McLaws's Division

McLaws's Division of the C.S.A. Army of Northern Virginia's First Army Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws and including the brigades of J.B. Kershaw, William Barksdale, P.J. Semmes, and W.T. Wofford and an artillery battalion of four batteries under Col. H.C. Cabell, reached Marsh Creek four miles from Gettysburg after dark on July 1. On July 2 it was placed in position facing the Union line on the Emmitsburg Road, and about 4 p.m. the batteries opened on the position as the division pressed to the front and the Union troops retired to the hill in rear. The battle continued until nearly night, when a strong Union force met the supporting division co-operating on the left, drove one brigade back, and checked the support of the other brigade, exposing the left. It was thought prudent not to push farther until other troops of the corps came up, and the division was withdrawn to the first position of Union troops resisting at the Peach Orchard, with the conflict to be renewed in the morning, when other orders were received. On July 3 the division was not engaged except for severe skirmishing, and after night dispositions were made to withdraw. On July 4 the division took up the line of march during the night. Its casualties were 313 killed, 1538 wounded, and 327 captured or missing, a total of 2178.

Freedom Township, Pennsylvania · United States