Firsthand Account of Combat

[EVOC]

Okay, this article was written by a veteran in 1911, so some of his facts may be rusty. It is the recollection of a soldier in the 1st TX Infantry, ANV and includes first hand accounts of Devils Den at Gettysburg and other major battles. Here he is on 3 July, 1863.

"About this time the battle was raging furiously on our left and from our position we could see our men (Pickett's Division) falling back and we had to retreat to avoid being flanked by the enemy, although there was no engagement on our part of the line.
In the meantime, the 1st Texas had met the Federal Cavalry. They had to deploy as a mere skirmish line to make a front to meet a brigade of cavalry. The Yankees, seeming to be in a state of intoxication, dashed through our line firing right and left. They killed one man in Company A, shooting him through the head, while our boys from behind trees and fence corners with their well directed aim left seventeen dead on the field, among them Gen. Farnsworth, their leader. The Fourth Alabama regiment had been sent to aid the First Texas and it is claimed that some of them killed Gen. Farnsworth, which, however, is a mistake. If there had been any honor in killing a federal general doubtless that honor belongs to the First Texas Regiment. It happened this way: Gen. Farnsworth came dashing up to Corporal A. F. Taylor and demanded his surrender, but Taylor replied with a ball from his Enfield, which took effect in his abdomen just below his belt. The General, looking down, saw his wound, turned his pistol on himself, and shot himself four times and fell from his horse, and if those who came to bury the dead were not personally acquainted with him, they never knew they were burying a general."

Excerpt from:

Note: This article was first published May 17, 1911, in the Jasper (Texas) News-Boy.
Recollections of the Civil War
By (Pvt.) Rev. Alfred Cuthbert SIMS Company F, 1st Texas Volunteer Infantry Regiment

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Hi,

That is a very interesting account of the battle of Gettysburg. Thanks.

[stubbynick]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Joe,

Do you believe the general shot himself four times? I found that interesting. Figure he was in that much pain to try to end it as fast as he could? Odd it seems to me! Thanks for the post.

Gerald Smolik
4th Virginia Co.A (Ohio Sect)

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Hi,

I did find that he shot himself 4 times kinda strange.

[yeoman]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Sir, Wow, what a recollection, I gotta say its really disturbing. Going to google Gen. Farnsworth at Gettysburg right now. Thanks.

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

I devoted a good chunk of time to researching the 1st Texas' actions on July 2nd and 3rd for an anniversary program the LR did (and promptly forgot most of it once we were through ) but seem to remember that the account of Farnsworth blasting himself four times after being wounded has proven false.

That cavalry action is a battle within a battle and worthy of a lot more study than it usually gets. It's a neat part of the field, with a lot of stone breastworks that have been undisturbed since the day.

[EVOC]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

I have never studied the death of General Farnsworth and I cannot attest to the veracity of Pvt. Sims. Here are the final remarks of this account.

"If Captain Dan K. Rice is living he can tell something about Gen. Farnsworth's boots. He did not take them off the general, but bought them off a soldier that did, and the fine morocco leather that clothed the feet of a federal general in the battle of Gettysburg, were worn by a Texas captain in the battle of Chickamauga. Captain S. A. Willson and Private T. D. Rock of Company F, having been overcome by heat, sat down just before the regiment met the enemy and when the Yankees ... (attacked they) ... captured them. A few volunteers from the Fourth Alabama regiment and a few grape shot from Riley's battery turned the enemy back and they made their escape around the right wing of Lee's army."

Sam Willson was my gg-uncle. I am an expert on him. And Pvt. Sims' recollection of Devils Den is more interesting than this story. I did not post it because it is much longer.

[Suppelsa]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Joe,

Do you believe the general shot himself four times? I found that interesting. Figure he was in that much pain to try to end it as fast as he could? Odd it seems to me! Thanks for the post.

Gerald Smolik
4th Virginia Co.A (Ohio Sect)

Pretty slim odds, but possible. Maybe he was just shooting himself in the leg, stomach or wherever due to shock.

[stubbynick]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

I'd be interested in reading that story about Devil's Den if you are ever inclined to share it.

Gerald Smolik
4th Virginia Co.A

[EVOC]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Here it is Gerald. Battle of Devils Den

We received orders on that morning of the first of July to get ready to march without delay. Everybody was in a stir in camp, rolling up blankets and fly tents, gathering up cooking utensils, bucking on cartridge boxes, etc. We were soon in readiness and marched back through Chalmersburg and took the road toward Gettysburg.
Tramp, Tramp, all day the boys were marching and alas: it was the last march for many of the poor fellows. We all knew we were marching to battle; as evidence I will relate one circumstance. A young man by the name of Rod Meekling of Company B, First Texas, was whistling gaily as we tramped along, all of a sudden he turned to his comrade and remarked with an air of seriousness, "Boys, I have been through many hard fought battles, but if I get through this one to which we are going, I shall count myself the luckiest man in the world." Need I tell you that he was one of the first to fall after getting to battle. Killed dead on the field.
We continued our march all day under a hot July sun and until night, when we bivouacked on the roadside for the remainder of the night. We did not stack our arms as usual, for we were in the enemy's country and everyone lay with his "trusty companion." News came that A. P. Hill's and Ewell's corps had met the enemy and driven them back six miles and captured 5,000 prisoners.
Early next morning we resumed our march and ere long we began to see the bloody shirts, the men who had been wounded in the previous day's battle and who were able to travel, wending their way back to the old Virginia shores. What effect this may have had on the old soldiers, I know not, but to me, who had never seen the like, it was no pleasing sight to behold. It reminds me of one of the Scriptures which says, "Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood." However, we continued our march for some time, then quitting the road we turned to the right. We soon began to cross ridges of fresh turned earth which hid the forms of those who fell in the previous days fight. Whether friends or foes we did not know; it made no difference then, for all strife had ceased with them forever.
We continued our march until we came to a wagon train drawn up in a camping position, and on the cover of each was marked in large letters, "Ordinance", which meant ammunition and guns, but to me it seemed death. We passed this train a little way and came to a halt and rested and ate our scant dinner, though I had no appetite for eating. The bands would try to play, but the instruments would give a plaintive sound without much music. It was indeed hours of great suspense, we whiled away there waiting for the time of action.
At last Col. P. A. Work, commanding First Texas Regiment, ordered us to fall in line; we then made a right flank movement into a thick wood. We were ordered to load our guns and went a little farther. We were ordered to cap them (in those days we used cap and ball). We then moved out into a field. Riley's battery, that accompanied Hood's Brigade, was there in position ready for action. We took our position on the left and a little in the rear of the battery; the Third Arkansas on our left, the Fourth and Fifth Texas on our right in the order named.
No sooner were we in position than did our cannon open fire through a skirt of timber which lay in our front, which was eastward; to which the enemy replied promptly, knocking out a man here and there. To avoid as much danger as possible, we were ordered to lie down until all were in readiness.
Gen. J. B. Hood, as a division commander, took a position in the front of the First Texas Regiment; Gen. Robertson commanding the brigade. Hood had sent Major Sellers, his aide-de-camp, to Gen. Longstreet for orders, and on his return Hood ordered a detail to throw down a rail fence which lay just before us, and immediately ordered a forward movement, he leading the way on horseback. The whole column moved forward and with one united effort threw the fence to the ground. Hood having passed through the gap made by said detail, we emerged into the skirts of the timber; presently random firing began along the line, but I could see no enemy. Presently a full volley from the Third Arkansas Regiment on our left proclaimed the enemy in sight. We pressed forward to a stone fence, where I gladly would have remained for the remainder of the evening for the protection it afforded us, but not so; we must go forward, and I leaped upon the fence, the rocks giving way and I went head forward down a little slant on the side of a branch. My file leader, seeing me fall, turned back to ask if I were badly hurt, to which I replied that I was not, and arose and soon regained my place.
We pushed forward through a field of timothy through which the minnie balls were hissing. As we came to the brow of the hill, that overlooks the valley at the foot of Little Round Top my gun was knocked from my hand and ten or twelve feet to the rear; I did not turn back to get it, but picked up another that lay before us. I got it choked with a ball and threw it down and picked up another. As we came down a slant by the side of a wood a shell cut off a white oak tree, which made us scatter to keep it from falling on us, but we soon closed up the gap and went forward until we were in the valley where we halted, loaded and fired, the front rank on their knees and the rear standing. We only remained in this a few minutes when we again went forward, when we came to the foot of the hill on which the battery stood there was a momentary confusion. Someone ordered a retreat and we began to fall back, but the order was quickly countermanded and another forward movement.
The Third Arkansas Regiment being hard pressed and began retreating, Col. Work ordered a part of the First Texas to their assistance. Capt. Harding, with drawn sword, urged the balance of the regiment forward. The battery had been silenced, our aim being too accurate for the gunners. At the critical moment Gen. Benning's Brigade came upon the field. The 20th Georgia, not knowing that they were coming to our support, supposing us to be the enemy, opened fire on us; but Geo. A. Branard, being our color bearer, stepped out in an open space and waved our state flag to and fro, who, when they saw, ceased firing until they came to us and rendered good service in aiding us to hold what we had gained, as the enemy made several assaults to retake the cannon they had lost.
Just as it began to grow dark we distinctly heard the Yankee officers give orders for another charge. Gen. Benning being there in person, said, "Now, boys, hold your fire until they come right up, then pour a volley into them, and if they don't stop, run your bayonets into their bellies." But they did not come.
When the firing ceased the Georgians began to lay claim to the honor of capturing the battery, which the Texans disputed; but Benning quieted the dispute by saying, "Ah, boys, those Texans had captured this battery before you were in a quarter of a mile of here."
After the battle was over and all was quiet save the cries of the wounded, there was a requisition made for men to go on picket duty and it fell my lot to go for Company F. I stood two hours on the Vidette Post between the two armies and listened to the cries and groans of the wounded and dying, and to their pleadings for water. One man who lay just in front of me would say, "Oh, pardner, bring me a drink of water. I'll assure you that no one will hurt you." "My leg is shot off or I would come to you. I'll give you a dollar for a drink of water. I'll give you all the money I have for a drink of water." To all of which I made no reply, as I had no water to give and could not leave my post for anything.
I was so fatigued and overcome with excitement, heat of battle, and suffocating smoke, that I had to put tobacco in my eyes to prevent myself from going to sleep on post, when I knew it was death to be found asleep at such a time.
After standing for two hours I lay down among the dead and slept like them until aroused by my comrades at break of day to rejoin our command, which had been removed further to the right during the night and other troops had taken our places.
Before leaving, Capt. S. A. Wilson requested of Col. Work that he, with the help of others, be allowed to move the cannon off the field which we had captured that evening, which they did, except one which the enemy, seeing they would have to abandon, pushed off a precipice down among large rocks, so that they could not get it out.
Gens. Hood and Robertson were wounded early in the fight and Gen. Law of Alabama succeeded Hood, and Col. Work took command of the Texas Brigade.
On the 3rd the battle was renewed with an artillery duel, the heaviest cannonading ever heard on the American continent. The air was alive with hissing bomb-shells and the hills and mountains fairly trembled. Our battery being a considerable distance in the rear, the shot all passed harmlessly over our heads, except two or three shots from our own battery fell short of their aim and wounded two men in Co. F. A courier went in full speed and told our gunners to shoot further, which they did.
About the time the cannonading ceased, news came that a brigade of Yankee cavalry had gained our rear and the First Texas Regiment was ordered to go in double quick time and meet them. My knee was so sore from the fall I had at the stone fence the evening before that I could not keep up with the company, and Captain Wilson told me to stop, which I did and returned to the 5th Texas Regiment. Col. P. A. Work saw me and asked me to stay by him while he lay down to rest, and in case he should fall asleep to awaken him if any attack should be made. I had not been standing there but a few minutes when a minnie ball came whistling by me, and I heard the report of a gun in the distance. Another minute and another ball struck a hickory limb close to my head, when Col. Work said that we had better get back to the breastworks, or that a "d----d Yankee would kill us." From the nature of the ground in our front, the man must have been up in a tree to have seen us.

[LWhite64]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Joe,
Did he ever write about Chickamauga?

Lee

[stubbynick]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Joe,

What an excellent story to be shared! Thanks Joe!


Gerald Smolik
4th Virginia Co.A

[EVOC]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Joe,
Did he ever write about Chickamauga?

Lee

I feel bad now. Should have posted the link at the start. Here is the full article taken from the Jasper Newsboy archives. Chicamauga is near the end and brief.

http://www.texas-brigade.com/recollections.htm

[stubbynick]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Joe,

The old saying "Better late than never!" surely applies here! Thanks Joe!

Gerald Smolik
4th Virginia, Co A

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Firsthand Account of Combat

Hi,

Thanks for the link.