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The Second Cavalry Division 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Army of the Potomac 
 
 IN THE 
 
 GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 
 
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States 
 
 COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 
 
 The second cavalry division 
 
 Army of the Potomac 
 
 GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 
 
 BREVET MAJOR GENERAL DAVID McM. GREGG 
 
 Read before the Commanderv May i, 1907 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 1907 
 
 5 
 
THE SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION 
 
 ARMY OF THE POTOMAC 
 IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 
 
 'Phe cavalry of an army are its eyes and ears. In the 
 Gettysburg Campaign the cavalry corps so well used its sight 
 and hearing that the commander of the Union Army was kept 
 well informed of the movements of the enemy. But not only 
 did the cavaly look and hear, but with its tried sabres and trusty 
 carbines, it did its full share in winning the great victory that 
 crowned our arms in the Gettysburg Campaign. 
 
 In preparing for war, resulting from the firing upon Fort 
 Sumpter by the rebels at Charleston, in April, 1861, the I<ieu- 
 tenant-General commanding the armies of the United States not 
 only discouraged, but, indeed, was firmly opposed to having a 
 proper proportion of cavalry in the force about to be raised for 
 the national defence. This opposition was for threefold reasons. 
 
 DAVID McMURTRIE GREGG. 
 
 Cadet U. S. Military Academy July I, 1851; Brevet Second Lieutenant 
 2d U. S. Dragoons July i, 1855; Second Lieutenant ist Dragoons September 
 4, 18551 First Lieutenant March 21, 186 1 ; Regimental Adjutant April 12 
 to May 14, 1861 ; Captain 3d U. S. Cavalry May 14, 1861 ; (changed to 6th 
 Cavalry August 3, 1861) ; resigned and honorably discharged February 
 
 3. 1865- 
 
 Colonel 8th Penna. Cavalry January 17, 1862; discharged for promotion 
 January 16, 1863. 
 
 Brig.-General U. S. Volunteers November 29, 1862 ; resigned and' hon- 
 orablyJ'discharged February 3, 1865. 
 
 Brevetted Major-General U. S. Volunteers August i, 1864, "for highly 
 meritorious and distinguished conduct throughout the campaign, particu- 
 larly in the reconnoissance on the Charles City Road. ' ' 
 
 Elected August 29, 1866. Class i. Insignia 342. 
 
 Commander of the Commandery May 5, 1886-1904. 
 
 Representative from the Commandery to the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth 
 and Ninth Quadrennial Congress of the Order. 
 
 Commander-in-Chief of the Order October 21, 1903-1905. 
 
First, because the war would be of such short duration, that it 
 would be ended before cavalry could be properly organized, 
 equipped and drilled. Second, that the expense attending its 
 organization and maintenance would not justify its employment, 
 lyastly, that the character of the country in which war would be 
 waged was such that mounted troops could not be successfully 
 employed. The disaster at Bull Run convinced our governing 
 authorities that the war was not to be ended in sixty days. It 
 was determined to raise a great army in which the different 
 branches would be represented in proper proportions. Cavalry 
 regiments of young, ardent patriots, well mounted, well equipped 
 and drilled, were put in the field, and were ready for the per- 
 formance of the proper duties of that arm. But another hin- 
 drance arose, and one that long continued, and that w;as its 
 misuse, which resulted mainly from the lack of proper corps 
 organization. In the first and second years of the war there 
 would be found here and there temporary brigades, but too often 
 regiments were attached to army corps and broken up to serve at 
 division and brigade headquarters. Instead of conserving its 
 strength, it was wasted on useless details for duty that might 
 well have been omitted, or have been performed by another arm 
 of the service. This policy differed from that pursued by the 
 enemy. Its cavalry, composed of the best class of the young 
 manhood of the South, who were accustomed to the saddle and 
 the use of fire arms, under the leadership of such able soldiers as 
 Stuart, Hampton and Lee, was kept well in hand for large 
 undertakings, and rode about very much at will, inflicting much 
 damage upon our lines of communication and capturing or 
 destroying material and supplies. Notwithstanding the disad- 
 vantage mentioned, in the Peninsular campaign and in other 
 fields occupied by the Army of the Potomac in 1862, its cavalry 
 did creditable and in many instances distinguished service. In 
 1863 it entered upon a career of distinction that placed it 
 abreast with the other arms of service. In February of that 
 year • the cavalry corps was organized under the command of 
 Brig. -General George Stoneman. The corps was compoled of 
 three divisions, the regular reserve brigade and artillery. The 
 Regular Brigade was commanded by Brig. -General John Buford ; 
 the I St Division by Brig. -General Alfred Pleasanton ; the 2d 
 Division by Brig. -General William W. Averell ; the 3d Division 
 by Brig. -General David McM. Gregg. This last division con- 
 
sisted of two brigades, the ist, commanded by Colonel Judson 
 Kilpatrick, with these regiments : ist Maine, Colonel Calvin S. 
 Douty ; 2d New York, I^ieut. -Colonel H. E. Davies, Jr. ; loth 
 New York, I,ieut. -Colonel William Irvine. The 2d Brigade, 
 Colonel Percy Wyndham commanding; 12th Illinois, Weut. 
 Colonel Hasbrouch Davis ; ist Maryland, I,ieut. -Colonel James 
 M. Deems ; ist New Jersey, Lieut. -Colonel Virgil Broderick ; 
 ist Pennsylvania, Colonel John P. Taylor. These regiments of 
 the 3d Division had constituted a brigade commanded by Brig.- 
 General George D. Bayard, that splendid young cavalry leader 
 who fell in the battle of Fredericksburg in the preceding Decem- 
 ber, and whom I succeeded on the field. They were well drilled 
 and disciplined, and had done excellent service under their late 
 and much lamented leader. 
 
 In the early part of June, 1863, the Rebel Cavalry Corps 
 was assembled about Brandy Station and in front of that point 
 on the Rappahannock. The final grand review of this corps by 
 General Lee was made on June 8th, its effective strength being 
 estimated at above nine thousand five hundred men. General 
 Hooker, commanding the Army of the Potomac, from reports 
 received, was satisfied that General L,ee was withdrawing his 
 army from Fredericksburg and was anxious to ascertain the 
 direction of the movement contemplated. In furtherance of his 
 desire, he ordered General Pleasanton, then commanding the 
 cavalry corps, to make a reconnoissance in force towards Cul- 
 pepper. The order of the corps commander, issued on June 8th, 
 directed that General Buford, with the ist Division and the Reg- 
 ular Brigade, supported by 1,500 infantry under General Ames, 
 would cross the Rappahannock at Beverly Ford on the morning 
 of the 9th, and that I, in command of the 2d and 3d Divisions, 
 with their batteries and 1,500 infantry, would cross at Kelly's 
 Ford, six miles below, at daylight. These two commands were 
 expected to unite at Brandy Station, distant from the river about 
 six miles, and from there move together upon Culpepper. Pre- 
 paring for an early movement across the river on the morrow, 
 General Stuart, ignorant of the concentration of our troops on 
 the opposite side, had assembled his in the vicinity of Beverly 
 Ford, his horse artillery bivouacked close to it. The attack of 
 General Buford, commenced at a very early hour on the gth, was 
 a complete surprise to the enemy. But for the prompt with- 
 drawal of Stuart's batteries they would have been captured. 
 
His grand guard was able to oppose sufficient resistance to 
 Buford's determined advance to accomplish the formation of a 
 new line with his assembled brigades near St. James' Church, 
 and here an obstinate contest was maintained for more than two 
 hours without any decided advantage to either party. The 2d 
 and 3d Divisions, under my command, bivouacked on the night of 
 the 8th in rear of Kelly's Ford ; the 2d some distance behind 
 the 3d. No fires were allowed. Colonel Duffie, commanding 
 the 2d Division, was ordered to be at the crossing at daylight 
 and to proceed directly upon Stevensburg. His unnecessary 
 delay in reaching the ford seriously interfered with the movement. 
 His division across, the 3d promptly followed. Whilst crossing, 
 the heavy firing of artillery heard from above, indicated that 
 Buford was engaged and our column was pushed forward as 
 rapidly as possible. Felled trees and other obstructions in the 
 road interfered with the march. The 2d Division proceeded 
 directly to Stevensburg, but the 3d, under my immediate com- 
 mand, when directly south of Brandy Station, turned to the right 
 and followed a road leading to that point. As the head of the 
 column emerged from the woods on the open plain in front of the 
 station, it was greeted with shots from a gun placed there. The 
 leading brigade, under Colonel Wyndham, was promptly formed, 
 the fire from Fleetwood Hill was replied to by a section with the 
 brigade, and the latter moved forward with drawn" sabres to 
 charge the force at the hill. General Stuart, on learning that a 
 force had appeared in his rear at Brandy Station, hurried hither 
 with Hampton's and Jones' brigades and artillery. The charge 
 of Wyndham's brigade was gallantly made and was successful, 
 but before it could be reformed, a brigade of the enemy charged 
 it in turn and it was driven back. Kilpatrick's brigade was then 
 ordered forward, and in a, determined charge drove the enemy 
 back and occupied the coveted hill. Hampton's brigade now 
 appeared coming from the right, well aligned, at rapid gait. At 
 first sight I thought it a part of General Buford's command 
 coming to join me, but I was soon undeceived, as it was quickly 
 plunged into the battle raging about the hill. 
 
 Kilpatrick's brigade had been ordered forward to the support 
 of Wyndham and now the fight became general. The scene 
 presented on the hill and on the wide plain in front was inspiring 
 and wildly exciting. Charges and counter charges, guns cap- 
 tured and recaptured, the roar of sound made by the hurrahs 
 
 6 
 
and shouts of the contestants, the clanking of sabres and the 
 rattle of pistol firing, all contributed to an excitement not here- 
 tofore experienced. The distinguishing colors of blue and gray- 
 were eifaced by the fearful dust that settled upon all alike, 
 making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe in the general 
 mix up. On the opening of the battle I sent an order to Colonel 
 Duffie to at once bring his division from Stevensburg, about five 
 miles distant, to join me at Brandy Station. This was not done 
 for the reason, as was given by him, that his command became 
 engaged with two of the enemy's regiments, which he success- 
 fully defeated. The contest of the 3d division at Brandy Station 
 was maintained with great fury for an hour and a half, when it 
 was reported to me that cars ladened with infantry from Culpep- 
 per were approaching. Without any support, for General Rus- 
 sell's infantry was not seen during the day, largely outnumbered 
 by the enemy's force, the division was withdrawn and reformed 
 on the edge of the plain about a mile south of the station, the 
 enemy not following. Learning that General Russell's infantry 
 had joined General Buford's left, the 3d division was marched 
 towards the Rappahannock, reported to General Pleasanton, and 
 at about sunset crossed the river at Rappahannock Station Ford. 
 The object of the reconnoissance had been fully accomplished. 
 General Stuart did not start on a raid on the morrow. Long- 
 street's corps was known to be at Culpepper. The total strength 
 of the 3d division in this action was 2,400. The loss in killed, 
 wounded and missing 376. It captured eight commissioned 
 officers and 107 enlisted men and two battle flags. A section of 
 Captain J. W. Martin's 6th New York Battery, serving with 
 Wyndham's Brigade, and around and over which the fiercest of 
 the contest settled, was finally held by the enemy, one piece 
 being disabled. In the camp of the 3d division, after a day of 
 intense excitement, there prevailed a feeling of great satisfaction. 
 The enemy had been met on a fair field with the odds in his 
 favor, and yet we had fnaintained our own against him, and 
 conscious of our strength, were eager for further trials with him. 
 Major H. B. McClellan, Assistant Adjutant-General to General 
 Stuart, who first learned of the movement of the 3d division and 
 gave the information to his chief, ^n a published account says, 
 " The fight at Brandy Station, or ' the battle of Fleetwood,' as 
 Stuart called it, was one of the most splendi^ passages at arms 
 which the war furnished ; " and again he says, " One result of 
 
incalculable importance certainly did follow this battle, it made 
 tlie Federal Cavalry." 
 
 On June nth the cavalry corps was reorganized and formed 
 in two divisions, the ist to be commanded by Brig. -General 
 John Buford ; the 2d formed of the then 2d and 3d divisions and 
 to consist of three brigades, to be commanded by Brig. -General 
 D. McM. Gregg. Its brigades formed as follows : ist. Colonel 
 J. B. Mcintosh commanding; ist New Jersey, ist Pennsylvania, 
 3d Pennsylvania, ist Maryland, ist Massachusetts. 2d Brigade, 
 Colonel Judson Kilpatrick commanding; 2d New York, 4th New 
 York, 8th Pennsylvania, 6th Ohio. 3d Brigade, Colonel J. Irvin 
 Gregg commanding ; ist Maine, loth New York, 4th Pennsyl- 
 vania, 1 6th Pennsylvania. In the movement northward of the 
 two opposing armies the Rebel cavalry was employed to screen 
 and protect the right flank of General I,ee's army, whilst the 
 Union cavalry was employed on the left and rear of its main 
 army for observation and defense. On June 15th General Pleas- 
 anton with his corps began his march. On the 17th, when some 
 nine miles from Aldie, the corps commander ordered me to send 
 forward my leading brigade (General Kilpatrick's) to pass 
 through that village, and thence towards Front Royal and later 
 to join its division at Nolan's Ferry. Within less than a mUe of 
 Aldie the advance guard of the enemy was met, and it was soon 
 ascertained that it was no mere scouting party, but that a large 
 force had been met. Proper dispositions were made and the 
 attack began, and soon involved the entire brigade. The ist and 
 3d brigades having arrived, were formed in support, and the 
 necessity of reinforcing Kilpatrick being apparent, I sent forward 
 the ist Maine. This regiment gallantly charged at a critical 
 moment and not without severe loss in killed and wounded 
 (among the former its brave Colonel Douty, who led the charge). 
 The action was very severe, but it resulted in the rout of the 
 enemy, General Fitz Lee's Brigade. On the morning of the 19th 
 Colonel Irvin Gregg's 3d Brigade advanced upon Middleburg, 
 which was occupied by the enemy (Lee's and Robertson's 
 Brigades) , and then ensued a desperate struggle which resulted 
 in the withdrawal of the enemy, leaving his dead and wounded 
 on the field. A large number of prisoners fell into our hands. 
 On the morning of the 21st, Major-General Pleasanton, com- 
 manding the corps, determined to attack. I was directed to 
 make a feint with the 2d division on the turnpike leading to 
 
 8 
 
Upperville, General Buford's division moving to the right to 
 attack on the flank. General Kilpatrick's Brigade with a line of 
 skirmishers moved forward and drew the fire of the enemy's 
 artillery, the skirmishers of the opposing forces engaged and an 
 hour later an advance was ordered. So rapid was this, that the 
 enemy was compelled to abandon a gun and caisson which had 
 been disabled. Driven from one position to another, the enemy 
 made a determined stand at Goose Creek, but the appearance of 
 the skirmishers of Vincent's Infantry Brigade and a charge of 
 two mounted regiments across the bridge compelled an abandon- 
 ment of their strong position and a rapid retreat to Upperville, 
 where the enemy's forces were massed. Here Kilpatrick deter- 
 minedly charged with his brigade, but was repulsed. The regular 
 brigade having joined our column at Goose Creek, now joined 
 with Kilpatrick and a united charge resulted in the enemy being 
 driven through and beyond the town and his final retreat to 
 Ashby's Gap. Hampton's and Robertson's Brigades were those 
 opposed to us on the turnpike, whilst Jones' and W. H. F. I^ee's 
 were met by General Buford's command on a parallel road to the 
 right. The limits of this paper do not admit of proper descrip- 
 tion of these three encounters with the enemy. In no instance 
 was the force engaged on our part less than a brigade. In all 
 the troops behaved with the greatest gallantry. Our losses in 
 killed and wounded were very severe, the enemy's equally great. 
 The engagement at Upperville presented a very inspiring, spec- 
 tacular effect. On two parallel roads, in view of each other, 
 were two columns of our troops engaged in battle and both suc- 
 cessfully, and then the final converging of the columns and the 
 retreat of the enemy before them as the sun was sinking behind 
 the nearby mountain, made a glorious ending to a day filled with 
 the incident and excitement of battle. And now for a time the 
 2d division is to part with an enemy with whom it has had some 
 trials of strength, whose prowess it does not underestimate and 
 whom it is destined to meet on many fields in the ensuing years 
 of war. The division crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry 
 just before nightfall on the 27th inst., marched all night and on 
 the 28th reached Frederick, Maryland. A third division was 
 now added to the cavalry corps by the joining of Stahl's Cavalry, 
 and General Kilpatrick was placed in command. Passing 
 through New Market, L,iberty, Westminster and Manchester, the 
 2d division reached Hanover Junction on July ist at about noon. 
 
The 2d brigade was sent back to Westminster to guard the wagon 
 trains of the army. The uncertainty of the enemy's where- 
 abouts and intentions with reference to the line of the Susque- 
 hanna, led to the receipt by me of orders at Hanover Junction in 
 rather quick succession. First, to move towards Baltimore ; 
 having marched far enough to get the column well on the road, 
 another came from corps headquarters to proceed to York ; 
 counter-marching and passing the junction, a third order was 
 received to move at once to Gettysburg. Leaving the junction 
 for the last time, the division reached Hanover about one o'clock 
 on the morning of the 2d, and after a brief rest, the march was 
 resumed and continued towards Gettysburg until halted at about 
 noon by striking a line of the enemy's skirmishers at Brinker- 
 hoflf's Ridge, about two miles east of Gettysburg, where a brisk 
 skirmish ensued, in which the fire of the carbines of our regi- 
 ments engaged compelled the withdrawal of the enemy's skir- 
 mishers to a position of safety. Having reported the arrival of 
 the division, an order was received from the corps commander to 
 remain in position, to see that our right and rear were not turned 
 without giving timely information. At about 10 p. m. the two 
 brigades moved to the Baltimore turnpike at the White Run 
 crossing and near the park of the reserve artillery and ammuni- 
 tion trains, to secure rations and forage. A few hours' rest were 
 greatly enjoyed by the tired horses and men. Early on the 
 morning of July 3, an aide-de-camp of Major-General Pleasanton 
 arrived at my headquarters with directions that I should accom- 
 pany him to a position on the turnpike between that I occupied 
 and Cemetery Hill. Reaching there, I was informed that in the 
 event of any contemplated change in the position of the troops 
 in front, I would be notified to occupy the field pointed out, and 
 pending this I should hold my command in its present position. 
 I then requested the aide-de-camp to return to General Pleasanton 
 and to state to him that I regarded the situation on the right of 
 our army as exceedingly perilous ; that I was familiar with the 
 character of the country east of Brinkerhofi" 's Ridge, that it was 
 open, and that there were two roads leading from the Hanover 
 Road to the Baltimore Turnpike ; that if these were not covered 
 by a sufiicient force of cavalry it would be to invite an attack 
 upon our rear with possibly disastrous results. This aide-de- 
 camp soon returned with an order authorizing me to send one of 
 General Kilpatrick's brigades to take position on our right. 
 
Two of the brigades had left their camp to take position on the 
 left, but General Custer's, the strongest, was still at its bivouac, 
 which it had reached just before dawn. By my order, it pro- 
 ceeded to the right of our line and occupied an admirable posi- 
 tion between the Hanover and Low Dutch roads, about three 
 miles east of Gettysburg, and where it rendered such magnificent 
 service in the engagement of the afternoon. Afterwards, an 
 order was received directing me to push some force into the 
 woods on the right of our infantry, but no results of importance 
 followed this movement. At 12 o'clock I received from corps 
 headquarters a copy of a dispatch sent by General Howard, 
 commanding the nth Corps, to General Meade, informing him 
 that large columns of the enemy's cavalry were moving towards 
 the right of our line. In transmitting this General Pleasanton 
 directed me to proceed to the right with my two brigades, and 
 upon my arrival to relieve General Custer, and direct him to 
 report to his division on the extreme left. Reaching his position, 
 General Mcintosh's Brigade was sent forward to relieve General 
 Custer. It was soon discovered that the enemy occupied a posi- 
 tion in front in g^eat force. General Custer expressed the 
 opinion that I soon would have a big fight on my hands. In 
 reply I stated, that if such was his opinion, I would like to have 
 the assistance of his brigade. To this he answered, "If you 
 will give me an order to remain I will only be too happy to do 
 it." The order was given and soon the fight was on. General 
 Stuart's command consisted of four brigades and three batteries. 
 The main body was massed in an opening just over the crest ot 
 a ridge known as Cress', lying between the York Pike and Han- 
 over Road, and was screened from view by a skirting of timber. 
 From the foot of this, the country to and beyond the Hanover 
 Road was gradually sloping and embraced cleared fields with 
 occasional fences. A fair field for mounted cavalry operations 
 on which were arrayed for combat two forces : Of the Rebels, 
 four brigades and three batteries. Of the Union, three brigades 
 and two batteries. Of the latter Colonel J. Irvin Gregg's was 
 held in reserve, and from it a strong line of pickets extended to 
 the right of our infantry, and the remainder was not engaged in 
 the fight for reasons hereafter given. Of Colonel Mcintosh's 
 Brigade there were present but three regiments, and one of these, 
 the ist Maryland, was placed by me at the intersection of the 
 I,ow Dutch and Hanover Roads to guard that flank. But six 
 
Union regiments participated, not exceeding 3,000 men. The 
 enemy had the advantage in position, occupying the higher 
 grounds and concealed from our view by the screen of woods. 
 A pressing forward of the skirmishers of the ist New Jersey 
 compelled a reinforcement of the Rebel line and an opening of 
 fire by a battery, and soon the ist New Jersey, 3d Pennsylvania, 
 5th and 6th Michigan became hotly engaged. It is not my 
 intention to give in detail all the phases of contention in that 
 part of the field. The'enemy was forced to employ one brigade 
 after another until all were engaged. His batteries were replied 
 to by Randol's and Pennington's with great accuracy and effect. 
 A charge of the ist Virginia was met by the 7th Michigan, but 
 a stone fence prevented their striking, and the halt exposed the 
 former to a withering fire from the flanks, as well as from the 
 front. Soon there appeared emerging from the woods a large force 
 advancing in fine style. It was evident that a grand charge was 
 intended. It was about the hour when Pickett was advancing 
 against the centre of our line of battle. The roar of the artillery 
 fire preceding his desperate movement had ceased, the supreme 
 moment was at hand. On came the column in squadrons well 
 aligned, with drawn sabres glistening in the sunlight. On they 
 came with increasing gait, exposed to the fire of our batteries, 
 but no wavering. Exposed to attack in flank, they still press 
 on. The ist Michigan, being in reserve, was ordered by me to 
 charge the head of the advancing column. General Custer, 
 placing himself at the side of Colonel Town, led the charge. 
 The Rebel column changed direction slightly with the view of 
 taking Randol's Battery, but the rapid discharge of cannister 
 from his guns compelled hesitation at the very moment the ist 
 Michigan struck the head of the column. Then ensued a most 
 exciting combat amid yells and cheers. Then came together two 
 mighty forces, one of which had to yield, and it was not that 
 directed by Custer and Town. The defeated column turned in 
 retreat and was again assailed in flank, as it had been in its 
 advance, by the 3d Pennsylvania, ist New Jersey and the 5th 
 and 6th Michigan regiments. The pursuit was kept up to Rum- 
 mel's Barn, and as night was fast approaching, the engagement 
 terminated in a desultory firing on the picket lines, ours holding 
 the advanced position. Of the troops engaged on the field the pre- 
 ponderance in numbers was largely in favor of the rebels. Our 
 total loss in killed, wounded and missing was 254, the bulk of 
 
this loss falling on the Michigan Brigade. When oflScial reports 
 were made, the victory in the engagement was claimed by both 
 commanders. To whom does it fairly belong? Let General 
 Stuart's report decide the question. I quote from this: "I 
 moved the command (Jenkin's Brigade) and W. H. F. Lee's 
 secretly through the woods to a position, and hoped to effect a 
 surprise upon the enemy's rear ;" and again, "my plan was to 
 employ the enemy in front with sharpshooters and move a com- 
 mand of cavalry upon the left flank from the position held by 
 me ; " again, " notwithstanding the favorable results attained, I 
 would have preferred a different method of attack as already 
 indicated, but I soon saw that entanglement by the force of 
 circumstances narrated was unavoidable, and determined to 
 make the best fight possible." General Stuart had in view the 
 accomplishment of certain purposes, his plans were disarranged 
 by being compelled to enter into a fierce encounter with a smaller 
 force of Union troops. His was to do, ours to prevent. Could 
 he have reached the rear of our army with his force of perhaps 
 6,000 bold and tried troopers, disastrous consequences might 
 have resulted. It was in anticipation of a possible attempt of 
 the enemy to force his way to our rear, between our position and 
 the right of our infantry, that Colonel J. Irvin Gregg's Brigade 
 was held in reserve to meet such a movement. In this engage- 
 ment all of the regiments, those of the 2d division and Custer's 
 Brigade, behaved with great gallantry and were ably handled by 
 their own and their brigade commanders. Never were batteries 
 more effectively served than were Randol's and Pennington's. 
 The battle of Gettysburg was ended, and for some ten days 
 thereafter the three brigades of the 2d division were separated in 
 the pursuit of the enemy. On the 14th, in obedience to orders, 
 I proceeded with two brigades to Harper's Ferry, where a pon- 
 toon bridge would be laid across the Potomac. After crossing 
 this, my orders were to get among the enemy's wagon trains, 
 these being unprotected, as his army was still north of the 
 Potomac. At Harper's Ferry I received notice from the corps 
 commander that Lee's army had crossed into Virginia, and I was 
 required to ascertain what direction it had taken and to harass it 
 as much as possible. At Shepardstown, on the i6th, my two 
 brigades were confronted by Fitz Lee's Brigade, supported by 
 that of Chambliss, and later by that of Jenkins. Severe fighting 
 followed and was maintained with heavy loss to both sides until 
 
 13 
 
dark. The enemy expected to renew the attack next morning.. 
 Colonel Huey arrived with his brigade some time after dark by a 
 road along the river, the only one not strongly held by the 
 enemy. At about ii o'clock the division moved by this road to 
 Harper's Ferry unmolested by the enemy. The loss in killed 
 and wounded was severe, and fell about equally on the forces 
 engaged. This ended the Gettysburg campaign. The regiments 
 of the 2d division participated in its opening at Brandy Station, 
 followed it through Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville, the main 
 battle at Gettysburg, and ended it at Shepardstown. 
 
 In the division were thirteen regiments, of them six were 
 from Pennsylvania, and later this number was increased to eight. 
 The division fought not for glory, but for the honor and success 
 of our cause. Among the regiments there existed the most 
 harmonious feeling, there were no jealousies nor contentions, but 
 the highest possible esprit de corps was maintained. It is not 
 out of place to mention that of the two hundred and sixty 
 cavalry regiments in the Union service, the one that had the 
 largest number of men killed in action was in the 2d division — 
 the ist Maine Cavalry. The greater part of those who rode in 
 its squadrons have passed over and are affectionately remembered 
 by their comrades who survive. These last are closely knitted 
 in undying friendship. The brigade commanders are all dead : 
 Wyndham, Kilpatrick, J. Irvin Gregg, Mcintosh, C. H. Smith, 
 Davies and Huey are all remembered as gallant soldiers and 
 able commanders. Of the regimental commanders, but a small 
 minority survive. Included in these is a Companion of this 
 Commandery, one who enjoyed the confidence of his superiors, 
 the love of his men, and is held in the highest esteem wherever 
 he is known. May General John P. Taylor, Colonel of the ist 
 Pennsylvania Cavalry, good soldier that he was, live to reach 
 the century mark. 
 
 D. McM. Gregg, 
 
 Reading, Pa., April 25th, 1907. 
 
 14 
 
*<<* 
 
 i M 
 
 '1 iii