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Official Report of the 20th New York Militia Regiment (80th New York Volunteers) in the Gettysburg Campaign
HDQRS. TWENTIETH NEW YORK STATE MILITIA,
Brandy Station, Va., January 30, 1864.
GENERAL: I beg leave to submit the following condensed report of the movements and operation of my command during the three days’ battle at Gettysburg: Marched with brigade at 8 a. m., July 1, and between 10 and 11 o’clock that morning encountered the enemy’s skirmishers 1 1\2 miles west of Gettysburg, Pa. Line of battle by brigade was immediately formed in the Hagerstown road, my regiment on the left, and the brigade advanced 200 or 300 yards, where it was faced by the right flank and moved through the fields toward Gettysburg, crossing Willoughby’s Run between the road and a house and outbuildings, around which our dismounted cavalry were skirmishing. Reaching the low ground between the seminary and the first ridge west of it, the brigade filed to the left and took position in line of battle on the westerly slope of the ridge and nearly opposite the seminary, facing west. Remaining here a few minutes only, we moved back on to the ridge, all the regiments of the brigade passing over and taking cover under the ridge save mine, which was ordered to halt on the crest, and was faced toward the enemy; but an occasional shot reached us in the position.
Having remained here some twenty minutes, I was ordered to throw out a company of skirmishers to occupy the house and buildings already spoken of, and now on our left and some 30 roads in advance of us. Captain Baldwin, Company K, was detailed for that duty, and soon gained possession of the buildings. Some two hours afterward he sent me word that he was severely pressed, and asked for re-enforcements. I detached to his aid Captain Cunningham, Company G. These two companies held these buildings until the enemy actually surrounded them on three sides, and had fired the outbuildings and attempted to fire the house, when, to avoid being captured, the men were withdrawn and, moving through the ravine southerly, and covered in measure by a small party of our cavalry, they escaped and rejoined the regiment that evening on Cemetary Hill.
The regiment was soon afterward moved back into the brigade line. About 2 P. M the enemy opened an enfilading fire upon us with two or three rodman guns planted upon an elevation a mile or more to our right, and upon what seemed to be the shoulder of the ridge under which we were then lying. The brigade was then ordered up, and moved by the left flank partly across the Hagerstown road, when it was halted, and after some ten minutes, during which the enemy obtained a very accurate range of us, the brigade was posted in the road, faced to the north, and partially covered by the fence and bank at the roadside.
Some thirty minutes afterward the brigade was formed in two lines, Colonel Biddle, of the One Hundred and Forty-Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanding the first line, and Colonel Gates, of the Twentieth New York State Militia, commanding the second. In this formation the brigade moved across the field at the foot of and parallel with the ridge until we reached a point opposite the Seminary, when they changed direction to the left, and while the first line moved toward and nearly opposite the woods where General Reynolds fell, the second moved up to the top of the ridge to support a battery.
The enemy were now advancing toward our position in line of battle, and the infantry fire became very severe. The battery was compelled to retire after firing a few rounds, and, finding that our line was rapidly retiring on my right, and the enemy were moving down the Hagerstown road on my left, to cut me off from Gettysburg, I gave the order to fall back, and the troops slowly retired in the direction of the Seminary, fighting so obstinately as they moved off that the enemy’s pursuit was cautious and tardy. Reaching the barricade near the seminary, the two regiments were immediately formed in rear of it and on the left of the other regiments of the brigade. The enemy advanced in heavy lines across the field in front, and when they got within short range, we opened on them with such affect that they retired over the ridge. They soon, however, advanced again in greater force, the right of their lines extending across the Hagerstown road and sweeping entirely around our left.
The fighting for some time was most desperate. Colonel Biddle received a wound in the head, and turned over the command of the brigade to Colonel Gates, whose horse was shot under him five times during this brief contest. Colonel Biddle (who but temporarily left the field), after consultation with Colonel Gates, ordered a retreat. At this time nearly, if not quite, all our troops were in full retreat upon Gettysburg, and our brigade was exposed to a murderous fire in front and on both flanks. It was impossible to hold the position longer without sacrificing the brigade. The troops moved off in tolerable order, passing the Seminary and taking the railroad into Gettysburg. The Twentieth New York State Militia marched in rear of the brigade, covering the movement, which was executed under heavy fire.
Reaching Cemetery Hill, the brigade was posted in line along the Taneytown road, where it remained until 11 a. m. the next day, when it was relieved. About 5 p. m. on July 2, the brigade was ordered to the left center, to support the Second Corps, which had been advanced to the relief of the Third. Two regiments only of the brigade – the Twentieth New York State Militia and the One hundred and fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, the latter under command of Captain Owens- reached the front line, where they were halted on the last and lowest of the ridges running nearly north and south between the Taneytown and Emmitsburg roads. Some 300 yards on our right was a bluff, on which were standing a few trees and a battery. The trees on the westerly face of the bluff had been felled to clear a range for the guns. A rail fence was at the foot of the bluff and extended along the ridge southerly. A little in advance and to our left was a small grove. The ground in front descended gradually to a little valley, wet and marshy, and then by a corresponding ascent reached the Emmitsburg road and the position occupied by the enemy. Some 300 yards in rear of me was a ridge, running parallel to the one I was on, but much higher. On my right was one regiment of Stannard’s brigade; on my left two others, and one in rear and partly to my left. Receiving no orders, and finding myself the senior officer of the brigade present, I assumed command of the two regiments, and in the course of the evening constructed a breastwork of the fence heretofore mentioned and of such other material as could be procured.
About 5 a. m. on the 3d, the enemy opened with artillery, and for some time kept up a brisk fire upon our position. This finally ceased, and until about 1 p. m. no further firing took place on this part of the line. During this interval, the Vermont troops threw up a breastwork to my left and about 100 feet in advance of my line, masked by the small grove before mentioned. The regiment of that brigade on my right took position in rear of this new work, leaving open the space between my right and the bluff, on which was the nearest battery. At 1 o’clock the enemy opened from his right-center battery, which was soon followed by all his guns on his right and center, and the position occupied by my command was swept by a tempest of shot and shell from upward of one hundred guns for nearly three hours. When the cannonading subsided, the enemy’s infantry debouched from the orchard and woods on his right center, and moved in two lines of battle across the fields toward the position I have described. Our skirmishers (from the Vermont brigade) fell back before them, and sought cover behind the breastworks on my left.
The enemy came forward rapidly, and began firing as soon as they were within range of our men. When they had approached within about 200 feet of the bottom of the valley heretofore mentioned, the troops of my command opened a warm fire upon them. Almost immediately the first line faced by the left flank, and moved at a double-quick up the valley and toward Gettysburg. The second line followed the movement. Reaching a position opposite the bluff, they faced to the right, and moved forward rapidly in line of battle. Perceiving that their purpose was to gain the bluff, I moved my command by the right flank up to the foot of the bluff, delivering our fire as we marched, and keeping between the enemy and the object of his enterprise. He succeeded in reaching the fence at the foot of the bluff, but with ranks broken and his men evidently disheartened. Some succeeded in getting over the fence into the slashing, from which and behind the fence they kept up a murderous fire. The men were now within quarter pistol-range, and, as the fence and fallen trees gave the enemy considerable cover, I ordered the Twentieth New York State Militia and the One hundred and fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers to advance to the fence, which they did, cheering, and in gallant style, and poured a volley into the enemy at very short range, who now completely broke, and those who did not seek to escape by flight threw down their arms. Very few of those who fled reached their own lines. Many turned after having run several rods and surrendered themselves. We took a large number of prisoners, and the ground in front of us was strewn with their dead and wounded. During the latter part of this struggle, and after it ceased, the enemy’s batteries played upon friend and foe alike.
The troops engaged with us were Pickett’s division, of Longstreet’s Corps. Among the killed and wounded in my immediate front was Colonel [J. G.] Hodges, Fourteenth Virginia, and several line officers. Two colors were left upon the ground by the enemy. Thus terminated the final and main attack upon our left center. It was now neatly 6 p. m., and my command was relieved by a portion of the Second Corps, and withdrawn to the Taneytown road, where it remained through the night. It will thus be perceived that the two regiments I had the honor to command were wither actually engaged with the enemy or occupying a position in the front line from the beginning of the battle on the morning of July 1 until its close on the evening of the 3d, excepting only about six hours on the 2d. I went into action on the 1st with 28 officers and 259 men. I lost during the three days 3 officers killed, 15 wounded, and 1 taken prisoner; enlisted men, 32 killed, 96 wounded, and 23 taken prisoners. Total, 170. My loss in killed and wounded was two-thirds of my officers and half of my men.
I have no report of the casualties in the One hundred and fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers. They behaved with the utmost gallantry, and their loss was very severe.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THEODORE B. GATES,
Colonel, Commanding.
A. DOUBLEDAY,
Major-General of Volunteers.
from Official Records, Series 1, Volume 27, Part 1, Pages 319-323