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posted 9/5/03 THE BATTALION Gentlemen, This just a brief report Col. Huckabee: This is my report for the past campaign
in and around Gettysburg PA. We marched out on Tuesday
arriving in the Gettysburg area on Wednesday and made camp in
a tree line north of that town. No action occurred for
the next two days. Friday morning dawned warm and hazy
with word we were to meet the federals soon. We marched
out about 150 strong eager to meet the Yankees soon we found
ourselves in a large field facing a very strong force of federal
infantry with a battery of artillery in support. As we
engaged them and gained some support from our own infantry they
began to waiver and break. You must have seen the same
thing that we did on the right for you gave the order to charge
which we did in splendid fashion our battalion captured a stand
of colors and several prisoners plus a battery of cannons.
But the fight was not over after securing our gains we pressed
on after the rest of them they had reformed in a slight depression
which they could not hold very well as we seen them try to flee
you gave the order to charge again we routed them completely
and captured a General and several Pennsylvania bucktails.
Our own losses were slight and the men's fighting spirit much
aroused. We went back into camp and rested fro a while
needing water and rest. At about 4:00 pm we were ordered
to arms again this time we marched some distance before resting
on a high hill behind our own artillery. Soon we
were ordered forward in column of battalions after passing the
artillery line we encountered a road with fences on both sides
there the Yankee skirmishers were battling with a small battalion
in front of us we pressed on over the first fence and into the
road the federal skirmishers retired to their main line and we
broke the fence down and pressed after them. They withdrew
some 1000 yards with us pressing them very hard until we pushed
them up to a creek with a narrow ford here we had them bottled
up on three sides and captured many of them I would like to commend
the men in the right wing in this fight for we lost many a brave
man in this fight but gained much ground. After we took
the prisoners back we were ordered to the rear again for rest
and re-supply. Here we stayed until the next day when ordered
in again this time we marched many miles to get to our jump off
point. As we passed our artillery line they gave us the
most rousing cheer we crossed the road and went into a column
of companies we went a good distance hearing the battle but not
being able to see it. Soon we seen the federals on a large
bare hill but a deep creek stood between us and them you were
afraid we would get our cartridges wet by fording the creek so
we left faced and found a ford further down. Here we went
back into a column of companies and moved to flank the federals
on the hill. It was a grand site we had their flank and
were moving steadily for them we wheeled to the left and landed
square on their flank we started pouring a very destructive fire
on them just about had them running when they got support from
somewhere. The enemy began to flank the right wing with
sharp shooters so we refused the right two companies then seeing
they weren't very strong charged them and took their position
took a few of them prisoner. But here is where we ran into
trouble you were unaware of our problems on the right and gave
the order to charge by the time the right wing went in the federals
were ready since the left wing had hit them and fell back a short
distance when we charged. They poured in on both flanks
and in front and captured many of us. Luckily we escaped
and made it back to the regiment. After this fight our
men were quite exhausted and in need of rest and re-supply we
went into camp in some woods and slept like only tired soldiers
can. However our rest was not long for we were ordered
into the fight once more. Another hill to be seized as
we went into the fight our own artillery had been at work for
some time and we figured had softened them up considerably.
When we stepped off we could see long lines of blue waiting for
us, but as other regiments began to move up the hill and the
federals shifted troops a huge gap opened in the center of their
line just in front of us. As you know you called Major
Griggs, myself, and the Colonel from the North Carolina battalion
over to you and it was decided to strike the gaping hole in our
front we would wheel left and they would wheel right and open
this gap wider. But all good plans go awry in battle as
we did what was prescribed and really got a twist on them, the
North Carolinians failed to do their part and even fell back
some distance leaving us exposed to flanking and rearward fire.
We held a good while until we were hit in the rear and on the
flank by a magnificent charge. We withdrew in fairly good
order for the circumstances we were in loosing many men to their
destructive fire. We reformed and went into camp again
this time for the night and much needed rest. The next
day we were ordered on a long march again arriving on a high
hill over looking our own artillery. Here, the sighting
of Generals Lee, Longstreet, and Picket their mood much improved
and ready to finish the fight uplifted the men's spirits.
After the artillery pounded the Yankees for almost an hour we
were ordered to step off. We could see long lines of the
enemy waiting for us it really didn't look like the artillery
had done much, but we continued forward again we were stopped
by a deep creek and ordered to move by the left flank to reach
a crossing. Upon crossing the creek we were stacked up
behind other battalions waiting to move forward. Here we
spent several unnerving minuets waiting for our time to press
forward. Soon we stepped off in splendid fashion towards
a rock wall heavily defended. As we moved forward you gave
the order to fire then charge, which we did in style, we almost
mad it to the wall when they unleashed a terrible volley on us,
which melted our line away like snow on warm ground. I
regret to say that we did not take the wall and as you know were
forced to leave it to them. We are safely with in
our own lines now and this is just a memory but one that I will
never forget. I must ask that the brave men of the Battalion
commended for their heroic action at Gettysburg. Colonel W. Huckabee, Commanding Colonel Wm. Huckabee 1st Arkansas Battalion |
Sir, the officers of 1st Company having been wounded to death in our most recent engagement, it falls to me as the ranking survivor to present this battle report of the 140th Gettysburg Campaign. Having just been exchanged and provided pen and paper, I am able to set in writing the events that befell the 1st Company. The campaign began as we boarded the Jefferson Line at stations in Indian Territory and Arkansas on the evening of the 5th instant. Spirits were up and morale was high as evidenced by the constant complaining about the comfort of the coach seats. Perhaps the Major should get us flat beds next time. After several track delays and a derailment near Lexington, Virginia we arrived at Redding Farm Station in Pennsylvania just after dusk on the 6th instant. We were quickly registered into the Army of Northern Virginia and transported by wagon to our encampment with Heffner's Brigade of Shoemake's 1st Division. Upon arrival at the wooded bivouac, we immediately threw down and slept on arms, intending on reorganizing with daylight. At dawn of the 7th instant we consolidated the remnants of the NW 15th Arkansas, Pelican Rifles, 10th Arkansas and 1st Missouri into 1st Company, 1st Arkansas Battalion, with Captain David Alexander commanding and with 1st Lt Tom Denton as company officer. We drew 3 days rations, which we ate, and prepared for the coming battle by touring the site of the First Battle of Gettysburg. That evening we received replacements in the form of raw recruits (Privates Hamilton and Ryland) who had yet to see the elephant. Thus, we fielded 19-21 enlisted men and 2 officers for each engagement of the campaign. Reveille on the 8th brought us rumors of a considerable federal force moving in our direction. This caused us to hasten through the school of the soldier, company drill, and battalion drill in preparation for battle. A humorous event occurred during weapons inspection as one of the replacements had a full charge in his musket when Captain Alexander capped weapons. After nearly having his toes blown off, the Captain severely reprimanded the 1st Sergeant for failing to clear weapons after training. It was almost worth the reprimand to see the little man jump that high. The Engagement of the Scripted Tactical, 8th August The long roll called us to action at about 9 o'clock a.m. on the 8th instant. We formed and marched to a point behind our artillery. The batteries were set facing south along the crest of a rise that was part of the west slope of a small valley. We were below the crest on the north side of the artillery so we could not see the enemy as our brigade marched to the west. Halting in a narrow belt of trees, we waited for further orders. On your command we fronted and moved up behind the artillery in line of battle, then moved by right of companies to the front so that we passed through Street's Battery in company columns. As we moved through the battery we immediately confronted a federal battalion in its left rear flank and surged upon it. As the left wing engaged and drove that battalion, Captain Alexander directed our fires upon a regiment beyond and perpendicular to that battalion. Both federal units crumpled under our assault and we pursued them across the slope. At times we became entangled with the Carolina regiment to our right sometimes ahead of them and sometimes behind. Soon the federals rallied, but we were on them before they could volley fire. Hand to hand combat ensued until we bypassed the gallant federals for capture by the Carolinians. The company then performed a left turn into battalion line and charged upon a group of federal staff officers. We later learned that they were the federal command staff and that the general-in-chief handed his saber to you. After regrouping and marching back to our bivouac, we learned that we had also captured a set of colors, an artillery battery, and supply wagons full of rations. The quartermaster issued us 3-days worth of the captured rations, which we ate. The Engagement at McPherson Ridge, 8th August Our sojourn in camp was short as we were soon redesignated the 5th Alabama Battalion (Archer's Brigade of Heth's Division) and the long roll called us to battle at about 4 o'clock p.m. The brigade forced a march up hill (both ways) to a forest encircled meadow above a farmstead. Morale was high as evidenced by the whining and sniveling during the march. Quartermaster wagons soon arrived with barrels of water. Rumor circulated that the water in these barrels was from the famed Spangler Spring. The cool water evidently had an adverse affect on the troops' morale as all whining and sniveling stopped after its delivery. Our haven of rest was on the western slope of a fairly wide valley, the center of which was bisected from north to south by a muddy creek, name unknown. As we looked east over Table Rock Road we could glimpse vague lines of blue on a ridge across the valley. An artillery exchange commenced at about 6 o'clock p.m. Thereafter, we moved down slope and east to the said farm, then deployed into battalion line of battle. We crossed a field, a picket fence, and Table Rock Road, halting at a fence along the west ditch of that road. Captain Alexander found an opening in this fence and led the company through it. This maneuver placed us in the immediate front of a Carolina unit, said unit being much vexed by our presence. Lt Col Sanders, ordered us back behind the Carolinians and we reluctantly obeyed. Soon the Carolinians advanced with us following quickly in their wake. Lt Col Sanders led a short charge behind them with 2nd Company. As they passed in front of us, you recalled them and the battalion line was restored. Suddenly our front opened. I do not remember where the Carolinians went - maybe to Hell. At any rate, we swept forward toward the unnamed creek as the federals skedaddled to the east, across the creek, and up the far side of the little valley. We quickly established the battalion's right flank on the creek and surrounded a large party of federal staff and commanders on horse back before they could cross the bridge. The pursuit was called off and we marched back to camp. We had again captured federal ration wagons. The Engagement at Little Round Top, 9th August At dawn, 3-days worth of the federal rations were issued to us, which we ate. We discovered that we had been redesignated as the 15th Alabama Infantry (Law's Brigade of Hood's Division). About 9:15 a.m. we answered first call to discover that we were again marching to a fight. The march took us to the same farm where we had rested on the 8th instant. This time we formed south of the barn (where an entrancing young lady urged us on to glory and with whom our 1st Corporal fell in immediate and hopeless love). The quartermaster again provided water which again destroyed morale as evidenced by the immediate cessation of whining and sniveling. Colonel, this gratuitous issuance of water to the troops must stop! Our 11 o'clock a.m. artillery barrage ended with the brigade surging forward in line of battalions with battalions in column. Thus we crossed a hayfield, fence, Table Rock Road, and another fence. Immediately east of the last fence we evolved into line of battle, drove federal skirmishers, and moved past a peach orchard toward the unnamed creek. We advanced toward the creek at an unfordable location, so we moved by the left in column of companies until we found a ford. Crossing the creek, we moved upslope toward the southeast, still in column of companies. About 75 yards west of the creek we fronted into battalion line of battle and were facing a federal unit above and to the left us on the slope rising east of the creek. Advancing in line of battle, we soon came under heavy musket fire from the federal unit. It appeared that the right wing would flank the federal left, but the yankees sent a company out to our right to disrupt the assault. 1st and 2nd Companies successfully refused the right and repulsed this threat. We reformed on the battalion and again charged up the hill. The federals surprised us by answering our charge with a bayonet charge at us. Their charge took us by such surprise that those who did not flee were immediately captured. We retired from the field leaving many casualties. We limped back into our encampment, did not receive rations, and did not eat. The battalion was redesignated as the 7th Louisiana Infantry (Hays' Brigade of Early's Division) and directed to prepare for further battle. Engagement at Culps & Cemetery Hills, 9th August We answered the long roll at approximately 2 o'clock p.m. and marched under cover of trees and ridges to a wooded area just south of Table Rock Road. At about 2:50 p.m., we formed in line of battle with the brigade stacked in column of battalions. We were the third battalion in from the east edge of the woods. The quartermaster again delivered barrels of water, the water having the aforementioned effect on morale. We stacked arms and waited. We noticed federal skirmishers moving our way at about 3:45 p.m. They were moving up slope from a small, tree-lined creek about 100 yards to our front. The artillery to our right commenced firing at 4 o'clock, whereupon we reformed in preparation for movement against the skirmishers. I do not remember how exactly we evolved out of the woods into brigade line of battle, other than it was a circuitous and confusing affair. By then we could see solid ranks of blue on the far side of the creek and knew we would have an uphill fight. But the boys were ready for a fight and on command we quickly engulfed the federal skirmishers and rushed to the creek. I did not see a single skirmisher make it back to the federal side of the creek. The creek proved to be no major obstacle to us; however, it must have caused some trouble to the Carolinians on our right as they lagged behind us and a gap opened between us. The gap proved fatal. As we moved further uphill and the smoke cleared a bit, we found a federal battalion about 30 yards to our right front. Its right flank company leveled a volley into us that caused half the company to go down including all the officers. As I rallied the remnants, the Carolinians struck the federal battalion causing it to retire. We caught up with the rest of the battalion as it was closing on another federal battalion. I formed my little company on 2nd Company and kept up a continuous fire so that 2nd Company could fire volleys. This action chased the federals off to our right. The yanks reformed and charged at our still-exposed right flank so I refused the right, taking two more casualties. You ordered the battalion to fall back. In falling back, we became separated from 2nd Company but closed the gap with the Carolinians. We formed a single rank perpendicular to the Carolinians left and engaged a federal unit advancing on the Carolina right while the Carolinians engaged the unit that had driven us back. You and Lt Col Sanders brought the rest of the battalion to our aid, but not before we had taken two more casualties. I put my remaining three privates into 2nd Company's line and became a file closer for that company. 1st Company had ceased to exist. We fell back downhill toward the creek where the fighting ended. The yankees were still in possession of the high ground and had good enfilading fires on us, so we retired from the field, with dignity, and returned to our original bivouac. There we found replacements for our losses, to include a new captain who looked at lot like our departed leader except that he wore a tannish-brownish-derby-looking affair on his head. We decided that he was a river boat gambler before the war. The Engagement of Pickett's Charge, 10th August No reveille sounded on the morning of the 10th instant; however, the company was up soon after first light. The Captain directed us to load our wagon and put all else in march order. This we did, then spent the morning in anticipation of further orders. The battalion adjutant ran into our area at about 12 noon with orders to immediately form in battalion line. We scrambled into line, were redesignated as the 42nd Mississippi Infantry (Davis' Brigade of Pettigrew's Division), and moved out with the brigade on the now-familiar up hill forced march. Our next stop was a meadow to the north of the farm house, but this time trees blocked our view of the field. The quartermaster had stockpiled water barrels in anticipation of our arrival so we again lowered our morale and waited. A furious cannonade commenced below us at 2 o'clock p.m. and we moved out some 30-40 minutes later. The brigade filed down hill from the meadow in battalion column, passed through our artillery then fanned into brigade line with battalions in column. Thus we crossed Table Rock Road heading east into what had become a valley of death over the past two days. We filed north along the east side of the road and evolved into brigade line of battle. The artillery duel continued while the rest of the assault force came onto line. Lt Col Sanders appointed me battalion ride guide and directed me to maintain an even line with the Carolina battalion on our right and to hold a position about five feet from their left. Federal artillery began to fall in our midst as we moved forward, then by the left oblique. The gap between us and the Carolinians closed during this brigade movement toward the creek and I found myself shoulder-to-shoulder with their left guide. On the command "brigade forward" we were mashed together with him demanding that we give left and me demanding that they give right. This futile argument continued until we neared the creek where the Carolinians moved by the right oblique and we faced left and marched the other way. I confess to making an obscene gesture at the Carolinians as we parted. The brigade continued on this line for about 100 yards then forded the creek in column of companies. This put us immediately behind another brigade so we filed left then performed a by-files-right-into-line so that we were in battle line behind the leading brigade (Lane's Brigade?). Another brigade filed in behind us and the artillery continued to find us. Most of the artillery fire seemed to be directed to our right (Pickett's Division), but we were getting some and the musket fire was beginning to reach us. The lead brigade soon surged forward with us following. Through a break in the smoke we could see the federal breastworks ahead and uphill of us. They were set behind a stone wall that traversed the ridge from north to south. We were moving toward an angle in that wall where it cut to the east for about 40 yards before resuming its north-south alignment. Rows and rows of glinting bayonets loomed behind the wall. The battalion in front of us suddenly disappeared and we found ourselves leaping over its dead and wounded. We discharged a quick volley and evolved into a charging, yelling horde. Just as we came abreast of the angle in the wall, we realized that we had charged into a cul-de-sac. Federal lines were on our left, right, and front with each pouring volley after volley into our diminishing ranks. Captain Alexander and 1st Lt Denton were riddled with balls and our line collapsed. About 10 feet from the breastworks a minie ball knocked me to the ground. My last conscious thought was of Lt Col Sanders, obviously wounded, being pulled over the wall by yankees. I regained my senses in a field near the federal field hospital but could find no one from our battalion. My wounds were severe enough that the federals did not want to care for me so they added me to a group slated for prisoner exchange. The yanks told me that unwounded prisoners were being taken to a prison camp in Elmira, NY. I was exchanged this morning and was given pen and paper to document these actions before they dimmed in memory. I will be very, very pleased to return to the Trans-Mississippi.
I remain your obedient servant. JMorris JC Morris First Sergeant 1st Company, 1st Arkansas Battalion
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