It is our privilege to offer the “lost” Gettysburg battle reports of Col. Samuel J. Williams.  Williams writing from headquarters of the 19^th Indiana Volunteers on August 1^st 1863 submits his report to Capt. J. D. Wood, Assistant Adjutant General, 1^st Brigade, 1^st Division of the 1^st Army Corps.  Whether this report ever made it to Wood or not is unknown.  Would Williams have signed his name if this were his retained copy?  (As he did)  In any event, we cannot find a copy of this report in the official records or in any of the books written on the 19^th Indiana.  This regiment had an amazing record as part of the famous Iron Brigade and Williams gives an excellent blow by blow account of this, the greatest battle ever fought on American soil.  The document is in fine condition with minor discoloration at the top of each page where the report was bond together.  Its folds have been archivally strengthened. It is written in dark brown ink by Williams first Lieut. Adjt. George E. Finney and signed S. J. Williams in Williams’s hand. 

# G4 – Price $5,750

Transcription:

Head Quarters 19^th Regt. Ind. Vols.

Aug. 1^st 1863

Capt. J. D. Wood

                                Asst. Adjt. Genl.

                                                                1^st Brigade, 1^st Division 1^st Army Corps-

                                                                                                                                       Sir-

                                                                                                                                           I have the honor

To submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the battle of Gettysburg Pa., July 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd 1863:

                On the morning of the 1^st July, my regiment being temporarily detached from the Brigade, on picket, I was early notified that the Division would move at 8 a.m. towards Gettysburg and that the regiment should fall into its proper place in the column as it came marching by.  Drawing in my outposts, I was prepared to comply with the order, and before 9 a.m., was on the march.  Shortly after starting the sound of distant cannon announced that the skirmishers of the two armies had met.  The column passed on now, more rapidly than before and reaching a point within two miles of Gettysburg filed to the left, passing over cleared fields for ¾ of a mile, and entered a wood skirting Seminary Ridge.  Bearing to the right, after emerging from this strip of woods, the line passed along nearly parallel with it, until my regiment was directly in rear of the Seminary building.  The cavalry, then in our front, were withdrawn, and the infantry ordered forward.  Facing my command to the left, thus forming line of battle, I ordered it forward at a double quick, to gain the summit of a little raise behind which the enemy was in part sheltered, was but the work of a few moments.  At the foot of this raise along Willoughby’s Run, and not more than 75 yards distant lay Archer’s rebel Brigade, partly hidden from view by the low shrubbery which lined its banks.  The boys it is but just to Ray, did not “stand upon the order of their firing, but fired at once,” without for a moment slackening their pace, and pressing steadily forward, crossed the Run, capturing the enemy in front and ascended the opposite bank where the line was halted.  Closing the column in pursuance of orders, I marched the regiment back across the creek and again formed it in line of battle with the other regiments of the Brigade – the line now being on the same ground, so lately occupied by the enemy.  In this clash two or three of my men were wounded, one of whom, Private James Strickley, Co. “C” would not retire from the field and was killed in the afternoon.  I now threw forward skirmishers and remained in this position until three o’clock p.m.  In reforming the line, the 24^th Michigan which in the first formation was on my left, had been moved to the right, thus leaving the 19^th on the extreme left of our line of battle.  Two regiments afterwards formed en echelon to the left and rear which however, did not prevent a heavy fire on my flank in the action of the afternoon.  At 3 p.m. the enemy attacked this position – coming forward in three battle lines, far overlapping me on the left in addition to a flanking column whose intention, evidently, it was to sweep round upon my left and rear –thus subjecting my command to capture.  My regiment was in line ready for action from the moment the enemy’s advance was descried.  As soon as they came within range I ordered the men to fire which was done.  This was immediately returned.  My regiment held its position until we had suffered severely from the column, on the left and until twenty men lay dead and one hundred wounded along the line.  Finding it impossible to hold the position against such an overwhelming force the line commenced retiring firing with good effect while doing so.  One hundred yards in the rear, I reformed the line, but again were we forced to retire.  A few rods in rear of this line, was a fence partly torn down, behind which I the second time reformed the line – my right now resting on the 7th Wisc. Vols.  The front regiment on my left, before spoken of, had likewise been forced to retire (after a severe loss) and I was here, as in the first line, exposed to a deadly fire from the flank.  The second regiment spoken of, from the configuration of the ground, until now had not delivered or received a fire.  Being forced from the fence, I again reformed my command, now reduced to a mere squad to the right and on the prolongation of its line.  As the enemy gained the crest of the ridge now in front, they sustained a deadly volley from our guns.  But they outnumbered us four to one and we were now too weak to avail anything against such odds.  Retiring from here, loading and firing, I placed the remnant of my command behind a barricade of logs and rails hastily constructed after the commencement of the fight.  Here was made our last and hopeless stand.  For several minutes the enemy were held in check, but the column on our left being subject only to a slight fire, was still intact, and sweeping round upon our left.  The third line of the rebels in front had become engaged and great gaps in it told of the severity of our fire.  We could have held out against the line in front, but their maneuvers on the left made the position untenable and I gave the order to retreat.  Men of every Division of the Corps had fought side by side behind this barricade and I formed it impossible to form my command, and we retired each to care for himself through the town.  On Cemetery Hill, I collected my men reformed them took a position on Culp’s Hill, to the right of the Cemetery, and built breastworks.  Here we lay during the subsequent two days fighting.  Though almost constantly being shelled by the enemy during the 2^nd & 3^rd July, I was not actively engaged after the first.

                I went into the action with 261 men and 27 officers - came out with 69 men and 9 officers, my loss being as follows:  Officers killed 2; wounded 12; missing 4; men killed 25; wounded 121; missing 46.  Total loss, officers and men – 210.

                My report would be deficient did I fail to express my thanks to and admiration of the officers and men of my command for their gallant conduct during trying scenes through which they passed, or to speak of the gallant dead, who sealed their devotion to their country with their life’s blood.  Lieut. Jones Co. B and East, Co. K fell while cheering on their men.  Sergt. Major Asa. W. Blanchard received a mortal wound while bearing aloft the Stars and Stripes.  I had directed him to raise the flag it having been shot down the third time, when he was struck in the groin, and expired in a few moments.  Sergts. Furgason and Beshears, Co H, Winsett and Daughterly Co. K, Michner Co. E., Ogborn Co B., and many others of less rank who with undaunted courage and true patriotism, had taken their lives in their hands and rushed to uphold the honor of the old flag and to preserve the integrity of the Government here “fought their last fight,” and now lie beneath the sod over which the tide of battle so fearfully surged.  Many died from wounds received and lie in honored graves.  Green be the grass and brightly bloom the flowers over their lowly beds!

                Lieut. Col. Dudley was active and fearless in the discharge of his duties, rendering me important services, until struck by a Minnie ball in the fight of the afternoon of the 1^st.  He was unable to get off the field and fell into the enemies hands but upon the evacuation of Gettysburg by the rebels was restored to us.  He has since suffered amputation of the right leg.  Maj. Lindley, cool and courageous, materially aided me in reforming the line at different times and in cheering on the men.  He was wounded in the hand, while retiring through town, which resulted in the amputation of the finger.  Capts. Holloway, Ives Shafer, and Lieut. Wilson, Schlagle, Campbell Witemeyer, Macy, Nash, Branson, Patrick, and Gisse, all did their duty and all were wounded.  Liets. – Nash and Gisse, however, still kept the field. 

                Surgeon Ebersole and his two Assts. were untiring in the discharge of their duties, neither upon the field of in hospital.  Of the Assts. Dr. Haines was especially active, being upon the field, near the line of battle, ministering to the wounded at the time of the attack in the afternoon of the 1^th.  The regiment has been particularly fortunate in having the services of these medical officers.  There are no better in the service. 

                I can point with pride and confidence to my officers and men engaged in this battle.  In their hands the honor of our flag and of our State is safe.

                                                                                Respectfully,

                                                                                                                S. Williams

                                                                                                                                Col. 19^th Regt. Ind. Vols.

Geo. E. Finney
1st Lieut. & Adjt.