AAR: 147th Gettysburg

To: HDQTRS 1st Battalion, Birney’s, 1st Federal Division


Sir:

The following report is from 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, on the actions around and in the vicinity of Gettysburg, Penn.

Lead elements of the Battalion were already at a camp location about 5 miles outside of town when 2nd Company arrived. My company consisted of men who were transferred to my command when the campaign started. Troops of the 54th PVI, 142nd PVI, 11th PVI, and 5th Ohio Sharpshooters were combined under the command of myself, 1LT Guilliams, and 1LT Hicks. We arrived at the camp around 3 o’clock in the afternoon and began setting up company headquarters.

July 2nd : Our battalion along with elements of the 1st Federal Division and 2nd Division were engaged on the outskirts of town. 1LT Guilliams was in command of the company as CPT Murphy was assigned to be the Battalion Adjutant. 1LT Hicks was placed on sick call for the day and did not participate. After a brief encounter with two rebel regiments, we were forced to withdrawal. Casualties in my company were light with none killed and 2 wounded. Pickets were posted for the evening and the men bedding down for the night.

July 3rd : The battalion again was formed for action. We deployed with the brigade at a wheat field with a stone wall and spilt rail fence accompanied by a battery of artillery. After a stubborn defense at the wall, overwhelming numbers forced us to retire to the fence for another stand. After bloodying the rebels they were forced to halt their advance. The volume of fire from the battalion proved to be too much. I must say the fire from my men was outstanding. We held our position until darkness and then retired from the field back to our camp. Casualties for the company were 2 dead and 4 wounded.

July 4th: The Battalion was ordered to the center of the divisions line along a stone wall as a defensive rest. At around 3 o’clock the rebel artillery began to barrage our position with little effect, as the rounds were impacting behind the lines. After the barrage ceased, two North Carolina regiments advanced to our front. As they reached the Emmitsburg Road the brigade opened fire with a devastating effect. The closest the rebels got to the wall was about 15 feet. As the enemy withdrew a chant of “Fredericksburg” could be heard and soon was taken up by the men of our brigade. Most of them veterans of the attack on Fredericksburg.

The next morning our company was ordered to break camp to start with the pursue of the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia. Scattered musket fire and artillery could be heard at the lead of the column but the company was not engaged.

All told our total casualties of the campaign were 2 dead and 6 wounded. This report is the best of my memory of the proceeding.

I remain sir, your most obedient servant,


M. Murphy, Captain
2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Federal Division