GDG- 4th PA Cav on July 2

[Richard & Sue Ann Schaus]

Hi,

Tom, LTC Doster, CO, 4th PA Cav., in his brief report, does not relate
any sense of urgency to get to the Federal left, or even that he was
actually directed there:
"At noon of the 2d of July, I was ordered to report with my regiment to
Major-General Pleasonton, and was stationed in rear of a battery in the
center of our line by a captain on General Pleasonton's staff.
  Upon reporting to General Pleasonton in person, I was ordered to
return to General Gregg, there being sufficient cavalry at that point,
which was done." (OR, Pt I, pp 1058-9).

VR, Rick Schaus

-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com
[mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com] On Behalf Of Tom Ryan
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 1:53 PM
To: GDG
Subject: GDG- 4th PA Cav on July 2

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:


In reexamining the issue of cavalry commander Pleasonton ordering
Buford's
two brigades to Taneytown from the Union left flank on July 2 (thereby
uncovering that flank), it seems that Pleasonton made a rather feeble
attempt to make up for this blunder by directing Gregg to send a
regiment
from his cavalry division to cover the left in place of Buford.  The 4th
PA
received this assignment.  The messages related to this situation are in
OR,
vol. 27, partIII, page 490).

In reading Longacre's account of this episode in "The Cavalry at
Gettysburg"
(page 207), it is unclear whether the 4th PA Cav arrived before, during
or
after Longstreet's attack on Sickles' salient position in the late
afternoon
of July 2.

I rather think that this cav regiment did not arrive prior to the attack
because the 2nd US Sharpshooters of Berdan's brigade had the assignment
of
covering Sickles left flank prior to the attack.

Longacre's comments are that the 4th PA Cav "attempted to take the place
of
Gamble's and Devin's men on the left of the Union line.  [Col. Doster]
and
his men spent the balance of the day supporting batteries above Little
Round
Top and giving Sickle's troops a covering fire against Rebels
overrunning
their salient."  That is a little vague, and I cannot quite tell from
this
whether the 4th PA was on hand at the outset of the fighting.  If they
were,
it is reasonable to assume they would have been working in conjunction
with
the 2nd USSS in providing cover for that flank.

Does anyone have any info on when the 4th PA Cav arrived on the scene on
the
Union left, and what there initial assignment was?

Tom Ryan

 
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