Report of Brig. General Darrell N. Markijohn, commanding 2 nd Division, Federal Forces June 28-30, 2013 --The BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, Pa HDQRS. USV Brigade, Near Gettysburg, Pa., 1863 The greatly anticipated Gettysburg Campaign has come to a close. The Army of the Potomac thwarted The Army of Northern Virginia s invasion of Pennsylvania. Lee s troops were turned back and they are in full retreat south of the Potomac. Huzzah to the Union! The BGA 150 th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg was in many ways one to remember. Exuberant in its expectation and planning, rough at times in its execution, but purely epic in its images and memories, the event of the decade lived up to its billing. The USV, comprised of all three of its infantry regiments and Sharpshooters, constituted the entire 2 nd Division of the Federal Army. We shouldered nearly 850 rifles. It was the largest single organization on the field from either side. Add to that over 125 mounted cavalry and our Artillery and the number exceeds 1000. Our civilians also came out in force. In short, the USV family was well represented. There are a lot of people we need to thank, but foremost in my mind is the incredibly hard working Brigade Staff. I start with acting Chief of Staff, Maj. Paul Buckler, Quartermaster, Maj. Rick Karlowsky, Provost, Major Paul Dudek, and Assistant Adjutant General, Maj. John Kubilewicz. Our four major department heads once again greased the wheels when needed and made things work. I also give thanks to Capt. Kris Gunvalsen, Major Larry Golding, Major John Brasko, Capt. Sam Grant, Capt. Chuck Spieral, Lt. Jeff Pollock, Lt. Carl Donley, Capt. Daryl Miles and Sergeant Les Salisbury. I very much want to thank Sergeant Brian Kesterson, Capt. Grant s daughter Annie and my son Private Chris Markijohn for putting up and keeping up with me while I road my horse aimlessly across the Hills and Dales. And of course, our own Lt Col. Chambers who overworked himself preparing for the event and was placed on the ranks of the wounded. He was never far from our thoughts. And finally, a big thanks to Carol Gehm who picked up the commissary responsibilities at the last minute and did a marvelous job keeping the staff fed. You out rank us all! I also need to thank our Regimental Commanders and their staffs for outstanding work in camp and on the field. Col. David Childs, 1 st USV Regt., Col. Chuck Young, 2 nd USV Regt., Col. Scot Buffington, 3 rd USV Regt., Col. Mike Church, USV Cavalry, Col. Rick Dennis, USV Artillery, and Major John Carey, USV Sharpshooters, once again proved to everyone on the field that the USV Army is a well oiled and hard fighting machine. It is truly an HONOR to command an organization that has so much talent. We should also give a great deal of thanks to our Army Commander, Major General Bob Minton and his staff. WOW!!! What you were able to accomplish was unbelievable. You certainly lived up to the motto FOR REENACTORS, BY REENACTORS. Unfortunately, there was an emphasis on the BY Reenactor side, and the amount of challenges that you were able to meet and solve in that busy week was nothing short of Herculean. It was a true pleasure to work with Gen. Minton, his chief of staff, Gen. Bill Watson, and Quartermaster Tom Burke.
And Finally, we give thanks to the Blue Gray Alliance. The Board of Directors and their staffs took on the task of organizing and underwriting a 150 th Gettysburg Reenactment in the heavy bureaucratic permit laden Adams County. At times, everyone was against them. Yet, they were up to the challenge. I personally have to give credit to Maj. Gen. Joe Way and his son Mark for what they did. Running an event this size from hundreds of miles away is unbelievably difficult. We also thank Maj. General Shelton and especially K. C. Meadows, the lone Gettysburgian who s boots on the ground sure helped. Great events don t just happen. And thanks to my friend Carl Staub, who once again took such great photos as seen below, it won t be soon forgotten. BATTLES McPherson s Ridge. Friday Morning started off with a bang. The Federal Cavalry under the command of USV Col. Mike Church headed out to McPherson s Ridge to hold the high ground until the 1 st Corps arrived. They had a lively fight. The USV infantry portrayed Maj. General Cutler s Brigade, placed at the vanguard of the 1 st Corps march. Individual USV regiments portrayed the 76 th NY, 56 th Pa., and 95 th NY. After a rather disjointed march through the woods and over the cobble stone, brogan killing, roads, we arrived on the field just in time to relieve our cavalry brethren. We put out the 76 th NY and 56 th Pa to confront Davis Confederates and put the 95 th NY (teamed up with the 14 th Bkln portrayed by the Union Volunteers) up against Archer. The USV Artillery portrayed Hall s Battery located between the Chambersburg Pike and the Railroad Cut. Our federal line was in perfect historic position. As we arrived on the field, there were 7 Confederate Cannons terribly misplaced on our immediate right flank. The USV 1 st Regt. therefore attacked and silenced these non historically correct CS pieces and moved on Davis. In the original battle, the 55 th NC flanked the 76 th NY and collapsed the whole right wing of Cutler s Brigade. We all waited for the flank attack, but for whatever reason, it never came. In order to fulfill our end of the scenario, we simply pulled the 76 th NY and then the 56 th Pa off the field, even though there was no military reason to do so. That allowed the Mississippi troops to finally pile into the Railroad Cut. Once there, the 95 th and 14 th Bkln changed fronts (in fine order) and assaulted the Cut taking many prisoners. At that point, we pulled the USV infantry regiments back for provisions and refitting. After the lull, the 1 st USV Regt. portrayed the 149 th Pa. Bucktails and went back into the fight at the Railroad Cut. It was a hot fight and they held for as long as they could before being overwhelmed by superior Confederate Forces. The 2 nd USV Regt. was used to provide support on the far right as the Rebel horde was about to overlap and flank the Federal Army. Col. Young moved his troops in smartly and extended the line to confront the assault and engaged in a spirited fight. In order to follow the scenario, Col. Young allowed his regiment to disintegrate giving the Rebs the opportunity to charge through. Enjoy some of Carl s best work.
The USV Cavalry holding the line on McPherson s Ridge. Cutler s Brigade on the march.
The 95 th NY and 14 th Bkln. relieving the Cavalry. The Iron Brigade.
The Iron Brigade breaks Archer s line Cutler s Brigade Assaults the Railroad Cut
Confederates attack from the North and the Union line breaks The Union Army retreats through Gettysburg on its way to Cemetery Hill
The Iron Brigade attempts to hold the Union left The Pennsylvania Bucktails fall back after a gallant holding action at the Railroad Cut.
Cemetery Hill. On Friday Evening, the USV once again marched down the stone roads just to make sure that any brogans that survived the first march would succumb to the second. The 1 st and 2 nd Regiments were posted on the crest of the wooded hill in reserve to await orders to relieve the federal army posted down below. The 3 rd Regt was lined up on the left flank of the Federal Army at the ditch. As the fight went on, the Confederate Infantry left its right flank exposed and as the overall Federal line was breaking in spots, the 1 st and 2 nd Regiments pounced. They caved in the Confederate Right and allowed the Federal line to retake the offensive, pushing the enemy back across the ditch and beyond. The photos from that fight are simply spectacular. The Federal Line at the Base of Cemetery Hill.
The Federal line is pushed back.. And then charges forward
The USV attacks the Confederate Right Flank. The Wheatfield and Peach Orchard The 1 st and 3 rd USV Regt. portrayed troops in the Wheatfield and the 2 nd USV Regt. was in the Peach Orchard. The Sharpshooter Battalion fought on Round Top. We started the Wheatfield with the 1 st USV Regt. portraying Tildon and Schweitzer s Brigades and moved them into the high grass area. They were pushed out by Anderson and Kershaw giving possession of the Wheatfield to the Confederates. The 3 rd USV Regt portrayed the famed Irish Brigade together with Cross and Zook s Brigades retook the Wheatfield only to hold it for a short time as Woffords Confederates chased them off. The scenario got somewhat askew, but the field was to size and authentic, and as the script began to break down, fighting this historical looking ground saved it. If nothing else, we recreated the confusion that was so prevalent in the real fight. At the Peach Orchard, the 2 nd USV Regt. had all it could handle. It fought as the 3 rd Maine, 141 st NY and 7 NJ and got into a hot scrap before it had to retire the field following the historical script nicely.
Federal Troops in the Wheatfield Picketts Charge As the USV prepared to march out to the stone wall for Pickett s charge, it did so with the satisfaction of knowing that this was a wall that it had built with its own hands. 88 tons of stone was laid extending the stone wall to over 900 feet and true to scale. The USV also put in 700 additional feet of fencing along the Emmitsburg Road, on the left of the front wall at the angle and at the far left of the back wall, again matching the exact design of the original. A big thank you goes out to all of the USV members that helped out especially Capt. Eller and Capt. Goode and their boys from the 69 th Pa and 71 st Pa respectively, and of course to Don Ernsberger for his research and design plan. The site was magnificent, and by far the most authentic wall ever created for a reenactment. The 2 nd USV Regt. portrayed the 69 th Pa, the 1 st USV Regt. portrayed the 71 st and 72 nd Pa. and the 3 rd USV Regt. portrayed the 14 th Conn. As the cannons started booming, we all experienced the view of the Confederate Army marching in line of battle from the woods across the field. As waves of rebels struck the fence at the Emmitsburg road, and then the wall, the Federal army opened on them and a huge battle erupted. The firing was as intense as I can remember. The script was followed well, and a number of Confederates, first Garnett, and then Armistead, breached the wall, but were eventually overwhelmed and either shot down or captured. As good as the following photos are, they really can t capture the reality of this battle.
The enemy approaches the Emmitsburg Road....and then the wall.
and the Fence along the front wall. And the 14 th Conn. is waiting.
The battle is joined! The color bearer of the 14 th Tenn. is shot down.
and the flag is captured by ancestors of the original members of the 14 th Conn. that did so in 1863 The USV Brigade Staff looks on as the 2 nd Corps holds the wall.
Union Troops give way as Gen. Armistead breaches the wall. But they are shot down and captured as the Federal line is restored.
Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg. A fitting end to a great battle!!!
The USV Dress Parade. The USV musicians prepare for Dress Parade. The USV First Regiment is formed.
The USV Second Regiment is formed The USV Third Regiment is formed
The USV Brigade Commander and Staff The USV Musicians Beat Off
Present Arms. Huzzah to the USV
Epilogue This 150 th Anniversary of Gettysburg is now behind us. We will all bring back some marvelous memories of great battles, or images, but most importantly of being with so many great friends. The USV once again lived up to its reputation as a well trained, well disciplined and hard fighting Federal Reenacting organization. The tide has turned. On to Richmond!!!! Very Respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. General D.MARKIJOHN United States Volunteers and Second Division, Gettysburg Pa., Comdg. Some more fabulous shots from our Carl Staub.
Sergeant Kesterson and Pvt. Markijohn, in full cavalry accoutrement, at his first cavalry engagement
A company of The USV Cavalry Regiment marching to battle. Col. Mike Church, Federal Cavalry Commander.
Capt. Sam Grant. Col. Scot Buffington
Majors Kubilewicz and Karlowsky Riding the line at the Stone Wall.
The Federal Culp s Hill Defense. The enemy attacks.
Fire! Charge!
The Iron Brigade after a hard fight. Advance the Colors!
Lunch!