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

832 SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 1863
arrived upon the field at Gettysburg on the evening of the 1st of July, after
the principal fighting of the day was over. It went into position on the left
centre, the Sixty-ninth and Seventy-first in front, the Seventy-second in rear,
just below the crest of the hill, midway between the two lines of the brigade,
and on which the artillery was posted. The One Hundred and Sixth had been
sent to the support of General Howard, and hence did not act with it throughout
the battle. In the engagement near the close of the second day the regiment
was only slightly engaged. When the enemy opened his terrible artillery fire on
the afternoon of the third day, the Seventy-second was fearfully exposed; for
though in the second line of battle and somewhat sheltered by the crest, yet
the shells and solid shots reached them, and made sad havoc in their ranks.
It seems a piece of culpable negligence that neither this line nor the one in
front was fortified. The troops had occupied their position nearly forty hours,
when this cannonade opened, and there had been ample time and leisure to
have thrown up a substantial breast-work, that would have defied the action
of hostile missiles, and yet when the storm came they were here without the
least cover.
When, after the fire of artillery had ceased, the rebel infantry advanced
and succeeded in breaking through the front line, the men of the Seventy-second, grasping more firmly their trusty pieces as the terrible storm rolled on,
stood ready to meet it, and as the word to advance was given, rushed forward,
pouring in volley upon volley, driving the enemy back, and, with other troops
which had come up to the rescue, making extensive captures. The struggle
was short, but in the little space which it lasted, the losses were terrible-more
grievous than upon any other field on which it stood during its entire term of
service. Forty-six were killed, and a proportionate number wounded. Captain
Andrew MI'Bride, and Lieutenants James J. Griffith and Sutton Jones, were
among the killed.
Hard upon the campaign in Pennsylvania followed that in the Valley
of Virginia, which culminated in the Mine Run fiasco. The brigade was
under command of Colonel Baxter, General Webb having been disabled by
wounds received at Gettysburg. Crossing the Potomac at Berlin, it moved
on with the army to Culpepper. In the retrograde movement, which was forced
by the appearance of the enemy upon the right flank of the army, the regiment
was frequently engaged, and at Bristoe Station Lieutenant Michael Coste was
killed. After retiring to Centreville, Meade, waiting in vain for the enemy to
attack, again assumed the offensive and began pushing him back towards the
Rapidan. The brigade crossed at Germania Ford, and marched along the
Plank Road leading to Robertson's Tavern. Here the enemy was found in
position. The brigade was on the right of the column, and Warren, who was
now in command of the corps, seeing the importance of the position, ordered
it forward upon a charge. The enemy was driven out, and the lines were
established to hold it. The Seventy-second, under command of Lieutenant
Colonel Theodore Hesser was deployed as skirmishers, and was formed in line
under a sharp fire of the enemy, from which its gallant leader was killed. By
direction of General Warren, the right of the line was swung around to feel
for the left of General French, but felt the enemy instead. Supports were
called for, but before they came a heavy force of the enemy, concealed in the
thick undergrowth, suddenly poured in deadly volleys, which caused it to recoil and retire. At the crest of the hill, about one hundred yards in the rear,