Benjamin J. Hornbeck.....Captain. John E. Dunwoody... .. First Lieutenant. H. As an act of justice to General Fowler I insert the following extracts from his and General Wadsworth's official reports of the first day's operations at Gettysburg : * [Extract from General Fowler's Report:] * * * * "On entering the field the "Ninety-fifth N. Y. and Fourteenth N. Y. S. M. were "formed on the left of the Brigade, a house and garden "intervening between them and the right wing. We "were at once engaged by the enemies' skirmishers from "woods to our left and front, we drove them back and "I then found that the enemy were advancing on our "right, and were then to our rear and in possession of "one of our pieces of artillery. I immediately ordered "my command, the Ninety-fifth N. Y. and Fourteenth "N. Y. S. M. to march in retreat, until on a line with "the enemy, and then changed front perpendicularly to "face them, the enemy also changing front to meet us. "At this time the Sixth Wisconsin Regiment gallantly "advanced to our assistance. The enemy then took "possession of a railroad cut, and I gave the order to "charge them, which order was carried out gallantly by "all the regiments, by which the piece of artillery was "recaptured. The advance was continued until near "the cut, when I directed the Sixth Wisconsin to flank "it by throwing forward their right, which being done "all the enemy within our reach surrendered, officers, "battle flags and men." * "The * * * * "loss of the regiment amounts to about fifty per cent. "of the force engaged." * (Signed) * * * E. B. FOWLER, Col. Cmdg. 14th Regt. N. Y. S. M. 1862.] APPENDIX H. 619 * * * * [Extract from General Wadsworth's Report :] * "The Second Brigade Gen. "Cutler led the column followed by the Second Maine Battery, Capt. Hall. The First Brigade Gen. Mere"dith bringing up the rear. Here we met the advance 66 66 "guard of the enemy. "Three regiments of the Second Brigade were order"ed to deploy on the right of the road (Cashtown), the battery was placed in position near the road, and the "balance of the division ordered up to the left of the road, the right became sharply engaged before the "line was formed and at this time (about quarter past "ten A. M.) our gallant leader fell mortally wounded. 66 "The right encountered a heavy force, were out"numbered and outflanked, and after a resolute con"test bravely conducted by Brig. Gen. Cutler, fell back "in good order to the Seminary Ridge near the town, "and a portion of the command to a point still nearer "the town. As they fell back followed by the enemy "the Fourteenth N. Y. S. M. (Col. Fowler), Sixth Wis. "Vols. (Lieut.-Col. Dawes), and Ninety-fifth N. Y. "Vols. (Col. Biddle) gallantly charged on the advance "of the enemy and captured a large number of prison"ers, including two entire regiments with their flags, "the other regiments of the First Brigade advanced "further on the left, and captured several hundred "prisoners, including Brig. Gen. Archer. 66 66 * * * * * Maj. Gen. Doubleday commanding the corps at that time (about quarter before twelve o'clock) "arrived with the Second and Third Divisions. * 66 66 * * * The severity of the contest during the 'day may be indicated by the painful fact, that at least "half of the officers and men that went into the en"gagement were killed or wounded. (Signed) * * * * Very respt your ob't servant, JAS. S. WADSWORTH, Brig. Gen. Cmdg. AUG 25 1920 |
