July 1, 1863 

10:45am 

McPherson’s Ridge, North of Chambersburg Pike

 

In response to the flanking maneuver of the 55th North Carolina on the 76th New York,  the commander, Major Grover ordered the right half of his regiment to face north to confront the charging rebels.  This was pulled off under fierce fire from, now, two fronts.  As the regiment faced to the west, and now to the north, Major Grover placed himself between the two sides, at the regiment’s salient.  Enemy bullets from two sides, he was struck and fell.

The 56th Pennsylvania, on the left of the poor New York Boys, were facing another front attack from the 2nd Mississippi..  Holding, but barely.  The 147th, to the front and left of the 56th, in protection of Hall’s Battery stood strong, but clearly could not for long.

The Rebs came strong, again and again, against these three regiments.  Gaining more and more ground, killing more and more Yankees.  Pushing them back in on their flanks.  If something was not soon done, all three could be captured.  Many good men would needlessly die.

Wadsworth, division commander, seeing this, ordered all three to retire.

The 56th and 76th, nearly spent, upon receiving the order, near literally took flight.  It was not orderly.  It was not gradual.  They ran or died running to Oak Ridge, (the northern extension of Seminary Ridge).

But the 147th never received the order.  Never saw the initial retreat.  They did not know they were alone.  Did not know  their right flank became the Union’s right flank. Too far extended.  Did not know that with no support to their right, the two freed up Confederate regiments must soon come crashing down upon them.  Even behind them.

McPherson’s Ridge, South of Chambersburg Pike

Three of Meredith’s Iron Brigade regiments had advanced to their position and were exchanging intense fire with Rebels of Archer’s Brigade, advancing up the western slope of McPherson’s Ridge.

On the left, the 24th Michigan, the last of the advancing Union regiments, had no enemy to their front.  They moved forward, passing the battle line of the rest of their brigade, past the 19th Indiana, until they could clearly fire upon the flank of the 7th Tennessee.

The Tennessee boys, now receiving fire from their front and right, shocked screams mixing with the horrible din of battle, refused their right flank.  But could not possibly hold.  The surprised, out numbered and now out flanked 7th Tennessee fell back.

As the Confederate advance ground to a bloody halt, the Union advance began.  First from the left. 

The 24th Michigan, barely stopping to fire, continued down the western slope of McPherson’s Ridge.  To their right, the 19th Indiana began to turn the flank of the 14th Tennessee, to their front.  Another push, the 14th fell back, leaving the 13th Alabama, 1st Tennessee, and the 5th Alabama Battalion (as skirmishers) to hold off four Union regiments hellbent on advancing.

With half of Archer's Brigade in rapid retreat, the three remaining regiments, feared envelopment from Meredith's advancing brigade.   Could wrap them up, coming around Archer's right.

Seeing this, Archer ordered his brigade to rapidly fall back to the near bank of Willoughby Run.

They reached it and quickly formed into a defensive line.  But with their backs to the creek and the swiftly coming yankees closing in it was not difficult to understand that this position could not  be held.

As a brigade, and in disorder (increasing), they retreated back across Willoughby Run.

10:50am

McPherson's Ridge, North of Chambersburg Pike

Gathering in the wood on Oak Ridge across the Pike from the Seminary:  the 56th Pennsylvania the 76th New York scattered with many less men than when formed up gaping holes missing comrades now more work ahead.  The 55th North Carolina and 2nd Mississippi, having just beaten the yanks to near route, moved onto the ground once held by these two battered Union regiments.

Through suffocating smoke they could not see that there was one more Union regiment remaining on the ridge.  The 147th New York was abandoned and clinging for life.  But clinging well.  These New York boys were also ignorant of the two reb regiments,  having troubles of their own from the 42nd Mississippi:  half of this southern band charging the New Yorkers half crossing the rail road cut disappearing into the smoke haze of battle.

Mistakenly they believed they had flank support from the 56th Pennsylvania and 76th New York and hardly expected two full Confederate regiments to mysteriously appear on their right flank (now the right flank of the whole Union army) not only on their flank but coming quick from behind.

The 147th now refused their right flank, sent half the regiment at a 90 degree angle from the other half, still facing front.  Now a giant (though not giant enough) right angle was formed upon the field.  The new line facing north, took cover behind a convenient stone wall running parallel to the rail road cut.  They faced the newly recognized 55th North Carolina and 2nd Mississippi.  The 55th was actually to their right rear and coming quick.

Herr Ridge, South of Chambersburg Pike

Archer's retreating Confederates, some still crossing Willoughby Run sporadically threw up make shift breastworks or took cover behind anything Mother Nature could afford them.  The tired, wounded and slow were captured en mass.  (Nearly 200 before all was said and done.)

The brigade commander, General Archer, standing nearly in solitude thirty or so yards from Willoughby Run felt a big Irish hand grapple his neck from behind.  A slight struggle, but Archer was out matched by this private from the 2nd Wisconsin, Patrick Maloney, a big fellow and as Irish as you please.

Maloney insisted that the General kept his hand well above his head.  No special treatment for the Brass from this old Mc.

Archer was taken to Captain Dow.  After Maloney presented the general to the captain, Archer, beaten, offered his beautifully engraved sword in humble surrender.  Dow, a gentleman, obviously versed in some kind of etiquette refused.  A mere captain, as he was, would not think of accepting the surrender of a general.

Instead, Dow sent captor and captive further behind the lines to Lt. Dailey, who was now in charge of prisoners captured by the 2nd Wisconsin.  Unlike Dow, Dailey was no gentleman.  At once he demanded the general's sword.  Archer, hoping to surrender to an officer of at least equal rank refused.   Again, Dailey stated his demands.  Your sword.  "and your side arm" swiftly followed.  Archer was appalled.  A general asked to surrender his side arm?  Never.

Dailey restated.  This time, seeing no clear path around it, Archer complied.

He and Maloney then moved further back, slowly walking away from the clicking sounds of a captain unbuckling his old sword and replacing it with a new beautiful saber he happened upon.

Seeing Cutler's brigade crumbling, Wadsworth had only one regiment to throw into the fray.  The 6th Wisconsin was still being held in reserve a half‑mile away.

Word was sent to have them move to their right, towards the Chambersburg Pike to engage the advancing rebels.  Lt. Col. Rufus Dowes, they 6th Wisconsin's commanding officer moved his men out across the fields between McPherson's Ridge and Seminary Ridge.

10:55am

North of Chambersburg Pike, McPherson's Ridge

The men of Hall's Battery could now see four Confederate guns unlimbering only 500 yards to their front.   Far closer than the other guns in Pegram's Artillery.  At this close range, the day was about to heat up.

As if this added torment was not enough, suddenly, to the right of the battery:   Rebel infantry.  Seemed to sprout up from the ground, rose up from the rail road cut.  Not 40 yards away.  This was half of the 42nd Mississippi.  (The other half of which was attacking the 147th New York) After crossing the rail road cut, this half regiment were lumped together charging the right front of Hall's Battery.

Hall's right section, two guns, spun to their right to meet the new attack.  The two gun crews lifted the trail of the piece with the hand spike and easily aimed the cannon on the gunner's command.

Each gun was quickly loaded with double cannister, two metal "coffee" cans filled to the brim with thirty some steel balls.  Turned any cannon into an overgrown shotgun.  When fired at nearly point blank range, one can hardly imagine the results.

To end attempts at imagination, both guns fired, a blast, two at once.  The cannons recoiled from their own force.   But looking out, if you could see through smoke:  arms, legs, heads, unspeakable, reddened the air  ripped limbs from life and souls from bodies.

What remained of these companies of the 42nd Mississippi slipped, shocked, back into the rail road cut to more than lick their wounds.  Though not licked.  There would be an again.

McPherson's Ridge, South of the Chambersburg Pike

General Doubleday, just now coming onto the field not yet aware that the was in command of the entire battle, approached the McPherson farm.  He spots and a friend from his old army days.  Maybe memories flood him.  Maybe suddenly he is not on the battlefield, and Archer is not in gray.  Doubleday, maybe still swimming in his memories, "Good morning, Archer!"   He's visibly delighted to see again his old comrade,  "How are you? I’m glad to see you!"  Unable to share in the magic of this reunion, Archer bitterly spits back,  "Well, I'm not glad to see you!  Not by a damn site!"

Abner Doubleday, now commander of all forces presently at Gettysburg, is stunned.  Hurt.  Maybe now he is swept back from dusty memories.  Saddly sends General James Archer to the rear.

Herr Ridge, South of the Chambersburg Pike

The Iron Brigade of General Meredith chased the retreating confederates to Herr Ridge.  The Union boys halted at the crest and let out a loud, near boastful "hurrah!" Deservedly so.

Meanwhile, Col. Birkett Fry, Archer's second in command, realizing Archer ws gone, took charge of his brigade.  Attempted to bring order to confusion to form up a defensive line ward off the Union attack which was sure to come.

But Doubleday and Wadsworth thought that the Iron Brigade was far too advanced.  The Union right had collapsed.  The rebs were out there, lots of them.  What was there to stop them from cutting Meredith's boys from the main body?  (at this point they were the only body)

Both sent word to Meredith to fall back to McPherson's Ridge.

Dawes' 6th Wisconsin, still moving towards the Chambersburg Pike, began to hear, feel rebel bullets singing their deadly songs over their heads.

Dawes spurred his mount to the front of the regiment.  A dense thud, his horse reeled.  A stray shot had found her.  She went down, throwing rider to the dust.