GDG- Winter Stomp (The Rans Wrong Wright Tour)

[Jack Kelly]

Chuck,

> First. the Confederate accounts from participants and observers are
> consistent that Wright's Brigade crossed the stone wall, breached the 
> Union
> line, and captured the Federal guns on the crest of the ridge.>

>From the history of the 69th PA by Anthony McDermott, he states that the 
Confederates appproached their lines in front of the Copse from their left 
front (on an oblique from the southwest). Confederate losses were very heavy 
in their front, allowing the 69th PA to collect extra muskets for use in the 
next day's attack.  He states that the losses of the 69th PA were 
"trifling"; not something to be expected from being driven from their 
position behind the stone wall.  In addition, the 71st PA from their brigade 
(Webb's Philadelphia Brigade) remained in close support above and behind 
them on the ridge. McDermott says that the Confederates were repulsed once, 
then again, forcing them back in confusion.  The Confederates even abandoned 
Brown's two guns (from Battery B, 1st RILA), which he says the Confederates 
had reached twice.

Brown's Battery had been advanced in front of the main Union battle line 
when Sickles advanced the III Corps, leaving a large  gap on Gibbon's left. 
The battery was sent forward to support the 82nd NY and 15th MA who had 
occupied a position on the Emmitsburg Road near Codori's. The guns were 
placed on a slight ridge in front of the famous stone wall, and during 
Wright's attack, two guns were abandoned because the horses had been killed. 
I wonder if the Confederate accounts confused the 82nd NY/15th MA position 
and Battery B's ridge for the main Union battle line.  Let's face it; with 
thousands of rifles and dozens of cannon firing at you, one tends to become 
somewhat distracted.

> Second, the Federal accounts from those units to the south of the Copse
> (Hall, Harrow, and Webb's Brigades) are consistent that the enemy attack
> they faced was stopped clearly short of their line.

That is correct.  Webb's brigade BTW was in front of the Copse, to the left 
of Cushing and some yards ahead of the positions of Arnold's Battery.  If 
the Confederates had managed to advance to Cushing's position, let alone 
Arnold's, it is reasonable to assume that someone on the Union side would 
have noticed.

> If anyone can contradict these two basic points I would be most interested
> in your evidence. Thank you.>

I have not seen any Confederate accounts (other than Wright's and, IIRC, 
Wilcox's), but have read many reports by officers along the line of Webb, 
Hays, Harrow, etc. in which no mention is made of Confederates penetrating 
the line at the stone wall north or south of the Copse on 2nd July.  Many 
mention that Wright approached from the left front, and was stopped by 
Harrow's and Webb's brigades.  Sorry, I think that the CSA reports are 
exaggerated or mistaken through the fog of war.

Regards,

Jack Kelly