The Attack and Defense of Oak Hill

As Gen Archer's Brigade deployed south of the pike, Gen Davis's Brigade deployed to the north of the pike. The brigade consisted of the 55th NC, 2nd Miss 42 Miss and the 11th Miss which was not with the brigade during this fight. As the confederates approached from the west, Cutler's Brigade arrived on the field. It consisted of the 76th NY, 56th PA 147th NY, 95th NY and the 84th NY regiments.

Gen Cutler deployed his brigade with the 147th on the left, 56th Pa and the 76th NY, facing the 42nd Miss, 2nd Miss and 55th NC. The 95th and 84th were placed South of the pike near the McPherson Barn. As the fighting increased, the 55th NC was able to swing to the left and flank the 76th NY and the 56th PA causing the to retreat in disorder towards Seminary Ridge. The 147th never got the order to fall back and suffered high casualties, before retreating.

As the confederates were approaching the railroad cut, the 6th Wis was ordered to the right to provide flanking fire. Along with the 95th NY and 87th NY they rushed the railroad cut where many of the confederates were captured or killed.

During the lull after the action at the railroad cut, the union forces solidified their positions. Baxter's Brigade of the 1st Corps arrived on the field and moved north of the railroad cut deploying his regiments from right to left, 90th PA, 12th Mass, 88th PA, 83rd NY, and the 97th NY. Extending the union line was Cutler's 147th NY, 56th PA, 76th NY, 95th NY and 14th Brooklyn. Elements of Paul's Brigade were also in the area.

Maj Gen Rodes's Division arrived on Oak Hill and started artillery fire on the union positions. Without proper reconnaissance, Rodes sent O'Neal Brigade, 12th Ala, 26th Ala, 6th Ala and the 5th Ala regiments to attack what he thought was the union right flank. Using only three of his 5 regiments, the attack failed, with a loss of 696 of 1688 men.

Next Rode's sent in Iverson's Brigade, 5th NC, 12th NC, 20th NC and the 23rd NC regiments. Seeing the confederates advancing, Baxter's men shifted to a near by stone fence. They hit Iverson's men with a devastating volley, killing or wounding around 500 troops.

Meanwhile Gen Daniel's Brigade arrived on the field, consisting of the 32nd NC, 43rd NC, 45th NC, 53rd NC and the 2nd NC Battalion. They advanced towards a gap between Cutler's left and the Chambersburg Pike. They were met by the 149th PA and the 143rd PA, located near the railroad cut. Being flanked they had to retreat.

During this time the 13th Mass, 104th NY, 94th NY, 107th PA and 16th Me from Paul's Brigade was sent in to bolster the union line. Gen Ramseur arrived with his brigade, 2nd NC, 4th NC, 14th NC and 30th NC regiments. The 16th Me was ordered to make a suicidal counterattack to give time for the other units to withdraw. They advanced towards the Mummasburg Rd, receiving 61 casualties killed or wounded.

Sometime during this action, the 11th Corps arrived and Brig Gen Schimmelfennig's 3rd Division was ordered to Oak Hill. Upon seeing the confederates already on Oak Hill, he formed a line perpendicularly to Robinson's Division of the 1st Corps. Gen Barlow's Division, 1st Brigade - Col Gilsa; 2nd Brigade - Brig Gen Ames was placed on the far right near the Harrisburg Road. Due to an error in judgment Gen Barlow placed part of his division on what is known today as Barlow's Knoll. They were hit hard by elements of Doles Brigade, 12th Ga, 4th Ga, 44th Ga and the 21st Ga Regiments, and Gordon's Brigade, 13th Ga, 26th GA, 31st Ga, 38th Ga, 60th Ga and the 61st Ga Regiments.

The Union line gave way from additional pressure as Early's Division arrived on the flank causing units to give way, thus exposing the next in line to be flanked. Gen Early ordered Hays and Avery's Divisions to attack putting more pressure on the elements of the 11th Corps. The members of the 11th Corps fell back thru the town, some say in a panic and others say they fought and fell back in an orderly manner. I believe that the truth lies somewhere in between the two theories.

Upon arriving at Gettysburg, the 2nd Division of Brig Gen Adolph von Steinwehr was held as reserve on Cemetery Hill. As the fighting intensified, Col Coster's 1st Brigade was ordered to the north end of town to try and stem the confederate attack. They advanced to the railroad depot where the 73rd PA was placed to act as a reserve. The rest of the brigade continued along Stratton St to Kuhn's brickyard. Facing the men of the 1st Brigade was two brigades of Gen Early's Division, coming down Harrisburg Rd was Hay's Brigade and to their left was Gen Avery's North Carolina Brigade.

The fight at the brickyard became desperate, with the union troops being almost surrounded. The men retreated, trying to cut their way out of the trap with confederates on all sides. Many did not make it and were either killed or captured. The losses were horrendous, with the 154th NY losing all but three officers and fifteen men.

With the retreat of the 1st and 11th Corps through the town to Cemetery Hill, the fight north of Chambersburg Pike came to an end. Even with the Confederates holding the field, it's hard to say that day one was a union defeat. The 1st Corps fought and held their ground against overwhelming odds, only retreating after being flanked and pushed to their limit. The 11th Corps was placed in an almost impossible position. Given their reputation some say they quit and ran, but they were out gunned and flanked. No soldier can stand up to the pressure put on them by the confederates.

One estimate of the losses that occurred on July 1 was Confederates 5,880 killed and wounded, 1840 missing or captured for a total of 7720. Union with 5360 killed or wounded, 3600 missing or captured for a total of 8960. These figures are from Jeffrey C. Hall's book "The Stand of the U.S. Army at Gettysburg".

The fight that occurred north and south of the Chambersburg Pike, I believe was the greatest battle of the three days. The fight ended with the Confederates holding the town and Union digging in of Cemetery Hill. The Union loss their positions west and north of town but gain a stronghold on Cemetery Hill.