Summary:
Confederate Major R. C. Maffett reports on the part played by his Third South
Carolina Infantry Regiment in the Gettysburg campaign. He mentions camping near
Chambersburg and tearing up railroad tracks in the area. He also describes the
regiment's experiences during the battle of Gettysburg.
Capt. C. R. Holmes,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Culpeper Court-House, Va.,
July 31, 1863.
Sir:
In accordance with a circular from brigade headquarters, issued July 30, calling for a report of the operations of this regiment from the time of its leaving Culpeper Court-House until its return to the same, I submit the following report:
On Tuesday, June 16, we left our camp near Culpeper Court-House, taking the road to Sperryville; moved to that point, and encamped for the night.
The 17th, passed through Washington, crossing and encamping 4 miles beyond the headwaters of the Rappahannock, in Fauquier County.
The night of the 18th, we encamped 1 mile in rear of Piedmont Depot, on the Manassas Gap Railroad. The march for the past two days was very hot and dusty, many of the men fainting and falling by the way-side.
On the 19th, we reached Ashby's Gap, in the Blue Ridge, and relieved Gen. Pickett's division, encamping for the night upon the top of the mountain.
At 5 p. m. of the 20th, we left our camp at the Gap, and forded the Shenandoah at Berry's Ford, which, from the swollen condition of the stream, was attended with considerable difficulty and some danger, and encamped a short distance beyond. Our regiment lost 2,370 rounds of ammunition by the fording.
On Sunday (21st), we were put in motion at 4 p. m., and marched rapidly across the river back to the top of the Gap, and formed into line of battle, to repel a threatened attack from cavalry. In this position we remained with the other regiments of the brigade until 3 p. m. of the 22d, when we returned to our camp.
On June 24, we took up the line of march from Berry's Ford, passing through Berryville, and encamping for the night at Summit Point, on the Harper's Ferry and Winchester Railroad.
Early the next day we were upon the march, passing through Smithfield and Martinsburg, and encamping 1 mile beyond the latter place.
On the 26th, we moved on the Williamsport road, fording the Potomac in a rain at that point, passing through Williamsport, Md., and encamping for the night a short distance beyond.
At daylight on the 27th, we were again en route, passing through Hagerstown, Md., as early as 6 a. m.; reached and passed through Greencastle, Pa., encamping for the night 5 miles in rear of Chambersburg, Pa.
June 28, on the march this morning at a later hour than usual, passing through an encampment just beyond the limits of the town.
A portion of the 29th was spent in tearing up and burning the railroad track at this place.
Leaving this point on the morning of June 30, we entered and moved along the pike leading from Chambersburg to Gettysburg, Pa., encamping at the village of Fayetteville. At 9 p. m. of the same day, our regiment and the -- South Carolina were ordered on picket duty at New Guilford, remaining until relieved next day by Gen. Law, of Hood's division.
On July 1, we took up the line of march for Gettysburg, crossing the mountain gap after nightfall, and resting a few hours on the edge of the battle-field where Gen. Hill had engaged the enemy that day.
At an early hour on the morning of July 2, we were moved forward to take up position in line of battle. We moved to the right of the turnpike some distance, and when at Bream's Hotel (afterward our hospital), on the road leading from Gettysburg to Fairfield, we were countermarched nearly to the pike that we had left early in the morning, to gain the cover of a range of hills, when we again moved by the right flank to a position 1 1/2 miles in front of the hotel above mentioned.
At 3 p. m. our artillery opened upon the enemy's position at the foot and upon the sides of a mountain range, and at 4 o'clock our regiment, with others, was ordered forward to the attack, across an open plain, 1,500 yards in width.
Our orders from Gen. Kershaw were to gradually swing round to the left until nearly facing an orchard, from which the enemy were pouring a deadly fire of artillery. The wheel was accomplished in gallant style by the regiment, when we moved forward under a galling fire of grape, shell, and cannister. When within 300 or 400 yards of the batteries, the order was passed along the line from the right to move by the right flank double-quick. The regiment moved, in obedience to this order, to the cover of a piece of woods, and formed upon the left of the Seventh South Carolina Regt., which was the battalion of direction. In making this move, we lost several men from the enemy's artillery fire. Sheltering ourselves behind some rocks and trees, the left was directed to open fire upon the artillery of the enemy, while the right was instructed to open fire upon their infantry in our front.
After being thus engaged for some time, we found that the right flank was very much exposed, and subject to an enfilade fire. Although fighting gallantly, they were gradually being pressed back. To get our right flank out of this cross-fire, and prevent its flank from being too much cut up, it was ordered back, holding the left at the same time firmly in its place. This made the line to be at nearly an acute angle to the first line. In this position the enemy advanced to within 30 yards of us, and, for more than one hour, we held him in check, notwithstanding the repeated re-enforcements brought up by him.
While thus engaged, about 40 men of the Fiftieth Georgia Regt., under command of its major, came in on our left, and engaged the enemy. We remained in this position, under a heavy fire of musketry at short range in front, and an enfilading fire of grape and shrapnel from the batteries that the left had failed in entirely silencing, until about dusk, when we were ordered by Gen. Kershaw back to another line a short distance in our rear. Thus ended the fight for the day.
In this position we remained until the heavy cannonading of the 3d, when, acting under orders from the general, we moved to the right about 300 or 400 yards, and formed behind a stone wall, where we remained until ordered back to the first line of battle formed on the afternoon of July 2.
It is proper to state that Capt. R. E. Richardson's company (A) was thrown out early in the day as sharpshooters, and were not in the main engagement, but did good service as sharpshooters, and (with other companies from the brigade) engaged a column of the enemy's infantry, which was endeavoring to gain our rear. Other companies of the regiment were afterward sent as sharpshooters, who performed the duty assigned them satisfactorily. The regiment went into the fight in as good spirits as ever before observed, and stood their ground gallantly, none leaving the field unless disabled. Our line was not broken during the engagement.
Our loss in the engagement was 83 killed and wounded, 2 of whom were severely wounded during the cannonade of the 3d.
Col. J. D. Nance arrived late in the afternoon of the 3d, and assumed command in person.
On the morning of July 23, while on picket at Gaines' Cross-Roads, I was placed in command of the regiment again, and ordered to follow the division, which was done, encamping for the night within 8 or 9 miles of Culpeper Court-House.
Early on the morning of the 24th, we moved forward, passing through Culpeper Court-House, and encamping on Mount Jones, on the road leading to Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock.
Respectfully submitted.
R. C. MAFFETT,
Maj., Comdg. Regt.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 44, Pages 371-373, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
