A Regiment is Sacrificed at Gettysburg

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Life on the Civil War Research Trail

Күн бұрын

During the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate forces hit the U.S. Army hard. The blue regiments fell back through town and formed a defensive line along the heights of Cemetery Hill. To buy time for the move, a Union brigade was ordered forward to delay the enemy advance. One of the men involved was James Brownlee of the 134th New York Infantry. Here's the story.
"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.
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Image: Ronald S. Coddington Collection
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Пікірлер: 59

@jeffdege4786 3 ай бұрын

When I read the title, I assumed the 1st Minnesota. "I need five minutes."

@stuartwald2395 3 ай бұрын

Same for me and a lot of people, I presume.

@dirtfarmer7070 3 ай бұрын

Thought so too, until I heard the first day.

@jeffdege4786 3 ай бұрын

@@stuartwald2395 I'm not so sure. These days the 20th Maine seems to get most of the glory.

@Kenneth-c4j Ай бұрын

I assumed the 1st Minnesota myself.Only 12 guys from the 1st Minnesota made it back to Union lines unscathed. But I was familiar with the Amos Humiston saga.I am just now seeing this about the entire brigade though Courageous Dudes.

@copenhagen1968 3 ай бұрын

I am happy to say that I purchased Corporal Brownlee's cdv many years ago. Further research showed his recovery was arduous and his later life quite difficult. Thanks to Ron for using Brownlee's service at Gettysburg to demonstrate the sacrifice thousands of soldiers made there.

@christopherbosch1486 2 ай бұрын

An ancestor of mine, Pvt Cornelius Okey, served in the 6th Wisconsin, and, though wounded severely, survived. Next year, unable to rejoin the 6th, he joined the Veteran's Reserve Corps

@conradnelson5283 3 ай бұрын

Love these stories of combat and survival. They’re all interesting and very very human. Thank you

@earlyriser8998 3 ай бұрын

What a great story. I just re-read a book about Gettysburg and 'oh my' the sacrifice on both sides was terrible. I am glad he lived and you told us about him and his life after the war.

@WilliamGreenhood 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, Ron! Your descriptions actually take visionary happening because of your exciting reports!

@dadsongs 3 ай бұрын

The brickyard fight. What a nightmare. Thank you.

@tttyuhbbb9823 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, Ron; but, please, this episode was extremely in need of maps!

@irockuroll60 3 ай бұрын

Make them for him! Ron makes so many videos…be tough to make maps too

@kensilverstone1656 2 ай бұрын

I agree with all the past comments. It is sad to hear of these brave men's fate.

@boboberg3700 3 ай бұрын

Amazing story. Thank you.

@yisroelkatz-xj6pq 3 ай бұрын

Ron I listen to you almost everyday! This was a very good story, I really enjoyed it!

@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail 3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@Rob-gy1dd 3 ай бұрын

Hey Ron. Another highly appreciated story. However, being from near Albany, I must correct your pronunciation of Cobleskill. The “co” is pronounced like co-worker.

@amadeusamwater 3 ай бұрын

Schurz's Division was actually in Howard's 11th Corps, so helping him was Howard's job anyway. Listed losses for Coster's brigade were about 400 men, so there must have been quite a few who found their way back. Schurz's Division lost around 1500 men in 2 brigades.

@gerrytyrrell1507 2 ай бұрын

Brilliant Ron...We fought on borh sides of that dreadful slaughter. When men were men...Ireland

@yoharve 2 ай бұрын

I have asked this question to history teachers, buffs and authors. Why did the Union troops not destroy the Virginia army on their retreat to Va? answers were too tired (i guess the southern army was too). Not enough troops and many more answers that made no sense. The war would have ended 2 years earlier and no more death and destruction. What do you believe was the reason?

@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail 2 ай бұрын

I believe no single reason dominated. In no particular order: Meade had been named commander just before the battle began and his army had been scattered prior to the fight. He was cautious and had been in a defensive posture throughout the battle. In the aftermath, with Lee's army in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, Meade had to be sure the cities were protected. I also believe that neither Hooker, who commanded the Army or the Potomac when the Gettysburg Campaign began, or Meade had a strategy to beat Lee. Less than a year later, when Grant was named overall commander of all the U.S.armies in the field, he had the authority to develop and execute a broad strategy across the Eastern and Western Theaters. Hooker and Meade did not have this authority and ability to coordinate larger movements. If so, they might have been able to take Lee on as he crossed the Potomac into Northern Virginia.

@davidlavigne207 2 ай бұрын

Thank goodness for men such as Brownley that gave such tremendous service to the cause o the Union. Very moving story that reminds us of the men who fought the War Between the States,

@RalphKramden-il5pf 2 күн бұрын

Civil War because the South believed people were property.

@KevinCave-rj8eq 3 ай бұрын

Ron thank s for another amazing story 👍Ya know what most folks don't remember is the caliber of those rifles were huge u survive the hit u was lucky he was worse off if it stayed in you because you're dirty uniform and all the mud and infection keep up the good work love your channel 🍀🍀🍀

@OlJarhead 3 ай бұрын

Another great story!

@DrB-cb1by 5 күн бұрын

Reds from Germany "saved" the precious "Union".

@darrencorrigan8505 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Research.

@mikestone2740 2 ай бұрын

To what extent did the union depend on European immigrants ?

@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail 2 ай бұрын

About one in four Union soldiers were immigrants. My research suggests the lion's share came to America as children with their families, though many young men crossed the Atlantic after the various failed revolutions of the 1840s.

@robertreisner8132 2 ай бұрын

The greatest generation of the 19th century was the soldiers of the War of Southern Rebellion.

@Wdstroud 2 ай бұрын

An amazing story and what a life post war.

@jerrydinsmore3010 2 ай бұрын

Speaking of sacrificed regiments at Gettysburg, How about the 16th Maine on the first day?

@markallred1953 2 ай бұрын

I have studied the battle at Gettysburg and hiked the grounds seeking to make it more real. Nothing impressed me that the Union Right was so viciously assaulted and compromised. Thank you for bringing this event out through these painfully human stories of these unfortunate survivors. Throughout this narrative, I l listened attentively to learn the identity of the sacrificed Regiment, but I heard only other units mentioned.

@patrickmcadams31 2 ай бұрын

One of the best civil war sources out there. Thanks for the great content!

@donb7113 2 ай бұрын

Groin injuries at Gettysburg not only happened to him, but also Gen. Hancock, and Col. Chamberlain.

@sharons5714 Ай бұрын

Chamberlain’s injury occurred at or near Petersburg.

@lindaaloha Күн бұрын

What a great story?

@stevenfromer3816 3 ай бұрын

What a wonderful story of perseverance. Thank you

@ekim0513 28 күн бұрын

One tough Legend of a man

@stevemorin8206 2 ай бұрын

Does anyone have a link showing this on a map. I just spent some time on the Trust and I can't find it.

@core4steve 2 ай бұрын

kzbin.info/www/bejne/foDJcoCqfciIe7csi=sN7s2ErXq7-sc9-a

@donaldclark2722 3 ай бұрын

The 16th Maine was sacrificed like no other at Gettysburg.

@johntuffnell794 2 ай бұрын

Debatable. They suffered tremendous losses the first day, mostly captured when ordered to hold at all cost to allow the retreat to succeed. The 24th Michigan lost 399 of 496 over the three days. First in, last out as part of the Iron Brigade

@johngorman4052 2 ай бұрын

The tragic story of Sgt. Amos Humiston, I am about 99.9% sure this was featured in a DVD I purchased some years ago (by the Ridley brothers, if I'm not mistaken). He fought to the death, he is another soldier of the Union who should have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, he gave everything and his family lost a devoted husband and father. He was one of the many thousands from both sides who died valiantly, lost, at the Battle of Gettysburg. Thanks Ron, for posting this interesting article.

@kensilverstone1656 2 ай бұрын

Thanks!