Summary:
Confederate Captain O. B. Taylor reports on the role played by his battery during
the Gettysburg campaign. He mentions camping near Chambersburg, procuring horses
in the area, and living off the land before marching to Gettysburg. He then
discusses his role in the battle.
Col. E. P. Alexander.
Camp near Orange Court-House, Va.,
August 3, 1863.
Col.:
In accordance with a circular from your headquarters, issued this morning, I make the following report:
On or about June 3 last, I left Milford Station, Caroline County, with my battery, in company with the other batteries of your battalion. We proceeded to Culpeper Court-House, near which place we went into camp on June 6. We remained here until the 15th, recruiting our horses, repairing our gun-carriages, wagons, harness, &c., with little else of interest, excepting that when the enemy's cavalry made a dash upon ours, near Brandy Station, our battalion marched out to meet them, but we did not have the pleasure of a meeting. Our cavalry drove them back.
On June 15, we started for the Valley of Virginia, and arrived at Millwood, in Clarke County, on the 18th, where we remained several days recruiting our stock and resting our men. Here also we met with a disappointment. The enemy endeavored to flank us by crossing the Blue Ridge at Ashby's and other gaps. We went out to meet them as before, but our cavalry left nothing for us to do.
On the 24th, we left Millwood, passing through Winchester, Darkesville, and Martinsburg.
We crossed the Potomac on the 25th, at Williamsport; thence proceeding on our route, we passed through Hagerstown, Greencastle, and Chambersburg, and encamped near the latter place for several days, resting our men and horses and living upon the fat of Pennsylvania. Here, too, we obtained several fresh horses.
On June 30, we broke camp, and started for Gettysburg. We arrived there about 10 a. m. July 2. After resting about one hour, we took up the line of march for the left wing of the enemy. About 4 p.m. I was ordered into position within 500 yards of the enemy's batteries, and to dislodge them, if possible, from a commanding position which they held. I opened upon the batteries with my four Napoleons, firing canister and spherical case until our infantry, who were present, began their charge. I then ceased firing, limbered to the front, and advanced some 800 or 1,000 yards, and took another position, which I held till after dark, though several attempts were made by the enemy, both with infantry and artillery, to drive me from it.
I lost at the first position one of my best gunners, Corpl. William P. Ray. He was killed while in the act of sighting his guns. He never spoke after receiving the shot, walked a few steps from his piece, and fell dead. I had also while in this, my first position, the following men wounded: Vincent F. Burford, badly bruised on shoulder; Silas C. Gentry, cut on the wrist; Joseph Moody, cut in the face and bruised on the back; Byrd McCormick, shot through the calf of the leg by a bullet from a spherical case; Edward J. Sheppard, wounded badly in heel, and several others slightly wounded. I had killed in the lane while going to my second position another excellent gunner, Corpl. Joseph T. V. Lantz. He had both legs broken above the knees; lived but a little while. His only words were, "You can do me no good; I am killed; follow your piece." While in my second position, I had two men wounded: Hill Carter Eubank, shot through the leg. Eubank was a very promising youth, about eighteen years of age; left the Military Institute at Lexington, Va., to join the army; was brave and attentive to his duties. The other, Claiborne Y. Atkinson struck on the leg by a piece of shell; seriously wounded.
About 9 p. m. July 2, I left my position, and retired about 1 mile to the rear, watered and fed my horses, and returned to the same position about 2.30 o'clock the next morning. I remained in this position until after the heavy cannonade of the 3d. I was then ordered by Maj. Huger to report to you or to Gen. Longstreet, about half a mile to my left. While taking my battery to the place indicated, I was halted by Gen. Lee, and directed not to go into position until I saw you. It was a considerable time before I could find you. The main fighting had ceased when you came to where my battery was. About 10 p. m. we left the field, and went into park near the barn used as a hospital.
All of my men, non-commissioned officers and privates, with one or two exceptions, acted well. They remained by their guns, though hungry and exceedingly fatigued.
On July 5, we took up our line of march for Hagerstown, Md., where we arrived on the 6th, and went into encampment. We remained in the neighborhood of Hagerstown several days, resting our men and horses, which they very much needed on account of the long marching and arduous duties they had undergone.
On the 10th, we left our encampment, and were moving over toward the pike leading to Frederick City, when I was ordered to report with my battery to Gen. Kershaw, then holding the enemy in check at Antietam Creek. I did report, and had a position selected for me, but before I had gotten into it, I received further orders to proceed at once to Downsville and rejoin my battalion, which I accomplished about 10 p. m., after a tedious march through the dark.
On the 11th, we had orders to dig pits for our pieces and prepare for action. Again we met with a disappointment. The enemy did not advance.
We left our fortifications on the evening of the 13th, and, after a very disagreeable march, occupying the whole night, through mud, rain, and darkness, we recrossed the Potomac on the morning of July 14. Thus ended our second campaign into Maryland and Pennsylvania.
On the evening of the 16th, we went into camp near Bunker Hill. Here we remained several days, recruiting and getting together our scattered forces.
On the morning of the 20th, we again broke camp, and, after four days' travel, we came in sight of Culpeper Court-House, men and horses nearly broken down, and exhausted from excessive heat and long marching. We had rain nearly every day from the day we entered the Valley until within the last few days. Our men suffered much in consequence; their shoes gave out, and many had to go barefooted. Much of their rest was broken by their not getting dry places to sleep on.
Very respectfully,
O. B. TAYLOR,
Capt., Comdg.
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 431-433, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
