Summary:
Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton commanded the Cavalry Corps which included the 16th
Pennsylvania Cavalry. In this report Pleasonton provides details about the
events preceding the battle.
Brig. Gen. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Army of the Potomac.
Amissville, Va.
August 5, 1863.
Gen.
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Cavalry Corps in the late campaign, including the battle of Gettysburg, with accompanying reports of subordinate commanders:
On June 28, the army being in the vicinity of Frederick City, Md., the Cavalry Corps was placed as follows: The First Division (Buford's) was posted near Middletown, covering the left, and watching the enemy in the direction of Hagerstown. The Second Division (Gregg's) was stationed at different points from Frederick City to Ridgeville, on the Baltimore turnpike, covering the right of the army. The Third Division (Kilpatrick's) was at Frederick City, and was assigned to the corps on that day.
Orders having been issued for the advance of the army toward Pennsylvania, on June 29, Buford's division moved as follows, to cover and protect the left flank of the line of march: The Reserve Brigade was detached under Brig.-Gen. Merritt, and moved to Mechanicstown and afterward to Emmitsburg. The First and Second Brigades passed through Boonsborough, Cavetown, and Monterey Springs, and encamped near Fairfield, within a short distance of a considerable force of the enemy's infantry.
On June 30, these two brigades moved toward Gettysburg; met two regiments of rebel infantry, with some artillery, and after some skirmishing, not wishing to use artillery, they turned off, and reached Gettysburg in the afternoon, just in time to meet the enemy entering the town, and to drive him back before he secured a position. The enemy withdrew in the direction of Cashtown, leaving his pickets about 4 1/2 miles from Gettysburg.
By daylight on July 1, Gen. Buford had obtained positive information of the enemy's position and movements, and made his dispositions to hold him in check until the First Corps, under Maj.- Gen. Reynolds, could arrive upon the field.
Between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning, the rebels advanced with superior numbers on Buford's position, but for more than two hours were gallantly checked in every attempt that was made, when the troops of the First and Eleventh Corps began to arrive and to relieve the cavalry from their perilous position. This division continued in the fight throughout the day, displaying great obstinacy in holding all their positions, and splendid courage and skill in their treatment of the rebels.
On July 2, Buford's division held a position on our left at Gettysburg until relieved by the Third Corps, when it was directed to take post at Westminster, to assist in guarding the army trains at that point.
On June 29, Gregg's division moved by the right flank of the army on Westminster, covering the country toward York and Carlisle by reconnaissances and patrols. Kilpatrick's division advanced from Frederick City, on June 29, direct to the front on Hanover by way of Littlestown.
On the morning of the 30th, they were attacked by Stuart's cavalry in full force. After a gallant fight, the enemy was repulsed, losing one battle-flag, and retreated in the direction of Carlisle.
On July 1, they were pursued as far as Berlin, by the way of Abbottstown, a detachment under Lieut.-Col. Alexander, chief of staff, proceeding as far as Rosstown.
Kilpatrick's division on July 2 moved toward Gettysburg from the direction of Heidlersburg, to prevent the enemy from concentrating his forces by that road, and to protect our right flank from being turned. Late in the afternoon, this division met the rebel cavalry near Hunterstown, and, after a spirited affair for two hours, the enemy was driven from his position. The division was then ordered to Two Taverns, which it reached at daylight.
It being now apparent that the rebel army intended making a vigorous attack on the left of the position held by our army on the heights of Gettysburg, Gen. Kilpatrick was directed to move to the right of the enemy's line, connect with Merritt's brigade, ordered up from Emmitsburg, and attack the enemy in flank and rear, as well as prevent our own flank from being turned, Custer's brigade, of this division, remaining on our right flank, in connection with Gen. Gregg. Gen. Kilpatrick did valuable service with the First Brigade, under Gen. Farnsworth, in charging the enemy's infantry, and, with the assistance of Merritt's brigade and the good execution of their united batteries, caused him to detach largely from his main attack on the left of our line.
It was in one of these brilliant engagements that the noble and gallant Farnsworth fell, heroically leading a charge of his brigade against the rebel infantry. Gifted in a high degree with a quick perception and a correct judgment, and remarkable for his daring and coolness, his comprehensive grasp of the situation on the field of battle and the rapidity of his actions had already distinguished Gen. Farnsworth among his comrades in arms. In his death was closed a career that must have won the highest honors of his profession.
On June 30, immediately after the fight of Kilpatrick at Hanover, the enemy hastily withdrew his forces from York and Carlisle and began to concentrate on Gettysburg. As soon as this was known, Gregg's division was directed to leave one brigade (Huey's) to cover the depot at Westminster, and move with the other two brigades toward Gettysburg, to take up a position on the right of our line of battle, and prevent the enemy from turning the flank and gaining the rear. This position was established about noon of July 2, and was at the intersection of the Gettysburg and Hanover turnpike with the road which ran in rear of our line of battle. The enemy attacked this point late in the evening with two regiments deployed, but were compelled to retire.
On July 3, Custer's brigade, of Kilpatrick's division, having occupied the position of Gregg's division of the day before, the latter was posted three-quarters of a mile nearer the Baltimore and Gettysburg turnpike.
About noon the enemy threw a heavy force of cavalry against this position, with the intention of gaining our rear. This attack was met and handsomely defeated by Gen. Gregg, who reports several fine charges made by the First Michigan Cavalry, of Custer's brigade, and the First New Jersey and Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, of his own division. The enemy withdrew from his position with heavy loss, and evacuated his lines that night. Custer's brigade then proceeded to join its division on our left.
The grand attack of Gen. Lee's army on July 3, on the left of our line at Gettysburg, having been successfully repulsed and defeated, orders were given for the cavalry to gain his rear and line of communication, and harass and annoy him as much as possible in his retreat.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. PLEASONTON, Maj.-Gen., Comdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 27. Part I. Reports., Serial No. 43, Pages 9913, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
