Scourge of War Boards

The US soldiers gave up Willoughby Run and McPherson's Ridge very easily. The two brigades of Davis and Archer kept upon Buford and his cavalry, inflicting many casualties, not allowing a moment to rest, and gaining much ground. They splashed across Willoughby Run, chasing the mounted men, and ran into Sol Meredith and his Iron Brigade. Then the Southerners turned around and went back where they came from. A quick eyed corporal noticed the enemy infantry turning back and so Davis' and Archer's men turned BACK around, advanced across the run, into Herbst woods, and through Herbst Woods almost to the town of Gettysburg. In the distance down the Chambersburg Pike the hot Mississippians and Tennesseans could see their support coming up, 3600 men of Pettigrew and Brockenborough. It was about 11 AM.



Meanwhile, on the other side of the Chambersburg Pike, the Rebels had marched straight into hell. Rodes' division, 5 brigades and 7500 men + guns, debauched from Oak Hill and went lickety split across the grass towards Baxter's Brigade, 2nd division, I Corps. As the Confederates reached the crest and traded fire with Baxter's men, they were surprised to see veritable legions of blue infantry pouring out of the trees. There was Meredith and Cutler of 1st Division, Paul's Brigade backing up Baxter, Stone's Bucktails coming from near the railroad cut, and Kryzanowski coming from the left flank from XII Corps.

Rodes' division was slowly destroyed. Men were firing into each other at point blank range. Balls ripped through flesh and body parts and entrails were strewn about. The stubborn, defeated Rebels slowly fell back to their guns. It was around 2:30 PM


Rodes division was done as a fighting force for today. Men in grey and blue and butternut streamed across the field. It was a terrible time. The gunners in the 3rd Corps reserve artillery saw the blue legions coming and resolved to sell their lives dearly. However, as the Union men paused to regain stamina and strength, across the field through the smoke the artillerymen saw what will be forever known as "Those damned Rebel flags."

It was Pender's division, all 6500 of them, and they lined up, gave a yell and banged right into the worn out, shot up I Corps. Meredith and Cutler were routed. Baxter fell back to the town. Paul went to hell. Kryzanowski got rolled over, shoved into the artillery of Jubal Early, coming from the other flank, and died. The Confederate middle flank was rolling. It was 3 PM



The rest of the Confederate second corps was coming onto the field. Rodes' men were done for, but here came Allegheny Johnson hauling hairy ass up the Chambersburg Pike with a division of 6500. Jube Early came down the Harrisburg Pike with 5400.

Way out past the town, on a small open elevation near Rock Creek, sat Francis Barlow and his division of two brigades. One brigade was commanded by von Gilsa, the other one by Adelbert Ames of Maine. The division was small, just 2400 brave souls. They were no match for Early's angry veterans coming down the road. First contact was made between Harry Hays LA Tigers, who crossed the run 1100 strong and sent Leopold von Gilsa back where he came from. Gordon and Avery's brigades came up and crossed the stream and surrounded and slaughtered Ames' men. Charles Coster came down from Cemetery Ridge 1200 strong and got wrecked. Guns were captured and infantry died.

Early's men then formed up and marched into the town of Gettysburg.


Meanwhile, Heth's division was storming the town from the west. Chapman Biddle and his 1300 infantry fought hard, backed by Gamble, Devin, and their 2400 troopers, but Heth's full division was just too much. Biddle was smashed and routed. John Buford ran so far that the last he was seen was going over the Round tops. Whatever remnants were left went to Cemetery Hill.
Heth's men formed up and marched towards the Emmittsburg Road



Allegheny Johnson came up the Chambersburg Pike as if his posterior was on fire; alas, he was too eager. He rode into a sole Union artillery crew and demanded a surrender; their revolvers filled him with holes. Command of his division devolved upon an aide, John Chilton, who came in second to nobody with aggression, Cemetery Hill was in their reach, there would be no hesitation. The division marched through the town and deployed, from left to right, Steuart, Walker, Williams, and Jones. On Cemetery Hill there were but few to oppose them, whatever shaken remnants of I and XII corps could make it plus Orland Smith's lone brigade. Johnson deployed and Yankees died, and as the night fell over Gettysburg, the southern forces were in complete command. Johnson sat atop Cemetery Hill, Pender and Early atop Culp. Harry Heth sat on the Emmitsburg road, where his scouts could see and hear Dan Sickles' Third Corps marching into position. Tomorrow, the battle would resume with high ferocity.

The sun came up early and blazing on the morning of July 2. The Confederate troops sat in a J shape, from the south side of Culp's Hill to just east of Cemetery Hill.

Pender and Early's divisions occupied Culp's Hill. They had high ground, woods, and as much ammunition as they could carry. Edward Johnson and Harry Heth occupied Cemetery Hill proper and the woods in advance of it. Dick Anderson's division was coming up and would also occupy Cemetery Hill and be in reserve. Archer's brigade (of Heth's division) and Walker's brigade of Johnson's division, were both posted far south, near the Codori House.

All night, the Rebels could hear marching and clanking and grunting to their front. This is why, it was no surprise as at 7:30 AM Union troops began pouring down the Emmittsburg Road. There was John Gibbon and his division of the II Corps, the remains of the I corps attacking Culp's Hill, and Daniel Sickles with some III corps, and even Sykes and his V Corps. A good 30000 Union soldiers came storming down the road. Walker and Archer held in skirmish formation for about 1 and a half hours, forcing the enemy to deploy and giving Richard Anderson's men time to get closer. But eventually they were brushed out of the way and the heavy battlelines met at the foot of Cemetery Hill.

The conflict was violent. Men fired their rifles until it was glowing, then urinated down the barrel and kept going. Regiments on both sides were broken and reformed and broken again. Richard Anderson attempted to rally some men and lost a leg. The 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry went right up to the border of the Culp's Hill woods and died there. Even though Culp's held, the Cemetery Hill position was being wrapped around and slowly pushed back.



Things were getting really serious. Division and brigade unity went by the wayside. Posey's brigade of Mississippians lost half its men. Brockenbrough was down to two regiments. Davis brigade of Mississippians lost half its men. Dead Yankees carpeted the ground. Two battalions of artillery were deployed among the headstones.

Robert E. Lee and Powell Hill conferred. Where in hell was Longstreet? If he did not appear, all may be lost! The Union infantry at one point got in among the headstones, where they were repulsed by Cadmus Wilcox. At one point Hill and Allegheny Johnson manned an artillery piece, sweating and straining in the heat. Patrick Kelly's Irish brigade wrapped around Lang's Floridians and the line began to fall apart.

However, just when the Union troops were on the brink of victory, attention was turned by a roar from their rear. It was Lee's old war horse! John Bell Hood and his entire division debauched from Seminary Woods and ran right over John Gibbon. Screaming, They then turned obliquely to the right and banged into Sickles' men. Through the town of Gettysburg Lee could see the standards of McLaws division coming up to the rear. The Union troops began to retreat. Artillery dashed south in a mad race to safety. Remnants of the attacking enemy infantry went after them. Hood wanted to pursue them to the Round Tops, but Longstreet sent a courier to stop him. McLaws infantry went through the exhausted men on Cemetery Hill and took up an advanced position south of the headstones.



The Army of Northern Virginia would live to fight another day.