Gettysburg (90 page)

With these words, Abraham Lincoln transformed the three days of combat at Gettysburg, comprising one of the greatest battles of the Civil War, into a defining moment in American history.

Note: Complete information for material cited in the chapter notes can be found in the bibliography. All references to the
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
are here designated
OR
, followed by the volume and number of the series. Similarly, all references to
Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
are abbreviated
ORS.
In a like fashion, references to
Report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War
(volume 4) are
CCW.
Other frequently used source abbreviations appearing herein are as follows: ACHS (Adams Country Historical Society), CRC (Confederate Research Center), FNP (Fredericksburg National Military Park), GNP (Gettysburg National Military Park), HSP (Historical Society of Pennsylvania), ISL (Indiana State Library), LMS (Library of Memphis State University), LOC (Library of Congress), LVA (Library of Virginia), MHI (United States Military History Institute), MHS (Minnesota Historical Society), MOC (Museum of the Confederacy), NA (National Archives), NCDHA (North Carolina Department of History and Archives), NYSL (New York State Library), PHMC (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission), SHC (Southern Historical Collection), SHSWI (State Historical Society of Wisconsin), TSL (Tennessee State Library), UVA (University of Virginia Library), VHS (Virginia Historical Society).

Page:

1 “volumes of sparks”:
Richmond Whig
, May 16, 1863.

1 “gaunt form of wretched famine” (and all subsequent Jones quotations): Miers, ed.,
Rebel War Clerk’s Diary
, 182, 202, 207-10.

2 “one of the great military masters”:
Columbus Daily Enquirer
, July 24, 1862.

4 “an encouraging re-enforcement”:
OR
, 25/2: 708-9.

5 “An invasion of the enemy’s country”: Heth, “Letter to J. William Jones,” 153.

5 Lee quotations: Gallagher, ed.,
Lee the Soldier
, 17.

5 “realized the grave character”/“assembled early”: Reagan,
Memoirs
, 151.

6 “superb figure”: Quoted in Strode,
Jefferson Davis
, 405.

6 “I believe General Lee expected”: Moore, ed.,
Rebellion Record
, 6: 597.

6 “you have again let”: Quoted in Hotchkiss,
Virginia
, 392.

6 “loss was severe”: Heth, “Letter to Jones,” 154.

7 “knew oftentimes that he was playing”: Gallagher, ed.,
Lee the Soldier
, 17.

7 “very glad to see”: “A Lady,”
Diary of a Southern Refugee
, 214.

7 “The complicated injuries”:
ORS
, 4: 608.

7 “more than one poor fellow”: Collins,
Memoirs of the 149th New York
, 116.

8 “legitimate property”: Quoted in Swinton,
Campaigns
, 275.

8 “he is overconfident”: Brooks,
Washington, D.C.
, 52.

8 “when the nation required”:
CCW
, 144.

8 “Army of the Potomac did not fight”: Humphreys,
Address of Maj. Gen. A. A. Humphreys.

9 “would be more serious and injurious”: George Gordon Meade,
Life and Letters
, 372.

9 Lincoln-Hooker exchange:
OR
, 25/2: 438.

Page:

11 “fearful shock”: Garrish,
Army Life
, 94.

11 “in a comatose state”: Quoted in Thomson,
From Philippi
, 158.

11 All Beecham quotations: Stevens, ed.,
As If It Were Glory
, 56, 57.

11 “The army is neither disorganized”:
Norwich Morning Bulletin
, June 5, 1863.

11 “There has been a big battle”: Quoted in Longacre,
Joshua Chamberlain
, 113-14.

12 “The talk about demoralization”:
Pittsburgh Evening Chronicle
, June 8, 1863.

12 “again buoyant and ready”: Silliker, ed.,
Rebel Yell
, 88.

12 “turned their minds and hands”: Ripley,
Vermont Riflemen
, 106.

12 “the prospect of seeing an enemy”: Rosenblatt, ed.,
Anti-Rebel
, 96.

12 “He combines in one the song”: Norton,
Army Letters
, 155.

12 “the whole 11th Army Corps”: Beer, ed.,
Boys from Rockville
, 124.

12 “Dutchmen … ran”: Quoted in Byrne and Weaver, eds.,
Haskell of Gettysburg
, 80.

13 “As for the last defeat”: Church,
Civil War Letters
, 34.

13 “if such be the reward”: Quoted in Raphelson, “Alexander Schimmelfennig,” 172.

13 “It is only the miserable setup”: Winkler, ed.,
Letters of Frederick C. Winkler.

13 “It was all General Howard’s fault”: Quoted in Pula,
For Liberty and Justice
, 89.

13 “secured reverence”: Quoted in Longacre, “John F. Reynolds, General,” 35.

14 Reynolds remarks: Quoted in Keller, “Soldier General,” 124-25.

14 “possessed of the very decided confidence”: Gibbon,
Personal Recollections of the Civil War
, 122.

14 “and that the idea prevails”:
OR
, 25/2: 595.

14 “has been weakened”:
OR
, 27/3: 3.

15 “campaign of long marches”: Quoted in Fishel,
Secret War
, 417.

16 “nor its commander expected justice”:
CCW
, 80.

16 “bad blood”: Quoted in Locke,
Story of the Regiment
, 223.

16 “worked against”: Butts, ed.,
Gallant Captain
, 72.

16 “the rebellion rested”:
CCW
, 112.

16 Huckaby letter: Reynolds, ed., “A Mississippian,” 279.

16 “better disciplined”: Maurice, ed.,
Aide-de-Camp of Lee
, 187.

16 “composed of the best fighting material”: Johnston,
Story of a Confederate Boy
, 189.

17 “fight better”: Quoted in Robertson Jr.,
General A. P. Hill
, 198.

17 “I do not think it will be long”: Taylor, ed.,
The Cry Is War
, 142.

17 “God alone knows how tired I am”: Quoted in Davis,
Boy Colonel
, 263.

17 “not much doubt that a fight is on hand”/“fight as well even”: Hassler, ed.,
One of Lee’s Best
, 240.

17 “more than one man can properly”: Quoted in Thomas,
Robert E. Lee
, 289.

17 “corps embraced three divisions”: Taylor,
General Lee
, 179.

18 “we can spare nothing”: Quoted in Wert,
General James Longstreet
, 244.

18 “our losses were so heavy”: Lafayette McLaws Papers
(SHC),
letter of July 25, 1873.

18 “we should work so as to force”: Quoted in Wert,
General James Longstreet
, 244.

18 “one of offensive strategy”: Longstreet, “Lee in Pennsylvania,” 417.

18 “queer character”/“honest, brave soldier”: Quoted in Pfanz,
Richard S. Ewell
, 268, 273.

18 “quick alternations”/“long and earnestly”: Gallagher, ed.,
Lee the Soldier
, 11.

19 “the best soldier”: Quoted in Hassler,
A. P. Hill
, 142-43.

19 Lee’s complaints: Dowdey and Manarin, eds.,
Wartime Papers
, 496, 500.

20 “The enemy would be on our right flank”: Longstreet, “Lee’s Invasion,” 249.

20 “If I am able to move”:
OR
, 27/2: 848-49.

20 “We never let an opportunity pass”: Robertson Jr., ed.,
Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade
, 164-65.

20 “we listened to the music”: Moore,
Story of a Cannoneer
, 185.

20 “the hurried preparations”/“looking back as long”: Gallagher, ed.,
Fighting for the Confederacy
, 221.

21 “I wish”: McKim,
Soldier’s Recollections
, 134.

Page:

22 “We marched all night”: G. W. Nichols,
A Soldier’s Story
, 112.

23 “June 4 broke camp near Gracie’s church”: Smith,
Anson Guards
, 197.

23 “various were the conjectures”: Taylor, ed., “Ramseur’s Brigade,” 27.

23 “be forwarded to Culpeper Court House”: Dowdey and Manarin, eds.,
Wartime Papers
, 502.

23 “The rascals”: Weld,
War Diary
, 210.

23 “Balloon reports”/“line of dust”/“20 wagons”:
OR
, 27/3: 5.

24 “were directed to pitch tents”:
Detroit Free Press
, June 11, 1863.

24 “There is a considerable movement”: Quoted in Fishel,
Secret War
, 426-27.

24 “Behind the reviewing stand”: Coltrane,
Memoirs
, 11.

24 “one of the grandest sights”: Thaddeus Fitzhugh Memoir
(MOC).

25 “stop early to let them graze”: Owen, “Diary,” 122.

25 “during the march, I received an order”: Early,
Autobiographical Sketch
, 237.

25 “to deceive the enemy”: Dowdey and Manarin, eds.,
Wartime Papers
, 501-2.

25 “After driving back our sharpshooters”: Dowdey and Manarin, eds.,
Wartime Papers
, 502.

25 “our camp was becoming dusty”: Kepler,
Three Months and Three Years’ Service
, 118.

26 “find them sucking away”: Bee, ed.,
Boys from Rockville
, 134.

26 Hooker-Lincoln-Halleck exchange:
OR
, 27/1: 30-32.

27 “the whole plain”: Stevens,
Three Years in the Sixth Corps
, 218.

27 “After watching the enemy’s operations Saturday”:
OR
, 27/2: 293.

27 “wet and very cold”: Samuel Angus Firebaugh Diary (MHI).

27 “began to cheer him”: Hotchkiss, Diary, in Hotchkiss Papers
(LOC).

27 “early on Sunday”:
OR
, 27/3: 347.

28 Lee’s memo:
OR
, 27/2: 294.

28 “I remember on this trip talking”: Gallagher, ed.,
Fighting for the Confederacy
, 222.

28 “Boys, where did you get”: Cummings, “Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863,” 405.

28 “His bright smile”: Ibid.

28 “sight … not soon to be forgotten”: Sorrel,
Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer
, 161.

28 “a splendid sight”/“Stuart was all in his glory”/“every exertion”: Dowdey and Manarin, eds.,
Wartime Papers
, 507.

29 “Longstreet’s & Jackson’s Old Corps”: Sparks, ed.,
Inside Lincoln’s Army
, 255.

29 “The changes remarked”:
OR
, 27/1: 33.

29 “corps over the river”:
OR
, 27/3: 12.

29 “a general fight”:
OR
27/3: 13.

29 “If we were going to attack”: Rosenblatt, ed.,
Anti-Rebel
, 101.

29 “the most important expedition”/“fall back upon Richmond”: Quoted in Fishel,
Secret War
, 428.

29 “bust … up”: Quoted in Fishel,
Secret War
, 429.

30 “cross the Rappahannock”:
OR
, 27/3: 27.

30 “to disperse and destroy”/“My people are all ready”:
OR
, 27/3: 27.

32 “Lee is ‘marching on’”: Miers, ed.,
Rebel War Clerk’s Diary
, 222.

33 Hooker to Lincoln:
OR
, 27/1: 34.

Page:

34 “a large rebel force”/“defense of our own homes”:
OR
, 27/3: 79-80.

34 “not … as general”: Hoke,
Great Invasion
, 93.

35 Lincoln-Hooker-Halleck exchange:
CCW
, 255.

36 “which ends the day”: Theodore A. Dodge Papers
(LOC).

36 “charge[d] double quick”: Orrel Brown Diary (MHI).

36 “He was nineteen years old”: Baker,
History of the Ninth Mass. Battery
, 53.

36 “I cannot stand it”: Woods court-martial transcript
(NA).

37 “I had a rough box prepared”:
Milwaukee (Sunday) Telegraph
, May 24, 1885.

37 “to have the affair hurried up”: Weld,
War Diary
, 214.

37 “It seemed rather hard”: Ibid.

37 “requested me not to bandage”:
Milwaukee (Sunday) Telegraph
, May 24, 1885.

37 “firmness, composure and naturalness”: Samuel Eaton Papers (SHSWI).

37 sat patiently waiting: Cheek and Pointon,
History of the Sauk County Riflemen
, 69.

37 “We left the men digging”: Reid-Green, ed.,
Letters Home
, 58.

“very hot and dusty”: Runge,
Four Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery
, 46.

38 “We had but few stragglers”: Nichols,
A Soldier’s Story
, 113.

38 “all quiet”: Douglass, Diary (Internet).

39 “sufficient vacancies”: Quoted in Davis,
Boy Colonel
, 266.

39 “growing weak”/“give all the encouragement we can”/“I wish”: Dowdey and Manarin, eds.,
Wartime Papers
, 508, 509.

39 “pritty and kind ladies”: Pierson, ed., “Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone,” 34.

39 “I grieve I fear”: Dowdey and Manarin, eds.,
Wartime Papers
, 511.

39 Seddon-Lee exchange: Ibid., 513-14.

Page:

41 “tedious and toilsome”: Best,
History of the 121st New York
, 85.

41 “shameful waste”/“if the surgeons”:
OR
, 27/3: 101.

41 “We marched Sunday morning”: Dawson,
Service with the Sixth Wisconsin
, 149.

41 “We passed over farms”: Winkler, ed.,
Letters of Frederick C. Winkler.

42 “too strong to be attacked”: Gallagher, ed.,
Lee
, 11.

42 Lincoln-Hooker exchange:
OR
, 27/1: 38-39.

43 “hot day”/“many were stricken”: Zachry, “Fighting with the 3d Georgia,” 74.

43 “when the common enemy”: Miers, ed.,
Rebel War Clerk’s Diary
, 225.