GDG- Units history and what has caught my attention.

[Alan D. Brunelle]

Hi Jim -

Being from NH, an interesting aspect of our - keeping in the potato vein 
-  "tater tot" state's involvement is discussed very nicely in the 
dedication of the 2nd NH regiments monument in the Peach Orchard, I 
don't have the details right now, I'll try to post them tomorrow, but 
the gist of it was that the 2nd NH was in the center of NH's involvement 
on the afternoon of the 2nd day - (this is all from memory, so... :-) )

- A company in Berdan's sharpshooters were from NH, and they were 
involved in the Round Top area (I believe)

- The 5th NH was heavily involved in the fight for the Wheatfield (and 
contributed Colonel Cross as the brigade commander - he of the black 
bandanna with the premonition of death before achieving his star). Their 
monument is the famous one with the 4 boulders sandwiching a granite 
monument.

- The 2nd NH was in the Peach Orchard and was instrumental in helping to 
hold off Longstreet's push behind that area long enough to help most of 
the artillery get away. Their monument is the spiked shaped one near the 
Emmitsburg Road.

- The 12th NH was along the Emmitsburg Road, and was a key part of 
Humphrey's line around the Klingle House (their monument is just to the 
north of the house if I remember correctly).

- The NH Light Artillery was back on Cemetery Hill - posted facing west, 
their monument is in the National Cemetery.

I've been spending some time trying to understand exactly what the 2nd 
NH did on that second day, and trying to understand what was 
accomplished by their "charge" south from their post along the 
Wheatfield Road towards Rose's Run. Regardless, their stand (later) 
between the Wheatfield Road artillery area and the Klingle House 
certainly was extremely important - it slowed down the Confederate 
attack, albeit at a very heavy price - and must have contributed to the 
withdrawal of all that artillery posted by the Union.

I've read all three infantry regimental histories, and I believe it was 
the 5th which had a nice write-up in Gettysburg Magazine a few issues 
ago. I have not read anything specific concerning the Berdan 
sharpshooter company, nor the Light Artillery's contribution. I do know 
that all three NH infantry regiments suffered high rates of loss on that 
critical afternoon.

Respectfully submitted,
Alan