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Report of Colonel Abner Perrin, Fourteenth South Caroline Infantry, commanding McGowan's brigade. HEADQUARTERS McGOWAN'S BRIGADE, August 13, 1863 SIR: This brigade-consisting of the following-named South Carolina regiments, to wit: The First [Provisional Army], Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and [First] Rifles, the First under the command of Major C. W. McCreary, the Twelfth under Colonel John L. Miller, the Thirteenth, Lieutenant Colonel B. T. Brockman, the Fourteenth, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph N. Brown, and the Rifles, Captain William M. Hadden-being a part of Major-General Pender's light division, formed a part of the Army of Northern Virginia in the late campaign across the Potomac, and was from June 5 until the present time under my immediate command. About 8 o'clock on the morning of July 1, I received orders to get under arms, and the brigade, excepting Captain Hadden, who was left with the Rifles to guard the wagon train, commenced the march, on the turnpike leading to Gettysburg, at the head of the division, and just in the rear of the division of Major-General Heth. The march was continued to within 3 miles of Gettysburg, when I was ordered to file down a road, form line of battle, leaving sufficient room between my left and the Gettysburg road for General Scales' brigade, and to throw out skirmishers to cover my right flank. Skirmishing between the advanced infantry of General Heth's division and that of the enemy, as well as heavy artillery firing, had already commenced in our front. I was soon notified that General Heth would advance, and that I would make a corresponding movement forward, preserving my alignment with General Scales, on my left. We moved through the open field about a mile, where we halted in rear and in supporting distance of General Heth's division, which had now become closely engaged with the enemy in our front. Here Brigadier-General Lane's brigade took position on my right, to protect our flank from the enemy's cavalry and some infantry reported by Captain [William T.] Haskell in that direction. We remained in this position until about 3 o'clock, and were again ordered forward, and again advanced probably a half mile, when we came close upon General Heth's division pressing the enemy, within a short distance in front of us. I remained in this position probably until after 4 o'clock, when I was ordered by General Pender to advance, and to pass General Heth's division should I come up with it at a halt, and to engage the enemy as circumstances might warrant. I soon came up with and passed Brigadier-General Pettigrew's brigade, the men of which seemed much exhausted by several hours' hard fighting. Here I availed myself of a ravine, which sheltered us from the enemy's artillery, to reform my line, and instructed regimental commanders when the advance was resumed not to allow a gun to be fired at the enemy until they received orders to do so. We now moved forward, preserving an alignment with General Scales, and, as soon as the brigade commenced ascending the hill in front, we were met by a furious storm of musketry and shells from the enemy's batteries to the left of the road near Gettysburg; but the instructions I had given were scrupulously observed-not a gun was fired. The brigade received the enemy's fire without faltering; rushed up the hill at a charge, driving the enemy without difficulty to their last position at Gettysburg. We continued the charge without opposition, excepting from artillery, which maintained a constant and most galling fire upon us, until we got within 200 yards from a grove near the college, the brigade received the most destructive fire of musketry I have ever been exposed to. We continued to press forward, however, without firing, until we reached the edge of the grove. Here the Fourteenth Regiment was staggered for a moment by the severity and destructiveness of the enemy's musketry. It looked to us as though this regiment was entirely destroyed. I here found myself without support either on the right or left. General Scales' brigade had halted to return the enemy's fire near the fence about 200 yards distant from the enemy. General Lane's brigade did not move upon my right at all, and was not at this time in sight of me. This gave the enemy an enfilading fire upon the Fourteenth. This regiment, under the lead of Lt. Col. Brown and Major [E.] Croft, most gallantly stood its ground. I now directed the First Regiment, under Major McCreary, to oblique to the right, to avoid a breastwork of rails behind, where I discovered the enemy was posted, and then to change front to the left, and attack in his flank. This was done most effectually, under the lead of this most gallant officer. The enemy here, were completely routed. This caused the whole of their artillery on our left, at least 30 pieces, to be limbered up and moved to the rear. Much of their artillery would have been captured, but the First and the Fourteenth in their pursuit again met a force of the enemies infantry, strongly posted behind a stone wall, to the left of the college. It was the work of a few moments, however, to dislodge them. These two regiments, now reduced in numbers to less than one-half the men they carried into the battle, pursued the enemy to within the town of Gettysburg, capturing hundreds of prisoners, two field pieces, and a number of caissons. While the First and Fourteenth regiments were assailing the enemy and driving him from his breastwork near the college, I ordered the Twelfth regiment, under Colonel Miller, and the Thirteenth, under Lt. Col. Brockman, to oblique the right, and charge the enemy, strongly posted behind a stone fence, to the right of the college, from which position he kept up a constant and withering fire of musketry upon the front and right flank of the brigade. These to regiments had to necessarily change direction to the right somewhat, so as to meet the enemy full in front. This movement was most brilliantly preformed by these two regiments, and was most skillfully managed by the officers I have mentioned. They rushed up to the top of the hill and the stone fence, driving everything before them, the Twelfth gaining the stone fence, and pouring an enfilading fire upon the enemy's right flank. The Thirteenth now coming up, made it an easy task to drive the enemy down the opposite slope and across the open field west of Gettysburg. This was the last of the fight of this day. The enemy completely routed and driven from every point, Gettysburg was now completely in our possession. After penetrating the enemy's lines near the college, the change of direction of the First and Fourteenth to attack the enemy in flank to the left, and the oblique movement and change of direction of the Twelfth and Thirteenth to attack the enemy in flank to the right, necessarily separated the brigade into two parts. As soon as I knew the enemy had been routed on the right, I ordered the Twelfth and the Thirteenth to unite again with the First and the Fourteenth, who were now pursuing the fleeing force through the town. Finding the last two last named regiments now reduced to less than half the number with which they entered he battle, and the men much exhausted, I ordered them back from the town, to await the Twelfth and Thirteenth, and sent a small detachment through the town to take such prisoners as the enemy had left in the retreat. It was after the recall of these two regiments that the brigade of Brigadier-General Ramseur filed through Gettysburg from the direction of my left. The loss of the brigade in killed and wounded did not fall short of 500. Better conduct was never exhibited on any field than was shown by both officers and men in this engagement. Each one of the color-sergeants taken into the fight was killed in front of his regiment. Some regiments had a number of color-bearers shot down one after another. The officers generally were conspicuous in leading their men everywhere in the hottest of the fight. After the First and Fourteenth were withdrawn from Gettysburg, General Pender ordered me to get the brigade together, and let the men rest. Now it was that the first piece of artillery fired by the enemy from Cemetery hill, southwest of Gettysburg, was opened upon my command, and it was the same artillery which we had driven from our left near Gettysburg. I saw it move off from my left, and file into position over the hill. The next day, having taken position in rear of some artillery as a support, we were exposed to and suffered a small loss from the enemy's shells. About 6 o'clock in the afternoon, I was ordered to push forward my skirmish line, and to drive in the enemy's pickets from a road in front of the Cemetery Hill. I communicated this order to Captain William T. Haskell, in command of a select battalion of sharpshooters, acting as skirmishers, and sent Major McCreary forward with his regiment, about 100 strong, to deploy in rear of Captain Haskell, and to act as a support. This battalion of sharpshooters, led by the gallant Haskell, made a most intrepid charge upon the Yankee skirmishers, driving them out of the road and close up under their batteries; but, soon after gaining the road, Captain Haskell received a wound from the enemy's sharpshooters, from which he died in a few moments on the field. This brave and worthy young officer fell while boldly walking along the front line of his command, encouraging his men and selecting favorable positions for them to defend. He was educated and accomplished, possessing in a high degree every virtuous quality of the true gentleman and Christian. He was an officer of most excellent judgment, and a soldier of the coolest and most chivalrous daring. This position was held by my skirmishers until, about 10 o'clock at night, I was ordered to place my brigade in line of battle, then on the right of General Ramseur's brigade and on the left of General Thomas. I remained quietly in this position during the remainder of the night, having thrown forward skirmishers again. Early next morning (the 3d), the heaviest skirmishing I have ever witnessed was here kept up during the greater part of the day. The enemy made desperate efforts to recapture the position, on account of our skirmishers being within easy range of their artillerists on the Cemetery Hill, but we repulsed every assault, and held the position until ordered back to the main line at Gettysburg. At one time the enemy poured down a perfect torrent of light troops from the hill, which swept my skirmishers back upon the main line. I now ordered the Fourteenth to deploy and charge the enemy, which was done in the most gallant style, not without losing some valuable officers and men. Lieutenant-Colonel Brown and Major Croft, of the Fourteenth, were here severely wounded. We remained at Gettysburg the remainder of the night and during the 4th, and at night moved back with the division toward Hagerstown. Went into line of battle at Hagerstown on the [11th], when my skirmishers were again engaged, and where we lost a few men killed and wounded. Among the former, Captain John W. Chambers, of the First, a most gallant and worthy officer, who fell, at the head of his company. On the night of the [13th], we commenced the march in the direction of Falling Waters. While resting about 2 miles from Falling Waters, we were attacked by the enemy's cavalry. I was ordered to move my command to the right, and had to extend my right flank to the canal, near the river, to keep the enemy from getting around my flank. The enemy kept pressing upon me with his skirmishers, but these were easily kept in check by my own skirmishers. As soon as I got in position and was prepared to receive the enemy's attack, I was ordered to fall back toward the bridge at Falling Waters. The brigade fell back in perfect order, and gained the road, and formed in line of battle across it, and then moved in retreat toward the bridge, in rear of the whole corps. I lost in this affair about 30 men captured, being the greater part of two companies that I had sent forward to strengthen the skirmish line. It resulted from their not going where they were ordered to go. I lost from men breaking down, sick, barefoot, straggling, &c., about 60 men more from the time of leaving Gettysburg to reaching and recrossing the Potomac at Falling Waters. My total missing in the whole campaign was about 90 men; killed and wounded, 654. I take occasion to mention the names of Major Croft, of the Fourteenth; Major [Isaac F.] Hunt, of the Thirteenth, and Major [E. F.] Bookter, of the Twelfth, as officers who proved themselves fully worthy of their positions throughout the engagements around Gettysburg. I remarked particularly the cool and gallant bearing of Major Bookter, and the force and judgment with which he managed the men under his control. Captains [W. P.] Shooter, [T. P.] Alston, and [A. P.] Butler, of the First Regiment South Carolina Volunteers; Captains [James] Boatwright and [E.] Cowan, of the Fourteenth South Carolina Volunteers, and Captain [T. Frank] Clyburn, of the twelfth, were distinguished for uncommonly good conduct in the action, as I can testify from my personal observation. A. PERRIN, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Major JOSEPH A. ENGELHARD, Assistant Adjutant-General, Light Division. |
Last updated: December 18, 2025