The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-12
Read Better than Pension ;, on page s.
GETTYSBURG.
A COmrade Locates the Batteries In and About
the Peach Orchard.

AomfAut AoCAlts Aht batteries IN anu AbOui
the Peach Orchard.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There seems
TO be about as many different opinions rs to
who held the Peach Orchard at Gettysburg as
there are writers on the subject, and they arc
all partly right las long as they stick TO the
doings Of their own battery or regiment).
The Artillery Brigade of the Third Corps
was commanded by Capt Geo. +. Randolph,
aud was composed Of the following batteries,
ali OF which took part with great credit in the
battle Of July ?, but none OF which took posi-
ton in the Peach Orchard Clark's Battery b,
lst N. j.; Winslow's ID, LIST y. Y; Smiths 4th
N. y; Randolphs L, LIST Il. J., under Lieut.
Bucklyn,) and SeGloy's X, 4th u. S.
Between j aud 2 p. m, July 2, Capt. Ran
d0lph stationed these batteries as follows:
Smiths 4th n. Y. on the extreme left of Wards
Brigade Tor nearly sol, four guns on a rocky
Hill, and two a little to the rear and command
ing a gorge Obliquely TO the left; next came
Winsow's ID, LIST n. Y. on the right OF Wards
Brigade; then Clark's B. LIST n. J., was sta
toned just TO the left Of the Peach Orchard !;
then came Ames's q, LIST n. Y. from the Artil-
leTy Reserve stationed in the Peach Orchard,
and the only one in IL when the fight COM
menced. All these batteries fronted nearly
south beyond the angle where the line touched
and al times crossed the Emmitsburg road, and
fronting nearly west was Randolph's L, lst
r. J.; still further 20 the right, and near the
right Of the Second Division, Third Corps, was
Seeeys 4th u. S.
This was the position Of the batteries Just
before the first attack Of the rebel infantry.
All the batteries, except Seeley's, being sup
ported by Birney's First Division, Third Corps.
Seeley's, and later on Tumbulls F and X, Sd
u. S., were supported by Humphreys Second
Division, Third Corps.
Between $3.50 and 4 p. m Lieut. Col. Nc
GilveTy, commanding First Volunteer Brigade,
Artillery Reserve brought up three batteries,
which he placed in the line as follows: Bige-
lows 9Th Mass. TO the right OF Winslows; then
came Phillips 9Th Mass, just on the left of
Clark's b, LIST N. J. (which was between IL and
Peach Orchard); at the same time Harris 18th
N. Y. was placed in the Peach Orchard 10 the
right and little 10 the front Of Clark, going
into position about 4:30 p. m. About p.
m, IhompB0ns & and Il, Pa. Art, formed at
the angle just 70 the right Of the Peach Or
chard, two guns facing west and four guns
facing south. At about $50 p. m. Ames's q,
LIST \. Y, was relieved by Battery J. 9Th u. 5.
About 6 p m. the whole line WAS broken, and
a new line formed by Col McGlvery several
hundred yards to the rear, which only stood a
short time. IL was composed Of parts Of bat
teries which had been on tho front line, and
several brought up from the Artillery Reserve.
Here the rebel infantry charge caused many
guns TO be abandoned, but they were after
wards recovered on the final repulse Of the
attack; they belonged to Battery j, 9Th U. s.,
aud Bigelow's 9th Mass. / believe this state
ment Of position Of batteries operating with
the Third Corps 10 be satisfactorily correct IL
not so, j shall be glad 10 be set right.-C. S.
SHELDON, LIST Mo. Art, Caldwell, o.