3rd Brigade

At seven o'clock P.M. on July 2nd. 1863, the 3rd. Brigade of the 3rd. Division, 2nd. Corps was led by General Hancock from near Ziegler's Grove to the rear of a bushy swale along Plum Run. The 39th N.Y., commanded by Major Hugo Hildebrand, faced left to guard against a flank and rear attack; the 125the N.Y., commanded by Col. Levin Crandall, took position on the left; and the 126th N.Y., commanded by Col. C.D. MacDougall, took position on the right. The brigade then charged the 13th. 17th. and 18th Miss. regiments of Barksdale's Brigade in line in the thicket and drove them through the swale and up the slope toward the Emmitsburg Road to within 317 yards due east from this position, when enemy artillery fire became very severe and the brigade retired to the swale, where Col. George L. Willard, commanding the brigade, was killed. After being relieved at dark, the brigade returned to near its former position on Cemetery Ridge.

Pennsylvania · United States