Battle of Gettysburg
In the first day's fighting along Chambersburg Pike the regiment suffered heavily from Confederate artillery (one shot killing three men, cutting Captain Alfred Sofiel in half) until Lt. Col. Dwight sent the color party fifty yards north to draw fire away from the regiment. This worked, although when the Union line was forced to retreat the colors were not retrieved. This was spite of the heroic death of Color Sergeant Henry Brehm, who was shot down after he had fought off a party of attackers and was running to return the colors to the retreating regiment.
The regiment was commanded at Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel Walton Dwight until he was wounded on July 1. For some time all of the 149th's officers on the field were killed and wounded.
Company D had been detached as Provost Guard for the division. It reached the field near the Schultz House where the Company D monument is now located and made a stand for twenty minutes to cover the retreating men. Its commander, Captain Glenn, assumed command of the 149th upon learning he was the regiment's only unwounded officer.
From the main monument on Chambersburg Pike, on the northwest side of town:
"July 1st. The Regiment held this position from 11:30 a.m. until the Corps retired, resisting several assaults of the enemy, making two successful charges to the R.R. Cut and changing front to rear under fire."
"July 2nd. Moved to support of the left and remained on picket all night. In the morning of the 3rd moved to left center where its other monument stands."
"Carried into action 450. Killed and mortally wounded 66. Wounded 159. Captured or missing in toal 336. Mustered in Aug. 30th, 1862. Mustered out June 24th 1865."
From a monument to Company D:
"Erected and presented to the company by George W. Baldwin in memory of his brother Joseph H. Baldwin who was killed here July 1, 1863 and Alex. M. Stewart mortally wounded dying in Gettysburg July 6, 1863."
"Co. D-149th Regiment Pa. Vols. held this ground for 20 minutes on the evening of July 1st 1863 against the right of Scales Brigade by order of Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday Commanding 1st Army Corps." |
