Author's Notes: Thanks to the diaries of Private Henry Keiser, Lieutenant Charles Potts, and Captain Samuel Russell. Their letters and diaries were used as inspiration for this chapter. Thanks to my beta’licious beta KJ. I tried not to get too heavy into battle details or history, but it is a historical fic – so just live with it! WARNING – I HAVE INCLUDED SOME GRAPHIC PHOTOS. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 4th, 1863 All is quiet along the line this morning… Three Days Earlier July 1st, 1863 At 8:30 this morning we crossed the line into Pennsylvania, and at 10 A.M. we passed through Littlestown. We marched to Gettysburg without a halt and directly into the fight. As we passed a field it was obvious that part of the battle had raged on there, there were bodies strewn all over the field. Seeing this increased the ominous tone that the day had begun to take on.
Parts of four regiments in entrenchments held us in check for about half an hour. Then we managed to force those regiments to retreat into the town. We were able to swing around the town and capture about 5000 officers and men. Tonight we are hunkered down at the bottom of the hill called Little Round Top. The mood is ominous; while we have the union troops outnumbered we still seem to be struggling. My thoughts lie more heavily with Brian these days than normal. I can't help think of my possible death or capture. It is not me that I am concerned with, it is Brian. I do not know if he would survive it. He does not let people get close, and it took me forever to get through to him, and then even longer for us to find a new kind of happiness together. Without that, without the hope of that, I do not think he would survive. Perhaps I am simply increasing my own importance in my head, but perhaps I am right. And if I am right, then don't I owe it to him to get through this war? I think I do. July 2nd, 1863
We can hear heavy cannonading ahead all day. At five o'clock this evening we arrived at what is called Little Round Top, a short distance from Gettysburg. We heard very heavy firing to our left at 5 o'clock. And then we marched from to Gettysburg without a halt and directly into the fight. At six this evening we filed left, marched some distance, where we formed a line of battle on a knoll and in some underbrush. The union troops gave way and we drove them off a bit, but then the Pennsylvania reserves came up sharp and drove us back losing the ground we had just gained. We halted in a hollow behind a stone fence, having marched, since last evening, thirty two miles. At the time we formed a battle line, I threw my knapsack, being too tired to carry it into a charge, but after advancing a short distance the regiment was halted and the men unslung their knapsacks and had guards placed over them. July 3, 1863 Brian's POV We have received word that there is a large battle occurring in the town of Gettysburg. Information is scarce but I have reason to believe that Justin's regiment will be in Gettysburg. I also received this letter from Justin today, it is dated June 30th. Dear Brian, We've been given the go ahead orders into a town called Gettysburg. Brigadier General Buford's division is occupying the town and we are making ready to go drive Buford away and occupy this town ourselves. Once again I feel so close to you in distance and yet so far away. I've been seriously reconsidering the idea of desertion you brought up when I was home. I will go fight in this next battle, and then make my decision. I must stop writing now and give this to the post boy; we are ready to make our way into Gettysburg. Justin Army of Northern Virginia Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill's Third Army Corps Mahone's Brigade His tone and his despair are concerning me. He's talking about making decisions, and I'm concerned for him. If he is considering what I think he is it will most likely spell trouble for him for the remainder of his life. Deserters are not looked upon kindly. I will love him regardless, but the town will shun him. I am off to Jennifer's now. She needs to know he is on his way to Gettysburg. Justin's POV Last evening we were driven back from Little Round Top and listened to the enemy cheer justly. We cut it short by giving them a dose of artillery which made the boys take to their holes in the rocks quickly. The field is covered with dead and wounded. There must be fearful fighting on the right judging from the very heavy firing, sometimes coming down the line pretty near to us. We were shelled occasionally during the day, but none of our company was hurt. At some point this afternoon, the enemy charged us and drove us back a mile. We are not used to being driven back or given such a challenge as we are here in Gettysburg. My present condition consists of no rations, no clothes, but what is on my back, and an old half of a blanket. Most of our army seems to be retreating as fast as possible, through drenching rain. A long train of wagons, containing wounded rebels, household furniture, in fact anything everything that they could carry off, chairs, bed quilts, covers, lids, mowing machines, scythes and their horses decorated with sleigh bells are leaving this battlefield. It is a unique end to a battle, and feels like a shift in the entire war. Our line was broken and three regiments were captured. The men are in desperate spirits. The portion of the field we occupy is strewn with mostly with our dead. The smell of the dead is awful. We have not the time to bury them.
July 4th, 1863 All is quiet along the line this morning, but I'm too far gone to know what that means for me or for the war.