24th Michigan at Gettysburg
This comes to us from David. He represents the 50th North Carolina, Co. F
On the opening day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July, 1863, the 26th North Carolina met the 24th Michigan Infantry, part of the Iron Brigade, on McPherson’s Ridge just west of the town of Gettysburg.
The first exchange of volleys between the “black-hatted” Federals, and the 26th took place as the Carolina troops came upon Willoughby Run. Described as a “murderous fire,” the skirmish felled the 26th’s color bearer, Color Sgt. Jeff Mansfield. Before the fight was over, a total of 14 men, including Colonel Henry Burgwyn, would pick up the 26th NC’s flag only to be cut down by Federal fire also.
One Tar Heel later recalled, “Lots of men near me were falling to the ground, throwing up their arms, and clawing the earth. The whole field was covered with gray suits soaked in blood.” As fierce as the 24th Michigan was, the 26th gave it right back to them. At some points, the opposing lines were only 20 or 30 feet apart, practically firing into each other’s faces. A Federal officer, who heard the rebel yell of the Tar Heels at the top of their lungs, called it “unearthly”. In just a little more than 30 minutes, nearly 1,000 men on both sides had been killed, wounded or captured. One of General Pettigrew’s staff officers described the scene as he walked among the fallen bodies, that he heard “not moans, but howls”.
The 26th who had about 800 men to start with were left with only 212 that had escaped unscathed. The 24th Michigan lost nearly 400 of its number.
God bless the sould of the soldiers from Michgan and North Carolina that fell that day!
God bless our troops!!!!!!!
Have a historical day!
Savannah
Filed under: Civil War Blogs by Savannah Meade
Leave a Reply