No. 107. — Report of Lieut. Col. Theodore Hesser, 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry.

JONES’ CROSS-ROADs, MD.,
July 11, 1863.

CAPTAIN:

I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my regiment on July 2 and 3, at Gettysburg, Pa.:

On the 2d instant, the regiment supported a battery until 6 p.m., when (the first line of battle giving way) orders were received to advance and assist in reoccupying the ground lost, which orders were executed without, however, becoming directly engaged.

On the 3d instant, the regiment was again assigned the duty of supporting a battery, which position it occupied (under a terrific fire of the enemy’s artillery) until 3 p.m., at which time they were ordered to advance upon the stone wall on our immediate front, it being discovered that the enemy were making a demonstration in that direction. At this point the regiment became engaged with Pickett’s division of the rebel army, and, after a severe contest, lasting about half an hour, succeeded in routing the enemy and occupying the wall, which position it held until the withdrawal of the brigade on the morning of the 5th. In this engagement the regiment captured two rebel colors and a number of prisoners.

I would especially mention Companies A and I, Captains Suplee and Cook, for the creditable manner in which they performed the skirmishing for the brigade in the engagements of both days.

The aggregate losses of the regiment in the two days’ engagements are as follows:

Officers and men	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total
Officers	2	7		9
Enlisted men	34	151	3	188
Total	36	158	3	197

Respectfully submitted.

THEO. HESSER,
Lieut. Col., Comdg. Seventy-second Pennsylvania Vols.

Capt. C. H. BANES,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

from Official Records, Series 1, Volume 27, Part 1