After the repulse of CSA General Archer's and Davis' Brigades, a lull settled over the newly christened
battlefield. Both sides took the time to reorganize and rethink the mornings events. With the arrival of Lieutenant General
Ewell's Corps on the field, the men of Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill's Corps who had clashed with General Reynolds' 1st
Corps earlier in the day, renewed the attack. General Heth expressed a particular interest in retrying his men against the
stubborn Yankee defenders. Now far outnumbering their Union foes at the point of contact, the men in gray advanced, coercing
their blue clad adversaries to make a grudging withdrawal. Colonel Henry A.
Morrow of the 24th Michigan and the Iron Brigade,
described their desperate struggle in his morose after battle report.
"The enemy advanced in two lines of battle, their right extending beyond and overlapping our left. I
gave direction to the men to withhold their fire until the enemy should come within short range of our guns. This was done,
but the nature of the ground was such that I am inclined to think we inflicted but little injury on the enemy at this time.
Their advance was not checked, and they came on with rapid strides, yelling like demons. The Nineteenth Indiana, on
our left, fought most gallantly, but was overpowered by superior numbers, the enemy having also the advantage of position, and,
after a severe loss, was forced back. The left of my regiment was now
exposed to an enfilading fire, and orders were given for this
portion of the line to swing back, so as to face the enemy, now on this flank. Pending the execution of this movement, the enemy
advanced in such force as to compel me to fall back and take a new position a short distance in the rear. In the meantime I had
lost in killed and wounded several of my best officers and many of my men. Among the former were Captain William J. Speed, acting
major, and Lieutenant Dickey, a young officer of great promise. Charles Bellore*, my second color-bearer, was killed here. The
second line was promptly formed, and we made a desperate resistance, but the enemy accumulating in our front, and our losses
being very great, we were forced to fall back and take up a third position beyond a slight ravine. My third color-bearer,
Augustus Ernest, of Company K, was killed on this line. Major E. B. Wight, acting lieutenant-colonel, was wounded at this time
and compelled to leave the field. By this time the ranks were so diminished that scarcely a fourth of the forces taken into action
could be rallied. Corpl. Andrew Wagner, Company F, one of the color guard, took the colors, and was ordered by me to plant them
in a position to which I designed to rally the men. He was wounded in the breast and left on the field. I now took the flag from
the ground, where it had fallen, and was rallying the remnant of my regiment, when Private William Kelly, of Company E, took the
colors from my hands, remarking, as he did so, 'The colonel of the Twenty-fourth shall never carry the flag while I am alive.'
He was killed instantly. Private Lilburn A. Spaulding, of Company K, seized the colors and bore them for a time.
Subsequently I took them from him to rally the men, and kept them until I was wounded. We had inflicted severe loss on the enemy,
but their numbers were so overpowering and our own losses had been so great that we were unable to maintain our position, and were
forced back, step by step, contesting every foot of ground, to the barricade...Shortly after I was wounded, Captain Edwards found
the colors in the hands of a wounded soldier, who had fallen on the east side of the barricade. He was reclining on his right side,
and was holding the colors in his left hand. I have not been able to ascertain the name of this brave soldier in whose paralyzed
hands Captain Edwards found the flag. Captain Edwards describes him as being severely wounded, and he is, therefore, probably among
our dead. His name may forever be unknown, but his bravery will never die."
[5]
The 24th Michigan's antagonists on this day were
the 26th North Carolina of Brigadier General J. Johnston Pettigrew's brigade. Major J. Jones of the 26th North Carolina would
write of the continuing conflict, "On this second line, the fighting was terrible-our men advancing, the enemy stubbornly
resisting, until the two lines were pouring
volleys into each other at a distance not greater than 20 paces. At last the enemy were compelled to give way. They again made a
stand in the woods, and the third time they were driven from their position, losing a stand of colors, which was taken by the
Twenty-sixth; but, owing to some carelessness, they were left behind, and were picked up by some one else. While the Twenty-sixth
was thus engaged, the rest of the line, having cleared the field and being exposed to heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, were
ordered to fall back, which they did in perfect order. The Twenty-sixth, not receiving the order, were now engaged in collecting
ammunition from the enemy's dead, being entirely out themselves...While the whole brigade behaved most admirably, especial credit
is due the Eleventh and Twenty-sixth. The Twenty-sixth lost more than half its men killed and wounded, among them Colonel H. K.
Burgwyn, jr., killed, Lieutenant Colonel J. R. Lane seriously wounded, both with the colors, with many other most valuable
officers."
In a letter to the Governor of the Old North State, Captain J. J. Young would add, "We went in with over 800 men in the
regiment. There came out but 216, all told, unhurt. Yesterday (July 3, 1863)** they were again engaged, and now have only about
80 men for duty."
*I have seen this name also listed as "Ballard" and "Ballare". However, according to the NPS Soldiers and
Sailors database and the 24th Michigan's web site, there is only a Charles Bellore noted as serving with the 24th Michigan. He
left the service as a Corporal.
**Date added by web author.
