First Brigade

In the Army of the Potomac's Third Corps, Second Division, First Brigade under Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Carr, the 1st, 11th, and 16th Massachusetts, 12th New Hampshire, 11th New Jersey, and 26th and 84th Pennsylvania Infantry arrived around 1 a.m. on July 2 and bivouacked for the night. Early that afternoon the brigade formed line on the right of the division, connecting with Second Corps on the right, and between 3 and 4 p.m. advanced 300 yards to the Emmitsburg Road, connecting with First Division. With the support of the 5th New Jersey on the left and the 15th Massachusetts and 82d New York on the right, it held the front line, with Second Brigade in reserve, until the line on the left gave way, when the brigade with the division changed front to the left. The brigade then retired with the corps by order of Major Gen. D.B. Birney to the main line in the rear, where it formed, forced back the pursuing forces, regained the lost ground, captured many prisoners, and held the position until morning. On July 3 Confederate artillery opened fire at daylight and continued for over an hour. At 6 a.m. the brigade was ordered to join the corps in the rear, then to support the Fifth Corps, and at 3 p.m. to support the Second Corps. Lying in close column, the brigade suffered severely from artillery fire. Its casualties were 10 officers and 111 men killed, 45 officers and 559 men wounded, and 2 officers and 63 men captured or missing, a total of 790.

Pennsylvania · United States