Report of Colonel J. D. Waddell, Twentieth Georgia Infantry.
NEAR CULPEPER COURT-HOUSE, VA., July 27, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part borne by the Twentieth Regiment Georgia Volunteers in the battle at and near Gettysburg, Pa., on July 2 and 3:
In the order of attack, Longstreet's corps was assigned to the right, and Hood's division occupied the right of the corps. Benning's brigade, in the order of battle, supported, at the distance of 400 yards, Law's whose position was on the extreme right. In the brigade formation, the Twentieth Regiment occupied the left center. Before reaching the point from which to make the attack, it was necessary to move by the right flank a distance of nearly 3 miles. The enemy's guns commanded a considerable portion of this distance, and opened a heavy fire of shell upon us for more than a mile of the way.
About 5 p. m., having reached the intended point, we advanced in line of battle to the assault, the regiment moving in excellent order and spirit. We had not advanced far before it was ascertained that there was a considerable space intervening between Law's and Robertson's brigades, unoccupied by any Confederate troops save very few belonging to the First Texas Regiment. Near to the center of this comparatively unoccupied ground, upon a steep, rocky, rugged hill, the enemy had posted a battery of six guns, from which a destructive and vigorous fire was poured into our ranks.
To cover this ground and to support Brigadier-General [J. B.] Robertson, who was pressed severely at the time, a left and oblique movement was made and continued until the Twentieth Regiment fronted this battery, when the brigade was ordered to advance forward.
The order was obeyed by the regiment with promptness and alacrity, and the charge upon the hill and battery executed courageously and successfully. In the space of fifteen minutes the hill was carried, and three 10-pounder Parrott guns captured. They were brought off that night, and the next day turned against the enemy in that terrible artillery fight. Some 25 prisoners were captured and sent to the rear, some of whom aided our wounded in getting to the hospital. Three regiments, viz, the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, One hundred and twenty-six New York, and Fourth Maine, were represented in the person of the prisoners. After the enemy were driven from the hill, they poured upon us a terrific and incessant fire from the steep mountain side directly to our front, their advance line of infantry being distant about 500 yards, and pretty well protected by large rocks and stones heaped together.
About 6 o'clock a regiment was moved to get to our left flank. A shot from Private John F. Jordan, of Company G, unhorsed the officer leading it, when their ranks were broken, and they retreated in wild disorder and confusion, my regiment adding no little to their panic by opening a telling volley into their scattered ranks. No other advance was attempted by them upon the hill we occupied while we held it.
Our loss in the charge was very heavy. I herewith transmit a list of the casualties.
Colonel John A. Jones, commanding, was instantly killed at the post of duty by a fragment of shell when nearly half way up the hill, and but a moment before it was carried. He was an excellent officer and devoted patriot, and a braver spirit never fought beneath a flag. His loss will long be felt in this command. Lieut. F. McCrimmon, Company H, was killed just as the regiment, gained the crest, falling literally in the arms of victory. Capts. A. B. Ross, of Company A, H. C. Mitchell, of Company B, and Lieuts. P. G. Hatchett and E. J. Morgan, of Company E, were wounded; the three first-named severely, the last slightly.
Shortly after nightfall, the firing ceased, the enemy employing himself in building breastworks on the mountain side in our front. By the dawn of the following day, he had constructed in plain view three lines of breastworks, which could not have been mounted without the use of scaling ladders. A fourth line, not so distinctly visible, did not appear to be so high or strong.
The Twentieth held the hill until nearly 7 p. m. on the 3d, under a dangerous but desultory fire of the enemy, mainly infantry, when we were ordered to fall back to a more tenable position about 1 mile to our left rear, the withdrawal of troops on our left making such order necessary. Indeed, the enemy had well nigh gained our left flank before it was known, that we were without supports there to meet him. Owing to a misunderstanding of orders as to the point aimed at, and as to the manner in which the retreat should be conducted, considerable disorder attended its inception; but the regiment was formed again upon the first favorable ground, and good order soon restored.
The loss on this retreat was 17 men, some of whom are know to have been killed and others wounded. I have had no means of ascertaining whether any unwounded men field into the enemy's hands. The men generally were almost worn down by hard marching, harder fighting, constant watching, loss of sleep, hunger, and almost intolerable heat. Nevertheless, buoyed up by the unconquerable spirit of men who deserve to be free, they bore to all with the fortitude, constancy, uncomplaining devotion and patriotism which have distinguished, them in so many campaigns and avouched their soldierly character and merit upon so many fields of triumph and glory. Upon reaching the hill designate, hasty breastworks were constructed and the command kept under arms; but the enemy did not choose to attack us, and the struggle terminated here.
Instances of individual valor and gallantry were many and splendid; the coolness and courage of every man seemed equal to his opportunity, and where all, so far as I could observe, performed their full duty manfully and well, I should do injustice to many by specially commending a few whose conduct and bearing happened to fall within the scope of my own observation.
By reference to the accompanying list of casualties, it will be seen that our losses in the battle of Thursday were, in killed, 2 officers and 21 men; wounded, officers 4; men, 73; missing, 4; and of Friday the total missing is 17, making an aggregate of 121.
It may be proper to add that our battle-flang is marked with 87 holes, 38 of which seem to have been made by Minie balls, the remainder, from the character of the rents, by fragments of shell.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully your obedient servant,
J. D. WADDELL,
Colonel Twentieth Georgia Regiment.
Lieutenant H. H. PERRY,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
