Augustus Ziegler Gettysburg Letter

This is an excerpt of a the second letter written by Augustus back home after Gettysburg. It is perhaphs the most important fist-hand account of the part played by the 24th Michigan.

One soldier mentioned in the excerpt, George Dingwell, was a friend of Augustus's and the two maintained a correspondence after the war.

In Camp near Middleburg, Va, July 21, 1863

..... I will now give you as near as I can the particulars concerning our poor William. On the 1st Early in the morning while on the march, we saw in the distance small clouds of white smoke appear, we knew right off what the order of the day was. We at the time thought that the 11th Corps was ahead. We knew for certain that they had started ahead of us, but they started on another road, and in some way or another got behind us. Pretty soon we heard the cannon roar. On we pushed to the rescue of the advanced Cavalry that had got into a trap. Our Corps formed in the line of battle in double quick time. It was in forming a line of battle that we lost Our Brave and Gallant leader Gen. Reynold Foremost in Battle always sharing our hardships with us. Always ready to rush to the rescue, when aid was needed, we lost one of the Bravest and most Gallant Officers in the Army. The only fault that could be found with him is that he was too rash, he exposed himself too much. Had he lived till night many a man that is now dead & wounded would be with us yet, but it may all be for the best. There is an overruling one, that does all things well. The ccountry will also mourn the loss of another of our valuable Officers in the loss of Brig. Gen. Paul formaly [sic] commanding the 3rd Brigade in our division. While on the road yet Gen. Howard galoped passed [sic] us to see what was up, we advanced from the road in line of Battle double quick, fixing our bayonets and loading our pieces as we went. On we went across corn and wheat fields, down a hollow where lay concealed quite a force of Barbarians. Most of them skedadled at our approach. We took quite a number of prisoners, we jumped and waded across a small stream, and up the hill on the other side. We halted on the hill when it was deemed prudent not to advance any farther. We faced about and retired in line of battle on to the safe side of the stream, it was in this advance that our Color Sergt. was killed. There may have been others that I dident take any notice of. Capt. Richardson, one of the bravest and noblest officers that ever drew breath, galloped forward through a piece of wood on our right to the skirmish line, and for all I know beyond it, in hardly no time he came back and told Gen. Merridith the strength and position of the Rebbs. He then gave order on his own responsibility, change front forward on left Batallion that threw us forward and about 100 yards to the right into a piece of woods on a rise of ground. It was in changing position that Col. Flanigan was shot, he was a big mark for the sharpshooter that picked him off, he was a tall straight man sitting on a big blood horse. He was hardly off his horse before Col. Morrow was on. The boys all called off to him to get off. He wouldent do it, he gave a good reason for it, that it was al- [sic] impossible for him alone and on foot to handle as large a regt as ours was. Major Wight was that day field officer of the day and with the rear guard. The boys dident care for that, they would save their Colonel, they told him at the same time raising their pieces that they would kill his horse under him if he dident get off. They would rather shoot him themselves, and wound him slightly, than give the rebels the satisfaction of killing him. The rebbels commenced shelling the woods quite lively. We lost only a few from those nasty rotten th--- th--- in there to see us. It seems to me one of the great wonders of the world that we dident lose one half thee regt from the grape that came in there to pay us their respects. You never saw any of them, but I tell you they aint the kind of grapes I like to eat. We lay there about an hour I would judge, when an order came. Co. A forward as skirmishers to relieve Co. B then out. We deployed by the left flank so as to cover our regt. We then advanced to the front. I mustent forget here to mention here theat [sic] Wm was all right before we went out. Co. Es Corp. being the tallest had the Colors. We were skirmishing about half an hour when we saw the rebs advance in four lines of battle with their mean treasonable howl, and colors flying. We retired on their advance double quick, we lost I believe two men taken prisoners that run into the brush and couldent get across the creek. We hardly got formed on the right of the regiment before the fight commenced in earnest. Our men through the whole of it, stood up to it, as though they were statues, not a man flinching. I tell you it would have done you good to have seen the conduct of our regt and the marks they were making on the rebellion. Our small single line, held that heavily Massed Column in check for over an hour untill there [sic] line closed in on our left, their line to take their own word for it, overlapping ours a mile on each flank. They were fast closing in on rear [sic] which compelled us to fall back, fighting the same as we went. Co. Es Corporal was shot in the head who got the Colors after that I could find out [sic]. Bill Kelly of Co. E I know know had them, he was shot through the heart. It was on the retreat that we lost so fearfully. Major Wight was shot before we commenced to fall back. I wasent more than twenty feet from him, when he droped [sic] shot in the eye. I dont believe he had been on the field more than half an hour before he was numbered with the wounded. As quick as he got rid of the rear guard, he started for the regiment, two men caried [sic] him off. They took but a little ways [sic] when he told them to go back they might be needed, and helped himself off the best he could. It was after we got out of the woods into the wheat field that we lost the heaviest. The regt on our left the 19th was so overpowered that they wouldent rally any more, but left the field without making another stand. That wouldent do for our brave Col., some of our men started to follow their example. The Col. caught the colors as they were dropping, he only knows how many times he had them before that, he was standing alone, no one nearer than 30 feet, he stood there waving them saying will you desert your Colors boys, rally to your flag. I thought on the instant you cant see your Col. shot, and started to take the colors. Just then he saw Co. D color corporal, he says never mind here is the color bearer, and gave them to him. Around the city the other side of the seminary the 3rd division threw piled up some rails hastilly, [sic] as a protection for them, we made 3 or 4 good stands before we got to them. I saw Col. M. had the colors again, he called Capt. Edwards to take them, while he got the regt behind the rails safe. The brave little Capt. O'Donnel & Lt. Shattuck were shot dead one each side of me. The Col. was shot while getting over the rails I was not more than ten paces from him at the time, he merely staggered, his bravery held him up. He dident want to have his wound dressed. He wasent going to leave the boys until Cotillion was over. They took him off, that was no place for him. Captain Edwards then took command of the regt he also brought off the colors. It was a splendid sight to see how the canisterr mowed them down. You could see avenues cut right through the rebel column, the cool and deliberate fire from the Infantry behind the rails, and the compliments (double charges of cannister, cannons filled to the brim) from the short range, - Napolian Bool Dog's [sic], cut through them four lines of battle up so that they couldent form only one single, from the scattered fragments left. It was the flank that overpowered us. They were closing in around the City and would have taken us all prisoners if we hadent retired. Coming through the City, I couldent see a house, and there wasent a house or a cellar that wasent filled with men from the 11th Corps, they even put wounded from our Corps out of doors to get in themselves, sitting at tables and eating when they should have been out supporting us. I wished at the time, that we had the time to commence at one end of the City and shoot every one that could be found in the town that wasent wounded. I tell you it would have been a terrible slaughter. I can tell you for a fact that there was as many or more killed by our own officers than by the rebs. We had to come out of that town pretty lively. I thought to myself there goes another Bull Run. The batteries were the last to leave, and before we could look around they were in position again on the hills in back of the town, thundering away like good fellows. We formed a line of battle on the crest of the hills outside of the hills [sic] and for the first time since morning took time to sit down and eat a hard tack. You cant blame me for feeling downhearted. I was the only Sergt. that came out with the company, and no commish. Ed Wilkie got stray during the excitement, like most everyone did. Vanderlip was wounded. Nagle was wounded. George Dingwell was sent off with some prisoners. I thought I was the only one left, I looked around and couldent see but five of the company with me, and the best boys gone into the bargain. Capt Edwards said to me Ziegler you take command of the Co. I told him I couldent see the Co., I asked him where they were, he merely hung down and shook his head. I started off to see if I couldent collect a squad, I got four from the Sixth Wis. that had been on guard. I collected some convalescents that had just returned from Washington. I soon had 18 Just [sic] when I saw Wilkie & Dingwell coming. Wilkie had a hole in his hat I thought he too was wounded. My feelings and thoughts changed, I knew then I wasent alone in the world. Wilkie is our acting captain and a good one too. We built breastworks that night, and did it with good will too. We also had a good nights rest, and were much refreshed in the morning. The two days following we werent actively engaged, having a much better position than the rest of the line. The Rebbs wouldent attack us. It was Artillery fighting where we were. All we had to do was lay behind the breastworks, ready to ready to [sic] meet Johny if he should take it into his head to try the First Corps again, but he dident feel inclined. Whenever they made a charge, the Generals told them that the 11th Corps was there, that they shouldebt mind the bullets but advance right on them and they will break & run. The 12th Corps lay on our right, they tried repeatedly to turn our right but they found there were men there instead of the 11 Corps, they never as much as wounded our line, although they came close up to the works, some of them jumping on them only to be knocked down with the buts [sic] of muskets. I must go on with what concerned us or I will never finish my letter. The Fourth day in the morning we saw Col. Morrow coming towards, [sic] the company left of the proud 24th could make as much noise as the largest regt when the we saw him. I tell you the cheers we gave him made the battlefield ring. The rebels are sharp but they werent sharp enough for Col. Morrow. When they couldent parole him for two years, they calculated to take him off to Richmond but dident calculate on his being a lawyer. He took up his position in one of the steples [sic] of in the city, where he could see every part of the field, from there he would know just how the battle was going on, besides he wanted to know where and how his boys were, first to the wounded ones on the field, and then to those left, he could see just where we were, by the Division & Brigade flags. I suppose you will wonder why I write Barbarians. You know that we couldent carry our Poor wounded boys off the field, the only ones that got off were those that could help themselves off. After they got posession of the city they blockaded the streets so that no one could get near them, for the two days following they refused to let, a man or woman to go on the field to bring them even a drink of water. They wouldent let even a doctor or nurse go near them for fear they would be taken care of. They wouldent bury a single one of our officers or men, but left them on the field stark nacked. [sic] I shudder that I am compelled to write it home but the whole world has got to know it. And if those at home persist in saying that they take as good care of our dead & wounded as we do, they will suffer the penalty of it when we get back. Col. Morrow played sharp on them again, while they were retreating he tore off his shoulder straps, and with the Doctor got in the rebel lines to see his wounded boys on the field. He was the whole of that night with the aid of a lantern taking care of the wounded boys not only of our regt but of the whole Brigade. He passed all through the rebel camp's [sic] as a paroled Doctor, and when daylight came he got back again, and came to see those yet living. If anyone runs down or abuses Col. Morrow after this, show them this letter. I must now bring my letter to a close or I will never get done writing.

This excerpt, certainly one of the best descriptions of the 24th's valiant stand at Gettysburg is courtesy of his descendant, Don Osborn.