Summary:
Col. Thomas C. Devin commanded the Second Brigade which included the 17th
Pennsylvania Cavalry. Devin reports that the regiment's skirmishers engaged the
enemy.
Capt. T. C. Bacon, A. A. G., First Cavalry Division.
August 6, 1863.
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade, since crossing the Potomac at Edwards Ferry to take part in the Maryland campaign:
Arriving at Poolesville, Md., June 27, the brigade marched with the division to Jefferson, where it encamped for the night, reaching Middletown on the morning of the 28th.
On the 29th, marched by way of Cavetown and Monterey across South Mountain to Fountain Dale, near Millerstown.
On the 30th, marched by Emmitsburg to Gettysburg, Pa., and encamped. Scouting parties were immediately sent out to observe the approaches from Carlisle, Harrisburg, and York. The country toward the above points was thoroughly scoured, and a number of prisoners were taken, from whom important intelligence was elicited and forwarded to headquarters.
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, PA.
On the morning of July 1, the pickets of the First Brigade, on the road to Cashtown, were driven in by a heavy force advancing from that direction, and the Second Brigade was ordered to prepare for action, and form on the crest of the hill on the right of the First Brigade. I immediately formed as ordered, with my right resting on the road to Mummasburg, and deployed a squadron of the Sixth New York to the front and left as skirmishers, dismounted, and connecting with those of the First Brigade, at the same time connecting by skirmishers and vedettes with my pickets on the three roads on the right leading toward Carlisle, thus establishing a continuous line from the York road, on the extreme right, to the left of the First Brigade, on the Cashtown road. The infantry not having arrived, and the enemy's artillery fire increasing, I was ordered to retire gradually, as they succeeded in getting the range of my position. This I effected in successive formations in line to the rear by regiment, in the face of the enemy, the troops behaving well, and forming with perfect coolness and order.
About this time, my skirmishers on the right were forced back by the advance of the enemy's line of battle, coming from the direction of Heidlersburg. Knowing the importance of holding that point until the infantry could arrive and be placed in position, I immediately placed the Ninth New York in support, and, dismounting the rest of my available force, succeeded in holding the rebel line in check for two hours, until relieved by the arrival of the Eleventh Corps, when I was ordered to mass my command on the right of the York road and hold that approach. While in that position--immediately in front of the town, the command faced to the front and my pickets on the York road advanced three-quarters of a mile--a heavy fire of shells was opened on us from one of our own batteries on Cemetery Hill, immediately in my rear. The fire becoming very hot and persistent, and many of the shells bursting among us, I was led to suppose for a moment that the enemy had succeeded in gaining that position, and I immediately removed my command into the town, the column being shelled the whole distance. After I had retired, the battery turned its attention to my pickets on the road, and shelled them out. I was then ordered to the Emmitsburg road, where the brigade was formed in line, in rear of the batteries of the division, with its right flank resting on the town.
The enemy, having gained the York road, entered the town immediately after my pickets retired, and, passing through with their sharpshooters, attacked the flank of the brigade, killing and wounding several men and horses. I immediately dismounted one squadron of the Ninth New York, who, with their carbines, drove them some distance into the town, punishing then severely. The brigade was then ordered to the extreme left, where it bivouacked for the night.
The next morning, July 2, while I was engaged reconnoitering in rear of the enemy's right, our sharpshooters became engaged with a division of the enemy advancing to feel our lines in front of my position. I immediately dismounted and deployed two squadrons in support of Berdan's Sharpshooters (who were engaged in my front), and formed the brigade into line on the left of the First, with one section of Tidball's battery in position. The enemy not pressing his advance, and the Third Corps coming into position, we were ordered to march to Taneytown, where we bivouacked, and marched the next morning, July 3, to Westminster.
The brigade was here ordered to refit and shoe their horses, but on the following day (Sunday) we were ordered to march with the division to Frederick. Bivouacked outside of the town that night, and the next day we were ordered with the division to advance by Boonsborough to Williamsport.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOS. C. DEVIN, Col., Comdg. Second Brigade.
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 938, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
