History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

676 SIXTY-EIIGHTH REGIMENT. 1863
Top, crosses the pike; and in this angle, near the house of John Wentz, in one
of the most exposed parts of the field, the Sixty-eighth was posted. Open to
a fire on front and flankn standing upon the most elevated part of the field, but
not sufficiently so to be of any advantage in defence, it was a conspicuous
mark for artillery for a long range around, and open to the charge of infantry.
The enemy commenced skirmishing with the Sixty-third Pennsylvania, which
had been deployed in front, at nine o'clock on the morning of the 2d, and the
fire gradually increased in severity until the battle opened in earnest. Longstreet, who held the rebel right, opened with artillery at four o'clock in the afternoon, and followed up with infantry, putting in brigade after brigade, en echelon,
commencing on his extreme right. It was some time before the infantry attack reached the Peach Orchard, where the regiment stood, but the artillery
fire bearing upon it, was terrific, carrying away men at every discharge. As
this was regarded the key to the whole position, it was necessary to hold it
at all hazards, and the only alternative was to stand and be shot down without
the opportunity to reply. In the midst of the fight General Graham was
wounded and borne from the field, and the command of the brigade devolved
upon Colonel Tippin. "It was," says the latter, "a terrible afternoon, and all
were anxious for the Fifth Corps to come up, as we were being decimated by
their artillery. * * * In that orchard, the Lieutenant Colonel and
Major were wounded and ten other officers killed or wounded, leaving with me
but four to bring the regiment out of' the fight, having had in all but seventeen present for duty. Just at sunset the rebel infantry charged upon the
position with great impetuosity, and the brigade, greatly weakened by its
losses and exhausted by frequent manceuvrings, outflanked and vastly outnumbered, was forced to yield; but not in disorder, retiring slowly and contesting the ground inch by inch." At this critical juncture, portions of the
Fifth Corps came to the relief of Sickles, a new line was established, and the
disaster partially repaired. Near the close of the action, General Graham returned upon the field and attempted to resume command; but weak from loss
of blood and unable to endure the trials of that desperately contested field,
unfortunately fell into the hands of the enemy. On the third day the regiment
was held in reserve on the left centre of the new line, on the lowest part of the
entire field, and was not engaged, though exposed to the terrible fire of artillery, and losing some men. Colonel Tippin had his horse killed under him on
this day. The loss was about sixty per cent. of the entire number engaged.
Captain George W. M'Learn, and Lieutenants Andrew Black, and John Reynolds were among the killed, and Lewis W. Ealer, mortally wounded.
After the return of the army into Virginia, the regiment participated with
it in the fall campaign, and was engaged at Wapping Heights on the 23d of
August, and at Auburn on the 14th of October. In the sharp turn taken by
Meade, on the latter date, to get back to Centreville, Colonel Tippin was taken
prisoner, and was confined in Libby Prison, where he remained for nearly nine
months.
In the subsequent advance of the army, the regiment, now under command
of Lieutenant Colonel Winslow, was engaged at Kelly's Ford on the 7th of
November, at Locust Grove on the 27th, suffering severely, Captain Milton S.
Davis being among the killed, and at Mine Run on the 28th. In this entire
campaign the regiment was given little rest, being almost constantly on the
move, and suffering considerable loss by sickness and battle.