| Report of Captain John W. Reynolds, One hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry. Headquarters 145th Pennsylvania Volunteers August 14, 1863 Dear Sir: The next morning (July 2), we moved forward at daylight about 2 miles, and turned to the right into the woods, where we halted and formed into column by division. Remaining about an hour, the command “Attention” was given, and the regiments moved out to the road again, which we crossed, and, and having advanced a short distance, we formed in line of battle in the rear of the brigade, which was then in column by regiments, holding position a short distance to the left of Cemetery Hill. Having stacked arms, we remained here until about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when we moved by the left flank about a quarter of a mile, but soon returned again to our former position. About 5 o’clock we were again ordered to march by the left flank. We moved half a mile to the left and formed in the line of battle, faced by the rear rank, the brigade forming a single line of battle; our regiment , on the left, now became the right. We lay down for a short time, and then moved forward into a wheat-field, halted, and commenced firing. Soon Colonel Brown was severely wounded and left the field, and, being the senior officer present, I assumed command of the regiment. About this time the order was given to move forward, and we advanced rapidly with the rest of the brigade for several hundred yards, the enemy retreating, until we came to a ledge of rocks; here a number of the rebels threw down their arms and surrendered, passing to our rear. We continued firing at this point for twenty minutes, when we received an order to fall back. The enemy was already attempting to turn our flank, and had we remained much longer we would have been taken prisoners. The regiment retired, and again took the position that it had occupied during he day. Having received a slight wound in the head, I went to the hospital, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Captain Oliver. On Friday, the regiment built a line of entrenchments just in front of its position occupied on Thursday, and lay there all day, subject to a sever fire from the enemy’s artillery for several hours. At 4 p.m. a detail was sent to the front and deployed as skirmishers; 1 man was wounded |
| A PAGE FROM HISTORY 2nd day at Gettysburg |
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