Page 10 - Gettysburg weekend book

Seminary Ridge-The battle raged on both sides of Chambers-
burg Pike as additional units on both sides arrived on the scene.
XI Corps formed up north of the town. On the right of the Union
line, three regiments of Cutler's brigade were fired on by Davis's
brigade before they could get into position on the ridge. Davis's
line overlapped the right of Cutler's, making the Union position
untenable, and Cutler's regiments are ordered back to Seminary
Ridge. Some of Davis's victorious men turned toward the Union
positions south of the railroad bed while others drove east to-
ward Seminary Ridge.

Willoughby Run & Herbst Woods-South of the pike, Confed-
erate Gen. Archer’s men find themselves facing the famed Iron
Brigade. As the Confederates crossed Willoughby Run and
climbed the slope into Herbst Woods, they were enveloped on
their right by the longer Union line, the reverse of the situation
north of the pike. During the fighting, Archer was captured by an
Iron Brigade private, Patrick Moloney. As he was taken to the
Union rear, Archer encountered Gen. Doubleday who said “I’m
glad to see you Archer” to which Archer replied “Well, I’m not
glad to see you by a damned sight!” Archer was the first Con-
federate general to be captured by the Union forces.
Railroad Cut- At around 11 a.m., Doubleday sent his reserves,
the 6th Wisconsin, an Iron Brigade regiment north in the direc-
tion of Davis's disorganized brigade. The Wisconsin men paused
at the fence along the pike and fired, which halted Davis's attack
on Cutler's men and caused many of them to seek cover in the
unfinished railroad cut. The three Union regiments charged the
railroad cut under heavy fire. When the Union men reached the
cut, vicious hand-to-hand and bayonet fighting broke out. The
Iron Brigade was able to pour enfilading fire from both ends
of the cut, and many Confederates surrendered. By 11.30 a.m.,
Heth had been defeated and forced to withdraw to Herr Ridge. A
lull now settled over the field as both sides brought up rein-
forcements.