At Gettysburg with the 62nd Pennsylvania

In the bitter fighting near the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863,  John Garden of the 62nd Pennsylvania recalled that at times the combat became hand to hand. 

    "Again that “yell” which was heard so often at Chancellorsville commenced and made us grasp our pieces with firmer grips.," Garden commented. “Attention,” and “forward” passed along the line and we advanced across the wheat field and formed behind a stone wall. We were hardly posted behind the wall before the word was passed that we were flanked on the right of our brigade which we soon found to be too true for the bullets commenced flying in among us from the right. We remained in our position until the order came “about face” when we walked out in good order, contending with the enemy both in front and rear, they having nearly surrounded us. For a time, it was a hand-to-hand engagement, muskets were clubbed, and pistols and sabers were used in the scuffle. Our regiment lost one of its colors, both color bearers being wounded and bayoneted."

    Sergeant Garden's account of the Gettysburg campaign first appeared in the August 26, 1863, edition of the Altoona Tribune. 

The 62nd Pennsylvania monument on the right and 17th Maine monuments at left in the early morning at Gettysburg. The Pennsylvanians went into action in the late afternoon hours of July 2nd and in a pair of bitterly fought clashes lost 21 men killed, 124 wounded, and 78 missing. "The wheat field presented a horrible spectacle as the ground was covered with dead and wounded," John Garden recalled. "The moans of the wounded were dreadful to hear." 
(Phil Spaugy) 

Headquarters, Co. M, 62^nd P.V., Camp near Beverly Ford, Virginia

August 18, 1863

          For your information, I will give you an account of Co. M’s doings commencing July 1, 1863. Arriving at Union Mills on the 30^th of June at 6 p.m., we pitched our tents and prepared for a coming storm which was visible in the distance and in a short time came upon us in all its force. The rain poured down in torrents and continued until late at night, flooding many a poor fellow’s tent who had not the forethought to ditch it.

          On the morning of July 1^st, we were awakened by the bugle sounding “pack up.” Immediately, all were bustling and hurrying to get ready. Shortly after “forward” was sounded and with “knapsacks on our shoulders and bayonets by our side,” we pulled out on the road leading to Hanover distant 9-1/4 miles. About six miles from Union Mills, we crossed the Pennsylvania line when immediately the Pennsylvania boys gave cheer after cheer for the Old Keystone assisted by regiments from other states. Our drummers commenced playing and continued doing so for many miles along the road. I never saw men in better spirits than at that time as cheer after cheer echoed along the columns.

          Farmers with their families came flocking to the roadside, cheering in return and encouraging us on our way. Especially was this the case with the ladies whose encouragement was something in the shape of eatables of which we were not backward in partaking. From nearly every house along the road could be seen the stars and stripes floating in the breeze, an unusual sight for us for it was never seen waving in Virginia from house or hamlet. Another cheering sight was to see the pleasant smiling faces of the ladies and others along our line of march, nerving our arms with additional strength and many a weary soldier started forward with renewed vigor. During our many months campaign in Virginia, we have received nothing but frowns and curses from all sides, males and females. Passing through towns or villages, everything looks gloomy, deserted, and cheerless. All houses and stores are closed. No kind smile greets our faces there, no kind voice to cheer the wearied soldiers on his way or offer him a cup of cooling water.

          Arriving at Hanover, Pennsylvania, we halted two hours to rest and cook a lunch. At 7 p.m., we started for Gettysburg distant 14 miles. We marched very briskly until midnight when we stopped in a strip of woods three miles from Gettysburg. Being fatigued, we spread our blankets and laid down. Some made fires and cooked supper. At 3 o’clock the next morning when the bugle sounded reveille, we arose, cooked and ate our breakfast, consisting of hardtack and coffee. After breakfast we had an inspection of arms and ammunition. By this time, daylight was fast dawning. The bugle sounded “forward” and we were soon in line and started off, arriving with the rest of the army near Gettysburg. Each corps having come a different road, we maneuvered around until 12 o’clock before getting into position when our corps (the 5^th Corps) was massed on the side of a hill near the town. While resting here we supplied ourselves with ammunition.

Colonel Jacob B. Sweitzer, 62nd P.V.
Commanded brigade at Gettysburg

          About 4 p.m., we were ordered forward and taken to the left of our line near the foot of Round Top Mountain where the 3^rd Corps was fighting and being too hard pressed, called for reinforcements and our brigade numbering three regiments (4^th Michigan, 32^nd Massachusetts, and 62^nd Pennsylvania) was ordered to take the first line of battle while the First and Third brigades formed the second line as reserve. We advanced into a strip of woods bordered by a wheat field on the left and on the right by a cleared field.

Forming our line, our left on the wheat field, in our front was a swamp about 50 yards wide and woods again on the opposite side. We had hardly formed our line ere the Rebels under Longstreet and McLaws came yelling like so many devils through the woods on our front up to the edge of the swamp. I saw that they were massed by regiments as if determined to break through our line. As soon as they appeared in view, we opened a galling fire upon them, they returning the compliment with a will. Our men stood to the work bravely, never yielding an inch, firing and loading as coolly as if they were on drill. The Rebels turned and fled in disorder, leaving their wounded and dead behind. We did not follow them, but kept our position for a while until relieved by fresh troops.

We were then taken to the rear of the wheat field where we formed anew. The regulars of our corps then advanced through the wheat field and again drove the enemy back with considerable loss on both sides. But things were not to last long this way. Again that “yell” which was heard so often at Chancellorsville commenced and made us grasp our pieces with firmer grips. “Attention,” and “forward” passed along the line and we advanced across the wheat field and formed behind a stone wall. We were hardly posted behind the wall before the word was passed that we were flanked on the right of our brigade which we soon found to be too true for the bullets commenced flying in among us from the right. We remained in our position until the order came “about face” when we walked out in good order, contending with the enemy both in front and rear, they having nearly surrounded us.

For a time, it was a hand-to-hand engagement, muskets were clubbed, and pistols and sabers were used in the scuffle. Our regiment lost one of its colors, both color bearers being wounded and bayoneted. The 4^th Michigan, on the right of the brigade, lost its colors, their colonel [Harrison Jeffords] being killed in trying to save them. Half the regiment was taken prisoners. We continued falling back until we came to the edge of the wheat field where we halted and formed again, under a heavy fire of the enemy in front. At this moment, the Pennsylvania Reserves charged on the Rebels who were pressing us, driving them back for the third time, leaving dead and wounded in our hands. They did not try this point any more that day, but tried the right of our line but met with the same success as here.

During the last engagement, our brigade suffered severely, the three regiments losing 34 officers and 582 enlisted men killed, wounded and missing. Our officers lost five officers killed and nine wounded, among them Major [William G.] Lowry who was shot through the head while cheering us on. We also had 21 men killed, 124 wounded, and 78 missing. The 4^th Michigan lost nearly all their officers killed or prisoners; the 32^nd Massachusetts also lost heavily. Their lieutenant colonel was wounded mortally in the head.

That evening details were made from each regiment to go out on the battlefield to get the wounded and carry them back and also to bring the dead. The wheat field named above presented a horrible spectacle as the ground was covered with dead and wounded. The moans of the wounded were dreadful to hear. Nearly all of them were taken back to hospitals that were inside our lines.

The next morning, Friday July 3^rd, the firing was continued all along the line, but the heavy firing on the right of our line, near Cemetery Hill. About 10 o’clock in the morning very heavy cannonading commenced on both sides, the most terrific I have ever seen. There was a continual hissing and buzzing for an hour or two. I did not learn the extent of the damage done by this cannonading. We continued behind our breastworks all day and on Saturday the 4^th. The enemy made no advance on the line in front of us. Continuous skirmishing was kept up all day by our sharpshooters. Sometimes when our men would make it too hot for them they would send a shell at them, but never done any harm. On the evening of the 4^th, the enemy retreated, followed closely by our forces.  

Source:

Letter from Sergeant John R. Garden, Co. M, 62^nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Altoona Tribune (Pennsylvania), August 26, 1863, pgs. 2-3