Although his association with the 13th grew increasingly distant he still gives them mention in a letter home to his father, July 5th, 1863. As an officer, rather than a private, Noyes had a better vantage point in observing the actions around him. Here is a fascinating, up close look at the fighting July 2nd & 3rd.
Near Gettysburgh Pa. July 5, 1863
Dear Father
I wrote you
June 30th from Uniontown June 24th from near Frederick
Md. July 1st we marched to
within 3 miles of Gettysburgh
Penn. About 20 miles, passing
through Havanna, Tanytown, and Hornet.
There we encamped. A fierce fight
had been going on at Gettysburgh in which the First, and a part of the 11th
Corps had been engaged. Gen’l Reynolds
was killed marching at the head of his corps it is said with no skirmishers
ahead. Gen’l Barlow is reported mortally
wounded and Gen’l Boyd killed, both belonging to the 11th
Corps. At night the rebels undoubtedly
had the advantage. Still some splendid
fighting was done on that day. The next
day we advanced in the afternoon, and for some time things went on well. We went in at about 5 o’clock.
The ground was exceedingly uneven; we advanced upon a rocky ridge
covered with huge boulders which made a regular line of battle impossible. The men took cover behind the rocks, some to
fire and some to lie down. It was the
duty of the officers to see that the men kept deployed to cover as much ground
as possible and deliver their fire. This
they did. We repeatedly advanced & were on the ridge holding our ground
splendidly, taking prisoners at every step.
Things looked well, never better when the brigade on our left, which was
a rod or two in advance of us suddenly broke and retreated in confusion. At that moment Gen’l Brooks’ brigade was
coming up to our support, and was but two or three rods in our rear. Instead of extending our right, or making a
movement to check the rebels who were flanking our right, they precipitately
retreated without firing a gun. I suspect
they fled under the flanking fire of the rebels. Nothing was left but to retire and as men who
were in better position than at any previous time, deserted by the troups on
the left were compelled to fall back irregularly and in great haste. Several men were taken prisoners who could
not get back in time. Others of my
company were taken but escaped again, the Penn. Reserves charging on the
pursuing rebels. In retiring we were
forced to go over a recently mowed wheat field, subject to a terrible flank
fire from the rebels. That plain as I
came over it close to the colors of our regiment was rapidly becoming covered
with the bodies of dead and wounded men.
A rebel prisoner beside me was shot in the foot, as he hurried by,
falling with a deep groan.
About half a
mile or so from the battle field, with Lt. Bailey I halted the colors so that
the men might collect around it. Several
officers and men came up soon. The Col. also with
another color bearer. We then moved into
an adjacent field behind a hospital where the first Division was formed. There we ascertained that our officers were
safe with the exception of Capt. Magner, who was wounded in the finger. This escape of the officers is astonishing,
as several who fell under my observation, including the Colonel, and the Major,
were conspicuous for gallant conduct. I
was agreeably disappointed in finding that though without a gun in my hand I
had sufficient to do to divert my mind from the whizzing bullets in cheering on
the men and selecting places for them to form.
I regret to say that I was obliged to order some men forward who were
firing and yet could hardly have avoided hitting our men in front. I took 18 men into the fight, of these men 3,
all my sergeants, were wounded, two very badly, also one private. Three men are missing making a loss of seven.
We number 108 guns this P.M. and are now in readiness to march, our arms
stacked.
July 3d we
were shelled at 4 1/2 A.M., and immediately set to digging entrenchments. But three men were with the Company then, the
others came up during the day, and yesterday.
Two of them had been taken prisoners but escaped. About 10 o clock the rebels commenced a
tremendous cannonading of our position said to equal anything during the
war. About 12 % they advanced their
infantry under our artillery fire. Four
batteries, 24 cannon, were on our Division line, and other batteries all along
the extended line pouring in grape and canister & shell. Their first charge was repelled, the carnage
fearful. Again they formed their lines
in the woods & beyond the high land in front & charged in huge columns,
advancing finely in beautiful lines.
They advanced a quarter of a mile under our tremendous fire and were
almost up to our breastworks, the skirmishers slowly retiring in excellent
order.
Our men had
their pieces in their hands, capped, ready to fire at the command, when
suddenly on our right a division of our men poured out from the entrenchments
on their left flank. The sight was
splendid. The rebels gave way in
confusion before the artillery in front and infantry on the flank, and ran pell
mell to their former position. Prisoners
in hords were driven in and the extended open space in our front was covered
with their killed and wounded. It was a
Second Malvern Hill to them, and worse. The day was ours. The three days fight was practically ended
& the victory was ours. Gen’l Meade
rode full tilt along the front [of] our entrenchments amid tremendous cheers.
Last night the
rebels retired from our immediate front.
They may be within a few miles of us however. Of 260 men the 13th Mass carried
into action but 74 now remain. But four
of Co. B. are left only. Two known to be
killed, many are prisoners. Tom Welles
is safe. The 2d Mass lost 140 men &
10 officers. The losses every where are
heavy. Gen’l Hancock, our Corps General
was wounded July 3d. Amid the tremendous
shower of shell at about Eleven AM
he rode at a slow canter. He may have
been wounded shortly after. In Haste
Your Aff. Son
John B. Noyes
P.S.
Please send $10.00 by next
mail, and $5.00 by the succeeding mail.
The mail communications are now open.
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