Library of Congress Official Report of Brigadier General Alpheus Williams, 1st Division, 12th Corps, and 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Colonel: In compliance with circular order, Army of the Potomac, August 20, I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements of this division from June 28 to its arrival at Warrenton Junction on July 26 last, excepting July 1, 2, and 3, when the division was under the command of Brigadier General Ruger: A.S. Williams Lieut. Col. H.C. Rodgers * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Headquarters First Division, Twelfth Corps
Kelly’s Ford, Va., August 22, 1863 Colonel: The temporary command of the Twelfth Army Corps having devolved upon me from July 1 to 4, inclusive, I have the honor, in obedience to order, to submit the following report of the part taken by it in the recent operations in the vicinity of Gettysburg: On the morning of July 1, the corps left Littlestown, moving on the Baltimore pike toward Gettysburg. While halting near Two Taverns, information was received that the First and Eleventh Corps were engaged with the enemy beyond Gettysburg, and that Major General Reynolds was mortally wounded. The corps was immediately put in rapid march toward the scene of action, and Major General Slocum proceeded at once to the front, to assume command. In this temporary transfer of commands, Brig. Gen. T.H. Ruger took command of the First Division, and Colonel Colgrove, Twenty-Seventh Indiana Volunteers, of the Third (Ruger’s) Brigade, First Division. Before reaching Rock Creek, the First Division was directed to the right, following a cross-road to the Hanover road, for the purpose of seizing upon a commanding position easterly of the town of Gettysburg. The position was found to be in possession of the enemy. Preparations were, however, at once made to carry it, and a brigade was advancing up the hill to the assault when information was received that our troops had fallen back and that the enemy occupied the town. To preserve our communications, the division took a position nearer the Baltimore pike, and bivouacked for the night. The Second Division (Geary’s), under the direct orders of Major General Slocum, crossed Rock Creek, and took up a position for the night on the left of the First Corps. My headquarters were with the First Division. Early on the morning of July 2, Brig. Gen. H.H. Lockwood reported to me with a brigade of two regiments, First Maryland Home Brigade, Colonel Maulsby, and One Hundred and Fiftieth New York, Colonel Ketcham. Our skirmishers were smartly engaged with the enemy toward the Bonaughtown road. The Fifth Corps arrived, and took position on our right. At 8 a.m. orders were received to unite the two divisions of the corps, and occupy a new line on the right of Wadsworth’s division, of the First Corps, north of Rock Creek. This new line was along the crest of a rocky and wooded ridge of moderate elevation, running in irregular shape in a southeasterly direction from Gettysburg to Rock Creek. Wadsworth’s division, First Corps, occupied the portion nearest the town, or Cemetery Hill. The Second (Geary’s) Division, and First (Colonel McDougall’s) Brigade, of First (Ruger’s) Division, Twelfth Corps, held the rest of the ridge to Rock Creek, and the Third (Colonel Colgrove’s) Brigade, First Division, and Lockwood’s brigade continued the line along the creek almost at right angles to the ridge, 600 to 700 yards to the Baltimore pike. This strong natural position was at once strengthened by construction of log breastworks along the entire crest of the ridge. A thick stone fence parallel to the ridge, less than 50 yards behind it, furnished an excellent cover for this second line. During the afternoon, three pieces (10-pounder Parrott’s) of Knap’s Independent Pennsylvania Battery, under Lieutenant Geary, and one section (12-pounder Napoleons), K, Fifth U.S. Artillery, under Second Lieut. William E. Van Reed, were placed in position in an open space on the left of the corps, and succeeded in dislodging a battery of eight guns on an eminence in front of our position. The artillery lost in killed and wounded in this operation 8 men. Between 5 and 6 p.m. orders were received from Major General Slocum to detach the First Division (Ruger’s) and Lockwood’s brigade to support the left wing of the army, then heavily attacked. Geary’s division was at the same time ordered to cover and defend the intrenched line of the whole corps. I marched with the supporting detachment will all possible dispatch, under a severe artillery fire, following as nearly as possible the direction of the heavy firing. When near the position occupied originally by the Second Corps, as I was informed, Major McGIlvery, of the Maine artillery (attached to the Artillery Reserve), reported to me that his battery was without support, and threatened by the enemy’s infantry in the woods in front, to which it had just retired, carrying several pieces of our guns. I ordered General Lockwood, whose brigade was in advance, to deploy his line and occupy the woods, which he did in gallant style, pushing a considerable distance to the front, and recapturing three pieces of artillery abandoned by the enemy in his retreat. Ruger, with the First Division, in the meantime occupied the woods on the left of Lockwood, and pushed forward in two lines, the enemy retiring with but little resistance. It was now quite dark. I therefore ordered both commands to halt for further instructions, and soon after, in compliance with orders from Major General Slocum, directed them to return to their original position in the breastworks. Soon after Ruger’s and Lockwood’s commands had moved out in support, General Geary, by direct orders from Major General Slocum, was directed to follow with two brigades, leaving Greene’s brigade, of his division, to hold the breastworks. By some mistake, Geary took the road toward Littlestown, and did not join the supporting party. He took up a position on the south side of Rock Creek, from which he was recalled during the night. General Greene, in attempting to extend his brigade to occupy the entire line of breastworks, after the withdrawal of the rest of the corps, found that the enemy had already seized upon and occupied in strong force the right of the line, from which he attacked Greene’s brigade with great vigor. Fortunately, this brigade occupied a portion of the breastworks, which, turning at almost right angles to the line on the right, ascended a broken and rocky slope toward our left, and presented a steep wall of rock toward the enemy. A narrow space between the angle of the breastworks and the open field toward the Baltimore pike was densely wooded and full of large rocks and bowlders. General Greene seized with skill and judgments the advantages of this position, and held it with his small brigade against overwhelming numbers with signal gallantry and determination. At length, after three hours’ night conflict, having been re-enforced by detachments from the First and Eleventh Corps, and subsequently by Kane’s brigade returning to its position, General Greene succeeded in repulsing the enemy from his immediate front. This gallant officer merits especial merit for the faithful and able manner in which he conducted this defense, and protected, under difficult circumstances a most important part of our line. The First Division (Ruger’s) and Lockwood’s brigade reached the open fields behind our breastworks on their return from the left about the time the attacks on Greene were discontinued. General Ruger pushed his skirmishers into the woods, and found the whole of his original intrenched line, as well as the stone fence, held in force by the enemy. Apprehensive of the mishaps and confusion of a night attack upon such concealed positions, he withdrew his regiments, and placed them in two lines, under cover, on the open fields between the breastworks and the Baltimore pike. Having been called to headquarters of the army on returning from the left, I did not learn this state of affairs until nearly 12 o’clock at night, when I reported them to Major General Slocum, and received his orders to drive the enemy from our intrenchments at daylight. I made such arrangements for a heavy artillery fire, with infantry feints upon the right, followed by a strong assault by Geary’s division from Greene’s position on the left, as I judged would speedily dislodge the enemy. The artillery opened with a tremendous fire at daylight, at from 600 to 800 yards range, which was continued by arrangement for fifteen minutes. On the discontinuance of the fire, the enemy, without waiting our assault, themselves attacked Geary’s division with great fury, and with evident confidence in carrying our position and getting possession of the Baltimore pike, a movement of vast consequence had it been successful. It was plain they had brought up strong re-enforcements at night for this purpose. Prisoners report that their force consisted of two strong divisions of Ewell’s corps. Geary’s division received the attack with marked steadiness and valor. The combat continued for seven hours in almost unremitting fury. During its continuance, Lockwood’s brigade—strengthened during the morning by the arrival of the First Maryland Eastern Shore Regiment—was ordered to re-enforce Geary’s division, and afterward General Shaler’s brigade, of the Sixth Corps, came to its support, and rendered important aid. In the meantime, Ruger pushed a strong line of skirmishers from his position on the right into the woods and against the stone wall and breastworks on that flank, occupied in strength by the enemy. A broad marsh intervening between his line and the breastworks, presented a serious obstacle to a direct attack, and the stone wall, the natural rocky defenses, and the open, deep, marshy ground on the extremity of the breastworks near the creek, prevented any hopeful attempt to turn this flank of the enemy’s position. At length, after seven hours’ continuous combat, the enemy attempted to push beyond the intrenchments on our right, and was in turn repulsed and followed sharply beyond the defenses by regiments of the First Division posted in the woods to observe his movements. An advance from Geary’s division at the same time effectually and finally expelled them from our breastworks, which were at once occupied by our troops in their entire length. Several hundred prisoners were taken in the final charge, and the numerous dead left on the field presented fearful proof of the stubbornness and numbers of the enemy, as well as the coolness and enduring valor of our own troops. At the same time the comparative smallness of our own losses give gratifying evidence of the skill and judgement with which this long and fierce engagement was conducted on the part of our officers. n the afternoon of the same day, during the severe attack on our left, one brigade of the First Division and Lockwood’s brigade were detached to support the center, but the enemy was repulsed without their assistance. The enemy kept strong pickets, and made a considerable front to us during the night of July 3, but on the morning of the 4th were reported as withdrawing. Our line was at once advanced, and occupied the line of Rock Creek without opposition. Subsequently a brigade of the First Division, under the personal direction of Major General Slocum, made a reconnaissance several miles to the east of Gettysburg, returning through the town. July 4 was occupied in burying the dead and in collecting arms. This duty was not completed before we received marching orders. The reports of these duties are therefore imperfect. Over 2,000 arms were collection, and more than 600 of the enemy’s dead were buried in front of our positions. Estimates of the number left on the ground are mere conjectures, and furnish no valuable or reliable information. Our own casualties are reported at 1,008, as follows* [Embodied in revised statement, pp. 184-185]. Officers and men, almost without exception, behaved with coolness, steadiness, and valor, and throughout this great battle upheld with signal fidelity the proud reputation of the corps. I desire to bring to the notice of the major-general commanding the faithful and gallant conduct of my staff officers, who remained with me while in the discharge of my temporary duties as corps commander: Capt. S.E. Pittman, assistant adjutant general; Maj. P.B. Buckingham, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, acting assistant inspector general; Capt. M.P. Whitney, Fifth Connecticut Volunteers, provost marshal of division; Lieut. E.W Pattison, Second Massachusetts Volunteers, assistant commissary of musters, and Lieut. George Robinson, One Hundred and Twenty-Third New York Volunteers, aide-de-camp. I forward herewith the reports of division, brigade, and subordinate commanders, excepting the reports of Brig. Gen. Ruger, First Division, absent of detached service, which have not been received. I annex also a small sketch, which, without any pretensions to accuracy of details, will represent the relative position of the corps as taken up on the morning of July 2, and reoccupied again after the severe conflict on the morning of July 3. I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A.S. Williams
Brigadier General of Volunteers Lieut. Col. H.C. Rodgers, Assistant Adjutant General * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hdqrs. Twelfth Corps, Army of the Potomac
September 12, 1863 General: In reply to circular of September 11, headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to report that no guns were lost or captured during the recent campaign by this command. Very Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A.S. Williams Brigadier General, Commanding Corps Brig. Gen. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Addenda Headquarters First Division, Twelfth Corps
Kelly’s Ford, Va., August 8, 1863 Brigadier General Geary Commanding Second Division, Twelfth Corps General: In your report of the operations of the Second Division near Gettysburg, you speak of me as commanding First Division. As I am preparing a report as temporarily commanding the corps from July 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be necessary for you to correct your report in that particular. I suppose that paragraph I allude to was inserted by you through a supposition that I was to report as division commander. There is another point of your report, not very material, in which you are in error. The artillery was not ordered to report to you. Its position was fixed by Lieutenant Muhlenberg and myself, and it opened fire on the morning of the 3d under my personal command. I remained with it for some time to notice the effect. It is a matter of very little consequence, however, excepting as a matter of pure fact, which, in official reports, becomes sometimes incidentally important. To speak of me as commanding a division, when I am reporting as commanding a corps, would have a very strange aspect in future history, if there should be any. But for this mistake I should not return the report for correction. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A.S. Williams Brigadier General of Volunteers |
Last updated: August 15, 2025