GETTYSBURG

140^th GETTYSBURG

after action report

by

BRUCE  KOLB

 

 

The 140^th Gettysburg was an event to remember. I think everyone had some trouble finding the camp because no one had an accurate map of the event site. We had plenty of water, straw, and wood throughout the weekend.  It was estimated that 11,000 reenactors participated and between 70,000 and 80,000 spectators attended the weekend’s events. A majority of the men who made up our Brigade consisted of men from the following companies:

 

            19^th Indiana, Company A                      2^nd Wisconsin, Company K

            2^nd Wisconsin, Company F                   6^th Wisconsin, Company K

            24^th Michigan                                       7^th Wisconsin, Company I

            21^st Michigan                                        9^th Kentucky

            49^th Indiana, Company F                      11^th Indiana

            1^st Michigan                                          3^rd Michigan, Company F

            19^th Indiana, Company K                     38^th Indiana

 

Friday began with a battle at 11:00am and we marched out early so we could stand in the sun. Unfortunately, we were to stand in the sun a lot throughout the weekend prior to each battle. The worst part was that each staging area had no available shade. The great battle began with what the organizers termed, “The Enemy Probes The Line.” In this scenario we marched out and were placed in reserve and were finally sent to the far right of the union line to protect the flank and we engaged cavalry and dismounted cavalry. We gave no ground and charged repeatedly which thoroughly confused the confederates. It was only when we were ordered to withdrawal that we did reluctantly. By this time the heat on the field was unbearable so everyone headed back to camp to cool down before the 6pm battle.  For the last battle of the day the 56^th USV was placed under my command and we were to portray the 6^th Wisconsin at the railroad cut. We were privileged to have quite a few members of the 6^th marching with us and they brought their colors. Our Brigade now numbered over 250 men. After quite a bit of confusion as to how we were to march into battle we finally managed to get the brigade on the line of battle and our job was to protect the left flank of the army and to not give any ground no matter what. We survived numerous charges from the confederates and finally pulled the 6^th Wisconsin out and placed them in reserve next to the 14^th Brooklyn (red legs). I placed the 6^th under command of the Lt. Colonel and at the appointed time he marched the 6^th and 14^th into the railroad cut.  Friday’s battles were over and most men were asleep long before taps.

Saturday started out with the Little Round Top scenario. We once again stood in the sun for an extremely long period of time and were finally sent into battle next to the 20^th Maine. The Culp’s Hill scenario went basically the same way, except at the last moment we were sent at the double quick from the extreme left flank to the right to once again protect the army’s flank. Saturday night the men celebrated and we were all invited to partake in the “Circle of Fools” by the men from California.

Sunday’s battle was Pickett’s Charge.  We marched out early and sat in the sun for almost two hours before the battle began. Once the fire from the pyrotechnics subsided the final battle began. We were to be the 72^nd Pennsylvania. We had the honor of the 72^nd as our color company and we carried their flags in to battle. Our battalion was placed just behind the angle and we fired at the advancing confederates as they approached the stone wall that had been built. As Armistead made it over the wall we did a right wheel and fired killing him on the spot. We then went to port arms and advanced as the double quick capturing dozens of confederates. That was the end of the event and we broke ranks and walked back to camp.

All I can say is that it is a good thing that more troops did not show up.  The battlefields were small enough, and there was barely enough room for the troops that did show up. It was a shame that with all the planning the confederates could not seem to follow the scenarios. It seems as if they went out of their way to screw them up for us. The men fought hard through five battles and really showed the easterners how to fight. The discipline was superb and the leadership was excellent. To our credit not a single man in our Brigade went down from the heat. It was a true honor and a privilege to command the Cumberland Guard. I would like to personally thank each and every soldier for their patience throughout the weekend, and their ability to form the Brigade at a moment’s notice.