GDG- Re: Arnold and Cushing were not overrun July 2nd!

[James Cameron]

<< We know from the accounts of Stannard's Brigade that a battalion (five
companies) of the 13th Vermont responded to Hancock's call for support and
likely succeeded in recovering Weir's battery. However, in hurrying from the
back slope of Cemetery Hill on this mission they were separated from the
remainder of the brigade for about four hours, during which time the 14th
and 16th Vermont, involved farther north, claimed to recover two Union
batteries *on the crest of the ridge*. *What batteries could they be but
Cushing and Arnold's?*  >>


There are no such claims from either regiment.

Also, it was the other five companies (the left wing) of the 13th VT, which 
had been detached to support the batteries on CH, which was detached from 
the rest of the brigade for several hours, not the right wing which Col 
Randall had with him when he and the other two regiments were sent to the 
left, and which was the one that recovered Weir's guns.

<< Where is there much of any evidence one way or other from these
artillerists? The absence of comment is curious. I'd like to know if you
have any. The only one I have found from Arnold, the diary account of Thomas
Reichardt, speaks in dire terms, the battery seemingly surrounded, an
actually seeing Cushing's guns turned (although, oddly, he had the
impression that it was done by Federals). >>

Absense of evidence cannot be construed as meaning that things happened as 
you contend, but simply weren't commented on.  As to the diary account you 
refer to, that describes the action of the afternoon as a whole (to as late 
as 9:00 PM, IIRC), and gives no indication of the battery having been 
overrun and its guns captured.  The part about "at one time it appeared as 
if we were surrounded" (I don't have the exact words in front of me, but it 
was words to that effect) is commonly taken as a reference to the sound of 
the fighting on ECH and Culp's Hill, to the battery's rear as it faced to 
the west.  Likewise, the reference to Cushing's guns being reversed 
describes them being turned to deal with any potential threat from the ECH 
direction, once the immediate threat to their front had subsided.  Nothing 
odd about the guns being turned by their own gunners, since there wouldn't 
have been any Confederates there to do it.


<< Shortly thereafter Carroll's Brigade passed south through Zeigler's Grove 
at
the double-quick and were under musketry fire as they rushed toward the
disputed position. Likewise, the 121st and 142nd Pennsylvania of Rowley's
Brigade rushed from their position on the back slope of Cemetery Hill across
the Tanneytown Road to a wall on the west side of the road where they too
were under musketry fire.

Who could have been firing upon these regiments but Wright's men? And that
simply could not have happened if Wright was as far south as most today seem
to place him.  >>

Posey's right wing was advancing to the left of Wright, and was close enough 
to the Union position that musketry fire from it could have reached the 
Union lines north of the Copse.

As to the 121st and 142nd PA, neither Biddle's (121st) nor McCalmont's 
(142nd) reports mention being "rushed" anywhere.

Biddle wrote: "On the morning of the 2d, the regiment was moved into a field 
to the south of and near the cemetery, and placed under cover of a stone 
wall by the roadside, where it remained during the forenoon.  Toward 12m it 
was subjected to a severe shelling, which reached it from both the front and 
the rear during a sharp attack made by the enemy during an atack on our 
extreme right.  The peculiar shape of the general line of battle, resembling 
somewhat a flattened horseshoe, will account for this effect.  In the 
afternoon this fire slackened, and the regiment was moved behind a wall on 
the other side of the road, in which position its defenses were reached by 
the enemy's musketry.  The attack on this part of our line ceased toward 
evening, when the regiment changed its position to a field in front, and 
subsequently to the road, where the night was passed."

McCalmont report stated:  "On the night of the 1st, the men under my 
command, numbering 80 for duty, lay on their arms in the rear of batteries 
at the cemetery, and under orders to support them in the event of an attack. 
We remained in position until the ebening of the 2d, when, with the regiment 
of Colonel Biddle (One hundred and twenty-first pennsylvania Volunteers), we 
were required to remove to the opposite side of the road.  The men lay on 
their arms during the night but a few rods from their previous 
resting-place."

John Imhoff, in his map study, places the two regiments by Zeigler's Grove, 
with no indication they moved from there down into the area south of the 
grove.  Very likely, given their position, any musketry reaching their 
position was from other firing than that involving the attacks on the 2nd 
Corps line south of the grove.

Jim Cameron