1863/07/26 Report of Lt. W.B.Wooster

At daybreak on the morning of the 2d instant, we were moved to a position in line of battle on the right, holding the front line, supported by other forces of the brigade. Company B was deployed as skirmishers, and well advanced from the main line.

Between 10 and 11 a.m. we were withdrawn, and with the division moved to the Gettysburg road, and thence advanced near to Cemetery Hill, and were placed in position as a support to the Second Division of the Twelfth Army Corps, thus remaining until about 4 p.m., when the attack of the enemy became so determined on our left center that we were moved to the support of our forces (the Second and Third Corps) there engaged. Here we were placed in position, but before becoming engaged the enemy were repulsed, and we endeavored to return to the position on the right that we had last occupied, but it was found that during our absence the enemy had advanced on the right, and gained the breastworks in front and the stone wall, where we had previously been placed as a reserve, and the hills and woods on each side of the wall. Owing to the darkness of the night and the strength of the enemy in position, the First Division was unable to regain its original position.

This night my regiment lay on its arms in a corn-field, near the woods in line of battle, ready to move at an instant's notice. Company G was advanced as skirmishers to a line near the woods, and so remained during the night, at intervals engaging the enemy's skirmishers. At daylight our artillery commenced shelling the woods, breast-works, and locality of the wall formerly held by us, then occupied by the rebels.

A little after 5 a.m. my regiment advanced under orders into the edge of the woods. From this position a heavy force of skirmishers proceeded but a few rods to the brow of the hill before they engaged the enemy. From this time for over five hours parts of my regiment were unceasingly engaged with the enemy, the advanced line being frequently relieved from my main line. The enemy were endeavoring to advance through the woods, so as to turn the right flank of the Second Division, and were met and successfully resisted by my regiment. In this position I was enabled to repeatedly communicate to the colonel commanding the brigade and the general commanding the division the movements of the enemy in our immediate front, thereby enabling our artillery to more accurately obtain the range of the enemy and to greatly increase the effectiveness of our shells. At times it became necessary to advance my left wing to successfully repulse the advancing column of the enemy, and again to retire my whole command to save it from being destroyed by our own artillery.

We continued thus advancing and fighting until about 10.30 a.m., when, the rebels having been driven by our fire and shells from the stone wall and breastworks in our front, my regiment steadily advanced in line, and occupied both the wall and breastworks under a continuous fire from sharpshooters in tree-tops, whom we had been unable thus far to silence. Immediately on gaming the breastworks, my regiment was relieved by the One hundred and twenty-third Regiment New York Volunteers. We proceeded forthwith to the ammunition train, replenished, and, under orders, returned to the support of the One hundred and twenty-third Regiment New York Volunteers, then in the breastworks, where we remained under a most terrific shelling from rebel batteries until nearly 5 p.m. The regiment with the remainder of the First Brigade was then moved across the Gettysburg road to support the center in an attack then being made with great determination on the part of the enemy. Before we were placed in position the enemy were repulsed, and my regiment once more returned to our breastworks, and remained in line during the night of the 3d and all day and night of the 4th instant.

Our position on that day was one calculated to put to the severest test the courage of both officers and men. For nearly six hours in the morning my regiment was constantly engaged with the enemy, and did most effective service in driving them from the position they then held, thereby regaining our breastworks.

With the exception of one officer--no longer belonging to my regiment--and some half dozen men, whom I have reason to believe became more seriously indisposed the nearer they approached danger, all in my command conducted themselves with true courage and devotion to duty; and while some of my officers, from the position in which they were placed, fought more valiantly than others, yet, where all did so well their duty, it might give rise to unjust inferences to particularize. Each officer and man then with me seemed intent only on doing his whole duty, cheerfully and promptly executing every order.

With the movements of the Twelfth Corps in its many weary marches and advances upon the enemy, the laborious construction of breastworks at Williamsport, and the unceasing vigilance necessarily imposed, from the battle-field at Gettysburg until our arrival at this camp, my regiment bore its part well, rendering no special services worthy of note here.(*)