GDG- more on Wright's Brigade

[Biggsk at aol.com]

Hello,
 
As part of my research on Georgia unit colors for my book on the topic, I  
have spent hundreds of hours with Civil War era and post-war era Georgia  
newspapers.  One of the post-war sources I have hit hard is the series that  ran in 
the Atlanta Journal from 1900-1904 in the Sunday paper.  These  series of 
columns, mostly on GA troops and their actions, were written by  veterans and I 
was digging in my file for the 3rd Georgia's flag today and found  this tidbit:
 
Atlanta Journal, March 9, 1901 - Another Account Of General Wright's  Brigade 
at Gettysburg by C. H. Andrews  (The article is pretty long so I  will pick 
appropriate items for the ongoing discussion)
 
"The Emmitsburg turnpike had fencing along either side.  But these  fences 
were leveled and the rails piled up along the bank of the roads making  good 
defensive works for the Federals.  In this turnpike the Federals  established 
their first line of battle, and also placed several pieces of  artillery there.  
>From the turnpike the ground in front of Wright's Brigade  descended rapidly 
through an open grass field for some one-fourth of a mile to  the abrupt 
elevations of Cemetery Ridge north of Cordori's brick house that  stood beside the 
turnpike.  At the base of Cemetery Ridge was a rock wall  or fence, and rail 
fencing.  Here the Federals made their second line of  battle and stationed 
Brown's Rhode Island Battery of artillery.  On the  right of Wright's Brigade on 
Seminary Ridge was Perry's Florida Brigade and on  the left was Posey's 
Mississippi Brigade.  The order of battle was from  right to left in echelon."
 
"The 2nd Georgia Battalion was in front as skirmishers.  The 22nd  Georgia 
was on the right, the 48th Georgia on the left, and the 3rd Georgia in  the 
centre of the brigade.  At quick time the brigade moved through the  oats, wheat 
and young corn, breaking through the fences, until the Emmitsburg  turnpike was 
reached.  Here the Federals held their position doggedly for  some moments 
and in some circumstances, had to hand combats occurred.  Here  Color -Sergeant 
Langston of the 3rd Georgia, was killed and the colors wrested  from his death 
clutch by the writer and Adjutant Samuel Alexander.  Some of  the artillery 
started to the rear and their infantry followed at a run.   The 3rd Georgia and 
the brigade were at their heels, going over the stone wall  and rail fencing 
and among their artillery and supports on Cemetery Ridge.   The horses were 
shot down of the artillery that tried to escape.....To show that  we did take 
the position and break the Federal lines, Clarke, of Company D, 3rd  Georgia, 
was killed sitting astride a cannon on Cemetery Ridge, loading and  shooting his 
musket at the retreating enemy."
 
"The Federals seeing Wright's Brigade, now numbering less than 1000 men,  
forced into their lines like a wedge into some huge timber with no support on  
right or left nearer than a half or more a mile away, quickly threw a strong  
column over the ground fronting Wilcox and Perry for the Emmitsburg turnpike on  
the right and rear of Wright's field at Cordori's brick house, and at the 
same  time advanced Carroll's Brigade in the turnpike to envelop the left flank 
of  Wright....Adjutant Alexander was badly wounded and on starting out for our  
original lines, he leaned the 3rd Georgia colors against a gun just  
captured.....The brigade did not retire to Seminary Ridge, but to a depression  in the 
ground in front of it..."
 
"The writer was acting lieutenant colonel of the 3rd Georgia regiment and  
was in command of the left half of the regiment.  From a diary kept daily  of my 
service in the war, I note that on this occasion the extreme left company  
(G) of the 3rd Georgia carried into the fight 45 muskets, and numbered 7 at roll 
 call that night."
 
The papers, diary and regimental history of the 3rd Georgia of C. H.  Andrews 
are in the Southern Historical Collection of the University of North  
Carolina (home of generals whose grades still keep people in awe I am told)  and it 
is a massive collection.  I worked with it some years ago and barely  dented it 
for anything other than items for the unit's flags.  The flag  mentioned 
above is in the collections of the Georgia Capitol Museum in  Atlanta.  I have two 
inches of material on this flag as it was very  prominent in post-war 
reunions as well as newspaper articles.
 
As some analysis, it seems that if his account of the Federals breaking and  
running towards Cemetery Ridge and their second line is accurate and that  
Wright's troops chased them, then breaking the Union lines is not out of the  
question for the Federals to the front would have had to hold their fire for  
fear of hitting a lot of friendly troops coming their way.  For another  example 
of how such an event helped break another Federal line, read about  the Battle 
of Franklin, for as Wagner's two brigades fell back towards the main  line, 
the Confederates deliberately got mixed in with them and used them for  cover 
to break the main line, which they did.
 
Hope this was of interest.
 
Greg Biggs