For reasons that are a mystery, Brig. Gen. George A. Custers complete report of the Michigan Cavalry Brigades role in the fighting on the East Cavalry Field does not appear in the Official Records of the Civil War. Instead, a report that is largely an itinerary of the 6th and 7th Michigan Cavalry and of Penningtons Battery appears, but the material provides little insight into Custers thoughts regarding the epic clash on the East Cavalry Field. In his speech dedicating the Michigan Cavalry Brigade monument, Kidd quoted extensively from this report, but efforts to locate its full text have been both fruitless and extensive. I spent a number of months trying to locate the original in the National Archives and other repositories, and I also consulted with a number of prominent Custer scholars to determine whether they might know its whereabouts.
Those efforts were, I am sorry to report, frustrating. All I managed to locate was a significant portion of the missing report, which was included in a very early comprehensive biography of Custer, Frederick Whittakers two volume set, A Complete Life of General George A. Custer, published in 1876, just a few months after the Little Big Horn tragedy. The fragment is very useful to understanding Custers strategy and tactics for the fight on the East Cavalry Field, but it would also be a major contribution to enhancing our understanding of the fight at Hanover on June 30, and the engagement at Hunterstown on July 2. Alas, this insight may well be lost to history for good, which is truly a shame.
While I would prefer to present the entire report, it does not
appear possible. Because the remaining fragment has been ignored by nearly
all modern accounts of the epic fight on the East Cavalry Field, I present
that fragment that appeared in Whittakers biography here, in the hope
that it sheds some light on Custers thoughts and strategy for this epic
encounter. In order to assist the reader in making better sense of this
report, I have added several interpretive notes in the text, which typically
appear in brackets: [ ].
At an early hour on the morning of the 3d,
I received an order, through a staff-officer of the Brigadier-General commanding
[Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick, commander of the Third Division of the Army
of the Potomacs Cavalry Corps] the division, to move at once my command,
and follow the First brigade on the road leading from Two Taverns to Gettysburg.
Agreeably to the above instructions, my column was formed and moved out
on the road designated, when a staff officer of Brigadier General [David
M.] Gregg, commanding Second division, ordered me to take my command and
place it in position on the pike leading from York to Gettysburg, which
position formed the extreme right of our battle on that day. Upon arriving
at the point designated, I immediately placed my command in position, facing
toward Gettysburg. At the same time I caused reconnaissances to be made
on my front, right, and rear, but failed to discover any considerable force
of the enemy. Everything remained quiet till 10 a.m., when the enemy appeared
on my right flank and opened upon me with a battery of six guns. Leaving
two guns and a regiment to hold my first position and cover the road leading
to Gettysburg [the Hanover Road], I shifted the remaining portion of my
command, forming a new line of battle at right angles to my former line.
The enemy had obtained correct range of my new position, and were pouring
solid shot and shell into my command with great accuracy. Placing two sections
of Battery M, Second (regular) Artillery [also known as Penningtons battery],
in position, I ordered them to silence the enemys battery, which order,
notwithstanding the superiority of the enemys position, was successfully
accomplished in a very short space of time. My line, as it then existed,
was shaped like the letter L, the shorter branch formed of the section
of Battery [M], Second Artillery, supported by a portion of the Sixth Michigan
cavalry on the right, while the Seventh Michigan cavalry, still further
to the right and in advance, was held in readiness to repel any attack
the enemy might make, coming on the Oxford road. The Fifth Michigan cavalry
was dismounted, and ordered to take position in front of my centre and
left. The First Michigan cavalry was held in column of squadrons to observe
the movements of the enemy. I ordered fifty men to be sent one mile and
a half on the Oxford road, while a detachment of equal size was sent one
mile and a half on the road leading from Gettysburg to York, both detachments
being under the command of the gallant Major Webber, who from time to time
kept me so well informed of the movements of the enemy that I was enabled
to make my dispositions with complete success. At 12 oclock, an order
was transmitted to me from the Brigadier-General commanding the division,
by one of his aides, directing me, upon being relieved by a brigade of
the Second Division, to move with my command and form a junction with the
First brigade on the extreme left. On the arrival of the brigade of the
Second Division, commanded by Colonel [John B.] McIntosh [of the 3rd Pennsylvania
Cavalry], I prepared to execute the order. Before I had left my position,
Brigadier-General Gregg, commanding the Second Division, arrived with his
entire command. Learning the true condition of affairs on my front, and
rightly conjecturing that the enemy was making his dispositions for attacking
our position, Brigadier-General Gregg ordered me to remain in the position
I then occupied.
The enemy was soon after reported to be advancing on my front.
The detachment of fifty men sent on the Oxford road were driven in, and
at the same time the enemys line of skirmishers, consisting of dismounted
cavalry, appeared on the crest of the ridge of hills on my front. The line
extended beyond my left. To repel their advance, I ordered the Fifth cavalry
to a more advanced position, with instructions to maintain their ground
at all hazards. Colonel Alger, commanding the Fifth, assisted by Majors
Trowbridge and Ferry, of the same regiment, made such admirable disposition
of their men behind fences and other defenses, as enabled them to successfully
repel the repeated advances of a greatly superior force. I attributed their
success in great measure to the fact that this regiment is armed with the
Spencer repeating rifle, which, in the hands of brave, determined men,
like those composing the Fifth Michigan cavalry, is in my estimation, the
most effective fire-arm that our cavalry can adopt. Colonel Alger held
his ground until his men had exhausted their ammunition, when he was compelled
to fall back on the main body. The beginning of this movement was the signal
for the enemy to charge, which they did with two regiments, mounted and
dismounted. I at once ordered the Seventh Michigan cavalry, Colonel Mann,
to charge the advancing column of the enemy. The ground over which we had
to pass was very unfavorable for the maneuvering of cavalry, but despite
all obstacles this regiment advanced boldly to the assault, which was executed
in splendid style, the enemy being driven from field to field, until our
advance reached a high and unbroken fence, behind which the enemy were
strongly posted. Nothing daunted, Colonel Mann, followed by the main body
of his regiment, bravely rode up to the fence and discharged their revolvers
in the very face of the foe. No troops could have maintained this position;
the Seventh was, therefore, compelled to retire, followed by twice the
number of the enemy.
By this time Colonel Alger of the Fifth Michigan cavalry had succeeded
in mounting a considerable portion of his regiment, and gallantly advanced
to the assistance of the Seventh, whose further pursuit by the enemy he
checked. At the same time an entire brigade of the enemys cavalry, consisting
of four regiments, appeared just over the crest in our front. They were
formed in columns of regiments. To meet this overwhelming force I had but
one available regiment, the First Michigan cavalry, and the fire of Battery
M, Second Regular Artillery. I at once ordered the First to charge, but
learned at the same moment that similar orders had been given by Brigadier-General
Gregg. As before stated, the First was formed in column of battalions.
Upon receiving the order to charge, Colonel Town, placing himself at the
head of his command, ordered the "trot" and sabres to be drawn. In this
manner this gallant body of men advanced to the attack of a force outnumbering
them five to one. In addition to this numerical superiority the enemy had
the advantage of position, and were exultant over the repulse of the Seventh
Michigan cavalry. All these facts considered would seem to render success
on the part of the First impossible. No so, however. Arriving within a
few yards of the enemys column, the charge was ordered, and with a yell
that spread terror before them, the First Michigan cavalry, led by Colonel
Town, rode upon the front rank of the enemy, and sabring all who came within
reach. For a moment, but only a moment, that long, heavy column stood its
ground; then, unable to withstand the impetuosity of our attack, it gave
way in a disorderly rout, leaving cast numbers of dead and wounded in our
possession, while the First, being masters of the field, had the proud
satisfaction of seeing the much-vaunted chivalry, led by their favorite
commander, seek safety in headlong flight. I cannot find language to express
my high appreciation of the gallantry and daring displayed by the officers
and men of the First Michigan cavalry. They advanced to the charge of a
vastly superior force with as much order and precision as if going upon
parade; and I challenge the annals of warfare to produce a more brilliant
or successful charge of cavalry than the one just recounted. Nor must I
forget to acknowledge the invaluable assistance rendered by Battery M,
Second Regiment of Artillery, in this charge. Our success in driving the
enemy from the field, is due, in a great measure, to the highly efficient
manner in which the battery was handled by Lieutenant A. C. M. Pennington,
assisted by Lieutenants Clark, Woodruff, and Hamilton. The enemy made but
slight demonstrations against us during the remainder of the day, except
in one instance he attempted to turn my left flank, which attempt was most
gallantly met and successfully frustrated by Second Lieutenant J. H. Kellogg,
with Company H Sixth Michigan cavalry. We held possession of the field
until dark, during which time we collected our dead and wounded. At dark
I returned with my command to Two Taverns, where I encamped for the night.
In this engagement my command lost in killed, wounded and missing,
a total of five hundred and forty-two. Among the killed I regret to record
the name of Major N. H. Ferry of the Fifth Michigan cavalry, who fell while
heroically cheering on his men. It would be impossible for me to particularize
those instances deserving especial mention; all, both men and officers,
did their duty. There were many cases of personal heroism, but a list of
their names would make my report too extended. To Colonel Town, commanding
the First Michigan cavalry, and to the officers and men of his regiment,
for the gallant manner in which they drove the enemy from the field, great
praise is due.
Colonel Mann of the Seventh Michigan cavalry, and Colonel Alger,
of the Fifth Michigan cavalry, as well as the officers of their commands,
are entitled to much credit for their united efforts in repelling the advance
of the enemy. The Sixth Michigan cavalry rendered good service by guarding
both my right and left flank; also by supporting Battery M, under a very
hot fire from the enemys battery. Colonel Gray, commanding the regiment,
was constantly seen wherever his presence was most needed, and is deserving
of special mention. I desire to commend to your favorable notice Lieutenants
Pennington, Cleark, Woodruff, and Hamilton of Battery M, Second Artillery,
for the zeal and ability displayed by each on this occasion. My thanks
are personally due to the following named members of my staff, who on many
occasions exhibited remarkable gallantry in transmitting and executing
my orders on the field: Captain A. G. Drew, Sixth Michigan cavalry, Assistant
Inspector General, First Lieutenant R. Baylis, Fifth Michigan cavalry,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Lieutenant William H. Wheeler,
First Michigan cavalry, A.D.C. First Lieutenant William Colerick, First
Michigan cavalry, A.D.C. I desire also to mention two of my buglers, Joseph
Fought, company D, Fifth U.S. Cavalry, and Peter Boehn, company B, Fifth
U.S. Cavalry; also Orderlies Norval Churchill, company L, First Michigan
cavalry, George L. Foster, company C, First Michigan cavalry, and Benjamin
H. Butler, company M, First Michigan cavalry.
Respectfully submitted,
G. A. Custer
Brigadier-General Commanding Second Brigade
Jacob L. Greene,
Assistant Adjutant-General