William Forstchen - Gettysburg

An unimaginable array of equipment Uttered the road and fields, discarded muskets, cartridge boxes, blanket rolls, uniforms, caps, boxes of rations and ammunition, an entire collection of musical instruments dropped by a regimental band, a case of French champagne found by some boys from Mississippi, who promptly got drunk and were finally placed under arrest, books and newspapers, a paymaster's box with ten thousand in greenbacks, all mingled in with upended wagons, braying mules, burning caissons that exploded with thunderclap roars, and everywhere bodies, some dead, most just collapsed in exhaustion by the side of the road.

Some commanders broke down in the confusion, told the men to save themselves and scatter. But more than one elected to fight, pulling their regiments off the road. Some would fight clean through to the next day, others perhaps only a few minutes before being overwhelmed, but the old army did not die easily.

Vicious, frightful battles unfolded all along the road. The survivors of the First Minnesota turned about when Rodes pressed too closely; their volley killing the hard-fighting Confederate general, dropping him into the mud. The First was swarmed under then and disappeared.

One colonel, who had survived a year in Libby Prison before being exchanged, when facing the prospect yet again, shot himself in the temple right in front of his men. Some officers wept, some raged, a few abandoned their own men, but most tried to lead as best they could; and more than one NCO and private emerged that terrible night as a leader as well.

Henry became an infantryman. He had come across two batteries of guns, stalled in the road, the way ahead blocked by a tangle of wagons, ambulances, an overturned caisson and gun, its team still tied to their harnesses, kicking and thrashing.

Behind, in the semidarkness, he could hear the dull crackle of rifle fire, flashes of light reflecting off the low-hanging clouds, a stampede of men racing by on either side of the road, crying that the Rebs were coming.

A battery commander stood before him, waiting for orders.

For a moment he was tempted to order the guns unlimbered, but in all that mad confusion, what would he shoot at? Thousands of Union soldiers were swarming across the surrounding fields, a flash of lightning revealing a compact column of Confederates already passing him in an open field to the left

"Spike the guns!" Henry shouted.

Exhausted gunners climbed down from limber wagons, battery blacksmiths moving along the line with mallets and the deadly spikes, iron ringing against iron. Loaders tore into almost empty limber boxes, pulling out their few remaining rounds, tearing the powder bags open, throwing them onto the road.

"Sir, should we shoot the horses?" someone cried.

Henry shook his head. Merciful God, there had been enough slaughter this day. Sacrificing the poor beasts for no reason other than the failure of their masters was beyond him.

"No," he said gently. "Those that can stand the march, cut them from the traces and ride; the rest, just leave here. "They'll get picked up by some farmer or become the property of the Confederacy. They have served us well, and we can't simply slaughter them because of our failure this day."

The horses were unharnessed, some of the men swinging up on them to ride bareback, a sergeant riding one of them, bearing a battery guidon, which now served as a rallying point

A flash of lightning revealed a wheat field to the right a farmhouse on a low ridge beyond, a road climbing up past the house. It was as good a direction as any to go. "Follow me," he said, and pushing through a break in the fence, he led his ragged command out across the field and into the night

10:00 PM, JULY 4,1863

THE WHITE HOUSE

"General Haupt I am grateful that you are well," Lincoln said, standing up and extending his hand as Haupt came into the office. Herman could see that behind the kind words the president was numb with exhaustion, eyes red rimmed, as if he had been in tears only minutes before.

"I received word, sir, that you wanted to see me before I left Washington." "Yes, General." "What can I do for you, sir?"

Lincoln tried to force a smile, then turned away. "I guess you know the reports are not good."

Haupt said nothing. Rumors had been sweeping the city all day of a battle being fought to the north, near Westminster. A captain, claiming to be on Sedgwick's staff, had ridden into Baltimore, stating he had broken through the

Confederate cordon and that the Army of the Potomac had been soundly defeated and was reeling back in full retreat

Lincoln finally turned to look back at Haupt eyes shiny. '1 wonder how many men we lost this day" Lincoln whispered, "this Fourth of July."

"I have no idea, sir," Haupt replied, not sure what to say.

"For several hours today you could actually feel the bombardment" and Lincoln motioned toward the window, "if you put your hand on the windowpane you could feel it And then silence, nothing but silence."

"We should know tomorrow, sir."

"Yes, tomorrow."

Lincoln nodded and then drew a deep bream. "You know that Halleck was against your wish to go to Harrisburg to establish a new base there. He claims that the army will break through and the supplies and equipment will be needed here."

Herman was aware of the argument; in fact he had threatened to resign if not allowed to go. All his instincts told him that if Meade was rash enough to attack at Union Mills or Taneytown, he would be repulsed. He knew the land. He had lived in Gettysburg for several years, often ridden down to Westminster there to visit friends, and if Lee had indeed taken position along Pipe Creek the result was all but a foregone conclusion. Therefore, Harrisburg would be the new base, for Meade would have to retreat And even if he did not engage, with which all indicators now seemed to agree, Harrisburg would still be the base; but a bridge had to be thrown across that river now, tomorrow, if there was any hope of saving the Army of the Potomac.

Apparently Lincoln had learned of the fight with Halleck and had intervened directly, overriding the General of the Armies.

"I did not wish to cause trouble, sir," Herman finally offered.

Lincoln nodded. "Sir, I think it is all right for me to say that controversy with Halleck shall soon be a thing of the past"

"Sir?’

"Oh, nothing, sir, but that comment stays here please, at least for now."

Herman was startled to realize what the chief executive had just shared with him. Halleck was to be relieved as nominal commander of all forces in the field.

"But that is not the purpose of this meeting. General Haupt, I just want to ask you, if the Army of the Potomac has been defeated, perhaps destroyed…" and his voice trailed off for a moment When he started to speak again, his voice was tight as if near to breaking. "Can we rebuild?"

Herman looked into the man's eyes, shocked by this momentary display of heartfelt anguish. His heart went out to this man who carried the burden, who in fact tomorrow could simply announce that all was over, that the killing would stop… but in so doing the Republic would forever be cut asunder.

"Sir, by the day after tomorrow I will have a bridge across the river at Harrisburg, supplies sufficient for fifty thousand men stockpiled, at least a battalion of fresh artillery brought up to defend the crossing. The rail network from Harrisburg is a good one. I can call in trains from New York, Pittsburgh, Reading, and Philadelphia. That sir, is our strength, the mere fact that I can do that As long as there is the will to fight sir, I will provide the tools to do it"

"As long as I have the will," Lincoln said, turning away to gaze out the window.

All outside was silent The celebration of the Fourth, the firing of the hundred-gun salute in Lafayette Square across from the White House, had been canceled, the troops on alert those guns now deployed around government buildings, two batteries' worth on the grounds of the White House.