Summary: The 14th Indiana halts Early's assault on Cemetary Hill. The 14th Indiana most of the men and officers of the 21st North Carolina. The 14th repels an attack of the Louisiana Tigers and captures thousands of men. The victorious Union pursues Lee's retreating Confederates.
For further study
- 14th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment Monument
- Gettysburg Battlefield on Google Earth
- Gettysburg Battlefield on Google Maps
- Battle of Gettysburg in 4 Minutes (Civil War Trust, YouTube)
- Battle of Gettysburg at History.com
- Historic Photos of Gettysburg (Library of Congress)
July 1, 1863
Today the 1st and 11th Corps were partly engaged beyond Gettysburg and were driven into and through the town with considerable loss. General Reynolds was killed at the beginning of the fight. Major General Meade has command of the Army with Hooker removed, and he is moving the remainder of the Army rapidly up in front of the Gettysburg where our troops have a splendid position.
The 2nd Corps camped in about a mile of our front line and camped about dark and got a little hardtack and pork. We got orders to build as small fires as possible.
A great many rumors in a thousand shapes have reached us about the fight today, by a few of our cavalry who charged in the beginning of the fight.
The boys all appear to be prepared for a desperate struggle with Lee’s forces and all are content to undergo any amount of fatigue and marching. Most all wish the great fight to come off on the 4th of July and I do not suppose it will miss that period very far.
Before we got within seven or eight miles of Gettysburg, we could see dense columns of smoke rising in that direction.
July 2, 1863
This morning early, we moved up near the heights fronting the burg, and shortly after our Corps was massed right on the left Center the right being almost even with the town.
There was considerable firing amongst the advance skirmishers of each side who were posted in the valley intervening between the enemies and our forces.
They had a very good position but not near as good as that of ours. Our lines are formed in the shape of a “V,” the town of Gettysburg right in the front and to the right and left wings centering right in front of the town. Thus
At half after 4 o’clock in the evening the enemy unlimbered his cannon on our left-wing and a tremendous cannonading commenced, and under cover of the smoke Lee massed his forces and attacked the 3d Corps, the 5th supporting it, and after four hours terrible fighting the enemy were driven back with heavy loss leaving their dead and wounded under our guns.
The shock was truly terrible to witness and the heavens for miles around was thick with Shotshell and gunpowder smoke. When the smoke cleared away the valley for miles was covered with the Southern Chivalry, who thought to gobble up Genl. Meade’s forces at a mouthful! Immediately after this General Early’s Division made a charge on the batteries pointing to the right of Gettysburg and the 14th, 4th Ohio and *th Va was sent across from the left-center to support part of the 11th Corps who were fighting early there. The Rebs had one or two of our guns but retired.
----- we came up ------after dark. Our Regiment captured one stand of colors, one Lt. Genl, one Maj, tow liets. and fourteen privates. We slept that night in battle line ready at any time to repulse any attack the enemy might make.
General Barksdale of Mississippi was found on the field dead. Longstreet is reported wounded and a prisoner. General David E. Sickets [Daniel Sickles?] is severely wounded. Our Regiment lost 31 killed and wounded. Co. D five wounded. The Brigade lost over 200.
July 3, 1863
This morning General Ewell attacked our right flank. After a terrible fight of eight hours incessant musketry, the enemy were routed with terrible carnage. I visited that part of the field and the enemy’s dead lie thick amongst the racks in front of our lines.
I also saw Ewell’s Adjutant General lying by his horse dead. He was a small man and put me in mind of General Burnsides. The 12th Corps done most of the fighting assisted by the 1st. The 2nd Corps was massed near the left-center. The 1st, 2nd and part of the 3rd Divisions were engaged in the fight of the 2nd.
Our Brigade lay on the right-center near where the terrible fighting was with Ewells Corps, formerly Stonewall Jacksons, whose wish was when whose wish was when wounded at Chancellorsville, that Genl. Ewell should command his old troops. After the eight hours terrible fighting on the right, there was a lull in the storm till three o’clock when Genl. Longstreet’s Corps charged on our left wing again but were driven back with terrible loss. The 8th Ohio was detached from our Brigade and helped/had(?) to repel this charge of Longstreet’s troops, which I suppose was their forlorn hope for they never attacked us again.
The 8th captured three stands of colors and a thousand Rebs. This charge only lasted about an hour but ye Gods what thundering! It appeared as though the heavens were falling. Our men were as a wall of fire and the terrible battles of Malvern Hills, Antietam, Fredericksburg & Chancellorsville sink into insignificance when coupled with this great battle for the Union. All hail to Genl. Meade! God bless him! Future generations will bless his name and all soldiers of the Potomac will point with pride to the name of Gettysburg upon their banners!
July 5, 1863
The 4th of July was a wet day. Today is the 5th and Lee’s proud hosts are stretching their worried limbs for the old dominion.
He has lost at least 30,000 men. Push on brave Sedgewick, you are now thundering at the enemy’s rear!
Back of journal
- ---- Koolgin
- John Montgomery
- George Hatch
- Harry------ Pince
- ----- Olystand
- Allen Berry
- Marion Kelley
Alas, said the young soldier in a faltering voice, “I feel that I have erred—pity me—forgive me. I was lead astray by a passion too strong to be controlled. I have no name and my fortune is my sword.” Sequel. The gent married the General’s gal.
[This ends Owen’s third journal. He continued to keep a journal, however, the journal was lost when a family member loaned the journal to someone who never returned it. Owen was captured in the Battle of The Wilderness and sent to Andersonville prison, then to Florence prison. He wrote an account of his escape from prison transport, his re-capture, then his rescue.]
