelfth, with the Reserve Artillery, after covering the withdrawal of Government property from 

depots, have been directed to march to Dumfries, and from thence 

to be governed by the movements of the enemy, the object being to 

bring the two wings together as far in advance on that line as the 

movements of the enemy will justify. 

The corps will be withdrawn from their positions on the river 

to-night, the line being held by pickets until the proper time arrives 

for their withdrawal. To-morrow p. ui . myheadquarters will be at 

Dumfries. 

JOSEPH HOOKER, 

Major-General. 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 

Fairfax Station, J1Ine 16, 1863-11 a.. in. 

His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 

President, &c.: 

You have long been aware, Mr. President., that I have not enjoyed 

the confidence of the major-general commanding the army, and I 

can assure you so long as this continues we may look in vain for success, especially as future operations will require our relations to be 

more dependent upon each other than heretofore. 

JOSEPH HOOKER, 

Major-General. 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 

Fairfax Station, June 16, 1863-7.30 p. m. 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief : 

In compliance with your directions, I shall march to the relief of 

Harper's Ferry. I put my column again in motion at 3 a. m. tomorrow. I expect to reach there in two days, and, if possible, earlier. 

The partial rest of to-day was not lost, being necessary to recruit 

from forced and heavy marches and fill up supplies. 

My headquarters at Farrall [?] Station to-morrow night. 

JOSEPH HOOKER, 

Major-General. 

(Copy to the President.) 

87 

SELECTED OFFICIAL MESSAGES

The following messages were extracted from The War of the

Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and

Confederate Armies, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1889.

UNION MESSAGES

JUNE 13, lSG3-7 p. m. (Received 7.45 p. ro.)

Maj. Gen. H. W. H·ALLECK:

All my sources of information confirm the statement that Long- st~·eet's and Ewdl's corps have passed through Culpeper and Sperryville, toward the Valley. The instructions of the President, approved by yourself, and your original letter of instructions, compel me, in

vlcwof thismovement of the enemy, t9 transfer the operations of this

army from the line of the Aquia to the Orange and .Alexandria Railroad. Accordingly, directions have been given for the First, Third,

Fifth, and Eleventh Corps to rendezvous at Manassas Junction wit.h

the cavalry. The Second, Sixth, and T-welfth, with the Reserve Artillery, after coverin~ the withdrawal of Government property from

depots, have been dIrected to march to Dumfries, and from thence

to be governed by the movements of the enemy, the object being to

bring the two wings together as far in advance on that line as the

moveme·nts of the enemy will justify.

The corps will be wit.hdrawn from their positions on the river

to-night, the line being held by pickets until the proper time arrives

for their withdrawal. To-morrow p. ID. my headquarters will be at

Dumfries.

JOSEPH HOOKER,.

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOliAC,

Faiifax. St.(lH071, June 16, 1863--11 a. m.

His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

President, &c. .-

You have long been aware, Mr. President, that I have not enjoyed

the confidence of the major-general comma.nding th~ army, and I

{'.an assure you so long as this c.Qutiuues we may look in vain for success, especially as future ~perations will require our relations to be

more dependent upon each other than heretofore.

JOSEPH HOOKER,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

Fa1:ifax. StaJ.ion, J1lne 16, 1863-7.30 p. m.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-(]hief:

In compliance with your directions, I shall march to the relief of

Harper's Ferry. I put my column again in motion at 3 a. ID. tomorrow. I expect to reach there in two days, and, if possible, eaditr.

The partial rest of to-day was not lost, being necessary to recruit

from forced and heavy marches and fill up supplies. . :My headquarters at FarraH [?] St.ation to-morrow night.

JOSEPH HOOKER,

ltfajor-General.

(Copy to the President.)

87
WASHINGTON, June 16, 1863-10 p. in. 

Major-General HOOKER : 

To remove all misunderstanding, I now place you in the strict military relation to General Halleck of a commander of one of the 

armies to the general-in-chief of all the armies. I have not intended 

differently, but as it seems to be differently understood, I shall direct 

him to give you orders and you to obey them. 

A. LINCOLN. 

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 16, 1863-10.15 p. 

Major-General HOOKER, 

Army of the Potomac: 

I have given no directions for your army to move to Harper's . 

Ferry. I have advised the movement of a force, sufficiently strong 

to meet Longstreet, on Leesburg, to ascertain where the enemy is, 

and then move to the relief of Harper's Ferry, or elsewhere, as circumstances might require. With the remainder of your force in 

proper position to support this, I want you to push out your cavalry, 

to ascertain something definite about the enemy. You are in command of the Army of the Potomac, and will make the particular dispositions as you deem proper. I shall only indicate the objects to be 

aimed at We have no positive information of any large force against 

Harper's Ferry, and it cannot be known whether it will be necessary 

to go there until you can feel the enemy and ascertain his whereabouts. 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief. 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 

Fairfax Station, June 17, 1863. Major-General HALLECK, 

Commanding, &c.: 

Telegraph operator just reports to me that Harper's Ferry is 

abandoned by our forces. Is this true ? 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JOSEPH HOORTR, 

Major-General, Commandinf. 

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 17, 1863-2.10 p. m. 

Major-General HOOKER, 

Headquarters ,Army of the Potomac: 

I regret equally with you that reports from north side of the Potomac are so unreliable and contradictory, but they are given to you as 

received. What is meant by abandoning Harper's Ferry is merely 

that General Tyler has concentrated his force in the fortifications on 

Maryland Heights. No enemy in any force has been seen below 

Harper's Ferry, north of the river, and it is hoped that Tyler's cavalry may get something reliable above. So far, we have had only 

the wild rumors of panic-stricken people. 

II. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief. 

JUNE 17, 1863-2 p. in. (Received 4 p. ra.) 

Major-General HALLECK : 

Advice of the abandonment of Harper's Ferry renders forced 

marches unnecessary to relieve it. This army will be in position 

as follows to-night : One corps at Dranesville; one corps at Guilford 

Station ; one corps on Goose Creek, near Trappe Rock ; one corps at 

Gum Springs; one corps at Centreville; one corps at Sangster's Station; one corps at Fairfax Station. Headquarters at Fairfax Station 

to-night. Cavalry feeling up through Aldie toward Winchester. 

JOSEPH HOOKER, 

Major-General. 

88 

1803-10

Harper's

PO'1'OKAO,

HOOKER.. o _

O()fflma,,~.

m.

m.)
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 17, 1863-7.45 p. m. 

Major-General HOOKER, 

Army of the Potomac: 

My telegram of this morning [afternoon] has informed you what 

is meant by the abandonment of Harper's Ferry—amere change of 

position. It changes in no respect the objects you are to keep in view. 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief. 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 

Poolesville,Md., June 27, 1863. (Received 9 a. m.) 

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief: 

That there may be no misunderstanding as to my force, I would 

respectfully state that, including the portions of General Heintzelman'scommand, and General Schenck's, now with me, my whole 

force of enlisted men for duty will not exceed 105,000. Fourteen 

batteries of the Artillery Reserve have been sent to Washington. Of 

General Abercrombie's force, one brigade has just been sent home 

from expiration of service, and the others go shortly. One brigade 

of General Crawford's force has not reported with .it. I state these 

facts that there may not be expected of me more than I have material to do with. 

My headquarters at Frederick to-night. Three corps at Middletown, one corps at Knoxville, two at Frederick, and the remaining 

infantry corps very near there to-night. 

JOSEPH HOOKER, 

Major-General. 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 

June 26, 1863-7 p. in.(Received 7.30 p. 

Major-General HALLECK: 

Is there any reason why Maryland Heights should not be abandoned after the public stores and property are removed ? 

I propose to visit the place to-morrow, on my way to -Frederick, 

to satisfy myself on that point. - Itmust be borne in mind that I am 

here with a force inferior in numbers to that of the enemy, and must 

have every available man to use on the field. 

JOSEPH HOOKF.R, 

Major-General, Commanding. 

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 27, 1863-10.30 a. in. 

General HOOKER, 

Army of the Potomac: 

Major [James C.] Duane and Captain [George H.] Mendell were 

ordered to your army, and it is presumed that they are en route. I 

do not know where they now are, unless in your army. Maryland 

Heights have always been regarded as an important point to be held 

by us, and much expense and labor incurred in fortifying them. I 

cannot approve their abandonment, except in case of absolute necessity. 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief. 

(Copy for President.) 

89 

man's

Poolesville,

It

Ferry-a

HeintzelHOOKER,
SANDY HOOK, June 27, 1863-1 p. m. 

(Received 3 p. 

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief : 

My original instructions require ine to cover Harper's Ferry and 

Washington. I have now imposed upon me, in addition, an enemy 

in my front of more than my number. I beg to be understood, respectfully, but firmly, that I am unable to comply with this condition with the means at my disposal, and earnestly request that I may 

at once be relieved from the position I occupy. 

JOSEPH HOOKER, 

Major-General. 

WASHINGTON, D. C., 

June 27. 1863—S p.m. 

Major-General HOOKER, 

Army of the Potomac : 

Your application to be relieved from your present command is 

received. 

As you were appointed to this command by the President, I have 

no power to relieve you. Your dispatch has been duly referred for 

Executive action. 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief. 

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, 

Washington, D. C., June 27, 1863. 

Maj. Gen. GEORGE G. MEADE, 

Army of the Potomac: 

GENERAL : You will receive with this the order of the President 

placing you in command of the Army of the Potomac. Considering 

the circumstances, no one ever'receiveda more important command; 

and I cannot doubt 04you will fully justify the confidence which 

the Government has reposed in you. 

You will not be hampered by any minute instructions from these 

headquarters. Your army is free to act as you may deem proper 

under the circumstances as they arise. You will, however, keep in 

view the important fact that the Army of the Potomac is the covering army of Washington as well as the army of operation against 

the invading forces of the rebels. You will, therefore, maneuver 

and fight in such a manner as to cover the capital and also Baltimore, as far as circumstances will admit. Should General Lee move 

upon either of these places, it is expected that you will either anticipate him or arrive AN1 U Ihim so as to give him battle. 

All forces within the sphere of your operations will be held subject 

to your orders. 

Harper's Ferry and its garrison are under your direct orders. 

You are authorized to remove from command, and to send from 

your army, any officer or other person you may deem proper, and 

to appoint to command as‘youmay deem expedient. 

In fine, general, you arc intrusted with all the power and authority 

which the President,the Secretary of War, or the General-in-Chief 

can confer on you, mid you may rely upon our full support. 

You will keep me fully informed of all your movements, and the 

positions of your own troops and those of the enemy, so far as known. 

I shall always be ready to advise and assist you to the utmost-Of 

my ability. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief. 

90 

me

ever·received

Jwne lU.

C.,

p.

utmost·(Jf
FREDERICK, MD., June 28, 1S63-7 a. m. 

(Received 10 a. in.) 

General H. W. HALLEcK, 

General-in-Chief: 

The order placing me in command of this army is received. As a 

soldier, I obey it, and to the utmost of my ability will execute it. 

Totally unexpected as it has been, and in ignorance of the exact condition of the troops and position of the enemy, I can only now say 

that it appears to me I must move toward the Susquehanna, keeping 

Washington and Baltimore well covered, and if the enemy is checked 

in his attempt to cross the Susquehanna, or if he turns toward Baltimore, to give him battle. I would say that I trust every available 

man that can be spared will be sent to me, as from all accounts the 

enemy is in strong force. So soon as i Lean post myself up, I will communicate more in detail. 

GEO. G. MEADE, 

Major-General. 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY 0,F THE POTOMAC, 

Frederick, June 28, 1863-1 p. 

(Received 2.20 p. 

Major-General HALLECK 

Am I permitted, under existing circumstances, to -withdrawa portion of the garrison of Harper's Ferry, providing I leave sufficient 

force to hold Maryland Heights against a coup de main? 

GEO. G. MEADE, 

Major-General. 

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 28, 1863-3.30 p. m. 

. Major-General MEADE, 

Frederick, ltd.: 

The garrison at Harper's Ferry is under your orders. You can 

diminish or increase it as you think the circumstances justify. 

H. W. HALLECK, 

General-in-Chief. 

TANEY'rowIT, July 1, 1863-12 m. 

General HALLECK: 

Dispatch sent last night giving my position at Emmitsburg, Gettysburg,and Hanover. 

Ewell is m at Heidlersburg. A. P. Hill is massed behind 

the mountains at htown. Longstreet somewhere between Chambersburgand the mountains. 

The news proves my advance has answered its purpose. I shall 

not advance any, but prepare to receive an attack in case Lee makes 

one. A battle-field is being selected to the rear, on which the army 

can be rapidly concentrated, on Pike Creek, between Middleburg and 

Manchester, covering my depot at Westminster. 

If I am not attacked, and I can from reliable intelligence have 

reason to believe I can attack with reasonable degree of success, I will 

do so; but at present, having relieved the pressure on the Susquehanna, I am now looking to the protection of Washington; and fighting my army to the best advantage. 

1 P. M. 

The enemy are advancing in force on Gettysburg, and I expect the 

battle will begin to-day. 

GEO. G. MEADE. 

91 

HALLECK.

municate

lean

ISG3-7

m.)

comwithdraw

HALLECK,

.HAT,J,ECK

burg,

bersburg

GettysCham-
CONFEDERATE MESSAGES 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 

July 31, 1863. 

GENERAL : I have the honor to submit the following outline of the 

recent operations of this army, for the information of the Department : 

The position occupied by the enemy opposite Fredericksburg being 

one in which he could not be attacked to advantage, it Was determined to draw him from it. The execution of this purpose embraced 

the relief of the Shenandoah Valley from the troops that had occupied the lower part of it during the winter and spring, and, if practicable, the transfer of the scene of hostilities north of the Potomac. 

It was thought that the corresponding movements on the part of the 

enemy to .which those contemplated by us would probably give rise, 

might offer a fair opportunity to strike a blow at the army then commanded by General Hooker, and that in any event that army would 

be compelled to leave Virginia, and, possibly, to draw to its support 

troops designed to operate against other parts of the country. In 

this way it was supposed that the enemy's plan of campaign for the 

summer would be broken up, and part of the season of active operations be consumed in the formation of new combinations, and the 

preparations that they would require. In addition to these advantages, it was hoped that other valuable results might be attained 

by military success. Actuated by these and other important considerations that may hereafter be presented, the movement began on 

June 3. 

Respectfully submitted. 

HEADQUARTERSARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 

June 15, 1863-7 a. m. 

Mr. PRESIDENT : On the lath,I put Ewell's corps In motion for the 

Valley: He reports, und4rdate of the 13th, that, with Rodes'division, 

he drove the enemy out of Berry vile, and, with Early's and Johnson's, drove him within his intrenchments at Winchester, where, it 

seems, he is more strongly fortified than supposed. .According to 

our understanding, I presume he has advanced toward the Potomac, 

leaving a division in front of Winchester. General A. P. Hill reported yesterday that the Federal force in front of him withdrew 

from the south side of the Rappahannock on the night of the 13th, 

and by morning had nearly all disappeared, leaving strong pickets 

on the river. One division was seen going over the Stafford Hills, 

in the direction of Aquia, and he supposes the main body to have 

taken that route. Our scouts report a general movement of the 

enemy up the Rappahannock, but I have got no certain inforniation 

on that point ; I know a large force has been thrown toward Warrenton. The uncertainty of the reports as to threatened expeditions of 

the enemy along the coast of North Carolina, and between the Rappahannock and James Rivers in Virginia, has caused delay in the 

movements of this army, and it may now be to late to accomplish 

all that was desired. I am still ignorant as to the extent of the expedition said to be moving up the Peninsula, and hesitate to draw the 

whole of A. P. Hill's corps to me. Two of Pickett's brigades are at 

Hanover Junction and Richmond, so that I am quite weak. 

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

R. E. LEE, 

General. 

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, 

President Confederate States. 

R. E. LEE, 

General. 

General S. COOPER, 

Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va. 

92 

I!mADQU......tTEnB

loth,

unde'r

m.

IWdes'

information
HEADQUARTERS, 

Near Malwood, Va., June 19,1SG3. 

Mr. PRESIDENT: General Ewell, with two divisions, has advanced 

from the Potomac toward Pennsylvania. His third division is retained near Shepherdstown for the present, to guard his flank and 

rear. General Longstreet's corps on the Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps 

roads .threatens the enemy, who is massed between him and Washington. General Stuart's cavalry is operating in his front. I hope 

the first division of A. P. Hill's corps will reach here to-day, so 

that Early may be relieved and follow Ewell. All attempts of the 

enemy to penetrate the mountains have been repulsed by Stuart's 

cavalry, who, yesterday, again drove him from Middleburg, and, by 

reports received last evening, the enemy's infantry have evacuated 

Aldie.. Indications seem to be that his main body is proceeding 

toward the Potomac, whether upon Harper's Ferry or to cross the 

river east of it, is not yet known. The difficulty of procuring supplies retards and renders more uncertain our future movements. 

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

R E. LEE, 

General. 

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, 

President, &c., Richmond, Va. 

BERRYVILLE, June 20, 1863. 

Mr. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to report, for the information 

of Your Excellency, that General Imboden has destroyed the bridges 

on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, over Evart's Creek, near Cumberland ; the long bridge across the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 

below Cumberland; the iron bridge across the North Branch of the 

Potomac, with the wooden trestle adjoining it; the double-span 

bridge across the mouth of Patterson's Creek ; the Fink's patent iron 

bridge across the mouth of the South Branch of the Potomac, three 

spans of 133* feet each, and the wooden bridge over Little Cacapon. 

All the depots, water-tanks, and engines between the Little Cacaponand Cumberland are also destroyed, with the block-hitsesat 

the mouth of the South Branch and Patterson's Creek. 

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, about 2 miles above Old Town, 

where the embankmen,tis about 40 feet high, has been cut, and. General Imboden reports that when he left it the entire embankment; 

for about 50 yards, had been swept away. 

A similar•crevasse,with like results, was also made in the canal, 

about 4 miles below Old Town. 

Lieutenant-Colonel White, of the cavalry, has also cut the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad east of the Point of Rocks. 

General Milroy has abandoned the south side of the Potomac, 

occupying Harper's Ferry with a picket, and holds the Maryland 

Heights with about 8,000 men. 

General Ewell's corps is north of the Potomac, occupying Sharpsburg, Boousborough, and Hagerstown. His advance cavalry is at 

Chanibersburg,Pa. 

The first division of General A. P. Hill's corps will reach this vicinity to-day ; the rest follow. 

General Longstreet's corps, with Stuart's cavalry, still occupy the 

Blue Ridge, between the roads leading through Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps, holding in check a large force of the enemy, consisting 

of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. 

The movement of the main body of the enemy is still toward the 

Potomac, but its real destination is not yet discovered. 

I have thought this a favorable time for General Sam. Jones to 

advance into Western Virginia, and have so informed him. Should 

he not be able to accomplish anything more, he will fix the attention 

of the enemy in that region, and prevent re-enforcementsbeing sent 

to other points. If any of the brigades that I have left behind for 

the protection of Richmond can, in your opinion, be spared, I should 

like them to be sent to me. 

am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

R. E. LEE, 

General. 

93 

Lo~t's

roads .threatens

evenmg,

.Aldie.'

J>On

Boons 0 gh,

Oha:uibersburg,

]'f-alwoocl,

DAVIS,

In,

embsuikmen.n,

~nforceJDel\~
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 

June 23, 1863. 

Mr. PRESIDENT : Reports of movements of the enemy east of the 

Blue Ridge cause me to believe that he is preparing to cross the 

Potomac. A pontoon bridge is said to be laid at EawardsFerry, 

and his army corps that he has advanced toLeesburg and the foot 

of the mountains, appear to be withdrawing. Their attempts to 

penetrate the mountains have been successfully repelled by General 

Stuart with the cavalry. General Stuart last- night was within a 

few miles of Aldie, to which point the enemy had retired. 

General Ewell's corps is in motion toward the Susquehanna. 

General A. P. Hill's corps is moving toward the Potomac ; his leading division will reach Shepherdstownto-day. I have withdrawn 

Longstreet west of the Shenandoah, and, if nothing prevents, he will 

follow to-morrow. In addition to the supplies that we have been 

able to gather in Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, in the Shenandoah 

Valley, and west of the Alleghany, we have collected sufficient north 

of the Potomac for the support of Ewell's corps to the .30thinstant; 

and 1,Z00barrels of flour are on hand in Maryland for the rest of the 

army. I hope we shall get enough for the subsistence of our men. 

Forage is very scarce, and we have mainly to rely on grass for the 

animals. From the reports I receive, I believe we shall obtain 

enough salt for our purposes while north of the Potonlac,for which 

we are paying 75 cents a bushel. The flour that we have purchased 

in Maryland costs $6.50 per barrel; beef, $5 per hundred,.gross. -We 

use Confederate money for all payments. I shall continue to purchase all the supplies that are furnished me while north of the Potomac, impressing only when necessary. 

With great respect, your obedient servant, 

R. E. LEE, 

General. 

His Excellency President DAVIS, Richmond. 

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 

Near Gettysburg, Pa., July 4, 1863. 

Mr. PRESIDENT : After the rear of the army had crossed the Potomac, the leading corps, under General Ewell, pushed on to Carlisle. 

and York, passing through Chambersburg.The other two corps 

closed up at the latter place, and soon afterward intelligence was received that the army of General Hooker was advancing. Our whole 

force was directed to concentrate at Gettysburg, and the corps of 

Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill reached that place on the 1st July, 

the former a&vancingfrom Carlisle and the latter from Chambersburg. The two leading divisions of these corps, upon reaching the 

vicinity of Gettysburg, foundthe enemy, and attacked him, driving 

him from the town, which was occupied by our troops. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

His Excellency President DAVIS, Richmond. 

R. E. LEE, 

General. 

94 

1,aG<)

advancing

Edwards

to

last

Shepherdstown

30th

Potomac,

hundred.. We

Richmond.

Ca.l'lisle

OlI~l.Ol ersuUI'g.

found