From the Official Reports - Lt Col.
Richards McMichael
.
No. 95. -- Reports of Lieut. Col. Richards
McMichael, Fifty-third Pennsylvania
Infantry.
NEAR SANDY HOOK, MD., July 17, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit the
following report of the part taken by my command in the late action near
Gettysburg, Pa.:
My regiment arrived on the field about
8 a.m. July 2, and was marched to a position in the rear of the left center
of the battle-line, where we remained for several hours.
Between the hours of 3 and
4 p.m., in accordance with the orders of Colonel Brooke, commanding brigade,
I moved by the left flank to the left, and formed line of battle on the edge
of a wood, with the Sixty-fourth New York on my right and the Twenty-seventh
Connecticut Volunteers on the left. All this time we were exposed to a severe
shelling from the enemy's batteries. My command was then moved forward in
order of battle through a wheat-field, about the center of which we commenced
firing, continuing for fifteen minutes or more, when orders were received
from Colonel Brooke to fix bayonets.
This was done, and, in connection
with the brigade, we charged upon the enemy, driving him before us, capturing
some prisoners, and finally carrying the crest of the hill. This position
was held for a short time, when it was discovered that the enemy was crowding
upon our flanks. The brigade, including my command, was ordered by Colonel
Brooke to fall back. This was done successfully through a heavy fire from
the enemy's infantry and artillery.
About 8 a.m. I marched to a position
near the one I held just before the action, where the regiment bivouacked
during the night.
During the morning of the
3d, my command was engaged in throwing up earthworks.
In the afternoon, we were under a severe
artillery fire for several hours, but there were no casualties.
The loss in my command is proportionately
large, the casualties nearly all occurring in the hotly contested engagement
in the wheat-field.
All my officers and men did their duty
nobly and well.
I herewith forward you a list of
casualties.(*)
I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully, your obedient
servant,
R. McMICHAEL,
Lieut. Col., Comdg. Fifty-third Pennsylvania
Volunteers.
Lieut. CHARLES P. HATCH,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fourth Brigade.
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HDQRS. FIFTY-THIRD PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
August 3, 1863.
SIR: As required by circular from brigade
headquarters of this date, I have the honor to transmit the following report
of the operations of my command at the battle of Gettysburg:
I arrived on the field with my command
about 8 a.m. on July 2, and was marched to a position in the rear of the
left center of the line.
Remaining
here about an hour, I marched with the remainder of the brigade to a position
on the front, where I remained until 3 p.m., when the engagement opened.
From 3 to 5 p.m. we were under a severe shelling fire, at which hour, in
compliance with the orders of Colonel Brooke, commanding brigade, I moved
with the brigade by the left flank across a field, finally forming line of
battle, with a grain-field in the front. The Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers
was on my right and the Twenty-seventh Connecticut Volunteers on my left.
I then, as ordered by Colonel Brooke, in conjunction with the brigade, moved
forward in line of battle. When midway in the grain-field, firing commenced,
lasting about fifteen minutes, when, in accordance with orders from
Colonel Brooke, bayonets were fixed, and I charged upon the enemy, driving
him from his strong position on the crest of the hill in our front. The position
was held about fifteen minutes, when it was discovered that the enemy in
force was getting in the flank and rear; then I fell back, in accordance
with orders from Colonel Brooke.
During the night of the 2d, my
regiment was engaged in constructing breastworks.
On the 3d, my command lay behind
the intrenchments under a heavy artillery fire.
My command went into action with
15 officers and 120 enlisted men.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. McMICHAEL,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
Lieut. CHARLES P. HATCH,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
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HDQRS. FIFTY-THIRD PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
Near Morrisville, Va., August 14, 1863.
SIR: In compliance with circular orders
from headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to forward the following
report o-f the operations of my command from June 28 to the date of our arrival
in the present camp:
At 6 o'clock on the morning of June 28,
my regiment, in its proper position in the line of the brigade, moved from
bivouac near Barnesville, Md., on the Frederick City road, arriving at Monocacy
at 2 p.m., at which place, in compliance with orders, I bivouacked for the
night.
The line of march was taken
up at 8 a.m. on the 29th. I passed over the Monocacy Creek on the bridge
at the railroad station, and marched on the Frederick pike until within a
few miles of the city, when the column headed to the right, repassed the
Monocacy, and continued marching northward, passing through the towns of
Mount Pleasant, Liberty, and Johnsville.
At 12 midnight I bivouacked in a
wood near Uniontown. I marched 30 miles during the day, and many of my men
were too much exhausted to reach the place of bivouac. All of them rejoined
the regiment before morning.
On the 30th, the regiment was mustered
for pay.
Early on July 1, I, in my proper position
in the line of the brigade, moved on the Gettysburg road.
At 4 p.m. I passed over the
Pennsylvania line. There was heavy cannonading in my front.
At nightfall, I received orders
to bivouac, and immediately after was ordered to march my regiment on picket.
I did so. My line of outposts covered the right flank of the First Division
and connected with the picket line of the Twelfth Corps.
At daybreak on the 2d, I withdrew
the pickets, in accordance with the orders of Colonel Brooke, commanding
brigade, and, falling into my assigned position in line of march, moved toward
Gettysburg, arriving on the field about 8 a.m. I was marched to a position
in the rear of the left center of the line of battle then forming, where
I remained about one hour, when my command was marched to a position on the
front line. I remained in this position until midafternoon, when the action
commenced. For several hours I remained inactive under a severe shelling
from the guns of the enemy.
About 5 p.m., in compliance with
orders from Colonel Brooke, commanding brigade, I, in connection with the
brigade, moved by the left flank toward the left of the line, and formed
in line of battle near a grain-field. The Sixty-fourth New York was on my
right and the Twenty-seventh Connecticut on my left. In accordance with the
orders of the brigade commander, I fixed bayonets, and, in line with the
rest of the brigade, charged upon the enemy. The rebels gave way; were forced
from a strong position on the crest of a hill in our immediate front. The
position was held until the enemy commenced to mass heavy columns on our
flanks for the purpose of cutting us off; then, in compliance with orders
of Colonel Brooke, I retired, halting and reforming near Round Top hill.
My command lost heavily in the action--about 70 per cent.
My officers and men exhibited
commendable gallantry throughout the action. During the night, my command
was engaged in throwing up breastworks.
On the 3d, I was in the
intrenchments and under a heavy artillery fire, and also on the 4th.
At noon on the 5th, I,
in line with the brigade, marched on the Baltimore pike, and bivouacked for
the night at a place called Two Taverns, where we remained until midday of
the 7th, when I moved to near Taneytown and bivouacked.
On the 8th, marched over wretched roads
and through a heavy rain-storm to near Frederick City.
On the 9th, marched through
Frederick; moved on the Harper's Ferry pike through Jefferson, and halted
for the night near Burkittsville.
On the 11th, about noon, arrived at Jones'
Cross-Roads. I, in accordance with the orders of Colonel Brooke, deployed
my regiment as skirmishers, and advanced to near the edge of a wood in which
the rebel skirmishers were posted. There was lively firing on my left, but
my regiment was not engaged. Toward evening I advanced to the wood. Line
of battle was formed with the line of the brigade. During the night my command
was actively engaged in throwing up breastworks covering my front.
On the 12th and 13th, I lay inactive
behind the earthworks.
On the morning of the 14th,
in compliance with the orders of Colonel Brooke, I moved to the front of
the fortifications, and deployed my command as skirmishers. The Second Delaware
was on my right, and my left joined the line of skirmishers of the Twelfth
Corps, and rested on the Williamsport road. According to orders, I advanced
cautiously, but had not gone far ere I discovered that the enemy had vacated
his outer line of works near Williamsport. I moved to the right of the road,
and, leaving the town on my right, advanced the skirmish line toward Falling
Waters, near which place, in a ravine, a number of prisoners were captured.
Near Falling Waters we bivouacked for the night.
On the 15th, I moved through
Sharpsburg to near Harper's Ferry.
On the 16th, moved to
Sandy Hook, near which place encamped.
On the 18th, broke camp, and passed
over the Potomac into Virginia.
On the 20th, reached Bloomfield,
near which place I remained until the 22d, when the column moved to Ashby's
Gap, my command, in connection with the brigade, going to the highest point
of ascent in the Gap, and remained on picket all night.
My command moved from
the Gap about 2 p.m. on the 23d, and marched toward Manassas Gap. Arrived
at Markham about sundown, from thence making a difficult forced march in
the dark, over a miserable road, when I bivouacked about 4 miles from Front
Royal.
On the 24th, I moved
back in the Gap, and bivouacked near Markham.
On the 25th, moved to White Plains.
On the 26th, marched through New Baltimore
and Warrenton, and went into camp about 2 miles from Warrenton Junction.
On the 30th, again marched, and arrived
at the present camp on the 1st of the present month.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
R. McMICHAEL,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Fifty-third Pennsylvania
Regt.
Lieut. CHARLES P. HATCH,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Brigade. |
