GDG- "jumping to conclusions" regarding the 59th NY at the wal

[ernscave at aol.com]

? Jack, I would not be so quick to jump to conclusions regarding the actions of either the 59th NY or the 69th Pa based on Cowen testimony. First of all, the reason for Zack's view that the entire four companies of the 59th NY never occupied the 50 yards to the left of the 69th? Pa? is not because of "Brown's gate".... in fact there were 30 yards of wall space directly to the left of the 69th that could have been used by the 59th... wall space just as high as that used by the ten companies of the 69th Pa. "Brown's Gate" is located some 30 yards to the south of the end of the 69th line.? It is the placement of first Brown's guns and then Cowen's guns that Zack cites as the reason the 59th NY never occupied the location marked by their regimental right flank marker. My understanding from taking Zack's tour is that in his view not only is the "right flank marker" INCORRECTLY placed but that the 59th NY Regimental marker itself is INCORRECTLY? placed. 
? Secondly, with regard to the 69th right two companies, the field of fire of Cowen's single right wing gun would have endangered the left flank of Company G. In fact, Privates Clay and Coyle in Company G were killed by Cowen's "friendly fire". Privates Michael and James Laracy also in Co. G,? suffered head and back shoulder wounds which may be related to Cowen fire. I agree that Company G was in a very dangerous place and have no proof that there were not some men pulling back from that location. In all my research of 69th materials I have yet to find any mention of Company G men? running back but have found several references to company K and G refusing their left at this point.? As for Cowen's accounts of officers ("a Captain") running while squawking like a turkey and men being hit over the head with coffee pots I have always noted that when the 69th Pa invited Andrew Cowen to attend the dedication of their regimental monument in 1887 he accepted, attended and not only had no such tall tales to tell but spoke only in the highest terms about the regiment. Only in 1911 (48 years after the battle) do we see the appearances of such "hollywood" scenes. It is possible that some men from the 69th did "flee" but since Company G had no Captain present and Company K's Captain William Davis was the man who took command of the regiment on July 4 and rose to Lt. Colonel and since Company B (next in line) had a captain who was recovering in Philadelphia at the time, I have always wondered who this mysterious "turkey-man" was.

Don Ernsberger
author "At the Wall"
"Paddy Owen's Regular's