Chapter Two
Letters to Home
My dearest Emma, June 15, 1863
I just wanted to let you know that my unit and. I have been shifted to General John F. Raynolds. It does not matter in the long run. I will tell you what I can come in the next few weeks. Pray for my safe return.
All my love,
Samuel
My dearest Emma, June 28, 1863
You may not have read in the paper yet, but general Hooker has been fired by President Lincoln today. General George Meade is replacing him. I saw Meade enter the command tent around early morning. He did not look as happy as one would if given the command of the Army of the Potomac. It is rumored that we will be moving soon. I will try to stay safe. Pray for my safe return.
All my love,
Samuel
My dearest Emma, June 30th, 1863
This letter may be my last for a time. General Reynolds has finally heard from General Meade. Meade wants us to march to Gettysburg. We are currently 8 miles south of the town. Prey for my safety. Pleasant dreams.
All my love,
Samuel
_________
Day One
July 1st, 1863
North
________
My unit, the 1st infantry division, eventually walked toward what my map told me was Gettysburg. I could feel the heavy ness in the air around us. It was like the surrounding area knew that something would happen soon. The wildlife around us was dead quiet. It gave me chills and a foreboding feeling about what lay ahead. All I could think was that I might never see my dearest Emma again. "No, I must not think that way," I thought. I will survive. "I Will" I yelled out loud. The men around me looked at me in confusion about whom I was yelling at. I rubbed my neck in embarrassment. "Did I say that out loud?" A few of them nodded, but my friend Thomas said, "Are you all right, Sam? You have been out of it as soon as we got here". I turned my head to look at him. "Of course, but you feel it too, right." "You mean the dead calm. Yes, I feel it." That was all Thomas said to me. Before, we were moving again, but this time, we were moving further to the northeast of town, near McPherson Ridge and South of Seminary Ridge. That was where the enemy (Confederates) was.
It was mid-morning on the 1st of July. My unit was making our way through the McPherson woods when shots were fired. I looked up into the sky to where the sun was. I could tell from the position that it was before noon. It was a skill my father taught me when I was a boy. I hope to survive this. To one day teach my son this handy skill.
I could hear the popping of the rifles ahead of me. Thomas and I duck for cover behind a large tree. There is yelling and screaming all around us. Then I heard one of the Confederate soldiers yell out, "Hell, that ain't no milishy; that's the Army of the Potomac." After hearing that, the group of us looked at each other. Hit with a surge of courage, we came out from behind the trees and charged forward. A few minutes later, we saw General Reynolds fall. After being shot. The shot came out of nowhere. The only logical conclusion is that a sharpshooter rifleman hit him. It was the direct cause after that for a few long minutes.
After a few minutes of chaos, General Abner Doubleday, who was the commander of the 3rd division. Took over the fallen General Reynolds 1st division. Which was my unit. After Doubleday finally got everything under control, another general rode on the scene. His name is General Howard.
Howard ordered Doubleday to go east of d town. My unit and I followed our new commanding officer as we moved higher into MacPherson. Ridge. Thomas and I looked at each other and knew that this was it. My friends Fred, who was to the left of us, and Walter, who was just to the left of me, were my childhood friends. The last time I saw them was when I was transferred to the General Reynolds division.
"I hope they are ok," I thought to myself. I shook my head to help me focus on what I should-what is right in front of me. I refocused on my surroundings when more shots were he, and the men around me started to fall. The horrifying screams and blood flying around me and on me were terrifying. I loaded my rifle over and over again as fast as I could. I could see Thomas doing the same a little way away from me. No more than 10 feet from me. I felt pain in my right arm. It made me drop my rifle. I lift my arm only to see blood running down my arm. The whole world seemed to stop then what felt like hours was just a few seconds for the pain to set in. I screamed in pain, "good Lord, that hunts." I have never been hurt this much before and never want to again.
I went for cover behind some tall bushes that were between two trees. I went through my pack to find something to stop the bleeding. I took off my uniform jacket to see the damage to my arm. The wound on my right upper arm was round and bleeding, but as I moved around, I could see the ball go all the way through my arm. I wrapped it the best way I could with what I had in my pack. I then put my uniform jacket back on to return to the fight.
I see Thomas coming in my direction. By that point, it was already well past noon. "Theirs to many of them. We have to retreat. "Thomas said to me as soon as he reached me. We made our way south, passing the seminary through the town of Gettysburg. We ran, dodging the enemy (confederates) following us and what was in front of us.
My unit and I finally made it out of town. We finally meet up with General Doubleday near Emmitsburg Road. "Men, we must get to higher grovel. Head towards Cemetery Hill," Doubleday, order us. We get moving to get higher ground.
As soon as my unit and I pass the crest of Cemetery Hill. I let out a breath of relief. I looked behind us to see if we were being followed, but we were not. The Confederates have stopped a few yards away from Cemetery Ridge. I am unsure why they stopped, but we will not let go of the advantage. My unit and I dig in with the others around me. What that means is to secure our defenses around Cemetery Hill. To get canons and other bank ions to withstand an attack. We know it is coming. We are still determining when.
Night has started to fall. A medic noticed that my arm was bleeding. He patched me up the best way he could. I was out of the medical area quickly. I made it back to my unit to wait for orders. We all started to bed down close to 8 p.m. I could not sleep. My mind was racing from the day I had. I looked at my watch again and noticed it was close to midnight. I then heard men talking. General Meade was spotted heading our way. It was determined that he would arrive close to or around midnight. That was the last thing I remember before sleep took me.