Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Final Report on the Battlefield of Gettysburg, Vol. 2
It would take too much time to attempt a description of that fight. In tt we lost in killed and wounded, Deming, Moore, Spencer, Gregory, and a good share of our men. It was fought after dark, and we aimed our muskets at the ?ash of the enemy's ri?es. Towards morning we withdrew, and agatu formed our lines at Malvern Hill. This was a magnificent battle. The enemy were thoroughly whipped, but there was no one in authority to direct. An onward movement; consequently the army fell back to Harrison's Landing.
In due, or rather dilatory, course of time, with our corps we were again on the old camp ground of the winter before; then, at Arlington Heights; and finally, after Pope was beaten, we reached Centreville. We ought to have been in the Second Bull Run. One or more people ought to have been killed by slow torture, for this damnable blundering - or worse.
Again, movements were started that resulted in the battle of Antietam, where brave fighting was done by piece-meal; where Lee ought to have been crushed, and where he wasn't. In this battle the Sixty-first, I believe, did the most brilliant thing in its career, in the capture of more of the enemy than it had men. And where Captain Greig took a Rebel battle ?ag. This was due to the generalship of Barlow. Here, on account of a dangerous wound, we parted company with the man who had up to that date given us a special character. Barlow was to lead us as colonel no more. When he rejoined the army, it was as general of a brigade in the Eleventh Corps. It was fortunate for us that the next in command was Nelson A. Miles. It is rare that any regi ment has at one time two such men.
While at Harper's Ferry, or on the way to Fredericksburg, a new company, under Captain Bain, reached us, and about doubled our numbers. On Decem ber 13, 1862, we had a losing hand in the slaughter at Fredericksburg. It is said that while we were lying down on the right side of the road, behind the close-board fence, that Miles was prospecting, and had sent back for permis sion to charge the ri?e pits beyond. If such is the case it was lucky for us, that a bullet clipped his throat in time to prevent such an heroic act; had it been done, some of us, who to-day can enjoy a good dinner, would have added our names to the list of killed in battle. Miles recovered in time to lead the regiment at Chancellorsville, where he gained great credit by soldiership while in charge of the picket line. Our losses were not heavy in this campaign aside from Miles, who was dangerously wounded and never served again with the regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Broady succeeded him.
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