Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.335

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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 335

move in the direction of Hanover, Pa., and under the eye and immediate direction of the commanding general. The right column, consisting of the 6th corps, under Gen. John Sedgwick, was to move by the way of Westminster, Md. The commander of the Third Brigade was General Joseph W. Fisher.
    Wednesday, July 1, 1863. On the morning of July 1, we left our camp (on Big Pipe Creek) about 5 o'clock and moved rapidly toward Hanover, where we arrived about 5 p.m. During the afternoon we heard heavy firing toward our left and thereby knew that Gen. Reynolds had struck the enemy. On reaching Hanover the head of the column turned square to the left and moved rapidly in the direction of Gettysburg. Darkness came on, yet no sign of a halt appeared; on the contrary, the word passed back along the line was “Keep well closed up and press forward.” The men became tired, footsore and cross; midnight passed, 1 o'clock passed, but they longed in vain for the order to halt, many an exhausted soldier dropped out of the ranks, still the order “press forward.” Finally after passing the village of McSherrytown, the head of the column turned into a meadow on our right and the weary men were directed to lie down and rest. Poor fellows, they had hardly touched the ground till they were fast asleep, the last sleep on earth for many of them.
    Thursday, July 2, 1863. We were called up as the sun began to crimson the eastern sky and moved out in the direction of Gettysburg. As the head of the regiment filed out on the road Gen. Crawford quietly informed me that Gen. Reynolds had been killed the day before. After marching a few miles we were halted and the men were allowed to make coffee. We were then moved forward to the rear and east of Big Round Top where we were halted and ammunition distributed.
    The undisturbed quietness in our front was painful, for we all well knew that the giants were preparing, and that movements for position were now going on. About 4 o'clock p. m. a single gun was fired in the direction of and beyond Big Round Top; this was followed by the sharp rattle of musketry and the heavy booming of artillery. Very soon aides and orderlies began to gallop in all directions. One soon found his way to our division headquarters, when General Crawford and his staff quickly mounted and the order was palled along to fall in. We moved in the rear and east of the Round Top, filed to the left and crossed the ridge between Little Round Top and the cemetery. We were then moved to the left and took position on the western slope of Little Round Top, massed in a battalion front with the Third Brigade (11th Penna. Reserves) leading. This formation placed my regiment in the rear of the brigade.
    We remained in this position but a short time when the firing became very heavy on our left and in the direction of Big Round Top, when a staff officer directed Colonel Fisher to move

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	335
move in the direction of Hanover, Pa., and under the eye and immediate direction of the commanding general. The right column, consisting of the 6th corps, under Gen. John Sedgwick, was to move by the way of Westminster, Md. The commander of the Third Brigade was General Joseph W. Fisher. Wednesday, July 1, 1863. On the morning of July 1, we left our camp (on Big Pipe Creek) about 5 o'clock and moved rapidly toward Hanover, where we arrived about 5 p.m. During the afternoon we heard heavy firing toward our left and thereby knew that Gen. Reynolds had struck the enemy. On reaching Hanover the head of the column turned square to the left and moved rapidly in the direction of Gettysburg. Darkness came on, yet no sign of a halt appeared; on the contrary, the word passed back along the line was “Keep well closed up and press forward.” The men became tired, footsore and cross; midnight passed, 1 o'clock passed, but they longed in vain for the order to halt, many an exhausted soldier dropped out of the ranks, still the order “press forward.” Finally after passing the village of McSherrytown, the head of the column turned into a meadow on our right and the weary men were directed to lie down and rest. Poor fellows, they had hardly touched the ground till they were fast asleep, the last sleep on earth for many of them. Thursday, July 2, 1863. We were called up as the sun began to crimson the eastern sky and moved out in the direction of Gettysburg. As the head of the regiment filed out on the road Gen. Crawford quietly informed me that Gen. Reynolds had been killed the day before. After marching a few miles we were halted and the men were allowed to make coffee. We were then moved forward to the rear and east of Big Round Top where we were halted and ammunition distributed. The undisturbed quietness in our front was painful, for we all well knew that the giants were preparing, and that movements for position were now going on. About 4 o'clock p. m. a single gun was fired in the direction of and beyond Big Round Top; this was followed by the sharp rattle of musketry and the heavy booming of artillery. Very soon aides and orderlies began to gallop in all directions. One soon found his way to our division headquarters, when General Crawford and his staff quickly mounted and the order was palled along to fall in. We moved in the rear and east of the Round Top, filed to the left and crossed the ridge between Little Round Top and the cemetery. We were then moved to the left and took position on the western slope of Little Round Top, massed in a battalion front with the Third Brigade (11th Penna. Reserves) leading. This formation placed my regiment in the rear of the brigade. We remained in this position but a short time when the firing became very heavy on our left and in the direction of Big Round Top, when a staff officer directed Colonel Fisher to move