FW: GDG- 4th PA Cav on July 2

[William Nolan]

Hello All:
 
This discussion of the 4th PA Cavalry being sent to the Federal's left at the beginning of the July 2nd assault reminded me of something has has always been a bit of a puzzle to me.    I remember that Colonel Oates wrote of the 15th Alabama's retreat from their engagement with the 20th Maine on little Round Top that "When the signal was given we ran like a herd of wild cattle, right through the line of dismounted cavalrymen."   I always assumed that Colonel Oates was mistaken about the cavalrymen and maybe mistook the 20th Maine's company B as cavalrymen.   Is it possible "dismounted cavalrymen" were actually there and were possibly members of the 4th PA Cav?  If not, were there any other Federal Cavalry in that area of combat that Colonel Oakes may have seen? 
 
Bill



> From: eric at rushslancers.com> To: gettysburg at arthes.com> Subject: Re: GDG- 4th PA Cav on July 2> Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:45:09 -0400> > Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:> > > Here's what Doster wrote in his memoirs:> > ...Gregg ordered us into a field of clover on Rock Creek, between > Hanover and Taneytown roads. At three I was ordered to accompany a > staff officer General Pleasonton's with my regiment. We hastened > through the crowded roads to what I afterwards learned was Little > Round Top, in rear of some artillery, McGilvery's artillery brigade of > Sickles's corps, where I left my regiment and went with my guide to > Pleasonton for instructions. This was the headquarters of our army.> > The house was a small cottage on the left of the Taney Town Road, > sheltered somewhat by the hill above. Outside were many staff > officers and orderlies. Within was Butterfield, Meade, and > Pleasonton. They occupied a room that contained the ordinary bedroom > furniture of an ordinary Pennsylvania farmer. Their gentlemanly > manner and brilliant uniforms contrasted strangely with the > surroundings.> > Pleasonton begged my pardon for having made me ride so far. There was > no need of exposing the cavalry in front. I should rejoin Gregg on > the right and tell him to take good care of it. My orderly's horse > was struck by a shell here. I rejoined my regiment, who were very > glad to get out of the fearful rain of shell which, directed to the > caissons in front of them, dismounted a number of them. On my way > back noticed Sickles on a stretcher, smoking a cigar. They said his > leg had been shot off in the last charge. This is giving the 'Solace > Tobacco' a new meaning. By the time I reached Gregg he was just going > into camp in the clover field above mentioned. The men were just > leaving their horses to run at random to graze and sitting down to > make coffee, when a long Rebel infantry skirmish line issues from the > woods and advances towards us, while artillery on the edge of the > woods reach us with shells. We get our artillery limbered up again, > throw out a stronger line, drive them back, and then, in sight of one > another, take supper, for the first time since we left Edwards Ferry, > with some degree of comfort.....> > Eric> 
_________________________________________________________________
Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger2_072008