Official Report of Col. J. William Hofmann, 56th Pennsylvania Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac.
In the Field, July 11, 1863.
Captain: I have the honor to report the operations of my regiment from the morning of the 1st instant to date.
On the morning of the 1st instant, the regiment, under my command, left camp on the Emmitsburg and Gettysburg road, near Marsh Creek. We numbered 17 officers and 235 enlisted men for duty.
We marched to Gettysburg, and engaged the enemy at 11 a. m. We suffered severely. In twenty minutes our loss in killed and wounded was over 70.
On the 2d instant, we engaged the enemy on the ridge in rear of the town. Our loss here was 2 enlisted men killed and 3 wounded. Total loss: Killed, enlisted men, 10; wounded, 6 officers and 64 enlisted men; prisoners, 2 officers, enlisted men unknown; missing, 38 enlisted men.
My officers and men did all that could be asked of brave men. Of the enlisted men it is but just to mention Corporal [Patrick] Burns, of Company D, acting color-bearer, who was wounded while gallantly waving the flag in the face of the enemy on the evening of the 2d instant. Private [George] Nolter, of Company D, was successful in capturing a major of the rebel army on the morning of the 4th instant.
Of the officers wounded, Lieutenant Gordon, Company B, has since died. A list of names of the killed and wounded is herewith submitted.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. HOFMANN,
Colonel, Comdg. Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Captain Kellogg, A. A. A. G., 2d Brig., 1st Div., 1st Army Corps.
[Source: Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. 27, Part 1: Reports, Report No. 42, pages 288-289].
