Battle of Gettysburg: Confederate General Richard Ewell’s Failure on the Heights

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It was just as well that the North Carolinians had halted short of the pike. Had they continued, they would have encountered a strong line of skirmishers thrown out by Brig. Gen. Thomas Ruger, commanding the 3rd Brigade of Williams’ 1st Division, XII Corps. Following Ruger, Brig. Gen. Henry Lockwood’s 2nd Brigade moved on Ruger’s left, near the Baltimore Pike, and bivouacked for the night. In the meantime, Ruger formed his line from Spangler’s Spring, near Rock Creek on his right, to a field near the pike on his left. Williams’ XII Corps was returning from the Federal left after learning its works on Culp’s Hill had been seized by the enemy.

About the time Ruger was putting his brigade in line, the first elements of Geary’s 2nd Division were returning from their misadventures on the Federal left. Earlier in the day, Geary had received orders to follow Williams’ division after the latter had started his division down the Baltimore Pike. By the time Geary had gotten his division (less Green’s brigade) in marching column, Williams and his command were gone. Geary’s orders were to follow Williams, but as he was out of sight, no one could tell Geary where he was supposed to go. So Geary marched the division south along the pike, turned left at an intersection, away from the battle, and got himself and his command lost for several hours. A frantic search by XII Corps staff officers finally located the missing brigadier, and he was ordered to march his division back to Culp’s Hill.

At 9 p.m., Geary ordered Brig. Gen. Thomas Kane to move the three Pennsylvania regiments of his 2nd Brigade back to their old position. Colonel Charles Candy’s six regiments of the 1st Brigade would follow. Two hundred yards from its former position, Kane’s leading regiment took fire and withdrew, fearing the Pap Greene’s 3rd Brigade had opened on it by mistake in the darkness. Kane marched his men back to the Baltimore Pike, moved them around Greene’s position, and brought them up on his right. As it neared the line, Kane’s command was hit with another volley, and he ended up taking a position on Greene’s right, perpendicular to his line.

Not long after Allegheny Johnson’s division had become engaged, Jubal Early ordered his battle line forward. Robert Hoke’s brigade, now commanded by Colonel Isaac E. Avery of the 6th North Carolina, held the left, while Hays’ brigade formed the right of the attacking lines. Gordon’s brigade constituted the reserve. Extra Billy Smith’s little brigade of Virginians moved up the York Road in search of the ephemeral Yankees.

Hays had been given overall command of the assault, and as soon as he received the order from Early, he sent the two brigades forward. The seasoned Rebel infantrymen advanced with measured step, battle flags unfurled, the sound of bugles and the steady tattoo of regimental drummers providing a martial air that stirred the brave and calmed the hesitant. Clearing the low hill on their front, the Southerners were struck by the musketry of well-entrenched Federals and supporting batteries. Men fell in groups of twos and threes as shells burst just above them. Others were savaged by wickedly ricocheting shell fragments. To a man, the Confederate infantry knew that at 300 yards out, the cursed Yankee artillery would switch to canister and the price to be paid would increase dramatically.

Hay’s brigade made for the area of the hill closest to town, while Avery’s men descended a low knoll on their front and began to take galling and accurate musket fire on their right flank. Avery, mounted on a white charger, ordered a right oblique under severe fire, which his veteran command executed perfectly. Directly to their front, protected behind a stone wall, the Federal brigades of Colonels Leopold von Gilsa and Andrew Harris formed their line of battle.

Union artillery continued to pound the Confederate advance, and darkness, coupled with the smoke of musketry and artillery, blanketed the field and shielded the attackers. The Rebel yell was picked up and moved along the companies and regiments with rapidity. Their battle blood was up now, and they itched to git in among’em.

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Tags: 19th Century, America's Civil War, American Civil War, Historical Conflicts

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