Johnson's assault
Encyclopedia
Johnson's assault was a Battle of Gettysburg
, Third Day, set of military engagements with 3 failed attacks by Army of Northern Virginia
infantry on Army of the Potomac
positions on Culp's Hill. The assault was ordered coordinated with Longstreet's Assault on Cemetery Ridge to the southeast.
, the XI Corps units had been reinforced by additional troops from the I Corps and VI Corps
. Johnson's Confederate forces had been reinforced with additional brigades from the division of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes
, under Brig. Gens. Junius Daniel
and William "Extra Billy" Smith and Col. Edward A. O'Neal. The Confederate force was insufficient to defeat the reinforced Union forces (Union Brig. Gen. George S. Greene
repeated his July 2 tactic of rotating regiments in and out of the breastworks while they reloaded.)
from Seminary Ridge
, Union forces on Culp's Hill attacked Culp's Hill positions at dawn with 5 Union batteries firing on Steuart's brigade in positions captured the previous day. Pinned down by the cannon for 30 minutes, the Confederates then attacked along with Ewell's attack on Cemetery Hill federals
. Ewell informed Lee it was "Too late to recall" the attacking Confederates to await Longstreet's attack . All 3 attacks by Johnson's infantry failed as had the previous evening's attacks.
The last of the 3 Confederate Culp's Hill attacks was ~10 a.m. with Walker's Stonewall Brigade and Daniel's brigade assaulting Greene from the east, while Steuart's brigade advanced over the open field toward the main hill against the brigades of Candy and Kane, which did not have strong breastwork defenses. Nevertheless, the attacks against Culp's Hill failed and artillery was effective against the open fields to the south.
Pardee Field: The Union 1st Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade
was defeated attacking a stone wall crossing the open field parallel to the line of works, and Geary replaced them with Pardee's 147th Pennsylvania, which charged successfully (the field was subsequently named Pardee Field).
Although using repeated assaults with reinforcements, Johnson's Confederates were repulsed with 2,000 casualties (~1/3) and an addition 800 casualties of the Confederate reinforcements, e.g., O'Neal's brigade "charged time and again up to their works but were every time compelled to retire." The XII corps lost about 1,000 Federals over both days, including 300 men in Greene's brigade (1/5): "The wonder is that the rebels persisted so long in an attempt that the first half hour must have told them was useless" (Alpheus S. Williams
). Henry Culp's nephew John Wesley Culp of the 2nd Virginia Infantry
fought at Culp's Hill and was killed July 3 on his family property allegedly while carrying a message from another soldier, just deceased, to "Ginnie" Wade
, the only civilian killed during the battle.
Spangler Spring
: Near noon, the last combat near Culp's Hill was an attack ordered by Slocum in which two Union regiments were to retake works near Spangler Spring. Colgrove's brigade used the 27th Indiana and Mudge's 2nd Massachusetts totalling 650 men in a direct frontal assault against 1,000 Confederates over 100 yards of open field in front ("Well, it is murder, but it's the order" Lt. Col. Charles Mudge). The 2nd MA had 43% losses and the Indianans had 32%.
.
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, set of military engagements with 3 failed attacks by 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...
infantry on 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...
positions on Culp's Hill. The assault was ordered coordinated with Longstreet's Assault on Cemetery Ridge to the southeast.
Background
Following the Confederate defeat at Culp's Hill on the preceding night of the Battle of Gettysburg, Second DayBattle 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...
, the XI Corps units had been reinforced by additional troops from the I Corps and VI Corps
VI Corps (ACW)
The VI Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Formation:The corps was organized as the Sixth Provisional Corps on May 18, 1862, by uniting Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin's Division, which had just arrived on the Virginia Peninsula, with Maj. Gen. William F. Smith's...
. Johnson's Confederate forces had been reinforced with additional brigades from the division of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes
Robert E. Rodes
Robert Emmett Rodes was a railroad civil engineer and a promising young Confederate general in the American Civil War, killed in battle in the Shenandoah Valley.-Education, antebellum career:...
, under Brig. Gens. Junius Daniel
Junius Daniel
Junius Daniel was a planter and career military officer, serving in the United States Army, then in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, as a brigadier general. His troops were instrumental in the Confederates' success at the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg...
and William "Extra Billy" Smith and Col. Edward A. O'Neal. The Confederate force was insufficient to defeat the reinforced Union forces (Union Brig. Gen. George S. Greene
George S. Greene
George Sears Greene was a civil engineer and a Union general during the American Civil War. He was part of the Greene family of Rhode Island, which had a distinguished military record for the United States. His greatest contribution during the war was his defense of the Union right flank at Culp's...
repeated his July 2 tactic of rotating regiments in and out of the breastworks while they reloaded.)
Engagements
Before Longstreet's afternoon Confederate attack that culminated with 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,...
from Seminary Ridge
Seminary 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:...
, Union forces on Culp's Hill attacked Culp's Hill positions at dawn with 5 Union batteries firing on Steuart's brigade in positions captured the previous day. Pinned down by the cannon for 30 minutes, the Confederates then attacked along with Ewell's attack on Cemetery Hill federals
Battle of East Cemetery Hill
The battle of East Cemetery Hill was a Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day, military engagement in which the Louisiana Tigers Brigade and Hoke's Brigade of Confederates attacked, and were repelled by, the Harris and von Gilsa brigades of the XI Corps plus reinforcements...
. Ewell informed Lee it was "Too late to recall" the attacking Confederates to await Longstreet's attack . All 3 attacks by Johnson's infantry failed as had the previous evening's attacks.
The last of the 3 Confederate Culp's Hill attacks was ~10 a.m. with Walker's Stonewall Brigade and Daniel's brigade assaulting Greene from the east, while Steuart's brigade advanced over the open field toward the main hill against the brigades of Candy and Kane, which did not have strong breastwork defenses. Nevertheless, the attacks against Culp's Hill failed and artillery was effective against the open fields to the south.
Pardee Field: The Union 1st Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade
1st Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade
The 1st Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
was defeated attacking a stone wall crossing the open field parallel to the line of works, and Geary replaced them with Pardee's 147th Pennsylvania, which charged successfully (the field was subsequently named Pardee Field).
Although using repeated assaults with reinforcements, Johnson's Confederates were repulsed with 2,000 casualties (~1/3) and an addition 800 casualties of the Confederate reinforcements, e.g., O'Neal's brigade "charged time and again up to their works but were every time compelled to retire." The XII corps lost about 1,000 Federals over both days, including 300 men in Greene's brigade (1/5): "The wonder is that the rebels persisted so long in an attempt that the first half hour must have told them was useless" (Alpheus S. Williams
Alpheus S. Williams
Alpheus Starkey Williams was a lawyer, judge, journalist, U.S. Congressman, and a Union general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
). Henry Culp's nephew John Wesley Culp of the 2nd Virginia Infantry
2nd Virginia Infantry
The 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in today’s West Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought as part of the Stonewall Brigade, mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
fought at Culp's Hill and was killed July 3 on his family property allegedly while carrying a message from another soldier, just deceased, to "Ginnie" Wade
Jenny Wade
Mary Virginia "Ginnie" Wade , a seamstress, was the only Gettysburg civilian killed directly during the Battle of Gettysburg....
, the only civilian killed during the battle.
Spangler Spring
Spangler Spring
Spangler Spring is a Gettysburg Battlefield location notable for nearby Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day combat....
: Near noon, the last combat near Culp's Hill was an attack ordered by Slocum in which two Union regiments were to retake works near Spangler Spring. Colgrove's brigade used the 27th Indiana and Mudge's 2nd Massachusetts totalling 650 men in a direct frontal assault against 1,000 Confederates over 100 yards of open field in front ("Well, it is murder, but it's the order" Lt. Col. Charles Mudge). The 2nd MA had 43% losses and the Indianans had 32%.
Aftermath
Firing on Culp's Hill "died away about 11:00 A.M." and the Confederate forces retreated back toward Rock Creek. The subsequent artillery barrage of Longstreet's Assault began in the afternoon followed by 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,...
.