History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf
under Lieut. -Col. James R. Herbert, which was the pride and the boast of the Confederate army, made an assault on the Federal breastworks on Gulp's Hill. On the first day it captured the first line of works, but on the next, in attempting to storm the hill in the face of heavy masses of infantry and artillery, they were compelled to fall back with heavy loss. Nearly all the commissioned officers were killed or wounded, and of the five hundred of the command who went into the fight only two hundred escaped unhurt. In this terrible conflict the commander of the Chesapeake Maryland Artillery, Capt. William H. Brown, was killed. Capt. Dement's battery of First Maryland Artillery also suffered greatly. On the Federal side. Col. Maulsby's First Potomac Home Brigade displayed conspicuous gallantry, and suffered severely in killed and wounded. When the invasion commenced this command was stationed on the lower Potomac, and on the 17th of June, the very day that Jenkins' cavalry entered Chambersburg, Pa., Gen. Lockwood received orders to move all his forces to Baltimore, and in obedience to these orders they were immediately concentrated at Point Lookout. The First Potomac Home Brigade, under Col. Maulsby, was put on board the steamer " John A. Warner" early on the morning of June 21st, and landing at Baltimore about noon, immediately marched to Druid Hill Park, where it bivouacked for the night. The regiment remained in Baltimore until the 25th, when Gen, Lockwood received orders to march his command, consisting of the First Potomac Home Brigade, First Eastern Shore and One Hundred and Fiftieth New York Volunteers, to Monocacy Junction, for assignment to the Army of the Potomac. Gol. Maulsby's regiment, in company with the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York, left Baltimore during the afternoon, and on the 27th reached Monocacy Junction, where it passed the 28th, moving thence on the 29th to Boyd's Lot, north of Frederick. Leaving the latter place on the morning of the 30th, in the midst of a rain-storm, the First took up the line of march towards Pennsylvania, reaching Bruceville late in the evening. The next morning the men were astir at early light, and soon the regiment was again upon the march, hurrying on through Taneytown towards Gettysburg. That night it bivouacked near Two Taverns, on the Baltimore pike, about four miles from Gettysburg. While on the march this day sounds of the battle between the Union advance and that of the Confederates could be distinctly heard, and late in the afternoon the wounded, on foot and in ambulances, carriages, and every kind of vehicle that could be used, were met coming from that desperate encounter.
At 2.30 a.m. of July 2nd the regiment was moved to the front, and at 8 a.m. was placed in position, with Ruger's first division of the Twelfth Corps, along the west bank of Rock Creek, near McAllister's mill. Here the regiment threw up breastworks of rails and earth, behind which it remained until six in the evening, when the brigade, consisting of the First Potomac Home Brigade and One Hundred and Fiftieth New York (the First Eastern Shore not having yet arrived), was ordered to the left of the Union line, then the scene of a heavy action. Lockwood's brigade led the advance of the reinforcements sent from the Twelfth Corps, and upon reaching the summit of Cemetery Ridge was immediately formed in two lines, the First Potomac Home Brigade in front. With a shout of defiance the brigade rushed down the declivity, and sweeping obliquely to the left across the plain, amid a most terrific fire of artillery and musketry, continued its rapid advance without pause until it reached the vicinity of Sherfy's peach-orchard, where the severest contest of the day had occurred. Before this impetuous charge the enemy fell back, leaving his dead and wounded within the Federal lines. Reaching the line originally held by the Third Corps, the men of the First Potomac Home Brigade raised a shout of triumph which rang through the valley and over the hills, and it was with the utmost difficulty they could be restrained from following the enemy farther. While advancing the First Regiment recovered from the enemy three guns of Bigelow's Massachusetts battery that had been lost during the fearful onset of the Confederates. After dark the regiment returned by a circuitous route to the Baltimore pike, near the cemetery, where the men stretched their weary limbs to rest, and slept regardless of the skirmishing of the pickets, which was kept up, with brief intermissions, all night. Before daybreak of the 3rd, Col. Maulsby was ordered to post his regiment in position to support Knapp's Pennsylvania battery, posted on a slight ridge west of the Baltimore pike and opposite Spangler's house.
At daylight the artillery opened a rapid fire, which was continued for more than an hour. But, although severe, it failed to dislodge the enemy, who still held the captured breastworks. At about six o'clock orders were given Col. Maulsby's regiment to advance across Spangler's meadow and carry the position held by the enemy at the base of Culp's Hill, near Spangler's spring. It seemed certain destruction, but such were the orders, and Col. Maulsby gave the command, " Forward, double quick!" With deafening cheers the line sprang forward and advanced as rapidly as the nature of the ground would allow. Maj. Steiner, with the left wing of the regiment, moved directly through a tongue of woods jutting out from Gulps Hill, and extending half-way across the meadow, while the right wing, under Col. Maulsby, advanced across the open swale, and then into the woods. From behind every tree and rock the enemy's fire was poured in, but the regiment with undaunted courage pushed forward towards the stone wall, from which the adversary sent death-dealing missiles. The fire of his sharpshooters, posted in trees on the other side of the creek, was also very close and annoying. Already many had fallen and the regiment seemed devoted to destruction, but onward it went, its officers leading and cheering the men. Gaining a position within twenty yards of the stone wall, and while preparing for a final charge, orders were given for the regiment to return to the turnpike, as a movement of another regiment on the enemy's flank would expose it to an enfilading fire from its friends. Collecting its dead and wounded, the regiment retired to an orchard near the pike, where it was held in reserve for a short time. During the charge at Spangler's spring. Company I, under Capt. Walter Saunders, had a lively skirmish with the enemy at Culp's Hill. After resting in the orchard until about nine o'clock the regiment was advanced to the front on Culp's Hill, where it occupied rifle-pits and engaged the enemy. Here, too, it fought earnestly and bravely, and not a man faltered or displayed the least sign of fear. Its loss in this last engagement was severe, but the heaviest loss was sustained at Spangler's spring. Among the killed were Lieut. James T. Smith, Company C, and Lieut. John S. Willman, Company D. In the action at Culp's Hill, Lieut. Charles E. Eader, Company I, was killed. These officers were all citizens of Frederick County. Lieut. Smith was a young lawyer of Frederick City, and one of the editors of the Maryland Union. Lieut. Eader, also of Frederick City, was an educated mechanic of brave and generous impulses. Lieut. Willman, who was from Mechanicsburg, was a young officer of great gallantry, accomplishments, and promise.
The total loss of the regiment at Gettysburg was three officers and twenty-two enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, three officers and sixty-nine men wounded, and one man missing. Capt. Joseph Groff, Company B, Lieut. George H. Wain, Company C, and Lieut. Frank II. Hardesty, Company G, were among the wounded.
During the night of the 3rd the regiment lay in the works near its original position at McAllister's mill, on Rock Creek.
On the 4th of July, Lee took a position to receive an attack, but as Meade showed no disposition to disturb him, be began to retreat on the night of the 4th, and reached Hagerstown on the 6th and 7th. Finding the river too full to cross, he took up a position covering the Potomac from Williamsport to Falling Waters. While at Hagerstown he issued the following address to his army:
"Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
"July 11, 1863.
" General Order, No. 16:
"After long and trying marches, endured with the fortitude that has ever characterized the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, you have penetrated to the country of our enemies, and recalled to the defense of their own soil those who were engaged in the invasion of ours. You have fought a fierce and sanguinary battle, which, if not attended with the success that has hitherto crowned your efforts, was marked by the same heroic spirit that has commanded the respect of your enemies, the gratitude of your country, and the admiration of mankind.
" Once more you are called upon to meet the enemy from whom you won, on so many fields, names that will never die. Once more the eyes of your countrymen are turned upon you. Again do wives and sisters, fathers and mothers, helpless children lean for defense on your strong arms and brave hearts. Let every soldier remember that on his courage and fidelity depend all that makes life worth having, — the freedom of his country, the