"We were left in a critical position."
Charles W. Reed and the 9th Massachusetts Battery

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from "WE SAVED THE LINE FROM BEING BROKEN"
by Eric A. Campbell
Gettysburg National Military Park
March 23, 1996
Captain John Bigelow
(USMHI)"He is worse than any regular that ever breathed."

So Charles Reed described Captain John C. Bigelow, the new commander of 
the 9th Massachusetts Battery. The arrival of Captain Bigelow in late 
February, 1863 changed the lax and some what care-free lives for the men 
in the 9th Massachusetts Battery. Within a few days, some thought 
Captain John Bigelow a tyrant, including Reed: "He dont have...the 
feelings for his men as a slave owner for his slaves. He has been 
order[ing] eight roll call’s a day. in fact they are regular dress 
parades which precede all the drill call’s[,] stable, and water calls." 
Little did Reed realize at that time, that Bigelow's discipline and 
unceasing drill would save the lives of most of his fellow batterymen at 
the Battle Of Gettysburg. 

Charles W. Reed
(Library of Congress)Charles Wellington Reed was born in Charlestown, 
Massachusetts on April 1, 1841,the third child of Joseph and Roxanna 
Reed. The family’s ancestry was rich. His great-grandfather (Swithin 
Reed) immigrated to American in 1740, his grandfather (Isaac Richardson) 
had been wounded at the Battle of Lexington during the Revolution and 
his father had served during the Mexican War. Despite this lineage, his 
immediate family’s financial and social status was only moderately 
acceptable. Of average height and slight in built, Reed was articulate, 
industrious, eager and showed a talent for drawing, art and music. After 
graduating from public schools in Charlestown and Boston, Reed was 
working independently as a illustrator and lithographer when the war 
began. 

Uncertain of his future career path and seeking an opportunity to 
advance his talents, Reed enlisted as a bugler in the 9th Massachusetts 
Battery on August 2, 1862 for three years or the end of the war.
To the twenty year old Reed, the war seemed a great adventure and a 
chance to travel, visit sites he had only read about and be a witness to 
what he realized was a great event in history. Not only did he witness 
it, but Reed recorded much of what he saw. Most of his letters were 
embellished with drawings and he filled several sketch books throughout 
the war. The adventure seemed to be restricted with the arrival of 
Captain Bigelow who instilled discipline through strictness to 
regulation, repeated drilling and insistence on the unquestioning 
obedience of orders. The battery consisted of 104 officers and men, 110 
horses and six bronze 12-pounder smoothbore cannon, nicknamed the 
"Napoleon". Not surprisingly, the unit's morale, discipline and 
confidence grew steadily each day. Begrudgingly, Reed later wrote that 
Bigelow, "understands his business. Lately he has relaxed his 
strictness...I think his strictness was to make the men know what he is 
made of." The discipline instilled in the young artillerymen would soon 
be necessary, for their first experience in combat was to take place 
that summer at a Pennsylvania cross-roads town called Gettysburg.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On June 25, 1863 the 9th Massachusetts Battery, found itself marching in 
the ranks of the Army of the Potomac. Reed and his comrades soon 
discovered they had been assigned to the 1st Volunteer Brigade commanded 
by Lt. Colonel Freeman McGilvery. The brigade was part of the Artillery 
Reserve which arrived on the battlefield about mid-morning of July 2, 
and was placed behind the lines and held in readiness to be used when 
and where it was needed. The principal Confederate attack began that 
afternoon when Southern troops of Lt. General James Longstreet's Corps 
struck the Union left. Defending this area was the Third Corps, Army of 
the Potomac, commanded by Maj. General Daniel Sickles. Earlier that 
afternoon this flamboyant commander, in one of the most controversial 
decisions of the battle, had pushed his corps forward to an advanced and 
overextended position. His troops under heavy attack, Sickles sought 
reinforcements to bolster his thin line. A rapid series of orders, 
arriving within a matter of minutes, had McGilvery leading all four of 
his batteries to the support of Sickles and his Third Corps.

Bugler Reed sounded "Assembly", and "drivers mounted and within five 
minutes we were off at a lively trot, following our leader to the left, 
where the firing was getting to be the heaviest." Though almost all of 
the 1st Volunteer Brigade, including Bigelow and McGilvery were combat 
veterans, the men of the 9th Massachusetts Battery were moving into 
their first battle. Naturally many of the gunners were nervous. Yet 
others, probably eager and naive, were like Reed: "I must say I was 
surprised at myself in not experienceing more fear than I did as it was 
it seemed more like going to some game or a review...." The batteries 
trotted cross-country, skirting fields and woods toward the fighting, 
and finally arriving at Gen. Sickles’ headquarters near the Abraham 
Trostle farmstead. The batteries "doubled up" and the men began to wait 
as McGilvery conferred with Sickles.

 Captain Bigelow described the 
scene:
"A spirited military spectacle lay before us; General Sickles was 
standing beneath a tree close by, staff officers and orderlies coming 
and going in all directions; at the famous 'Peach Orchard' angle on 
rising ground along the Emmetsburg Road, about 500 yards in our front, 
white smoke was curling up from... the deep-toned booming of [Union] 
guns...while the enemy’s shells were flying over or breaking around us."

General Sickles Headquarters as sketched by Reed on July 2
(Library of Congress)

Nervously the drivers and gunners waited by their guns for orders, 
watching the spectacle of their first battle along the Third Corps 
front. Reed, possibly more excited than others by the momentous event 
unfolding before him and realizing its importance, decided to record the 
scene. Incredibly he pulled out his sketch pad and began to draw. He 
later wrote:
"at the foot of the hill...were Maj. Gen Sickels headquarters under a 
tree. we halted...a few minutes giveing me time to take a scetch of him. 
one of his Aids was already wounded by a piece of shell in the back and 
the surgeon was doing it up."
Within a few moments, Captain Bigelow returned to the battery, 
lieutenants shouted out orders, drivers spurred their teams, and the 
battery raced to their assigned positions.

The 9th Massachusetts Battery charges to a position on the Wheatffield 
Road
Charles Reed,History of the 9th Massachusetts Battery

Taking advantage of elevated firing positions east of the Peach Orchard, 
McGilvery placed all four batteries along the Wheatfield Road, facing 
southward so they "commanded most of the open country" to their front. 
They were, from right to left, Capt. James Thompson’s Battery C & F, 1st
 Pennsylvania, Capt. Patrick Hart’s 15th New York, Capt. Charles 
Phillips’ 5th Massachusetts and Bigelow’s 9th Massachusetts. The 
batteries covered a dangerous 400 yard gap in the Union line between the 
Peach Orchard and Wheatfield that existed because Sickles had 
overextended his line in taking up his advanced position. The guns went 
into line alone, without infantry support which made them vulnerable. 
Despite this, gunners raced into position while under fire and quickly 
readied for action to duel with Confederate artillery nearly a mile 
away. Reed observed, "There were five Batterys of us in a line...besides 
other artillery in different positions[,] the roar of which was 
deafening."

The 9th Massachusetts was swept by Confederate artillery fire. "Our 
position was open and exposed," Captain Bigelow reported. "One man was 
killed and several wounded before we could fire a single gun.... (We) 
soon covered ourselves in a cloud of powder smoke, for our six Light 
Twelve guns were rapidly served." The tremendous noise was overwhelming 
as Reed wrote, "such a shrieking, hissing, seathing I never dreamed was 
imagineable, it seemed as though it must be the work of the very devil 
himself."

Shortly after taking up its position, "on that memoriable day and our 
battery fairly at [it]," Reed continued, "(the) Captain ordered me to 
the rear[,] saying there was no need of my being there." Bigelow must 
have felt there was no use for a bugler with the deafening noise. Reed 
obeyed "and rode back two or three rods" but then changed his mind, as 
he related to his sister:

"...somehow I coud’nt see it. I was bound to see a fight and might be of 
some use after all so I disobeyed orders by turning round [and] going up 
to the battery again..." It turned out to be a good decision as Colonel 
McGilvery was short on staff officers: "I was right [to return] for 
presently Major McGilvray(sic)...came up and set me at it in the shape 
of transmitting orders from one bat’ry to another, which suited me to a 
T as I had a wider field under my eyes and could see what was going on 
farther to our right and left[.] some new Batterys opened on us a cross 
fire with shell and solid shot[.] their fire about this time was 
tremendous."

McGilvery reported this enfilading fire, but his men were powerless to 
counter it. Because the Third Corps line angled back at the Peach 
Orchard, Sickles’ front essentially faced two directions- west and 
south. The converging fire of Confederate batteries from those 
directions enfiladed both wings of the Third Corps line. The 
artillerymen in McGilvery’s command suffered under this convergence of 
fire, but stuck to their guns. Then at "about 5 o’clock a heavy column 
of rebel infantry made its appearance in a grain-field about 850 yards 
in front, moving at double quick time toward the woods on our left, 
where the infantry fighting was then going on." A half-hour later, "the 
battle...raged along the lines...(as) another and larger column 
appeared...."- the combined assault of Brig. General Joseph B. Kershaw’s 
and Brig. General Paul Semmes’ brigades, advancing from Seminary Ridge 
toward the Wheatfield. At a distance of less than 400 yards, these 
Confederates marched directly across the front of McGilvery, 
"immediately trained the entire line of our guns upon them, and opened 
with various kinds of ammunition."

The 9th Massachusetts Battery on the Wheatfield Road.
The Peach Orchard is in the center background.
by Charles Reed, Regiments and Armories of Massachusetts

As the range decreased the batteries switched to canister, shotgun-like 
blasts that tore "great gaps" through the Confederate ranks. A South 
Carolinian of Kershaw's Brigade recalled, "O the awful deathly surging 
sounds of those little black balls as they flew by us, through us, 
between our legs, and over us! Many, of course, were struck down...."

The batteries were still under Confederate artillery fire and Reed 
experienced a narrow miss" "I had just been along the line of batterys 
that were [in] line...with an order from the Col to doublehad just been 
along the line of batterys that were [in] line...with an order from the 
Col to double shott the guns with canister and returning a shell tore up 
the gro

Continuing on his mission, Reed glanced at the scene before the guns: 
"down came the Rebs...from the right behind a white fence when opposite 
us they left flanked and steadily advanced on us...." The South 
Carolinians closed to within two hundred yards, when suddenly their 
direction of advance shifted to their right, thus moving parallel to the 
artillery. 

The artillerymen quickly took advantage, as Captain Bigelow 
reported:
"...the Battery immediately enfiladed them with a rapid fire of 
canister, which tore through their ranks and sprinkled the field with 
their dead and wound, until they disappeared in the woods on our left, 
apparently a mob."
Though the initial Confederate assault had been repulsed, the situation 
remained critical for all of McGilvery’s batteries. Kershaw’s men 
quickly rallied and were "not long in taking...revenge." Closely 
watching the shifting Confederates, Bigelow found that "as soon as the 
woods were reached, [they] sent a body of sharpshooters against us." 
Reed later wrote that the men "advanced on us giving us such a shower of 
small balls that it was dangerous to be safe!" In their position on the 
far left, the 9th Massachusetts Battery received the brunt of the 
Confederate fire from the front and left. The Confederates, "came up on 
my left front as skirmishers, pouring in a heavy fire and killing and 
wounding a number of...my men," Captain Bigelow recalled. 

At his battery 
post, Private David Brett was horrified: "We could hear the bullets pass 
us[.] finily a man dropt about 6 foot to my right another right 
behind[.] 6 men were killed within a rod of me...." 

"Lieut. Erickson... reeling in the saddle, he was frothing (blood) at 
the mouth"
Lt. Christopher Erickson remained on the field despite a severe wound in 
the lungs.
Moments later, the young officer was killed.
by Charles Reed, Library of Congress

Fighting raged in the Wheatfield east of the 9th Massachusetts Battery 
and along the front. Conditions continued to deteriorate until, shortly 
after 6:00 P.M. when the situation reached a critical point. At that 
time, the growing Confederate assaults reached the salient angle of 
Sickles’ line at the Peach Orchard. Under the relentless advance of the 
brigades of Brig. General William Barksdale and Brig. General William T. 
Wofford, the Union line began to crumble. Though making a determined 
stand, the Union infantry slowly melted away from the "compact mass of 
humanity" of Barksdale’s regiments. This stand allowed Union artillery 
in the orchard time to escape, though the right door was now open to 
take McGilvery’s line under fire.

McGilvery ordered two of his batteries to retreat while his last two- 
Phillips and Bigelow, continued to thunder away at Kershaw’s men. 
Barksdale’s regiments advanced through the orchard after smashing the 
Union line located there, and prepared to rush down the slope into the 
unsuspecting artillerymen. McGilvery next rode to Phillips and ordered 
him to retreat, intending to have his remaining batteries, "retire 250 
yards and renew their fire," probably hoping to reform the broken line, 
or somehow stem the flow of retreating Union troops. But the situation 
was unraveling too rapidly. By the time McGilvery reached the 9th
 Massachusetts Battery he was ordering his batteries back to Cemetery 
Ridge. Bigelow’s men had been steadily working their guns in a futile 
attempt to hold back the increasing Confederate pressure from the left 
and front. In the noise and confusion of battle, Charles Reed took no 
notice of the other batteries withdrawal as "we were so intent upon our 
work that we noticed not when the other batterys left." It was Captain 
Bigelow who spotted the new threat coming from the direction of the 
orchard:
"Glancing toward the Peach Orchard on my right, I saw that the 
Confederates(Barksdale’s Brigade) had come through and were forming a 
line 200 yards distant, extending back, parallel with the Emmitsburg 
Road, as far as I could see... Colonel McGilvery rode up, at this time, 
and told me that (all of Sickles’) men had withdrawn and I was alone on 
the field, with no supports... limber up and get out."

Bigelow realized the order could not be carried out, for without 
infantry support and with Confederate skirmishers so close, "every 
saddle would have been emptied in trying to limber up." Making a swift 
decision, the captain petitioned McGilvery to "‘retire by prolonge and 
firing,’ in order to ‘keep them off.’" This bold decision obviously 
revealed the confidence Bigelow placed in his men, for to attempt such a 
maneuver was extremely risky, especially with untried troops. Many 
obstacles and problems could develop which could result in disaster for 
the battery. McGilvery also must have realized the risk, but quickly 
"assented [to the request] and rode away." Whatever the reason, orders 
were quickly given, prolong ropes fixed and the battery began to 
withdraw. "No friendly supports, of any kind, were in sight; but Johnnie 
Rebs in great numbers," Bigelow recalled. "Bullets were coming into our 
midst from many directions and a Confederate battery added to our 
difficulties. (The) Battery kept well aligned in retiring, (moving) with 
a slow, sullen fire." Drivers coached their straining horse teams as 
they dragged the heavy guns through the pasture south of the Trostle 
buildings. Gunners rammed charges down the hot muzzles as they moved, 
stopping briefly to fire the weapons, "keeping Kershaw’s skirmishers 
back with canister, and the other two sections bowling solid shot 
towards Barksdale’s men."

Lt. Colonel McGilvery galloped to the rear in order to regroup and 
reorganize his withdrawing batteries along Cemetery Ridge. Reaching the 
higher ground beyond, however, McGilvery was shocked to find a huge gap 
in the center of the Union line. In his mind, "The crisis of the 
engagement had now arrived," and he knew that Bigelow's gunners would 
have to buy time for his other cannoneers. Spotting the 9th
 Massachusetts Battery, which had just halted under cover of a slight 
knoll near the Trostle farmstead and was beginning to limber up in 
preparation for retreat, McGilvery spurred his horse, "alone, in the 
midst of flying missiles" toward the battery. His horse staggered, being 
"shot four times in the breast and fore shoulder," as he reined up in 
front of Captain Bigelow. "Captain Bigelow, there is not an infantryman 
back of you along the whole line which Sickles’ moved out; you must 
remain where you are and hold your position at all hazards, if need be, 
until at least I can find some batteries to put in position and cover 
you!"

McGilvery and Bigelow both knew the consequences of these orders. 
Bigelow realized, "the sacrifice of the command was asked in order to 
save the line," and could only manage a weak reply that he would try.

The men of the battery were equally stunned and Reed knew, "we were left 
in a critical position[.]" Bigelow found himself in a, 
"position...which...was an impossible one for artillery. The task seemed 
superhuman, for the knoll already spoken of allowed the enemy to 
approach as it were under cover within 50 yards of my front, while I was 
very much cramped for room and my ammunition was greatly reduced." The 
exhausted battery was trapped in the angle of two stone walls, making 
retreat impossible. Yet the men of the 9th Massachusetts Battery did not 
hesitate as Bigelow ordered his men to prepare for action. Most of the 
soldiers in the battery were just like Charles Reed who, though from 
common origins were, according to Bigelow, "Without exception... 
soldiers only from the highest sense of duty" and fought for a cause in 
which they firmly believed. Though earlier given a chance to safely 
leave the fight, Reed just "could’nt see it," and had "disobeyed orders" 
by returning to his battery. One of the battery's corporals best summed 
up the feelings of all the men in the battery when he later proudly 
wrote, "We the Glorious-young 9th Mass- Battery in Splendid Organisation 
and for the first time in an engagement - stood the ground and were 
Willing to die for the Contry."

Realizing desperate circumstances required desperate actions, Bigelow 
took chances. Risking the danger to his own men, the captain ordered all 
the ammunition laid beside the guns for "rapid firing." Utilizing every 
means possible to slow the advancing Confederates, he then ordered his 
four guns in the center and right, to "commence...firing solid shot low, 
for a ricochet over the knoll" and into the infantry beyond. With his 
six pieces loaded and arranged in a semi-circle, with the limbers and 
horses crowded into the corner of the stone walls, the battery soon fell 
silent to await the onslaught. "The moments seemed like hours," Bigelow 
recalled, the guns prepared "not a moment too soon...for almost 
immediately the enemy appeared over the knoll. Waiting till they were 
breast high, my battery was discharged at them(,) every gun 
loaded...with double shotted cannister and solid shot, after which 
through the smoke [we] caught a glimpse of the enemy, they were torn and 
broken, but still advancing. The enemy opened a fearful musketry fire, 
men and horses were falling like hail.... Sergeant after Sergt., was 
struck down, horses were plunging and laying about all around...."

These tenacious troops were approximately 400 men of the 21st
 Mississippi Infantry, which struck the right and front of the battery. 
At the same time skirmishers from Kershaw’s Brigade, who had doggedly 
followed Bigelow’s guns, threatened from the left front. Flushed with 
victory, the Mississippians pushed onward, "yelling like demons," as 
"Again and again they rallied." Directing the battle from his horse, 
Bigelow witnessed, "The enemy crowded to the very muzzles [of the guns] 
but were blown away by the canister. Notwithstanding their insane, 
reckless efforts not an enemy came into [the] battery from its front. 
(The) rapid fire recoiled the guns into the corner of the stone-wall, 
(which) more and more cramped my position." Canister ammunition began to 
run low as Bigelow, still willingstruck the right and front of the 
battery. At the same time skirmishers from Kershaw’s Brigade, who had 
doggedly followed Bigelow’s guns, threatened from the left front. 
Flushed with victory, the Mississipst Miss.,...swung without opposition 
and came in from that direction, pouring in a heavy fire all the while." 

Caught in a "withering cross fire," and with his left section entangled 
among some large bowlders" and the stone wall, Bigelow ordered those 
guns to retire. After quickly limbering up the crews headed for their 
only escape, an opening in the stone wall opposite the Trostle farmyard. 
The first gun, however, upon reaching the gateway, overturned and 
blocked it. While the men of this gun scrambled to right it, the crew of 
the trailing gun looked in desperation for a way out. A few men "tumbled 
the top stones off the wall" before the drivers headed "directly over 
the wall." Aghast at the spectacle, Reed remembered the "horses jumping 
and the gun...going over with a tilt on one side and then a crash of 
rocks and wheels" as the piece made its successfully flight.
Chaos near the Trostle Farm
by Charles Reed, USMHI, Carlisle
Desperately Bigelow gave orders for the remaining crews to prepare for a 
general retreat and "rode to the stone wall, hoping to stop some of 
[the] cannoneers and have them make a better opening, through which I 
might rush one or more of the remaining four guns...." But with the left 
section gone, Kershaw’s skirmishers "being unchecked, quickly came up on 
[the] left and poured in a murderous fire." At his captain’s side, 
Bugler Reed, recalled "I saw the enemy skirting down the stone 
wall...and called to the captain to look out," while at the same time 
"throwing his horse back on his haunches." Bigelow never heard the 
warning as six skirmishers opened fire and the captain "caught two 
bullets, my horse two, (and) two flew wide."

As his horse staggered to the rear, the dazed captain fell near the 
wall. Reed and Bigelow’s orderly were quickly by their commander’s side. 
As he leaned against the wall, Bigelow saw "the Confederates swarming in 
on our right flank." Hand to hand fighting engulfed the battery, the men 
using handspikes and rammers to defend their guns. With all the 
remaining officers and most of the sergeants also killed or wounded, the 
air...alive with missiles, and the battery caught in a turmoil of 
confusion, the resistance of most units would collapse. The men of the 9
th Massachusetts Battery did not flinch; instead they stood to their 
guns, their discipline holding them together. "We fought with our guns 
untill the rebs could put heir hands on [them]," wrote Private David 
Brett. "The bullets flew thick as hailstones...it is a mericle that we 
were not all killed...not a man run[,] 4 or 5 fell within 15 feet of 
me."

Bigelow witnessed the melee, Confederates "standing on the limber 
chests, and shooting down cannoneers. Not even then did the batterymen 
cease their fire. Longer delay was impossible, (and) having thus 
accomplished what was required of my command," he gave the order to 
retreat. The men abandoned the death trap and made their way to the 
rear, leaving behind the shattered remains of the battery and a 
sacrifice of three of four officers, six of eight sergeants, 19 enlisted 
men, 88 horses and four of their six guns." In the midst of this chaos, 
Reed remembered his wounded captain "told...the orderly and myself to 
leave him and get out as best we could. (I) did’nt do just that." Reed 
again disobeyed orders. Years afterward, Bigelow could not forget the 
actions of his faithful bugler:
"He remained with me...called my orderly and had him lift me on to his 
horse; then taking the reins of both horses in his left hand, with his 
right hand supporting me in the saddle, took me at a walk [to the 
rear]."
Bugler Reed saving Captain Bigelow
by Charles Reed, Regiments and Armories of Massachusetts"Then we tried 
to get away," Reed wrote. "Some of the confederates saw us...and several 
of them tried to take us prisoners. They did not fire at once, but tried 
to pull us from the horses’ backs, but were unsuccessful, as the horses 
kicked and I was able to do some execution with my...saber.... We were 
still struggling when an officer, who saw his men were about to fire, 
told them not to murder us in cold blood. Then I started for the 
northern forces." The wounded captain and his bugler were now between 
the battle lines, "the shells of the Enemy...breaking all around us." 
They had over 400 yards of open ground to cross before reaching safety. 
"Before I was half way back," Bigelow remembered an officer was sent 
"urging me to hurry, as he must commence firing." The captain’s painful 
wounds, however, prevented the horses from moving at anything faster 
than a walk, so Bigelow told him to "fire away." Now caught between the 
fire of both lines, Reed also had to contend with the orderly’s 
frightened horse, which was difficult to control. Bigelow later praised 
Reed's conduct:
"Bugler Reed did not flinch; but steadily supported me; kept the horses 
at a walk although between the two fires and guided them, so that we 
entered the Battery between two of the guns that were firing heavily....


Less than four months earlier, Reed had labeled his commander "a regular 
arristocrat," feeling he was worse than a slave owner. Yet in the heat 
of battle, the bugler twice disobeyed orders and willingly risked his 
life to save his captain. Bigelow never forgot Reed’s "gallantry," 
writing to him thirty-two years, "the obligation still remains with 
myself." Bigelow felt so strongly about this that in 1895 he submitted 
Reed’s name for a Medal of Honor, citing his "distinguished bravery and 
faithfulness to duty at the Battle of Gettysburg." When the medal was 
awarded later that year Bigelow stated "I feel the Government honors 
itself in honoring you." On a more personal level, Bigelow felt Reed had 
not only saved him from a stint in a Confederate prison but, more 
importantly, had also saved his life. The captain later wrote, "Even 
though the Mississippians would probably have spared me, Dow's (6th
 Maine) searching canister and Shells would not have done so." 
The Trostle Farm House, July 5, 1863
The wreckage of the 9th Massachusetts Battery still
remains scattered around the farm buildings.
(National Archives)The 6th Maine Battery, commanded by Lt. Edwin B. Dow, 
was one of six full or partial batteries that formed McGilvery’s new 
artillery line on Cemetery Ridge. The 21st Mississippi Infantry, soon 
after capturing Bigelow’s guns, regrouped and charged McGilvery’s new 
line, making Watson’s Battery I, 5th U.S. Artillery their target. The 
regulars fired twenty rounds of canister into the approaching 
Mississippians, before coming under a killing musketry fire. Watson was 
wounded and so many of his "men and horses were shot down or 
disabled...that the battery was abandoned." East of the overrun battery, 
McGilvery's new line blasted the Confederates before they could go 
further. Gathering along the banks of the slow moving Plum Run, 
Barksdale's soldiers attempted to get reorganized. Suddenly they were 
struck by a vicious Union counterattack which eventually drove the 
Mississippians back, leaving their mortally wounded general in Union 
hands. 
Lt. Colonel McGilvery's swift action and the determination of the 9th
 Massachusetts Battery had helped close the critical gap in the Union 
line, a point not lost on the battle's participants. Charles Reed, in a 
letter written just seven days later, wrote, "we saved the line from 
being broken." 

The artillery branch of the Army of the Potomac had indeed made a 
tremendous contribution to the Union cause on July 2, 1863. Union 
batteries, despite the extremely adverse conditions in which they were 
positioned, including lack of proper support, and under tremendous 
pressure, had assisted in turning back numerous Confederate assaults. 
Many factors contributed to this success. One of the most important was 
the officers, such as Freeman McGilvery and John Bigelow. By using their 
guns for maximum effect, including the willingness to sacrifice units if 
necessary, along with the cool-headed leadership they exhibited, enabled 
them to hold the batteries together during this crisis. Another factor 
was the enlisted men themselves. Soldiers like Charles Reed, whose 
courage and discipline allowed them to preform beyond expectations. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Though the direct association of these three men lasted less than six 
months, they had made a difference at Gettysburg. The fortunes of war, 
however, held a different fate for each. 

Captain John Bigelow recovered from his Gettysburg wounds and returned 
to the 9th Massachusetts Battery later that summer. He lead it through 
numerous actions during the fall campaign of 1863, the Overland Campaign 
of 1864 and during the siege of Petersburg, eventually being brevetted 
to major for gallantry. He fell ill in the fall of 1864, however, and 
was discharged for disability on December 31. His farewell order to the 
battery, summed up his attitude on what made them "veterans, who have 
won an enviable name," reminding them their reputation was earned 
through "strict discipline and ready obedience." Bigelow benefitted from 
his military service in a post-war career that, though far less 
glamorous, was highly productive. In Boston he was elected to the State 
Legislature and later worked as an inventor in New York City, 
Philadelphia and finally Minneapolis. The former artillery officer also 
authored two books before his death in 1917. Not surprisingly, The Peach 
Orchard (1910) and Supplement to Peach Orchard (1911), both dealt with 
the role of artillery at Gettysburg. These writings not only reveal the 
hold the battle had on the former officer, but also the lack of 
recognition his arm of service had received in the post war years. 
Bigelow’s writings were also an attempt to give his former commander the 
proper credit he rightfully deserved:
"Col. Freeman McGilvery of Maine, Commander First Volunteer Brigade, 
Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, was one of the real heroes of 
the battle of Gettysburg.... McGilvery, with his Artillery alone, stayed 
the advancing enemy and prevented their discovery of the opportunity 
offered for success. This feat of arms, requiring the sacrifice of many 
lives and the wounding of many men, we believe should be recognized and 
honored.... His Comrades and his State may well demand, that his 
services...receive some proper recognition."

Indeed, Lt. Colonel Freeman McGilvery’s status seemed to be on the rise 
after Gettysburg. He continued to command a brigade in the Artillery 
Reserve until May, 1864, and then took command of the army’s artillery 
park and train, which he lead through the Overland Campaign and during 
the early stages of the Petersburg siege. On August 9, 1864 he was 
promoted to Chief of Artillery, 10th Army Corps, commanding fifteen 
batteries. A cruel fate, however, would tragically cut short McGilvery’s 
promising military career. On August 16, while overseeing his batteries 
during the engagement at Deep Bottom, he was slightly wounded in the 
left forefinger. Being faithful to see his duties though, he remained at 
his position throughout August, during which "his labors were 
unremitting." Not surprisingly, the wound did not heal properly and he 
consented to surgery. During a seemingly simple operation on September 
3, 1864, McGilvery "died suddenly... from the effects of chlorofo
batteries. A cruel fate, however, would tragically cut short McGilvery’s 
promising military career. On August 16, while overseeing his batteries 
during the engagement at Deep Bottom, he was slightly wounded i

Charles Reed served with the 9th Massachusetts Battery until November, 
1864, when he was detailed to the topographical engineers, the army at 
long last taking advantage of his artistic ability. The war allowed Reed 
to improve his talent, for he established himself as a well-known artist 
upon his return to Boston. His illustrations appeared in the Boston 
Globe, and in numerous books, such as Hard Tack and Coffee and Battles 
and Leaders of the Civil War. Reed's drive enabled him to continue 
working well into his early 80's until his death on April 24, 1926. 
Throughout his life, the former bugler managed to stay in touch with his 
former commander, and then friend, John Bigelow. Like other veterans of 
the battery, Reed was fond of his former captain, recalling, "we are 
proud of all of our officers[,] they were constantly in the thickest of 
the fighting[.]"

To all the men who served in the Union artillery at Gettysburg, it seems 
their fate was to be "unsung heroes." Despite the sacrifice, courage and 
devotion of soldiers just like McGilvery, Bigelow and Reed, history has 
accorded them a secondary role in the battle. In a larger sense, 
however, what future glory or recognition they would receive meant 
nothing to these men during the war. What they had lost was foremost in 
their minds. Not only their comrades, but also their innocence. The war 
had changed them forever as Charles Reed related in a letter home:
"During the din of battle my feelings were curious and various but the 
one idea I entertained could not be shaken off until the fight had 
ceased for the day. it appeared to be a grand terrible dramma we were 
enacting and the idea of being hit or killed never occured to me, but 
when I saw the dead, wounded, and mutilated pouring our their lifes 
blood...then the terrible sense of reality came upon me in full force. 
the novelty had vanished. I could only turn my thoughts to him who sees 
and controls all, with silent thanks giveings and weep for the many, 
many dead and maimed."

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9th Massachusetts Battery Monument at the Trostle Farm It was here that the battery made it's last stand on July 2nd.
The monument was dedicated by veterans of the battery in 1885 (Gettysburg NMP)
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Gettysburg Battlefield Tour