Journal History of the Twenty-Ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, 1861-1865 / Its Victories and its Reverses. And the campaigns and battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, the March to the Sea, and the campaign of the Carolinas, in which it bore an honorable part

by J. Hamp SeCheverell

29th. Moved through Frederick City in the direction of Pennsylvania, and went into camp. General Hooker was relieved from command of the Army of the Potomac, and General George G. Mead placed in command.

30th. Moved north into Pennsylvania, and late in the afternoon reached Littlestown, where we had a skirmish with the advance guard of the rebel Lee, which falling back toward Gettysburg, we moved north of town; mustered for pay and went into camp for the night.

CHAPTER IX.

Gettysburg.

1863.

July 1, 1863, the Twenty-ninth regiment, under command of Captain Edward Hayes, marched at 6:30 A. M., passed through Littletown and on towards Gettysburg. After moving some five miles, we halted, and while preparing for dinner, first heard the distant artillery firing which seemed to be many miles away.

While resting, troops were passing to the front. Meanwhile some of Company H had advanced to an eminence, from which they soon returned, reporting that the cannonading was not far off, as they could plainly see the shells as they burst above the timber. We were soon on the march, halting occasionally to breathe, as it was excessively hot and dusty. When about two miles from Gettysburg, we met ambulances returning with the wounded of the First and Eleventh corps, which had been engaged. Advancing a short distance, we found still further evidence of the fight in the bodies of those who had been killed in battle, and left beside the road. Late in the afternoon the Twenty-ninth reached the Union lines near Seminary Hill, and here batteries were in position. The troops were moving, and the rapid forming of lines gave evidence that a battle was nigh.

The Twenty-ninth regiment filed to the left of the pike, and advancing about forty rods, took a position in a wheat field, in line of battle, and here remained on arms during the night.

During the day (July 1st) the First corps, commanded by General J. F. Reynolds, had a sharp fight, in which Reynolds was killed. The Eleventh corps (Howard’s) was also engaged. Late in the afternoon the Nationals were pressed back, and took a strong position a short distance from Gettysburg, on Seminary Ridge, which ended the battle for that day.

During the night we could hear the moving of confederate troops and artillery in our front, while at the same time the Nationals were coming onto the field, so that in the morning of July 2d, the open field and woods presented a solid mass of troops, artillery and supply trains.