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Numbers 206. Report of Captain
Julius W. Adams, Jr., Fourth U. S. Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH U. S. INFANTRY, SIR: I have the honor to
submit the following report of the operations of the Fourth U. S.
Infantry in the engagement fought in and around Gettysburg, Pa., on
July 2, 3, and 4: The night of July 1 was passed on the Hanover and
Gettysburg road, 5 miles east of the latter place. On the morning of
July 2, we broke camp at 4 o'clock, and marched 3 miles in a westerly
direction. Halting, we there formed line of battle parallel to the
road and about half a mile to the right of it. We remained in this
position about one hour, when we recrossed the road, and, forming line
of battle at right angles to it, moved in the direction of Gettysburg.
Leaving the city on our right, we halted at about 1 p. m. at about 2
miles from the position of our first line of battle. We lay on our
arms here until 4 p. m. ; then moving to the front down a road, we
took up position in line of battle below the crest of a slight
eminence lying between the two ranges of hills occupied, respectively,
by our own and the enemys forces. We remained here about half an hour,
when, in consequence of the troops on our right retiring and thus
exposing us to a flank fire, we were ordered to fall back. Retiring
across the open ground, we formed line of battle in the edge of the
woods skirting the hills occupied by our forces, where we remained
until 7 p. m., and then changed our position to one about 300 yards to
the left, where we encamped for the night. In this position we
remained all of the 3rd and until 10 a. m. on July 4, when we were
ordered on a reconnaissance. Forming in line of battle, supporting a
line of skirmishers, we advanced to a position about 1 1/2 miles
beyond our camp. The object of the reconnaissance being accomplished,
we fell back to our original position. From this we moved at 3 p. m.,
and relieved the Third Division, Fifth Corps, on picket, throwing our
picket line half a mile beyond the position previously occupied by
them. Here we remained until 5 p. m. on July 5, when we took up our
line of march for Emmitsburg, Md. Our loss in the engagement of July 2
was 9 enlisted men killed, Second Lieutenant George Williams and 27
enlisted men wounded. Our casualties on the 4th were, Second
Lieutenant Samuel T. Crowley and 2 enlisted men wounded. The officers
engaged were, Captain J. W. Adams, jr., commanding regiment; Second
Lieutenant John Simons, adjutant; First Lieutenant A. R. Benedict,
commanding Company C; First Lieutenant Thomas A. Martin, commanding
Company H; First Lieutenant Alexander Carolin, commanding Company F;
First Lieutenant William S. Collier, commanding Company K; First
Lieutenant Alexander E. Sheldon; First Lieutenant Henry W. Patterson,
regimental quartermaster, on temporary duty at brigade headquarters;
Second Lieutenant Samuel T. Crowley, wounded slightly July 4; Second
Lieutenant George Williams, severely wounded July 2, right leg
amputated; Second Lieutenants John Miller, J. J. Scipio Hassler,
George W. Dost, George Atcheson, Gerhard L. Luhn, and Captain S. M.
Sprole, unattached. I have the honor to state that both the officers
and enlisted men behaved with great gallantry during the engagement. I am, sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servant, JULIUS W. ADAMS, JR., Captain Fourth U. S. Infantry,
Commanding Regiment. Captain F. WINTHROP, Actg. Asst. Adjt. General,
First Brigade, Regular Infantry.
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