First Day at Gettysburg: Crisis at the Crossroads

10. The Oak Ridge Combat of Robinson and Rodes

CHAPTER 10 The Oak Ridge Combat of Robinson and Rodes EARLY'S SWIFT AND STRIKING SUCCESS AGAINST THE ELEVENTH Corps did not mean that similar good fortune would fall to the Confederates attacking the First Corps-far from it. While Schurz' two divisions were striving futilely to maintain their position on the plain north of Gettysburg, Doubleday's new right wing, under Robinson, on Oak Ridge, was gallantly resisting the heavy pressure of Rodes. The arrival at the Seminary of Robinson's Second Division, First Corps, at approximately 11:00 a.m.l has already been noted. Robinson 's two brigades were the First, commanded by Brigadier General Gabriel R. Paul, and the Second, Brigadier General Henry Baxter commanding. Together they numbered 3,000 effectives. When word was received of the appearance near Oak Hill of Rodes' large Confederate division of some 8,125 effectives, Baxter was ordered at about 12: 30 p.m. to move along the northern extension of Seminary Ridge, called Oak Ridge north of the railroad cut, to contest Rodes' threat to the present right flank of Doubleday's line on McPherson Ridge.2 Baxter had present for duty a little over 1,200 men.3 Paul's brigade was not sent to the right until later in the afternoon , when Baxter was encountering serious opposition.4 While the other regiments of Baxter's brigade were halted for a time at the Seminary, the 11th Pennsylvania (Colonel Richard Coulter) and the 97th New York (Colonel Charles Wheelock) were ordered to proceed at once northward along Oak Ridge "to a point near the Mummasburg Road." G Colonel Coulter of the 11th Pennsylvania was 86 placed in charge of the two regiments.6 This movement began at approximately 12: 30 p.m., and somewhat later the remainder of the Second Brigade joined the 11th Pennsylvania and 97th New York on Oak Ridge, just south of the Mummasburg road.7 The division commander, Robinson, and his staff probably "hurried after Baxter" at this time.S The brigade first moved into position on a line near and along the southern edge of the Mummasburg road, facing northward, on the eastern slope of Oak Ridge.9 At approximately 2: 00 p.m., or a little earlier, Rodes' gray division was in position on Oak Hill to attack Baxter.Io But the intense heat and exertion in moving along the wooded and rocky ground north of the hill had caused considerable suffering among Rodes' infantrymen, many of whom had fainted from heat exhaustion.u Preceding the infantry of Rodes was his divisional artillery battalion , commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Carter, which moved into action on Oak Hill. Carter posted his four batteries as follows: on the southern crest of Oak Hill were Captain W.P. Carter's battery ("The King William Artillery"), two ten-pounder Parrotts and two Napoleon twelve-pounders,12 and Captain C.W. Fry's battery ("The Orange Artillery"), two ten-pounder Parrotts and two three-inch rifles;13 while on the eastern crest of Oak Hill were Captain R.C.M. Page's battery ("The Morris Artillery"), four Napoleons,a and Captain W.]. Reese's battery ("The Jeff Davis Artillery"), four three-inch rifles.15 Carter's and Fry's batteries began firing southward against the right flank of the First Corps line on McPherson Ridge, enfilading the entire line and causing grievous discomfort.16 Page's and Reese's batteries engaged the advance of the Eleventh Corps units on the plain north of townY Later in the afternoon, Captain Carter's battery augmented those of Page and Reese, while Fry continued to fire southward.18 The cannonading from Carter and Fry caused Cooper's Union battery to move southeastward to a point in a meadow between McPherson Ridge and Seminary Ridge, where Cooper was obliged to change front to the north and engage these Confederate batteries.19 Meanwhile, Page and Reese were engaged with the Eleventh Corps batteries of Dilger and Wheeler. In this artillery duel, Captain Carter lost four men killed and seven wounded, while expending 572 rounds of ammunition.20 Fry's losses were not reported, but he fired 882 rounds-a prodigious outpouring of metal.21 Page suffered the heavy loss of four men killed, twenty-six wounded, and seventeen horses 87 killed or disabled, with the battery expending 215 rounds.22 Reese's casualties were not reported, but his battery...