Union monuments at Gettysburg > New York > Infantry > 145th New York Infantry Regiment
No. 280. — Report of Col. E. Livingston Price, 145th New York Infantry.
IN THE FIELD, CAMP NEAR SNICKERSVILLE, VA.,
July 23, 1863.
CAPTAIN:
In compliance with orders, I have the honor to submit the following report of the services rendered by my command during the operations of this army, from July I to 15:
On the morning of July 1, my command moved from Littlestown, Pa., and halted about 2 miles from Gettysburg, where it was drawn up in line of battle on the right of the Gettysburg pike. Heavy cannonading being heard in the direction of Gettysburg, we were ordered to advance with the brigade to within supporting distance of the Eleventh Corps, but afterward, by orders received from General Williams, we retired to an open space beyond the woods, where we encamped for the night.
About 4 o’clock on the morning of the 2d instant, I received orders to be in readiness to move farther to the front, in order to take up a new line.
At 6 o’clock I accordingly moved my command to the front by the way of the Gettysburg turnpike, and, after maneuvering a short time, I was ordered to form my regiment in the second line of battle, parallel with and behind a stone wall, some 125 feet in rear of the first line. The Third Maryland Volunteers formed on the left and the Fifth Connecticut Volunteers on the right of my command. I would state that the position occupied by my command was some 200 or 300 yards northeast of the Gettysburg pike, on the crest of a hill covered with heavy timber. The ground was of a rough and rocky nature, and affording good means of defense.
About 12 m. I received orders to detach a company of my command as skirmishers. I accordingly detailed Company K, Captain George W. Reid commanding, and said company was afterward deployed in front of the first line along the line of Rock Creek. My command remained in the position before described until 6.30 p.m. (repairing the stone wall in the meantime, the regiments in the first line building breastworks), at which time I received orders to follow in rear of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers toward the left of the general line. My command (excepting Company K, which remained as before stated) then proceeded toward the left a distance of some 2 miles, being exposed to a fire of the enemy’s artillery, but without injury to my command. I was then ordered to form my regiment on the left of the Fifth Connecticut Volunteers, in rear of the Fifth Army Corps. Scarcely, however, had my command formed, ere I received an order to return to my former position on the right and follow in the rear of the Fifth Connecticut Volunteers. Upon approaching the former position on the right, it was ascertained that during the absence of our forces the enemy had attacked our skirmishers on Rock Creek, who, after a slight resistance, were driven back, the enemy taking possession of the breastworks built by the regiments in the first line, and the stone wall behind which my command, with other regiments of the same line, had previously formed.
I was then ordered to form my command in an open field about an eighth of a mile in rear of my former position, on the right of the Third Maryland Volunteers, and parallel to my former line behind the stone wall. About this time I received an order to detail a company of skirmishers to report to Capt. E. J. Rice, acting assistant adjutant-general, First Brigade. I accordingly detailed Company C, Capt. S. T. Allen commanding, as skirmishers.
During the formation of the line as above described, a volley was fired directly in front of my command (probably by the enemy’s skirmishers), wounding 2 of my men and causing some confusion; order was, however, quickly restored. It was now 10.30 o’clock. In this position my men rested on their arms during the night; nothing unusual occurred.
About 4 o’clock on the morning of the 3d, some twelve guns belonging to artillery, posted some 500 paces in rear of my regiment, opened upon the woods in front of my command, and the skirmishers became briskly engaged. This state of affairs continued about thirty minutes, when the artillery fire partially ceased and the infantry in front of my line became hotly engaged. Company C was engaged with the enemy, and lost 1 private killed and 2 wounded, when it was recalled, and rejoined my command. The artillery occasionally opened upon the woods in my front, the shells of which barely cleared, the men of my command, who at that time were lying down. Subsequently several of my men were wounded by the fire of our artillery, and, deeming it advisable and proper to report the facts to my commanding officer, I dispatched Sergt. Maj. M. J. Shanly to inform the colonel commanding the brigade that several of my men had been wounded by the fire of our own artillery.
On the delivery of this message, the said Sergeant-Major Shanly was instructed by the commanding officer of the brigade to tell Colonel Price “not to fret.” Shortly after the arrival of this message, 3 more of my command were wounded, including a commissioned officer.
In company with Colonel Selfridge, Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, I proceeded to the battery which had injured my command, where I met Major-General Slocum, whom I informed of the injury done by said battery, when my command was withdrawn a short distance, and no further injury inflicted upon it.
My command was afterward moved forward to occupy the position of the day before, the enemy having been driven beyond the stone wall and breastworks before alluded to. My command remained in this position, under a severe fire from the enemy’s artillery, until 4.30 o’clock, when it was moved to the support of the center, but had hardly reached there before receiving orders to return to my former position on the right. My regiment was afterward thrown forward into the first line, behind the breastworks, where it engaged the enemy’s sharpshooters until darkness put an end to further operations.
I was relieved by the One hundred and twenty-third Regiment New York Volunteers, Captain Tanner commanding, about 8 p.m., and retired to my former position behind the stone wall, where my command rested on their arms during the night.
Nothing unusual occurred during the night save the alarm in the first line which caused it to fire.
On the morning of the 4th, I was again thrown into the front line behind the breastworks, but nothing of importance occurred, the enemy having evacuated his position in our front during the night, leaving his dead upon the field; also many of his wounded. My command was again relieved about 12 o’clock, and again took up a position in the second line, behind the said stone wall; but this time my command was deprived of its former position by the posting of the One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers in my former position, and placing me in a small open field to the left of my original position. At this time the weather had changed, and the rain was falling in torrents, wetting my men thoroughly, and depriving them of rest and sleep during the following night.
Thus for four days and three nights were the men of my command subjected to the severest hardships, besides trials and dangers of almost every description; yet throughout all I cannot but speak in the highest terms of both the officers and men of my command. All behaved with a nobleness of spirit well worthy of record; each and every one seemed aware of the great issues involved, and the importance of the struggle in which they were engaged.
On the morning of July 5, my command moved at 10.30 o’clock, marching through Littlestown, and encamping just outside that place.
On the morning of the 6th, we again started, continuing the march, passing through the towns of Frederick and Burkittsville, and on Saturday, the 11th instant, [encamped] near Fair Play, Md., about 5 miles from Williamsport, where we were employed during the three days of our stay at this place in throwing up breastworks.
On Sunday, the 14th instant, finding the enemy had fallen back, we followed with the main body of the army, halting near Williamsport.
On the following morning we took up our line of march, and halted near Harper’s Ferry, W.. Va.
On the 16th, we moved again a short distance, and encamped at Pleasant Valley, Md., where my command was allowed to rest, and requisitions were made to furnish it with arms, ammunition, and clothing, for which, after such a severe campaign, my command stood greatly in need.
I cannot but mention the valuable services rendered me during the engagement at Gettysburg by Sergt. Maj. M. J. Shanly, who acted as adjutant, the adjutant of my regiment being absent during the battle.
In conclusion, I cannot omit speaking of the nobleness with which my command endured the privations, hardships, and trials of these fifteen days. It marched over 150 miles, engaged the enemy for two or three days at Gettysburg, built breastworks and abatis, was deprived continually of both rest and sleep, performed forced marches of nearly 30 miles per day through mud and rain, sometimes with inadequate rations, and many of my men without shoes or sufficient clothing. When I remember all this; when I consider the trials of these four days and nights before Gettysburg; the great fortitude and courage exhibited by the officers and men of my command; that not a man faltered; that not a single case of disobedience of orders occurred, I am constrained to believe that additional and greater honors await it on future fields of victory.
I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
ED. LIVINGSTON PRICE,
Colonel 145th New York Volunteers.
Capt. E. J. RICE,
A. A. A. G., First Brig., First Div., Twelfth A. C.
from Official Records, Series 1, Volume 27, Part 1