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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 343
our regiment—the 18th Pennsylvania (Co. K)—dismounted as skirmishers, and advanced them at double-quick upon the enemy's position, and at the same time ordered one section of Elder's battery to take position and shell the woods, which they did most effectively.
    About this time one gun of Pennington's battery (M Second U. S. Artillery), commanded by Lieut. (Robert) Clarke, came up and went into position, and by my orders also opened fire upon the woods, from which the enemy soon began a precipitate retreat. I then ordered the 1st Vermont to charge down the pike, which they at once did, and, taking the gun commanded by Lieutenant Clarke * * * started on the left of the pike in pursuit of the fleeing enemy, who made such excellent time that it was impossible for me again to engage him; so, withdrawing my command, I returned to camp. We lost 2 enlisted men killed, 5 wounded and 2 missing.
    On the morning of July 9th, Col. O. De Forest, 5th New York Cavalry, having reported for duty, I was relieved from command of the brigade, and ordered with my regiment to Frederick, Md. * * *
    I consider it my duty to make special mention of * * * Lieut. Col. Brinton, 18th Pennsylvania (Co. K) * * * who displayed in the most decided manner that gallantry and coolness so requisite in an officer. * * *
N. P. Richmond, Commanding.
    Capt. Fite's Company, Gen. Humphreys to Gen. Sickles:
August 16, 1863.
    * * * I submit the operations of my division (2d Division, 3d Corps. 115th Pennsylvania) * * * up to July 9, when I was appointed chief of staff at the headquarters of this army. * * *
    Wednesday, July 1, 1863. When half way to Gettysburg, a dispatch from Gen. Howard to Gen. Sickles was delivered to me, in which the latter general was named to look out for his left in coming up to Gettysburg. As we approached the crossing of Marsh Creek, I was directed by Gen. Sickles, through a staff officer, to take position on the left of Gettysburg as soon as I came up.
    For reasons that will be apparent, I concluded that my division should from this point follow the road leading into the main road to Gettysburg, reaching the latter road in about a mile and a half and 2 miles from Gettysburg; but Lieut-Col. Hayden was positive that Gen. Sickles had instructed him to guide the division by the way of the Black Horse Tavern on the road from Fairfield (also known as the Millerstown road or Hagerstown pike) to Gettysburg. Accordingly I moved the division in that direction, but upon approaching the Black Horse Tavern (near Marsh Creek on the Hagerstown pike), I found


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Created: 25 Mar 2003, Last Updated:
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