Second Division

The Army of the Potomac's Third Corps Second Division, commanded by Brigadier General Andrew A. Humphreys, was at Emmitsburg on July 1 and shortly after 3 p.m. marched by an indirect route about two miles west of the main road to Gettysburg, leaving Burling's Brigade. Arriving at 1 a.m. on July 2, it massed on Cemetery Ridge between Birney's Division on the left and the 2d Corps, and Burling's Brigade rejoined between 2 and 3 p.m. The division then formed a line of battle along the Emmitsburg Road to resist attack on the Union left, with its right opposite the left of Caldwell's Division, 2d Corps, and its left joining Birney's Division; Carr's Brigade held the right, Brewster's Brigade was massed on the left centre, and Burling's Brigade was in reserve until sent to General Birney. Confederates made demonstrations on this front while the division remained in position after the 5th and 6th Corps had arrived on the Union left. Until about 6.30 p.m., when McLaws' Division, following the Confederate oblique order of battle, broke Birney's line at the Peach Orchard and uncovered Humphreys's left, Humphreys changed front to connect with 2d and 5th Corps troops in the Wheatfield. That line, enfiladed by the enemy, fell back across Plum Run while Humphreys, outflanked by McLaws' Division and pressed by Anderson's Division of Hill's Corps, gradually retired to Cemetery Ridge, reformed on the 2d Corps left, and drove the Confederates beyond the Emmitsburg Road, recovering abandoned artillery, capturing many prisoners, and holding the advanced position during the night. On July 3 the division moved to different points in the rear of the 1st, 2d, 5th, and 6th Corps, supporting threatened positions. Its casualties were 26 officers and 286 men killed, 140 officers and 1422 men wounded, 2 officers and 214 men captured or missing, for a total of 2092.

Pennsylvania · United States