2006-03
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Massive correspondence archive of Lieutenant Edward Kendall, 107th New York Infantry, 'The Campbell Guards', who enlisted on August 6, 1862 at Elmira, New York and would serve with his unit until mustered out on June 5, 1865 at Washington D.C. It was a fine regiment, noted for its efficiency and discipline, the first regiment from the North organized under the second call, and the first to arrive at Washington, in acknowledgment of which it received a banner from the state and a personal visit from the president. This archive includes over ninety (90) war-date Autograph Letters Signed - most multi-paged and fully signed, written from August 1862 through his end of service, five (5) war-date diaries and one record book. Some brief excerpts from his letters include: [8/17/62]Washington is nothing but one vast Military storehouse. The Capitol is very large not completed large quantities of marble lay around in front of the Capitol. The Capitol may be considered in the same light that the United States deservedly uncompleted and defaced. There are Forts on every side of us...I have been out around to several of the Houses and have seen quite a quantity of Contrabands by the bye we have a Colored person as Co. Cook...[9/2/1862] towards Baley's Cross Roads and Fairfax Seminary the buildings are mostly deserted windows out boards off & c. look hard in some houses are huddled a few negroes of all sizes from a yearling to the Grey Haired. While passing to the south of Alexandria on our march here, saw negroes enough, enough for once, the 28th of Aug. they streamed in to Alexandria & vicinity in swarms, as the Rebels were but some six miles from them, they were huddled in groups along the roadside and near buildings in large numbers...it is said [General Stonewall] Jackson is surrounded but what of that they have not got him and I fear he gave them a slip...[9/18/1862 Antietam Battle Field]we were at Frederick when I last wrote you. The Battle which was fought there was terrible the Rebs were driven over a very steep hill and severely cut to pieces....on the 17th arose at day break heard the cannon and musketry very plain the shell soon began to fly. We were then marched into a piece of woods lay down the Rebs then lay in a piece of woods about half a mile from us, soon several Regts. of our soldiers passed in front of us and charged into the woods and drove the Rebs from the woods. Our Regt. then followed them into the woods and marched through under a most terrific cannonading. It was awful words cannot describe it...as we came from the woods we lay down under a severe cross fire. Several of our company were wounded and two were killed. Cyrus Coville & Stephen Edwards...were struck by a shell and killed. Coville instantly and Edwards lived till night, soon our Colonel ordered us back into the woods. The Regt. turned and the right wing followed. Then a Col. from the 1st N.Y. Battery ordered us to halt, no one but our Capta paid any attention...we then lay down and a most severe cannonading commenced. We lay down nearly six hours and were relieved. We held the battle ground...Summers Gregory was wounded in the thigh by a musket ball. S. Durfie had his finger ends shot off. Our Capt was shot in the left breast and is not expected to live. There was some 35 or 40 wounded and six or seven killed in our Regt. in all...[9/25/62]When last I wrote to you I was seated on the Battle Ground of Antietam or Sharpsburg about one mile north west of Sharpsburg, that was a severe fight...we were near the center supporting the 1st N.Y.A we came out of the woods following the 13th N.J.V and halted lay down under a severe cross fire ...soon our Colonel ordered us to follow the 13 N.Y.V. which had broke and was retreating in hot haste when Gen. Gordon's aid rode up to our Regt and ordered it to turn and support the 1st N.Y.A. or it would be lost. The Regt had all countermarched and returned to the woods but our company which had began to turn when Capt. Clark ordered it to halt and then marched us up in the rear of the battery and the Regt. came and we all lay down. The scene which follows defies description. The noise of cannon, the bursting of shells, the whistling of bullets all seemed to fly carelessly...the wounded of our men were carried to the rear as fast as they fell, while marching up to the ground held by the battery saw wounded & dead Rebels lying here and there upon the ground some groaning some lying listlessly on their side or face, such a sight their dead lay thick on every part of the field. The line of Battle extended some six or seven miles and if half that was covered as thick with their dead as it is in front and on each side of our position the Rebels have suffered terribly. They are poorly clad some have no shoes, old slouch hats...The greatest difficulty appeared to be in getting the wounds of the men dressed and after they were dressed some had to lay out of doors on a little straw with no covering but a blanket and for food a couple of hard tack or Army crackers and a little soup...[[9/29/62]President Lincoln and his retinue came here reviewed our Regt and others passed on to Sharpsburg, he was up and took a look at he cannon spiked by Miles....I see it stated in the N.Y. Herald that Miles was forced to spike his large guns from want of Ammunition, now I have it from good authority that there was about $10,000 worth of Ammunition in private magazines or in magazines just back of the fort...[with small map of Western Virginia]...[10/14/62]I commenced to write...for the Medical Inspector of the several Corps of the Army of the Potomac...some rather curious facts...the no. of Deserters should be so great from the 3rd Maryland Regt. organized in 1861. There was some 200 or 300 deserters reported, they were reported as having 'fallen out' while marching and then were unable to overtake their Regt....The 1st District of Columbia Volunteers are reported to have all deserted...[11/5/1862]Night before last there were 5 deserters from Co. 'C' 107th, 4 of them Brothers, the Stebenfields from Bradford...[1/1/1863]Near our camp was a church built nearly 100 years ago it was founded by Washington, a brick church. Just before this war broke out the people around here had fixed & repaired putting in stained glass & otherwise fixing it so that it was in...good repair, since the troops have been here, first the back part was torn down by Teamsters & others & finally all was leveled with the ground by the 'Lincoln Hordes'...[1/13/1863]About 5 months ago the 107th Regt. came in Virginia, a full regt. ...The books at Hd Qrs show as follows 281 sick in hospitals, 106 deserters, 19 discharged, 46 Died of Disease & killed in battle...[1/26/1863]You had heard no doubt of the Army of the Potomac being fast in the mud, considering the soil it being mostly clay a little sand occasionally I think it would be and I know it is very hard work to move even a Brigade over these roads...[3/27/1863, Hope Landing] Enclosed you will find a rough sketch of the country near here...[with 1p. quarto ink sketch of the surrounding environment]...[4/11/63]our regt, were marched up to Stafford C.H. and with the 12th Corps passed in review, it was a splendid sight to see the steady tramp of 20,000 men...marching at company front, around a large field, and in front of the President...there were three Ladies present, President Lincoln's wife & daughter & wife of one of the officers present...As to a certain class of women & c. following the army for certain purposes, there may be women who practice and follow such a life...the officers appropriate them to their own special use, there are not many women within the lines of our army, that is if one is to judge by what he sees, were we near such a place as Washington or Baltimore there I think lewd women could be found in plenty...[May 2, 1863, Camp near the enemy somewhere about Fredericksburg]we surprised the Rebs we found them at work, about 150 or thereabouts building a bridge across said creek [Rapidan] we captured about 100 or 103 prisoners here ...our Brigade being at the head must lead the way across...the current was very strong. Cavalry were posted just below the crossing in the water to help those who needed it, one poor fellow was drowned...May 1st....we were placed under fire the bursting shell flying in all directions about us, but strange to say no one was hurt. About three PM we were ordered to the rear came back a nd took up a new position, soon heavy musketry in our front showed us there was work ahead. The Batteries commenced to exchange shots and for a short time the roar of cannon was great...in morning ordered to throw up breastworks by falling trees and piling them up...an occasional shot thrown by our men...but no response...[5/7/1863]we were ordered...to bring in a Reb wagon train which our long range guns had been playing upon most of the day and which it is said they were burning...finding the Rebs too thick and strong for them got up a skedaddle which resulted in the Rebs turning our right and getting in the breastworks on the right of us. Hence our Corps were compelled to fall back and take possession of part of the Breastworks and formed line of Battle perpendicular to the breastworks. The 2nd Mass Regt were in line in front of our Regt as skirmishers, we lay on our faces about 4 rods behind them. There was sharp firing of musketry and very sharp artillery practice most of the night...the Mass Regt advanced opened fire upon them, when the two left cos E & H of our Regt were ordered up on the left of the Mass to fill up the space between the 2nd Mass & the breastworks. we advanced...the rebs coming in front pretty thick we fixed bayonets and made a charge driving them about 40 rods through the woods, we were again halted and commenced firing. We were driving them all the time...through the woods another fresh supply of Rebs they came on steadily came up with the other Rebs and were marching in a heavy body...we were then ordered to fall back...which we did but not till a goodly number of Rebs had bit the dust. Reb prisoners say that our Brigade cut to pieces two of their best brigades during our engagement with them...reached United States ford at a little after daylight, here I saw the most men that I ever saw, column after column of troops coming out of the woods passing over our open field of more than one mile in breadth and all verging to a common point...[5/18/1863 Includes portion of telegraph wire from the Chancellorsville battlefield] The brigade of Rebs said to be opposed to us, was 'Stonewall Brigade' it is the third time the 3d Brigade has met them. 1st at Cedar Mountain the 3d was repulsed, 2d at Antietam the 3d drove, 3d at Chancellorsville where the 3d again drove the Stonewall. They were cut to pieces dreadfully so prisoners stated whom we took....I send you a short piece of Army telegraph wire, which Frank picked up just before crossing U.S. Ford May 6th, 1863...['Battlefield' Near Gettysburg, Pa, July 4, 1863]Independence day and on the field of battle, strange contrast to the fourth which I passed one year ago today. Leaving Littletown July 1st in the morning we moved along towards Gettysburg forming in line of battle occasionally fighting was going on near Gettysburg at the time, at 4PM our corps took position on the Right of battle line and preparations was made to advance, but the move was frustrated by the falling back of the center, we fell back took position, remained in line all night. July 2d at daylight we roused soon our corps moved more toward the right center and formed line of battle, our Brigade threw up breastworks of logs, rails and dirt in their front, in the PM shell flew thick over our heads at 5 PM our Division was ordered out of the Breastworks to the left wing of the line of battle, after getting matters right we were again ordered back to breastworks, nearing our old position, skirmishers were sent out which showed us that the Rebs had possession of the part where our Brigade was. At Chancellorsville our Corp had the same trick played on us, this was about 10 PM when we came back...July 3rd the first thing done where we lay was driving the Rebs from our breastworks, the position where they were was very difficult to take, the knoll being covered with large boulders, which afforded good protection as breastworks. Almost four batteries were playing upon them and a heavy force of infantry came down the breastworks and after a whole forenoon hard fighting they were driven out with a considerable loss on both sides. Our Right was supporting Batteries and did not have to engage in musketry fire during this drive. As soon as the breastworks were taken we were sent into them. Here we had a few shots at their skirmishers and sharp shooters here also the Rebs threw a host of shell at us while here...At 5PM part of our Brigade were ordered out, the 13th NJV & 107th NY to the support of the cavalry on the extreme right. While moving out of breastworks one man was hit, by sharpshooter in the arm...moved along the road around the right of the village back to our old position, finding nothing of the Rebs, they had drawn back leaving their dead and many wounded...The Rebels lost heavily many of their dead had either our pants or coats on. Their prisoners say they are allowed to wear either our coat or pants but not both...I saw at one time over thirty Rebels come in our lines swinging a white rag for a truce flag and give themselves up...I saw one man wounded in leg who lost one leg at Balls Bluff and now the other is gone, also a man with both arms off. The horrors of war are truly horrible...[7/12/1863 In Line of Battle between Bakersville & Williamspt]the Rebs have ransacked the houses around here. I was in one house this morn. where even the beds had been torn down drawers pulled on, everything of value or not had been appropriated. I saw a nice set of China wear scattered on the floor...[7/16/63] 14th were roused early and drawn in line and moved forward over the breastworks and over three lines of originally Rebel lines, no Rebels where near the river, Rebs began to appear as prisoners, the cavalry having captured them. They had traveled most of the night and were moody and very tired...[9/4/63]Three Reb Cav. men came down to the river and gave themselves up to our Pickets, with carbines, horses, sabres and all. The sabres were U.S., 2 U.S. Carbines and a common rifle cut short, were their arms. One of the horses were U.S. the men had been on picket just across the river,...they are N. Carolinians...Gen. A.S. Williams is in command of our Corps at present.,...[10/5/63 Stevenson, Ala.]I saw a Negro Regiment yesterday they had a neat camp and appeared well....[12/14/63 War Trace, Tenn.]Generally the wealthy or most of those who own land have had more or less slaves, but since this Rebellion has broken out, all the able bodied men slaves have been sent to some part of the Confederacy further south. Keeping the women and young children with them as far as possible, many have left for Northern protection, some who owned 40 or 50 slaves, at the onset of this war, have now 4 or 5 old women about him...[1/15/1864] The 145th N.Y. Vols have been broken up...The privates were distributed in various regiments... we rec'd sixteen in our company. They are mostly foreigners and New York Roughs...[3/6/64 Wartrace, Tenn.]The citizens generally here have been taking the Oath and for several weeks the Rush at the Provost Marshall's Office has been large, as many as forty persons have come in, in a day and voluntarily taken the oath. The results of the election just held is not yet known...[3/21/64]Guerrilla attack on a freight train near Tullahoma, here has been little excitement...They were merciless, robbing alike Govt Employees, soldiers, or citizens, stripping their clothes from their backs and boots from their feet. Paroling them and letting them go. One citizen from Nashville had $1500 taken also hat, coat, vest, pants & boots, he escaped...I hear that the gang were overtaken near Manchester and twenty five of the Bushwhackers were killed and their leader wounded...[4/6/64]I think that the troops of the Corps as a General thing would if they are to lose Slocum, rather have Hooker than any other General now extant, true 'Old Joe' enjoys the sobriquet of 'Fighting Joe' yet he takes good care of his men, feeds well and is careful to have his troops well clothed, an important item with soldiers...[5/20/64] We passed safely through the battle at Resaca on the 5th forcing the Rebels back from their entrenchments, which were said to be...equal in strength to those of Uncle Sam's at Murfreesboro....[5/16/64 On the March near Resaca]the 141st and 107th NY in action yesterday. Capt Griffith and all Tyrone Boys all right and sound. So far we have whipped them at every point and now we are following them up with a will....Our Brigade captured four battle flags from the enemy yesterday. The 27th Ind. captured one Col. and most of an Ala. Regt...[6/7/64 near Marietta] our skirmish line is some 300 yds in our front. The boys alternately talk and shoot at each other, they tried to strike up a trade to day the Johnny's wanted to change tobacco for coffee...but the new pickets were fresh and wanted to shoot...[6/11/64] I hope we will not get in any such position as we were May 25, between 5 and 6 PM ...we were under fire we lost 149 killed and wounded...Of the wounded one Com Officer has since died and one had a leg taken off....The wounded were mostly severe there were 19 others slightly scratched by balls who were not counted in the report of wounded. It was the sharpest battle that this Regt. ever saw...Sergt. Benj. Force of Altay was killed by a musket ball through head. It seemed hard that he should fall as a sacrifice to country. I cannot describe my feelings at his death. He has been my mess mate and tent mate for a long time and we had shared the duties of soldiers life together...[6/14/64 near Ackworth, Ga.] from a point near here the Rebel Camps can be seen their batteries and works, they move around and gather in groups same as the Yankees (strange isnt it)...[6/20/64]On the 16th were subjected to a very severe cannonading or shelling, for a short time...4 men wounded... we followed them closely to another line of works losing one man killed, he was on the skirmish line, just on the point of being relieved he was shot through the heart, his name was D. Simmonson Co F...The Rebs have a large force but they are getting afraid of our Artillery. They dig ditches in the ground for Breastworks, they dare not trust works above ground...[7/29/64]On the 27th at daylight...There was 5 or 6 batteries close by us only two in position at about 8 oclock the batteries opened fire on the Reb pickets causing them to skedaddle. Rebs answered our fire by hurling shell at us the firing seemed wild on both sides. Theirs the Rebs mostly fell short or went high over our heads some few pieces and one shell struck our works...to the Right of us the 14th Corps advanced and obtained possession of a crest or Ridge in their front losing a large number of officers and men. Brig. Gen. Harker killed...Hooker, Thomas and Schofield were in our Breastworks during the fight of the 27th Hooker is right up every time...[7/23/64 IN front battle Line near Atlanta, Ga.] After nearly three months steady work we have brought before the works of Atlanta...The 1st and 3d Brigade were in front and after repulsing two heavy assaults of the enemy with some considerable loss were permitted to rest. The enemy lost heavily at all points as our Batteries in many instances opening at short range with grape and canister. Our Major S. Baldwin was in command of Brig. skirmish line was severely wounded the ball entering the left temple coming out over the left eye. For a time we thought he was in the enemy's hands but after being wounded he fell and lay as if dead, his boots were taken from him, three lines of the enemy passed over him soon the Rebels at this point were driven off by a flanking party of the 14th Corps and thus he was rescued...The 141st NY lost severe 49 killed and wounded out of 150. The Colonel was killed, the Lt. Col. wounded in arm since amputated...[7/30/64 Near Atlanta]In writing today I can write to the music of the booming cannon the thin whis. & bursting of shell with the minie variation. This morning at daylight our picket line advanced and so rapidly did they move that they surprised the picket line of the Johnnies capturing 97 enlisted men and 7 officers. It was a Tennessee Regt on picket said to be 110 strong so that we (our Div. Pickets) captured nearly their whole Regt...Our Regt is just in front of a battery of 20lb Parrots which keep belching forth in tones of Thunder...Since crossing the Chattahoochee Hood has sought at three different times to crush us by massing his troops on us at times when we were just getting in line, each time has he been repulsed with heavy loss...we are around the woks of Atlanta; and Sherman will dig them out...[evening 7/20/64]In my writing today I did not mention our to us seemingly very serious loss. I mean the loss of our Corps commander Gen. Joseph Hooker. The men had almost began to think him invincible and his name was in the mouths of the whole army and he has been a terror to the Rebels. When Gen. McPherson was killed the 3 Corps which he had commanded were without a leader and by right of seniority Gen Hooker should have had it but Gen. Howard succeeded McPherson and Gen. Hooker at his own request was relieved from command of the 20th Corps and ordered to report to Washington. There seems to be a prejudice against Hooker by the Western Genls whether arising from jealousy or for fear he will get too much power...The losses in our Corps are something near 7,500 in killed & wounded during the campaign...[8/24/64]Our close proximity to a battery of 32 lbs which is continually throwing shell at Atlanta, is no desirable position...Fire in Atlanta today....I saw a Memphis Appeal (Rebel) published at Atlanta dated yesterday which claims another victory for them at or near Petersburg and the frustration again of Gen. Grants plans...[9/2/64]movements have been made on large scale and rumor places Atlanta in our hands...everything indicates Atlanta is ours...[9/4/64] Our Regt was one of the first to enter Atlanta on the 2nd the Mayor came out and surrendered the city as our men approached. The city has been literally riddled with shell the enemy destroyed a large amount of ammunition and cars. We captured some cannon and a large quantity of cotton and tobacco...[9/11/64]This has been a pleasant place before war played such sad havoc among its buildings. The population was estimated to be about 25,000 at the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion. It has 5 Methodist 2 Baptist 3 Presbyterian 2 Catholic and 1 Campbellite Church....There is scarcely a building of any size in Atlanta but what has been struck by some of our shells. The people have mostly left town, although some few have staid and braved a sight of the Yankees. They were in great tribulation on the supposition of an order from Gen. Sherman ordering them either north or south, as they chose but they are somewhat quiet now having heard that the order was countermanded...[9/29/64]Atlanta has been pretty nearly thinned of its inhabitants and it is rather curious that although they could have their choice to go either north or south, many would say they would prefer to go north, but their property (Negroes) and &c were all south so they would have to go...A large proportion of the former workmen in the Govt machine shops here, Rail Road employees &c are now busy working in Uncle Sams shops and the Old Gent already has some pretty flourishing shops in operations...Politic have some sway here. No formal ballot has yet been taken in the Regt....from the several informal ballots taken this Regt will I think give Lincoln and Johnson two thirds of the votes. The Old Members of this Regt will almost to a man vote the Lincoln and Johnson ticket. But the 'Mickeys' or those transferred from 145 NY (All NY Boys) go principally for McClellan and Pendleton...[10/14/64] Gen. Hood and Army made their way the last of last month to our rear intending to secure positions along the road and cut off our supplies. There were sixty days supplies for the Army in Atlanta at the time, so you see he did not catch Sherman unaware. Leaving the 20th Corps in and about Atlanta he moved the main Army back in time to prevent the occupation of Kennesaw and repulsing them at Altoona he has cowed them so that now again we are in communication with the outside world...[12/17/64 Argyle Island near Savannah]Leaving Atlanta on the 15th of Nov. or what was left of the place...and on the 22nd entered Milledgeville the Capitol of Ga....had a small skirmish near here. our Divi. here turned toward the R.R. to Powers Sta. and tore up & burnt track to the river (Ogeehee) ...on the 15th Fort McAllister was taken and our communication with the coast established....What Shermans object is yet to be shown but presume he is all right in what he undertakes as he has performed a huge task...An immense amount of RR track has been destroyed. In Atlanta the track was taken up every tie burnt and every rail twisted...The Country through which we passed furnished abundant forage & c for the Army...The Rebs removed our prisoners which were confined at Andersonville...sent them to Columbia, S.C. The place where they were confined near Milan was in a low marshy country the yard confining the enlisted men was built over a small creek whose water came from a swamp...There were 650 of our men buried here, they were buried in trenches, no care or pains taken with their bodies simply placed in two and three deep and covered with dirt....We learned through Southern papers how Election had passed...Very large numbers of able bodied Negroes joined & came through with us & are now busy at work on the Rice plantations thrashing & cleaning Rice for Army use...[12/27/64 Near Savannah]our Regt crossed with the rest of the Brigade into Carolina. Skirmished daily until the 21st when the evacuation of Savannah caused us the retracing of our steps, into Ga. once more...Of the amount of property captured by Sherman near and in Savannah I have no idea. I have seen 4 large 32 pdr. & all complete and 8 guns of smaller caliber captured by us. I hear there is nearly 150 pieces in all...[[1/10/65] South Carolina is soon to be made to feel the dread realities of War, no one can doubt, but how or in what manner time will show...[3/12/65 Fayetteville, NC]After a long and arduous campaign we reached this point last night...This campaign has been more disastrous in its immediate effects than the one through Georgia. We have lived wholly on the country since the 10th of February drawing no rations whatever save a little coffee & sugar...the Country through which we passed has been stripped clean of corn, meat, potatoes, cattle & horses of which latter with mules have captured a large number....Captured in one day over 20 good horses & mules & the 150 th NY in our Brigade got over 70...We have lost part of our forage detail on this campaign. Lieut Whitchon & 15 men were captured. John Eveland was among the captured. We have had several boys that were captured who escaped...[3/25/65 near Goldsboro]on the 15th we came up with the enemy near Black River where our Regt participated and after one of the most lively times, I have yet seen, we came out after losing twenty-eight wounded of which number three have died. We drove the enemy out of one line of works here and pressed him so close that he made good his retreat at night. On the 19th the fourteenth Corps being in the advance pressed on to the Rebels in line of battle and [?] them from their position, but the Rebs rallied and came back and were rapidly flanking them when our Corps came up and checked the movement - it had become a general rout one Brigade of the 14th Corps was completely demoralized but the tide of battle soon turned in our favor...The 15th & 17th Corps had an engagement with the enemy on the 21st In which the enemy were defeated on the same day Gen. Schofield entered Goldsboro, Gen. Terry occupied Cox Ferry on the Neuse river, so you see Sherman's campaign has resulted successfully...[4/18/65 Raleigh] on the 11th we moved onward to Smithfield...Here we first heard of the surrender of Lee's Army. ...The Corps entered Raleigh on the 13th. We overtook the Corps on the 14th near Raleigh...I understand that Gen. Johnson has surrendered his Army on the same Terms that Lee surrendered his...Amid all the great rejoicing over 'Victory' we heard the sad news that our President is no more. Assassinated in the City of Washington. After he had lived to see the Rebellion as a 'militant party' crushed. Our cause triumphant at every point and the dawn of peace lighting up the horizon, thus to die. There is a deep feeling against this outrage throughout the Army, one which words are inadequate to convey...[5/21/65 Alexandria, Va] We are in good health & spirits are to have a review on the 24th of Sherman's Army...." and much more. The letters are generally in Fine condition....plus; Five pocket diaries used by Kendall to record his daily activities while in the service on the Gettysburg campaign, the Atlanta campaign and the Carolina campaign, with fantastic content, only a brief portion of which reads: "...[September 17, 1862]this morn awoke heard the sound of musketry, advanced without eating & entered the field and supported a battery it was terrible. Cyrus Covill was killed & words cannot describe it. We were in under fire six hours. drew back advanced at night...[May 1, 1863] about 9 oclock we were ordered to fall in line marched out and fell in with the Brigade took a south east direction heard cannon. Kept on soon saw the bursting shell falling around us in almost all directions. We unslung our knapsacks and marched into a piece of woods in double column. The shell flew thick and fast...we were soon ordered to retreat or fall back...the heavy musket fire told us that there was work to do before us. We stopped near a line of timber ...the bursting shell were flying around us once more thick and fast. This time Capt. Rutter was wounded by a shell. We were in line expecting to be ordered into the fight. [May 2nd] We lay in line all night, arose in the middle of night and built fires behind a rubber or other blanket...orders to pile up logs for breastworks in forenoon...once in a while sharp report of artillery. About 4 PM we were ordered out of the breastworks in pursuit of Rebels we went about a mile remained there a short time. We were then ordered to about face and returned to the breastworks to find that the Rebs had out flanked us having cut the 11th Corps up so that they had got the breastwork on our right. Our regt formed in line perpendicular to the one we held during the day here....Our batteries threw shell very fast on them. The rebs returned it with a will the musketry and artillery was roaring most of the night. [May 3] Sunday. We drew one days rations in morning just daylight, soon the regt on our front were engaged with the enemy and the rattle of musketry was great. At about 5 AM or a little later our regt became engaged with the Rebs. I fired some 20 rounds our Regt stood until a division of the enemy came bearing down upon us. We fired a few rounds at them and were then ordered back. We retreated back behind the batteries and to the rifle pits. Our Corps were then relieved by some other Corps and were taken to the rear. Our regiment lost quite a number of men, our Co. lost 6 or 8 men killed & wounded...[July 1, 1863] rose early and moved along the Gettysburg road...moved up on the left wing of the Army lay in line all night. July 2nd moved up toward center took position and built breast works, toward night the left being hard pressed we moved out of our breastworks to assist them. Helped or got things righted moved back toward our breast work found them occupied by not our men but rebs. We closed up to them and lay in line all night. Shell flew hard today. July 3d. Early in morn preparation was made to dislodge the Rebs from breastworks shelling the woods was the first thing. Then the Infantry commenced our on the left moving on the breastworks on the right we held them steady after very hard fore
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