Civil War diaries

              Wednesday, July 1, 1863 — Emittsburg to Gettysburg and the Battle
Damp, dark drizzly morning.  Reported to the divisions.  The first  and second divisions [  ] the main road , while we took a round about [?] country road and after coming [?] a good[?] cut rough [?] country, crossed Marsh Creek several miles from Gettysburg.  After making a good march of nine or ten miles we reached the large town of Gettysburg, the County seat of Adams County.  Before our division had reached [ ] many [  ] the artillery had engaged the rebels and there firing briskly [?].  The third division marched over the [  ] of the hill on the West of the town through a large body of cavalry, and took a position on the edge of a [  ], the first and second divisions firing [?] on our right.  The first brigade was on the left of our Division and the second was in the right.  Gen. Rawley being in Command of the Division.  Col. Biddle  of the first brigade.  Gen.  Doubleday was in Command of the Whole Corps which numbers only about eight thousand men.  Gen. Reynolds being in Command of the whole-the First and the [   ] Corps, pushing ahead to get a view of the position of the rebels lines [?] [intersected?] ran against the rebel pickets was shot through the head and immediately[?] killed.  This was a deplorable and at the beginning of the action an irreparable loss.  While the action was opening [?] fiercely between our Corps and the rebels, the Eleventh Corps marched down directly through the town taking a position in our extreme right, the rebels moving [  ] as though they intended turning [?] the position.  The Eleventh Corps had hardly got itself aligned when the rebels attacked the third division when it turned about and vigorously fled notwithstanding the [  ] threats and even menaces [?] of their officers.  This left the first Corps exposed on both flanks because the county which was on our extreme left was of no account having offered four times to charge when ordered.  The enemy now elated at their success on our right [?] marched up in all their strength  on [   ], and notwithstanding the superhuman efforts and splendid fighting of our Corps.  I have no [  ].  The Seminary which had been used as a hospital was now abandoned  and indeed the whole line of hills.  The town was  [  ] to a place of [?] defense.  This [?] was a lively and a [  ] exciting [?] time.  The Eleventh Corps rushed up the main streets[?] in the town alarming everybody by crying that “the rebels are coming”.  It was now high time [  ] that our Corps was being driven back, from the handed [?] over to be [ ]  [ ] of danger.  This was not done without undergoing the musketry fire of the advancing rebels.  All the Surgeons of the hospitals and their wounded were taken prisoners.  Our loss was terrible.  In our division there were killed  Col. Cummons of our reg[imen]t [,] Col. Dwight of the 149th reg[imen]t[,] Musser  148 [?] th and many other field officers, Col. Stone being wounded in the [ ] joint[?] in a barnwhich after[ward?] was burned up.  Capt. Sason, [  ] Ams Barker of our [HQ?] were wounded, M[aj?] Albright [?] the Commander of the Eleventh [?] [ ], Powell, [  ], Tackers (an orderly?) (officer) wounded, Capt. Anderson 21st [Army?] killed.  The ambush [?] of Col. Biddle, Maj. [no name given!], Col. M. Calisenard [?] and Wayptre, [  ] and nearly all the line officers of my brigade is [  ]  [  ].  Col. [   ] died spendidly and division fought gloriously although the 149th did lose their colors.  Our rgt. And the 121st fought magnificently and would not retreat until ordered by the commanders.  Traveled [?] 10 miles.