No. 441.
Report of Maj. Charles S. Peyton, Nineteenth Virginia Infantry,
commanding Garnett's brigade, Pickett's division.
CAMP NEAR WILLIAMSPORT,
MD., July 9, 1863.
MAJOR: In compliance with instructions from division
headquarters, I have the honor to report the part taken by this brigade in the
late battle near Gettysburg, Pa., July 3.
Notwithstanding the long and severe marches made by the
troops of this brigade, they reached the field about 9 a.m.. in high spirits
and in good condition. At about 12 m. we were ordered to take position behind
the crest of the hill on which the artillery, under Colonel [E. Porter]
Alexander, was planted, where we lay during a most terrific cannonading, which
opened at 1.30 p.m., and was kept up without intermission for one hour.
During the shelling, we lost about 20 killed and wounded.
Among the killed was Lieutenant-Colonel [John T.] Ellis, of the Nineteenth
Virginia, whose bravery as a soldier, and his innocence, purity, and integrity
as a Christian, have not only elicited the admiration of his own command, but
endeared him to all who knew him.
At 2.30 p.m., the artillery fire having to some extent
abated, the order to advance was given, first by Major-General Pickett in
person, and repeated by General Garnett with promptness, apparent cheerfulness,
and alacrity. The brigade moved forward at quick time. The ground was open, but
little broken, and from 800 to 1,000 yards from the crest whence we started to
the enemy's line. The brigade moved in good order, keeping up its line almost
perfectly, notwithstanding it had to climb three high post and rail fences, behind
the last of which the enemy's skirmishers were first met and immediately driven
in. Moving on, we soon met the advance line of the enemy, lying concealed in
the grass on the slope, about 100 yards in front of his second line, which
consisted of a stone wall about breast-high, running nearly parallel to and
about 30 paces from the crest of the hill, which was lined with their
artillery.
The first line referred to above, after offering some
resistance, was completely routed, and driven in confusion back to the stone
wall. Here we captured some prisoners, which were ordered to the rear without a
guard. Having routed the enemy here, General Garnett ordered the brigade
forward, which it promptly obeyed, loading and firing as it advanced.
Up to this time we had suffered but little from the enemy's
batteries, which apparently had been much crippled previous to our advance,
with the exception of one posted on the mountain, about 1 mile to our right,
which enfiladed nearly our entire line with fearful effect, sometimes as many
as 10 men being killed and wounded by the bursting of a single shell. From the
point it had first routed the enemy, the brigade moved rapidly forward toward
the stone wall, under a galling fire both from artillery and infantry, the
artillery using grape and canister. We were now within about 75 paces of the
wall, unsupported on the right and left, General Kemper being some 50 or 60
yards behind and to the right, and General Armistead coming up in our rear.
General Kemper's line was discovered to be lapping on ours,
when, deeming it advisable to have the line extended on the right to prevent
being flanked, a staff officer rode back to the general to request him to
incline to the right. General Kemper not being present (perhaps wounded at the time),
Captain [W. T.] Fry, of his staff, immediately began his exertions to carry out
the request, but, in consequence of the eagerness of the men in pressing
forward, it was impossible to have the order carried out.
Our line, much shattered, still kept up the advance until
within about 20 paces of the wall, when, for a moment, it recoiled under the
terrific fire that poured into our ranks both from their batteries and from
their sheltered infantry. At this moment, General Kemper came up on the right
and General Armistead in rear, when the three lines, joining in concert, rushed
forward with unyielding determination and an apparent spirit of laudable
rivalry to plant the Southern banner on the walls of the enemy. His strongest
and last line was instantly gained; the Confederate battle-flag waved over his
defenses, and the fighting over the wall became hand to hand, and of the most
desperate character; but more than half having already fallen, our line was
found too weak to rout the enemy. We hoped for a support on the left (which had
started simultaneously with ourselves), out hoped in vain. Yet a small remnant
remained in desperate struggle, receiving a fire in front, on the right, and on
the left, many even climbing over the wall, and fighting the enemy in his own
trenches until entirely surrounded; and those who were not killed or wounded were
captured, with the exception of about 300 who came off slowly, but greatly
scattered, the identity of every regiment being entirely lost, and every
regimental commander killed or wounded.
The brigade went into action with 1,287 men and about 140
officers, as shown by the report of the previous evening, and sustained a loss,
as the list of casualties will show, of 941 killed, wounded, and missing, and
it is feared, from all the information received, that the majority (those
reported missing) are either killed or wounded.
It is needless, perhaps, to speak of conspicuous gallantry
where all behaved so well. Each and every regimental commander displayed a cool
bravery and daring that not only encouraged their own commands, but won the
highest admiration from all those who saw them. They led their regiments in the
fight, and showed, by their conduct, that they only desired their men to follow
where they were willing to lead. But of our cool, gallant, noble brigade
commander it may not be out of place to speak. Never had the brigade been
better handled, and never has it done better service in the field of battle.
There was scarcely an officer or man in the command whose attention was not
attracted by the cool and handsome bearing of General Garnett, who, totally
devoid of excitement or rashness, rode immediately in rear of his advancing
line, endeavoring by his personal efforts, and by the aid of his staff, to keep
his line well closed and dressed. He was shot from his horse while near the
center of the brigade, within about 25 paces of the stone wall. This gallant
officer was too well known to need further mention.
Captain [C. F.] Linthicum, assistant adjutant-general,
Lieutenant [John S.] Jones, aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant Harrison, acting
aide-de-camp, did their whole duty, and won the admiration of the entire
command by their gallant bearing on the field while carrying orders from one
portion of the line to the other, where it seemed almost impossible for any one
to escape.
The conduct of Captain [Michael P.] Spessard, of the
Twenty-eighth Virginia, was particularly conspicuous. His son fell, mortally
wounded, at his side; he stopped but for a moment to look on his dying son,
gave him his canteen of water, and pressed on, with his company, to the wall,
which he climbed, and fought the enemy with his sword in their own trenches
until his sword was wrested from his hands by two Yankees; he finally made his
escape in safety.
In making the above report, I have endeavored to be as
accurate as possible, but have had to rely mainly for information on others,
whose position gave them better opportunity for witnessing the conduct of the
entire brigade than I could have, being with, and paying my attention to, my
own regiment.
I am, major, with
great respect, your obedient servant,
[CHAS. S. PEYTON,]
Major, Commanding.
Maj. C. PICKETT,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Pickett's Division.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
27, Part 2 (Serial No. 44), p. 385-7
