Anderson's assault
Encyclopedia
Anderson's assault was a Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day
, military engagement after Hood's Assault and McLaws' Assault
in which a Third Corps Confederate division of the Army of Northern Virginia
's initiated a 3rd attack on the Army of the Potomac
eastward across the Emmitsburg Road over farmland toward Cemetery Ridge
.
.
The Army of the Potomac
was northward from "The Peach Orchard Salient" ("angle of the Peach Orchard") on the Emmitsburg Road line and had a "relatively weak" position on Cemetery Ridge as reinforcements had been sent to defend against the earlier assaults to the south and the subsequent Culp's Hill battle. Near the end of McLaws' Assault, Lt. Col. Freeman McGilvery
's artillery had retreated to the south end of Cemetery Ridge.
advanced and was followed by Perry
's Brigade (commanded by Col. David Lang
) and those of Brigadier Generals Ambrose R. Wright
, Carnot Posey
, and William Mahone
. The brigades of Wilcox and Lang drove the front and right flank of Humphreys Union forces from the Emmitsburg Road line: "Twenty times did I [bring] my men to a halt and face about ... forcing the men to it" (Humphreys to his wife). Except for Wright's brigade at the saddle area near Stevens Run, the Confederate commanders paused momentarily to reorganize at Plum Run (Rock Creek)
between the Codori Farm on the north and the Trostle Farm (south).
ordered the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
guarding Thomas's U.S. Battery: "Advance, Colonel[ Colvill] , and take those colors!" The 262 Minnesotans charged with fixed bayonets toward Plum Run, incurring 215 casualties (including 40 KIA) while, with the support of Willard's brigade on their left, checking the advance of Wilcox's brigade, which withdrew.
Vermont brigade). Brigades which could have reinforced Wright were Posey's, which made slow progress and never crossed the Emmitsburg Road (despite protestations from Wright) and Mahone's which never moved at all after Anderson ordered him to advance.
of several divisions on Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg
, Third Day, was also repulsed and led to the retreat from Gettysburg
.
Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day
The Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day was an attempt by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to capitalize on his first day's success. He launched the Army of Northern Virginia in multiple Gettsyburg Battlefield attacks on the flanks of the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G...
, military engagement after Hood's Assault and McLaws' Assault
McLaws' Assault
McLaws' Assault was a Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day, military engagement of infantry and artillery at the Stony Hill McLaws' Assault was a Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day, military engagement of infantry and artillery at the Stony Hill McLaws' Assault was a Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day,...
in which a Third Corps Confederate division of the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
's initiated a 3rd attack on the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
eastward across the Emmitsburg Road over farmland toward Cemetery Ridge
Cemetery Ridge
Cemetery Ridge is a geographic feature in Gettysburg National Military Park south of the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that figured prominently in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1 to July 3, 1863. It formed a primary defensive position for the Union Army during the battle, roughly the center of...
.
Initial positions
After a long march from Seminary Ridge, Anderson's division was positioned with 5 brigades along Seminary RidgeSeminary Ridge
Seminary Ridge is a dendritic ridge which was an area of Battle of Gettysburg engagements during the American Civil War and of military installations during World War II.-Geography:...
.
The Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
was northward from "The Peach Orchard Salient" ("angle of the Peach Orchard") on the Emmitsburg Road line and had a "relatively weak" position on Cemetery Ridge as reinforcements had been sent to defend against the earlier assaults to the south and the subsequent Culp's Hill battle. Near the end of McLaws' Assault, Lt. Col. Freeman McGilvery
Freeman McGilvery
Freeman McGilvery was a United States Army artillery officer during the American Civil War. He gained fame at the Battle of Gettysburg for taking the initiative to piece together a line of guns that greatly contributed to the Union victory.-Biography:McGilvery was born in Prospect, Maine...
's artillery had retreated to the south end of Cemetery Ridge.
Engagement
At about 6 p.m., the brigade of Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. WilcoxCadmus M. Wilcox
Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican–American War and also was a Confederate general during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
advanced and was followed by Perry
Edward A. Perry
Edward Aylesworth Perry was a general under Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War and the 14th Governor of Florida.-Early life:He was a descendant of Arthur Perry, one of the earliest settlers of New England...
's Brigade (commanded by Col. David Lang
David Lang (colonel)
David Lang was a land surveyor, Confederate States Army officer during the American Civil War, civil engineer, and Florida politician.-Early life:...
) and those of Brigadier Generals Ambrose R. Wright
Ambrose R. Wright
Ambrose Ransom Wright was a lawyer, Georgia politician, and Confederate general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, Carnot Posey
Carnot Posey
Carnot Posey was a Mississippi planter and lawyer, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Bristoe Station, dying from infection.-Early life and family:...
, and William Mahone
William Mahone
William Mahone was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy"....
. The brigades of Wilcox and Lang drove the front and right flank of Humphreys Union forces from the Emmitsburg Road line: "Twenty times did I [bring] my men to a halt and face about ... forcing the men to it" (Humphreys to his wife). Except for Wright's brigade at the saddle area near Stevens Run, the Confederate commanders paused momentarily to reorganize at Plum Run (Rock Creek)
Plum Run (Rock Creek)
Plum Run is a Pennsylvania stream flowing southward from the Gettysburg Battlefield between the Gettys-Black Divide on the east and on the west, the drainage divide for Pitzer Run, Biesecker Run, Willoughby Run, and Marsh Creek...
between the Codori Farm on the north and the Trostle Farm (south).
1 MN v. Wilcox' brigade
To engage Wilcox' brigade nearing the base of Cemetery Ridge toward a gap in the Union line, II Corps commander Winfield Scott HancockWinfield Scott Hancock
Winfield Scott Hancock was a career U.S. Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican-American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War...
ordered the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
The 1st Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was noted in particular for its gallant service and heavy casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg....
guarding Thomas's U.S. Battery: "Advance, Colonel
Wright's brigade
On the north, Wright's Confederate brigade defeated 2 regiments on the Emmitsburg Road, captured the guns of 2 batteries, and advanced toward a gap in the Union line south of the Copse of Trees (at a time only occupied by Gen. Meade and some of his staff.) Wright's after-action report claimed his division reached the Cemetery Ridge crest and beyond--seeing the Union troops on the Baltimore Pike--and his brigade was attacked in the flank and repulsed by Union reinforcements (Stannard'sGeorge J. Stannard
George Jerrison Stannard was a Vermont farmer, teacher, and Union general in the American Civil War. After the war, he served as Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives.-Early life:...
Vermont brigade). Brigades which could have reinforced Wright were Posey's, which made slow progress and never crossed the Emmitsburg Road (despite protestations from Wright) and Mahone's which never moved at all after Anderson ordered him to advance.
Aftermath
The Confederate forces retreated back to Seminary Ridge, while some troops and batteries of McLaws Assault remained at The Peach Orchard to the south. The larger Pickett's chargePickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Its futility was predicted by the charge's commander,...
of several divisions on Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, Third Day, was also repulsed and led to the retreat from Gettysburg
Retreat from Gettysburg
The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia began its Retreat from Gettysburg on July 4, 1863. Following General Robert E. Lee's failure to defeat the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg , he ordered a retreat through Maryland and over the Potomac River to relative safety in Virginia. The Union...
.