Union Monuments at Gettysburg > Massachusetts
No. 110. — Report of Col. Arthur F. Devereux, 19th Massachusetts Infantry.
TANEYTOWN, MD., July 7, 1863.
SIR:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the part which my regiment took in the late engagement near Gettysburg:
On the evening of July 1, the corps was halted about 2 miles from the battle-ground.
At daybreak of the 2d, were marched to the front, this division forming in columns of regiments by brigade on the right of the road, with its front toward the right of the position held by our army. Remaining there perhaps an hour, it crossed the road, and, by a countermarch of regiments, assumed a front in an opposite direction, the Second Brigade on the right, the Third Brigade on the left, and the First Brigade in the rear as reserve, two regiments, each of the Second and Third Brigades, being thrown in advance of the column in position behind some fences. The division rested there during the day.
About 5 p.m., some time after the Third Corps had been engaged on our left, Colonel Mallon, commanding Forty-second New York, and myself were ordered by the brigade commander to follow a staff officer, whom he pointed out, but whose name and rank I do not know, which was done, my regiment leading. Just before this, our attacking columns of the Third Corps, which had at first advanced, had begun to give way, and when we reached the rear of their position, a distance of perhaps an eighth of a mile from where we started, were completely broken, and running to the rear in great confusion. I asked the officer leading us what was the object intended for us to accomplish and what position to take up. He answered, “In support of Humphreys’ division.” I pointed out to him how useless to attempt to form a support for a division in the open field with two small regiments, numbering but 290 men together, and when that division was so much broken and fleeing in such confusion. He gave me no satisfactory answer, and at that moment galloped off.
Left to ourselves, I suggested to Colonel Mallon that the two regiments be formed behind the crest of a short knoll some distance in our front, there to lie down, wait until our retreating line, which was right upon us then, had passed, deliver a volley by the rear and front ranks, to check the pursuing enemy, and then make good our retreat. We gained the position without delay, lay down until everything in front and on both flanks had passed us to the rear, then, giving the command to my regiment, I fired two volleys, as, I believe, also did Colonel Mallon. It became necessary then to retreat immediately to avoid capture, the enemy’s line outflanking us on the right and left hundreds of yards to each side, and very near–so near, indeed, that both regiments captured several prisoners. The retreat of the two regiments commenced in good order, Colonel Mallon’s regiment leading, my regiment marching in his rear.
In a short time we met the second line of our men pressing forward. Passing through them a distance of perhaps 25 yards, we halted, as did also the line we had just met. At this point the two regiments rested on a slope fronting the enemy, exposed to their artillery fire, which was very hot, unable to use our own fire on the columns of the enemy because of the line in front, in consequence of which the two regiments withdrew for shelter behind the crest.
By this time it was quite dark, and in about half an hour Captain Leach, of the brigade staff, brought orders for us to rejoin the brigade in the old position. We rested there all night, and in the morning the two regiments were put in support of a battery at that point, the other regiments in the brigade lying in front under the wall.
Everything remained quiet on our front until 1 p.m., when, at a signal of a gun fired to our left, a most terrific cannonade commenced on the batteries and the troops in the center of our line, a portion of which was held by our brigade. It was the most terrific cannonading of the war. I have been told that one hundred and ten pieces of the enemy were firing upon our center at once. The men lay quiet and steady, and I am sure none of my regiment left the position where I ordered them to lie down. The cannonade lasted two hours.
The battery behind which we lay was disabled in the first hour’s cannonading. The captain of it asked me if my men would volunteer to assist in manning his battery. I told him yes, and sent immediately 6 men to carry ammunition, and at a further call shortly after, 20 more to assist in working the pieces.
I desire here to mention the gallant conduct of Second Lieut. Moses Shackley, who insisted on joining the volunteers, walking from piece to piece, encouraging and assisting the men, although I told him that it was not required of him, and advised him to lie down with the regiment for shelter.
Just about 3 o’clock the enemy’s cannonade slackened, and columns of attack appeared emerging from the woods across the open field in our front. They advanced gallantly upon our position, which was held firmly excepting immediately upon the right of our brigade line, at which point the left of the next brigade of our line seemed to give way in some confusion. Just then Major-General Hancock appeared on the left of my regiment. I ran to him, and asked permission to advance it to the point needed. Receiving it, I marched my regiment with all speed, obliquing to the right through the battery, and reached the desired point directly behind Colonel Mallon s regiment, which, being on my right when we started, had reached there first.
There was considerable confusion here, from the men running to the rear from the first line, and the two mentioned regiments coming up on a short space closely following each other, joined also by the Twentieth Massachusetts, having repulsed the enemy from their immediate front, but who still strongly pressed the attack at this point where our lines had given way. For an instant it seemed to hang in the balance whether we should drive the enemy out of our works, which they had entered, or they succeed in carrying the position; but I firmly believe that the extraordinary exertions of a few officers, among whom were conspicuous the brigade commander and staff, Lieutenant Haskell, of the division staff, Colonel Mallon, and some officers of my own regiment whom I saw, the line was carried back to the rifle-pits, driving the enemy out.
Just at this moment the enemy, as if actuated by one instinct, threw down their arms in a body, burst into our lines by hundreds, delivering themselves up as prisoners, and the battle was won, very few of the enemy attempting to retreat across the field to their own lines.
We must have killed, wounded, and captured the entire attacking column, with comparatively few exceptions. I might add here that when the enemy first broke our lines, and our men rallied to retrieve the lost ground, the enemy’s artillery again opened on our troops collecting at that point, and continued to fire after the position was retaken, seemingly intended for their own troops, who had delivered themselves up in such numbers.
During the obstinate fight at this place, the two lines being actually hand to hand, my regiment captured four regimental colors from the enemy–one by Corpl. Joseph H. De Castro, Company I; another by Private John Robinson, Company I; another by Corpl. Benjamin F. Falls, Company A, and another by Private Benjamin H. Jellison, Company C.
A fifth one was handed to me by a sergeant of my regiment, but on representations from General Webb that he took the colors and gave them to my sergeant for safe-keeping, it has been delivered over to him. Three of the four taken by my regiment were taken from the hands of the rebel color-bearers, the fourth picked up beyond the stone wall. Three of these (the Fourteenth, Nineteenth, and Fifty-seventh Virginia, and marked with the numbers of their regiments, respectively) have been turned over to the brigade commander. The fourth I am unable positively to account for, but have been informed was probably carried off the field by Major Rice when wounded, and by him taken home. That four were taken by my regiment, as above stated, I am sure, as I have minute statements in each case from company commanders whom I called on for a report.(*)
It would be difficult to distinguish further than I have the individual officers and men under my command. The field and line officers universally and the men under my command behaved as steadily and as gallantly as men could do. I have but one instance of failure to report, that of Corporal [E. Augustus] Nichols, Company C, who was brought back, going to the rear, during the infantry fight.
Respectfully,
A. F. DEVEREUX,
Colonel Nineteenth Massachusetts, Comdg. Regiment.
Lieut. WILLIAM R. DRIVER,
A. A. A. G., Third Brig., Second Div., Second Corps.
from Official Records, Series 1, Volume 27, Part 1