Take an Historic Walk Through the Site of the Gettysburg Battle: Fighting South of Chambersburg Pike

As I walk the battlefield, I like to do it in the order of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd day's battles. Drive out to the Guide's Station located just west of Stone Ave and park. Around 0800 hours on July 1^st, 1863, Gen Archer's and Gen Davis's brigades approached up the Chambersburg Pike. Ready to fight a delaying action against them were eight cavalry regiments and one artillery battery. The confederates deployed Archer's Brigade to the right of Chambersburg Pike and Davis's Brigade to the left. Also confederate artillery was deployed and began to shell McPherson Ridge.

Walking south down Stone Ave, look to your right , from this direction in line of battle was Archer's Brigade, probable order of alignment was, 7^th Tenn, 14^th Tenn, 1^st Tenn and the 13^th Ala from left to right. As they moved through Herbst's Woods, to your right, they crossed Willoughby Run. The 1^st Tenn ran into the 2^nd Wisconsin, both sides firing into each other a close range. The Union troops were the Iron Brigade, consisting of the 24^th Mich, 19^th Ind, 7^th Wis, 2^nd Wis from left to right with the 6^th Wis held in support near the Seminary.

The line of the Iron Brigade extended from the north side of McPherson Woods almost the Fairfield Rd. The left of the line was able to flank Archer's Brigade and sent it running back across Willoughby Run, capturing many of the confederates including Gen Archer.

Looking to your left you will see McPherson's Barn. This is the original barn that held many wounded soldiers. Stop at the North Carolina Marker and walk down the path to Willoughby Run. This stream was crossed by both the union and confederate battle lines and these woods held many dead and wounded, many lying without help or burial until after the battle ended.

After returning to Stone Ave, on your left is Reynolds Woods, The line of monuments depicts the battle line of the Iron Brigade. Early in the action, Gen John F. Reynolds was shot and killed while directing the 2^nd Wisconsin to drive out the confederates from the woods. Behind the 24^th Michigan's monument find a path and walk through the woods to the marker that depicts the spot where Gen Reynolds was killed. This patch of woods was witness to a terrible struggle as the confederate forces pushed back the union troops. On your right towards the Fairfield Rd, Biddle Brigade came on the field; they included the 121st Pa, 80^th NY, 142^nd PA and the 151st PA regiments.

Walking North on South Reynolds Ave, on the right is the Lutheran Seminary, the field between these two points contained some of the heaviest fighting as more confederate regiments arrived and the union forces were retreating. On the left is McPherson Barn, at the time of the battle a house and small outbuildings were there. Early in the morning's action, part of Cutler's Brigade, 84^th NY and 95^th NY were deployed in the area surrounding these buildings. These two regiments along with the 6^th Wisconsin participated in the attack on the railroad cut. Later Stones Brigade moved to this position, they included the 150^th PA, 143^rd PA and 149^th PA regiments. As the pressure of the confederate attack increased these troops retreated back to Seminary Ridge.

Now walk east across the field to the Lutheran Seminary. Standing by what is now a tennis court, looking west, this is what the final battle lines looked like; Stone's Brigade was deployed around the McPherson Barn area; Meredith Brigade in Reynold Woods, Biddle Brigade on his left near the Fairfield Rd. Advancing against this line are the confederates of Brockenbrough's Brigade, 22VA Bn, 40^th VA, 47^th VA and 55^th Va, hitting the McPherson's Barn area and the 7^th and 2^nd Wis. Next is the 26^th NC smashing into the 24^th Mich, and Pettigrew's Brigade, 52^nd NC, 47^th NC and 11NC driving Biddle back and the 11^th NC flanking the 19^th Ind.

The final stage of this fight south of Chambersburg Pike took place appropriately along a line to the left and right by the tennis court where you are standing now. From right to left the union line was Stone, Meredith, Biddle and a cavalry unit under Gamble. Artillery batteries were placed along this line also. Attacking from the west were from left to right, Scales Brigade, consisting of 13^th NC, 34^th NC, 22 NC and 16^th NC, next was Perrin's Brigade, 14^th SC, 1SC, 12^th SC and 13^th SC and across the Fairfield Rd was Lane's Brigade, 33NC, 18NC, 28NC and the 37^th NC with the 7^th NC facing south.

Some of the heaviest fight took place on these ridges, with the union having success early on in the day and with the arrival of fresh confederate troops, the tide turned and the union forces were flanked and they retreated back through the town to Cemetery Ridge.

Many of the unknown buried in the National Cemetery were from this part of the field. They laid here for 3 or more days in the hot July sun and many were unrecognizable. Action on July 1 often times are not given the importance as it should, but I believe what took place here, the strong stand by the outnumbered and outgunned union troops, shaped the outcome of the battle. They gave time for Gen Meade to move up the rest of the Army and to dig in to received Gen Lee's attack. We must not forget Gen Buford and his cavalry troops, for they held back and delayed a force far superior in strength, and gave time for Gen Reynolds to bring up the 1^st Corps.

Living in this modern time of cars, planes, and cell phones, is is hard to understand what the civil war soldier had to endure. They had to march mile after mile, carrying 50 lbs or more, on very sparse rations, no McDonalds, KFC to stop for lunch. Many had no shoes, many were far from family and home, especially the confederates. I know what it is like to be sick and in a strange hospital far from home, it is hard for the mind to fathom the suffering what took place upon this hallowed land.