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

798 SEVENTY-FIRST REGAIMENT. 1863
organized, and inspired with the belief of possessing resistless power, issued
from the wood which crowns the Seminary Ridge a mile away in front, and in
well-dressed lines of battle, with flags defiantly displayed, moved forward with
all the steadiness and precision of a parade. Making as if to strike upon
Doubieday's position farther to the rebel right, it suddenly veered to the left, and
when the centre came opposite the position held by Webb's Brigade, it advanced full upon the Union line. The artillery at first hurled shot upon it,
but as it approched nearer, caniister was delivered in rapid rounds. But still
the well ordered lines marched steadily on, and, as they came within musket
range, a rapid fire was poured upon them. The ground was strewn with the
dead and wounded. They quickly climbed the fences at the Emmittsburg Pike,
and were soon in the open field skirted by the Union line. At this moment,
Colonel Smith ordered the regiment up, and poured in a staggering volley
upon the advancing foe. Still he came on in overwhelming force. The position of the Seventy-first was now most critical. The artillery, posted a few
paces in the rear on more elevated ground, with the infantry supports, were
pouring in a ceaseless fire over the heads of the men, who were in hardly less
danger from this fire than from that of the enemy. Seeing this, and desirous
of saving his men for a final determined resistance, leaving the left wing, which
was less exposed, in command of Lieutenant Colonel Kochersperger, Colonel
Smith posted the right behind a rude stone wall to the right and rear of the
left wing, which had been entirely unoccupied. As he was leading his men to
this new position, he ordered officers and men to seize as many of the loaded
arms, which had been collected on the previous day, as they could take, and
when they had reached the shelter were able, with these, to keep up a steady
and well directed enfilading fire upon the foe, as with the madness of furies
they rushed on, crossed the walls, and forced themselves up among the Union
batteries. The left wing of the regiment, overborne by vastly superior numbers, was obliged to yield. As the enemy, with wild shouts, rushed over the
slight wall and up through the little grove where were the guns, Smith, with
the right wing, from his partial cover, poured in volley after volley with terrible effect. But the impetus of the enemy's attack was now spent. In passing
that fearful plain in front, it had been almost annihilated. General Armistead,
who had reached the farthest point in this advance, and had his hand upon a
Union gun, with the flags of his brigade about him, fell mortally wounded.
The left wing, though forced back, was still in good order, and joined with the
Seventy-second posted in the second line, again moved forward, pushing the
foe from the slight advantage gained. Supports came up rapidly. Stannard's
Brigade sallied out upon the left, and, coming in upon the enemy's flank, swept
in a goodly number of prisoners. The line was made secure, and that proud
defiant body of men, which a few minutes before had advanced with banners,
in measured tread, lay bleeding upon the plain.
The regiment lost one-half of its effective strength. Captains John Ai.
Steffan and William H. Dull were among the killed. Of fifteen officers who
entered the engagement, nine fell. When the cloud had lifted and the smoke
of battle had cleared away, the field presented a ghastly appearance. Says
one who was an eye witness to the scene, " We had scarcely given way to a
feeling of exultation over our victory, when we were filled with sadness at the
evidence, on every hand, of the terrible sacrifice of life with which it had beeni
purchased. Here lay a dead rebel stretched across the body of a wounded