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At an early hour on the morning of the 3d, I received an order, through a
staff-officer of the Brigadier-General commanding [Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick,
commander of the Third Division of the Army of the Potomac's Cavalry Corps]
the division, to move at once my command, and follow the First brigade on the
road leading from Two Taverns to Gettysburg. Agreeably to the above instructions,
my column was formed and moved out on the road designated, when a staff officer
of Brigadier General [David M.] Gregg, commanding Second division, ordered me to
take my command and place it in position on the pike leading from York to
Gettysburg, which position formed the extreme right of our battle on that day.
Upon arriving at the point designated, I immediately placed my command in
position, facing toward Gettysburg. At the same time I caused reconnaissances to
be made on my front, right, and rear, but failed to discover any considerable
force of the enemy. Everything remained quiet till 10 a.m., when the enemy
appeared on my right flank and opened upon me with a battery of six guns.
Leaving two guns and a regiment to hold my first position and cover the road
leading to Gettysburg [the Hanover Road], I shifted the remaining portion of my
command, forming a new line of battle at right angles to my former line. The
enemy had obtained correct range of my new position, and were pouring solid shot
and shell into my command with great accuracy. Placing two sections of Battery
M, Second (regular) Artillery [also known as Pennington's battery], in
position, I ordered them to silence the enemy's battery, which order,
notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy's position, was successfully
accomplished in a very short space of time. My line, as it then existed, was
shaped like the letter L, the shorter branch formed of the section of Battery
[M], Second Artillery, supported by a portion of the Sixth Michigan cavalry on
the right, while the Seventh Michigan cavalry, still further to the right and in
advance, was held in readiness to repel any attack the enemy might make, coming
on the Oxford road. The Fifth Michigan cavalry was dismounted, and ordered to
take position in front of my centre and left. The First Michigan cavalry was
held in column of squadrons to observe the movements of the enemy. I ordered
fifty men to be sent one mile and a half on the Oxford road, while a detachment
of equal size was sent one mile and a half on the road leading from Gettysburg
to York, both detachments being under the command of the gallant Major Webber,
who from time to time kept me so well informed of the movements of the enemy
that I was enabled to make my dispositions with complete success. At 12
o'clock, an order was transmitted to me from the Brigadier-General commanding
the division, by one of his aides, directing me, upon being relieved by a
brigade of the Second Division, to move with my command and form a junction with
the First brigade on the extreme left. On the arrival of the brigade of the
Second Division, commanded by Colonel [John B.] McIntosh [of the 3rd
Pennsylvania Cavalry], I prepared to execute the order. Before I had left my
position, Brigadier-General Gregg, commanding the Second Division, arrived with
his entire command. Learning the true condition of affairs on my front, and
rightly conjecturing that the enemy was making his dispositions for attacking
our position, Brigadier-General Gregg ordered me to remain in the position I
then occupied.
The enemy was soon after reported to be advancing on my front. The
detachment of fifty men sent on the Oxford road were driven in, and at the same
time the enemy's line of skirmishers, consisting of dismounted cavalry,
appeared on the crest of the ridge of hills on my front. The line extended
beyond my left. To repel their advance, I ordered the Fifth cavalry to a more
advanced position, with instructions to maintain their ground at all hazards.
Colonel Alger, commanding the Fifth, assisted by Majors Trowbridge and Ferry, of
the same regiment, made such admirable disposition of their men behind fences
and other defenses, as enabled them to successfully repel the repeated advances
of a greatly superior force. I attributed their success in great measure to the
fact that this regiment is armed with the Spencer repeating rifle, which, in the
hands of brave, determined men, like those composing the Fifth Michigan cavalry,
is in my estimation, the most effective fire-arm that our cavalry can adopt.
Colonel Alger held his ground until his men had exhausted their ammunition, when
he was compelled to fall back on the main body. The beginning of this movement
was the signal for the enemy to charge, which they did with two regiments,
mounted and dismounted. I at once ordered the Seventh Michigan cavalry, Colonel
Mann, to charge the advancing column of the enemy. The ground over which we had
to pass was very unfavorable for the maneuvering of cavalry, but despite all
obstacles this regiment advanced boldly to the assault, which was executed in
splendid style, the enemy being driven from field to field, until our advance
reached a high and unbroken fence, behind which the enemy were strongly posted.
Nothing daunted, Colonel Mann, followed by the main body of his regiment,
bravely rode up to the fence and discharged their revolvers in the very face of
the foe. No troops could have maintained this position; the Seventh was,
therefore, compelled to retire, followed by twice the number of the enemy.
By this time Colonel Alger of the Fifth Michigan cavalry had succeeded
in mounting a considerable portion of his regiment, and gallantly advanced to
the assistance of the Seventh, whose further pursuit by the enemy he checked. At
the same time an entire brigade of the enemy’s cavalry, consisting of four
regiments, appeared just over the crest in our front. They were formed in
columns of regiments. To meet this overwhelming force I had but one available
regiment, the First Michigan cavalry, and the fire of Battery M, Second Regular
Artillery. I at once ordered the First to charge, but learned at the same moment
that similar orders had been given by Brigadier-General Gregg. As before stated,
the First was formed in column of battalions. Upon receiving the order to
charge, Colonel Town, placing himself at the head of his command, ordered the
"trot" and sabres to be drawn. In this manner this gallant body of men
advanced to the attack of a force outnumbering them five to one. In addition to
this numerical superiority the enemy had the advantage of position, and were
exultant over the repulse of the Seventh Michigan cavalry. All these facts
considered would seem to render success on the part of the First impossible. No
so, however. Arriving within a few yards of the enemy’s column, the charge was
ordered, and with a yell that spread terror before them, the First Michigan
cavalry, led by Colonel Town, rode upon the front rank of the enemy, and sabring
all who came within reach. For a moment, but only a moment, that long, heavy
column stood its ground; then, unable to withstand the impetuosity of our attack,
it gave way in a disorderly rout, leaving cast numbers of dead and wounded in
our possession, while the First, being masters of the field, had the proud
satisfaction of seeing the much-vaunted chivalry, led by their favorite
commander, seek safety in headlong flight. I cannot find language to express my
high appreciation of the gallantry and daring displayed by the officers and men
of the First Michigan cavalry. They advanced to the charge of a vastly superior
force with as much order and precision as if going upon parade; and I challenge
the annals of warfare to produce a more brilliant or successful charge of
cavalry than the one just recounted. Nor must I forget to acknowledge the
invaluable assistance rendered by Battery M, Second Regiment of Artillery, in
this charge. Our success in driving the enemy from the field, is due, in a great
measure, to the highly efficient manner in which the battery was handled by
Lieutenant A. C. M. Pennington, assisted by Lieutenants Clark, Woodruff, and
Hamilton. The enemy made but slight demonstrations against us during the
remainder of the day, except in one instance he attempted to turn my left flank,
which attempt was most gallantly met and successfully frustrated by Second
Lieutenant J. H. Kellogg, with Company H Sixth Michigan cavalry. We held
possession of the field until dark, during which time we collected our dead and
wounded. At dark I returned with my command to Two Taverns, where I encamped for
the night.
In this engagement my command lost in killed, wounded and missing, a
total of five hundred and forty-two. Among the killed I regret to record the
name of Major N. H. Ferry of the Fifth Michigan cavalry, who fell while
heroically cheering on his men. It would be impossible for me to particularize
those instances deserving especial mention; all, both men and officers, did
their duty. There were many cases of personal heroism, but a list of their names
would make my report too extended. To Colonel Town, commanding the First
Michigan cavalry, and to the officers and men of his regiment, for the gallant
manner in which they drove the enemy from the field, great praise is due.
Colonel Mann of the Seventh Michigan cavalry, and Colonel Alger, of the
Fifth Michigan cavalry, as well as the officers of their commands, are entitled
to much credit for their united efforts in repelling the advance of the enemy.
The Sixth Michigan cavalry rendered good service by guarding both my right and
left flank; also by supporting Battery M, under a very hot fire from the
enemy's battery. Colonel Gray, commanding the regiment, was constantly seen
wherever his presence was most needed, and is deserving of special mention. I
desire to commend to your favorable notice Lieutenants Pennington, Cleark,
Woodruff, and Hamilton of Battery M, Second Artillery, for the zeal and ability
displayed by each on this occasion. My thanks are personally due to the
following named members of my staff, who on many occasions exhibited remarkable
gallantry in transmitting and executing my orders on the field: Captain A. G.
Drew, Sixth Michigan cavalry, Assistant Inspector General, First Lieutenant R.
Baylis, Fifth Michigan cavalry, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First
Lieutenant William H. Wheeler, First Michigan cavalry, A.D.C. First Lieutenant
William Colerick, First Michigan cavalry, A.D.C. I desire also to mention two of
my buglers, Joseph Fought, company D, Fifth U.S. Cavalry, and Peter Boehn,
company B, Fifth U.S. Cavalry; also Orderlies Norval Churchill, company L, First
Michigan cavalry, George L. Foster, company C, First Michigan cavalry, and
Benjamin H. Butler, company M, First Michigan cavalry.
Respectfully submitted,
G. A. Custer
Brigadier-General Commanding Second Brigade
Jacob L. Greene,
Assistant Adjutant-General