More Dispatches From Gettysburg
Irish America Marks The Battle's 135th Anniversary
DAY 2: STRUGGLE FOR THE HILLS
REBELS MAKE FURIOUS EFFORT TO BREAK OUR LINES
The Irish Brigade Yields Ground -- Terrible Losses in Wheatfield -- Rebels Rebuffed at Culp’s Hill -- Army Recovers By Day’s End -- A Sublime Moment -- Entire Brigade Kneels to Receive Chaplain’s Blessing
 July 2, 1863 (actually the 4th, 1998)
Yesterday’s fight has been a disaster. Many had visions of previous lost battles of the Army of the Potomac. In the 27th Connecticut, we were just reaching the field late on July 1 and hearing the horror stories about the day’s action. Who could blame us for being pessimistic? During our previous eight months in service, we had fought at two battles Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, two tremendous debacles for the Army, perhaps the worst defeats of the entire war. We had only 75 men present for duty as we went into action today; most had been captured at Chancellorsville.
As we listened to the firing in the direction of the Wheatfield near us, we thought Was this going to be like the last two fights? As we were going in, the signs were not encouraging -- Federal soldiers were running away by the hundreds. Our formation didn’t have time to arrange itself in its normal alignment; we went in reversed. Our normal front rank was in the rear as we crested a rise to confront the gray line stretching far to the left and right. Our brigade began taking losses immediately. Then suddenly the battalion to our left advanced, pushing the Rebs back. Seeing this, our commander ordered us forward. The other battalion was attacking the Rebs’ flank; with us attacking their front, we believed the Rebels were sure to retreat. But they didn’t retreat at all. They stood in spite of our double attack. A volley that blasted full in our faces almost destroyed our battalion. Very soon afterwards we were streaming to the rear as a large line of Confederates moved on us from the right and front. A few minutes later, we were back in our starting position. Our little regiment was now halved again.
-- Sgt. Joseph Gannon, 27th Connecticut Infantry
[20th century impression of the Wheatfield portrayal We were excited to do the fight because we were portraying Brooke’s Brigade, in which the 27th served. We were disappointed by the re-enactment, though. Historically, Brooke’s Brigade and Caldwell’s Division swept the Rebels from the Wheatfield and back into the woods. Then later they were flanked on the right and forced to retreat, but, as often happens at Civil War re-enactments, the scenario was “broken,” as re-enactors say. In this case the Rebels refused to retreat. So instead of getting the satisfaction of driving the Rebels (temporarily at least), we merely beat our head on a “bullet-proof” wall of Confederates and then retreated.] -- J.G.
THE FIGHT AT CULP'S HILL
On Culp’s Hill, east of Cemetery Hill, we finally had a great defensive position. A breastwork of rocks and tree limbs protected us on the high ground. In spite of that, we were not sure we coukd hold the position when we saw the huge number of Rebels heading our way.
Line after line, battalion after battalion, they moved into our view, flags flying and drums beating. They attacked to our right first, then the battalions in the middle and rear of their formation wheeled in our direction.
 Fingers were itchy on our triggers, and the thinness of our line was a concern. But just before the Rebs reached our line, another battalion moved in behind us. Now our confidence soared. We were ready. One, two, three times, they came on. And three times we beat them off. The ground to our front was covered with dead and wounded Confederates. One of our lads took the rifle of a Rebel casualty draped over our breastworks when his own gun jammed. He used the Rebel weapon to kill several more of them.
Finally the Rebs had had enough and they retreated. Our lines erupted in cheers. The tide of battle was turned. -- J.G.
[20th Century impressions: This scenario went as scripted -- unlike the Wheatfield, but I had to feel sorry for the spectators. There were several hundred yards from the fight and the smoke was so thick that at times I couldn’t see the Confederates myself . . . from 50 feet away. Being behind a breast work, and not able to move, many of our men fired so many rounds that their rifle barrels were red hot. So far, the battles have not matched those at last year’s Antietam from our perspective at any vote of my fellow re-enactors.
We are hearing rumors that there are over 20,000 military re-enactors at the event. So far, however, we haven’t really had a chance to see those kind of numbers in the field. Perhaps tomorrow’s “Pickett’s Charge” will allow us to see them all at once. Some Federals planned to wear gray to add to the ranks of the Confederates. Their hope to present “Pickett’s Charge” with the full 12,000-man complement that Lee sacrificed in his last-ditch effort to break the battle’s stalemate. -- J.G.]
THE IRISH BRIGADE FALTERS IN THE WHEATFIELD
Saturday, July 2, 1863, noon (Actually July 4, 1998)
In the woods, just past the Wheatfield.
On the heels of last year’s recreation of the Irish Brigade at Antietam, just a short time ago the gallant old brigade again took the field this time in Gettysburg’s Wheatfield. At 10 o’clock this morning, the bugle and drum summoned the Irish Volunteers’ battalion to the color line in camp. The four companies of the 28th Massachusetts formed under the green flag of old Colonel Byrnes, while the 69th New York, Companies A (NY and NJ) and Company B (California), 140th New York, 155th New York, and 23rd Ohio formed up under the brand-new embroidered green flag of the 69th New York an “Irish Brigade 2nd issue”flag.
Col. Air led the two battalions of about 300 men out to the field and formed us into two battalion lines. Rob Carter, S.J., a Jesuit seminarian portraying Fr. William Corby, chaplain of the Brigade’s 88th New York, stepped to the front and proceeded to recreate Corby’s famous absolution at Gettysburg. It was a moving sight to see 300 men on their knees, heads uncovered and bowed, making peace with God as Carter pronounced the Latin words of the Catholic rite of absolution as the two green flags billowed in the breeze.
As Carter prayed, ripping Rebel volleys and artillery fire were heard in the distance. The only witnesses to this impressive ceremony were artillerymen manning two batteries in the woods right behind us.
Soon we marched out in two batallion columns. The National Regiment portraying Cross’s Brigade was on our left. The green flags looked magnificent floating in the breeze along with the ‘Stars and Stripes.’
At the command, “I Company into line!” the two halves of the Irish Volunteers formed a battalion front as the cry "Fág an bealach" (Clear the Way) sounded from three hundred throats! It mattered not whether all the re-enactors were Irish in my company alone there are many who are largely of Polish descent. Our captain is German and a dozen Englishmen all the way from the UK were with the 28th Massachusetts, Company B but in that moment all were Irishmen. 
The two battalions advanced in line across the field to face re-enactors of the 4th regiment, Army of Northern Virginia portraying Kershaw’s South Carolinians. Soon the ball was open in earnest. The boys were loading and firing furiously. The heat was intense and we were sweating heavily. We drove them a ways, but soon our supporting unit on both Irish flanks fell back and we were fighting alone and we were compelled to retire. Col. Air, portraying Col. Patrick Kelly, and mounted on a “steady horse,” ordered us to fall back firing. We escaped a gauntlet of Rebels on three flanks. To give the Rebels leaders credit, they seemed thus far to be exhibiting good command and control of their men. And all sides, that I can see, are following the historical sequence of action as closely as possible.
We finally made 17 as we regrouped away from the battlefield after losing heavily. We reformed in the woods about ¼ mile southwest of “the Wheatfield” and are bivouaced here now. We stacked arms and fell out to cool off. After nearly an hour here, body temperatures are almost back to normal. Our gallant company commander, Capt. Larry Wagner (155th New York, Company I) is down with the heat and we will be led into battle by Lt. John Brown of the 23rd Ohio, a very gallant officer under whom I have served before.
I write this with blouse and traps off just off the trail in the woods, my back against a tree. The lads make fun of the passing cavalry. A battery of bronze Napoleons is in place near us now, but is not engaged for a time, at least, the guns around Gettysburg are quiet. Some of the boys are sleeping in the woods here. Soon the bugle will call the Irish Volunteers to the stacked muskets once again.
-- Sgt. Kevin O’Beirne, 155th NY Co I, Irish Volunteers Battalion
Secesh Takes a Dive at Little Round Top
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS
Sunday, July 3, 1863 (actually July 5, 1998), 8:00 a.m. Camp
At about 1:00 p.m. yesterday, the Irish Volunteers were placed into line from our
bivouac in the woods, took arms, and marched up Little Round Top to
portray Patrick O'Rorke's 140th New York. However, the battle had many
things go wrong with it from the beginning, and proved to be
unsatisfactory for all from the beginning. The Irish Volunteers made
the 140th's charge down the hill, but wound up not doing much fighting,
as the Rebels retreated quickly, chosing not to make as determined an
assault on Little Round Top in 1998 as they had made in 1863.
A word on our Captain Wagner. He was not down with the heat--an old
injury to his knee had become inflamed while advancing over the rough
pasture that the Wheatfield battle was held in, and he opted to sit out the
Little Round Top engagement. Considering the trying circumstances
of the very frustrating Little Round Top battle, Lieutenant Brown of the
23rd did a fine job in company command.
On the way back to camp from the battle, several of the boys from the
155th New York and I stopped by the then-ongoing battle of Culp's Hill.
Soon we opted to fill a hole in the line and commenced blazing away at
the Secesh as they made repeated charges on strong Union breastworks.
Our lads emptied their cartridge boxes in a satisfying fight that we
weren't supposed to have participated in.
Saturday evening some of the more devout members of the Irish
Volunteers--including your humble correspondent -- attended Catholic mass
held in the civilian camp of the 69th New York Co. A (Irish
Volunteers). The principal celebrant was Father Mike Kelly of the 28th
MA Co. B, assisted by Deacon Robert Carter, S.J., a Jesuit seminarian.
It was, as usual, a fine experience to partake of the Eucharist within a
period camp. After mass, it was an early night to bed as it had been a
full day.
One word here--on Friday night I was visited in the 155th camp by a
"friend" from the 61st New York. This pard was from Ireland and had
heard that there were some Fenians in the Irish Volunteers. Sergeant
Marc Zaffino of the 28th MA brought him over to the 155th camp and we
talked of the "Ould Sod" and the Brotherhood for about 90 minutes, with
some pards of the 155th. Some very fine Irish whiskey was brought by
our "friend" and it helped to make for a pleasant evening of
conviviality. The arms of the Brotherhood stretch wide throughout the
Federal army, and it is good to find fellow Irishmen wherever they may
be. He shared his whiskey, and I shared a story of the fight at the
Widow McCormack's cabbage patch in Ballingarry with O'Brien and Meagher
in '48.
Saturday evening we had a touch of rain in the camp, but nothing to
speak of. My two pards and I rigged up our shelter halves and ponchos
into a fine shebang that was first-rate as shelter from the raindrops.
We slept a sound night under our shelter, although we had less than two
hours of rain.
There is talk that after their repulse yesterday the Secesh may retreat
today. General feeling in camp that we will not fight much today. If
the Johnnies make another go of it, the Irish Volunteers will be there
at the forefront with the Green Flag.
Your humble correspondent, Kevin O'Beirne, Sergeant, 155th New York, Irish Volunteers
The Second Day's Fighting Creates Many Casualties -- Correspondent on Foot Done In By Riding Boots -- Fawns Find Battle's Artillery No Cause to Cheer -- British Officer Sees Irish Soldiers Preparing -- Prostitutes, Gambers In Short Supply
Special Dispatch to The Wild Geese Today
Gettysburg, Pa. via New York
July 4, Saturday
10:00 a.m.: Crouching Union pickets bake under a hot and glaring gray sky. Without warning, a battery of Confederate artillery bellows its antagonistic malevolence over the upturned heads of the scattered blue fine The Federal artillery responds with an angry and massive fire from masked batteries at the edge of a thick, dark wood. The game is begun. Before their generals have done with this action many men will have fired more thirty rounds at the enemy, while others less than three or four.
After the initial burst of cannonidic enthusiasm, the firing becomes desultory as both armies laze into a patter of give-and-take killing. The battle remains static as oppressive clouds of smoke gradually fade the lines of men, first, into dark silhouettes, then into vague grays, and finally into total obscurity. Pinpoints of flame, surrounded by the staccato popping of rifles, flashes through the mists. The numbers are so great that the orange discharges look like those of some monstrous dragon-like rapid-fire weapon.
10:15 a.m.: From out of the smoke a sudden surge of figures in motley Confederate uniforms rises over the crest of the ridge, forcing the Unions back onto their reserve. In turn the Rebels are halted against their will and driven from whence they came. Momentary quiet settles until a lone U.S. gun sends a single hissing shell into a Confederate battery. They return the salute and a brief but deadly duel ensues.
10:25 a.m.: A dull-colored group of troops emerges from the trees on the left of the Confederate line, and a pause seems to engulf the field. Friend or foe? Friends to the Rebs, I see. I am. able, to count eight red battleflags, ("Klappenschlageflagen" as my accompanying Prussian friends shout) before my attention is returned to the bloody field.
10:30 a.m.: The deluge of Rebels from the woods quickly squashes the weaker Federal defense and pushes them rudely from the field of battle.
10:55 a.m.: From my perch at the fence of the Bushey farm it appears that I will join my former messmates as a prisoner of the overwhelming Rebel hordes, but, as if conjured by magical incantation, several Union columns rise over the ridge to the rear of the farm. Their imminent arrival does not intimidate our Rebel attackers who throw themselves with a fury upon their new enemies. The fury of Confederate assault after assault against our renewed defenses is finally spent after an hour of some of the most savage killing I have witnessed. The end result, had it been known but two hours, earlier, might have avoided the death and mutilation of thousands of youngsters.
More From the Field -- &C.&C.
I located the tent of Colonel James Arthur Lyon-Freemantle of Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards in order to confront him about the "Irish Question." He responded immediately and perhaps a little, too precipitously for his position, and therefore required that I not quote him directly. He did add, that his belief lies in that the Irish of America are not fighting for America but for Ireland. He would not elaborate but I think my readers can make the truth out of that.
Although I was unable to make a complete tour of the parking areas, those that I did cover revealed license plates from such areas as Texas, Kansas, Wyoming, California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida and Oregon and just about everything in between.
A vignette with the 39th New York, a regiment which is constituted of about 30 Irishmen plus virtually every other country in the world, occurred at General Heim's Union Headquarters. The
39th's commander and staff paid a call on the General, but he was occupied in the field. Orderly Sergeant Robert Wagner directed the little troop in that direction. Michael Baccarella, author of "Lincoln's Foreign Legion" and honorary Colonel of the 39th, was interviewed by this journalist about the background of the Irish members of the unit. Mr. Baccarella indicated that he did not believe that those Irishmen were necessarily the Protestants who had fought for Garibaldi against Pope Pius IX as we had supposed.
It was reported that, the organizers and sponsors of the Gettysburg event enjoyed a degree of success beyond the comprehension of Generals Lee, McClellan, Burnside, Hooker or Meade in preventing the appearance of "prostitutes" and "gamblers." The latter class of individuals is not acceptable and was summarily refused admission to the grounds. In my search for the truth, I looked about diligently for members of these two degenerate groups but located not a one.
Unfortunately this correspondent is presently confined to the shade of a canvas suspended in the woods due to injury to his lower appendages brought about by the ingestion of an excess of heat and humidity and by traversing, in boots, miles and miles of pot-holed, hilly, hard-baked ground. The reports of fighting later in the day and the final charge on the final day must come from others more suited to the distresses of the battlefields.
However, before I exit, I must report a touching and tragic scene as related to me later in the day. On the Union right flank, surrounded by spectators and fighting soldiers, a fawn rose from the grass and darted hither and thither only to hunker down again. The poor babe would rise to bolt a few hundred feet and again disappear in fear. Finally, the little helpless creature was allowed through a hole in the line into a wooded and welcome shelter. An identical incident is reported from the Union left. Another source states that a doe had been hit and killed on the road nearby and could well have been mother to one, or both, of these frightened fawns. A later report speaks of a deer found dead of fright upon the field, perhaps caused by the tremendous artillery barrages of the weekend. Alas, due to my now limited mobility, I have been unable to verify those tales.
-- Dooley (a.k.a. Charles A. Venturi)
HEAT CUTS SWATHE THROUGH BATTLES ON GETTYSBURG'S SECOND DAY
AMBULANCES, SASPARILLA VENDOR, FIELD HOSPITALS DO BRISK BUSINESS
EVEN THE ROADS CAN’T TAKE IT
Nuns add touch of civility -- Corby blessing is deeply moving -- Swiss Guard takes the Yankee bounty -- Reb artillery clearly practice plenty
Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, July 4, 11 o’clock p.m.
The furnace blast heat continued to try men’s (and women’s) souls at the 135th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg. Field hospitals were kept busy with heat prostration cases, and even the main road to the event began to melt under the torrid sun and humidity.
The heavy dose of realism failed to daunt the spirits of the troops and their support wearing hoop skirts, however. Reports today stated that on Friday in a bid to battle the heat, re-enactors were wetted down from barrels hauled by horse-drawn wagons. By 1:30 p.m. yesterday, the hard compact surface of Pumping Station Road, the lifeline to the event site, softened from the heat of car engines and the sun. Some cars had trouble maintaining traction. First aid in the form of a rock overlay allayed the problem.
The action that we saw, that is, the Wheatfield, went off in the morning, though from our forced vantage point, near 12 Confederate field pieces shaded by trees on a gently sloping hillside, the infantry were just long faceless lines maneuvering across a chess board. We learned from local reports that the 12 were just a fraction of the 135 cannon at the event. The figure may have rivaled the artillery numbers at the beck and call of each army 135 years ago.
Authorities informed us that the battles were far too fierce for correspondents to get up-close to the action. We’ll just take their word for it. It certainly wasn’t evident from our perch.  Nevertheless, we stood impressed by the precise teamwork of the Rebel gun crews.
We found ourselves moved as well, as we saw evidence of the good work being done by nuns acting as nurses. We encountered a dozen of the Angels of Mercy, walking toward us, some with blood spattered on their habits. They said they hailed from Emmettsburg, Md., from a settlement there identified with Mother Elizabeth Seton. One of the nurses was Sister Angela Adler, who has been active in offering solace to unfortunates in the great metropolis of New York.
As well, we find ourselves admiring the grit and dedication of the re-enactors who dressed out in nearly 90 degree weather and sweltering humidity.
The local press today was full of interesting tidbits covering Friday’s action. Most interesting, perhaps, was a report in today’s Gettysburg Times revealing that a Swiss Guard, named Claudio Brunschwiler, traveled from Rome to assume the role of a soldier with our friends and neighbors in the 14th Brooklyn (who wear a red and blue French chausseur uniform).
The papers report as well that there the event organizers sold out all of today’s allotted 35,000 tickets. There is little question: Pickett’s Charge, slated tomorrow as the event wrapup, will draw even vaster crowds. The Charge, unlike anything else in American history, continues to touch the mystical chords of memory of all who call themselves American.
We met Robert Carter, a Jesuit seminarian and chaplain of Co A, 69th New York. He told us that he took the opportunity to offer general absolution to the Irish Brigade when they were marching off to attack through the Wheatfield this morning, having received permission from Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock to stop the Brigade in order to do so. Rob spoke with considerable feeling about the portrayal of Fr. Corby’s blessing 135 years ago, and it was evident he and the men of the Brigade were deeply moved by the gesture amid the swirl of regiments in motion and cannon firing.
The weather was stifling even early in the day, but fortunately a forecast of thunderstorms was never realized. We left the event early to avoid bad weather, missing the Federals’ last-ditch defense Little Round Top and Culp’s Hill. The Wheatfield portrayal didn’t impress us, as wheat was nowhere in evidence, but again we stood a half mile off.
It took us two hours to travel the five miles from Gettysburg to the re-enactment site. The traffic through town was unprecedented, reports suggest.
Buy stock in Dr. J. Fogworth’s Sasparilla if it goes public! This vendor made out like a bandit at the event. Lines around his stand were daunting. Sutlers, or vendors offering period-style or inspired items, offered everything from soup to nuts.
We paid a visit to the Irish Brigade monument at Gettysburg Battlefield Park. It showed evidence of a hole large enough to come from a .45-caliber bullet. The hole, in the Rorty panel on the monument’s side, has been repaired. You may find it of interest that the strikingly beautiful monument,  topped by a Celtic Cross, is the work of a former Confederate soldier who after the war operated a studio in Manhattan. The sculptor, William Rudolph O’Donovan, served with the Staunton Artillery, and saw action at Gettysburg. The monument, by the way, marks the brigade's deepest penetration into Maj. Gen. Longstreet’s position on the Confederate right flank. It was erected by the State of New York to honor the three regiments of the brigade from New York City.
-- 'The Brigadier' and John Concannon
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