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CHAPTER 5 The First Affair at the Railroad Cut GENERAL WADSWORTH'S FIRST DIVISION OF SOME 4,000 FEDERal troopsl had arrived on the field, as noted, at 10:00 a.m., and was put into action on McPherson Ridge almost simultaneously on both sides of the Chambersburg pike. While Reynolds was placing the 14th Brooklyn and 95th New York in position on the ridge to the left (south) of the road, Wadsworth had been instructed to deploy the other three regiments of Cutler's brigade on the right (north) of the railroad grading, which was almost 200 yards north of the pike.2 Hall's md Maine battery had arrived on the field a few minutes before Cutler 's brigade, and had relieved Calef's battery, which was almost out of ammunition.3 Without having had time to take the precaution of advancing a skirmish line on reconnaissance, Wadsworth rushed the remaining three regiments of Cutler's brigade into line of battle on McPherson Ridge just north of the railroad grading. As the infantry relieved Devin's cavalry brigade, the exhausted carbineers moved off to the right to patrol the roads leading into the town from the north and east, along which was expected the early arrival of Ewell's command.4 The three right regiments of Cutler's brigade were deployed as follows from right to left: the 76th New York (Major Andrew J. Grover), the 56th Pennsylvania (Colonel J.W. Hormann), and the I47th New York (Lieutenant Colonel Francis C. Miller).5 Of these three Union regiments, the 147th New York was the last to get into line. Owing to a delay in receiving orders, it was halted from three to five minutes 42 near the paling fence of McPherson's garden, on the south side of the pike, "a few rods east of the stone basement barn" of McPherson's.6 The regiment then crossed to the north side of the pike, in the hollow draw between the two crests of McPherson Ridge, changed front to the left (west) and advanced up the slope to the westernmost crest of the ridge into line of battle, with the 56th Pennsylvania on its rightrear and the railroad grading onits left.7 Opposing Cutler was Davis' Fourth Brigade of Heth's division, minus the I I th Mississippi, which had been detached for guard duty with the wagon train of the division.S The two contending brigades each numbered about the same-some 2,000 e1fectives.9 Davis deployed his regiments from right to left in the following order: the 4md Mississippi (Colonel H.R. Miller), the 2nd Mississippi (Colonel ].M. Stone), and the 55th North Carolina (Colonel J.K. Conally).10 As Cutler's line approached the crest of the ridge, Davis' men were concealed in the high grass just over the brow.ll When the heads of the Federals appeared over the crest, the Confederates greeted them with a murderous fire. So unexpected was the shooting from this quarter that Major Grover, commanding Cutler's right regiment-the 76th New York-at first thought it to be coming from Union troops who were blasting at him by mistake. Grover thus allowed the Southerners to pour home several musketry volleys on his right flank before returning the fire.12 Furthermore, Cutler's right flank was in the air, and the 55th North Carolina was overlapping the right of the 76th New York.13 It was approximately 10: 15 a.m.-before Cutler's regiments were fully aligned-when Davis' men opened fire upon them,u The 56th Pennsylvania was the first of the National infantry regiments to open fire.15 Immediately afterward, the 76th New York and I47th New York fired their first volleys; and, in furious fighting, Davis' initial thrust was halted for the time being.16 Almost instantly, in these opening fusilades, Major Grover, commanding the 76th New York, was struck and killedY He was succeeded in command of the regiment by Captain John E. Cook. In this vicious half-hour combat, the 76th lost 234 officers and men out of 370 engaged.1s Meanwhile, the I47th New York, advancing through a wheatfield to the left of the other two regiments, and somewhat in advance of their line, moved up the slope of the westernmost crest of McPherson Ridge against a galling fire from the 4md and md Mississippi regiments . The men were falling as fast as the full wheatheads in the hail 43 [18.224...

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