Civil war virtual symposium, im chris mackowski, editorinchief. Thank you so much for joining us today. Our next speaker i fondly call professor at henry hill, because by day he is a music teacher. No relationship to Daniel Harvey or ambrose powell, dan welch is the secretary of our organization. Hes the coauthor of the book the last road north, i get god to the gettysburg campaign. He works as a historian at Gettysburg National military park. Hes here to talk to us about one of the lesser known but absolutely vital actions of the battle on cops hill. Ladies and gentlemen, dan welch. I want to begin by thanking all my friends and colleagues in emerging civil war. Our symposium cochair, chris mackowski, for having me here today to present to you this often forgotten story of the battle of gettysburg. Over the last 157 years, so many of us are familiar with the stories of Joshua Chamberlain and little round top, pickets charge, cemetery seminary ridge. What is often lost or some of the stories that will happen on the union army right flank on july 2nd in july 3rd, a location known as culps hill. At the dedication of a monument to honor george serious green in the years after the American Civil War in the battle of gettysburg, Major GeneralDaniel Sickles would give a dedication speech to this monument that have been dedicated to green and his performance at gettysburg on the evening of july 2nd, 1863. Sickles said this, quote, the battle fought here by general green on the night of july 2nd, 1863 to hold possession of culps hail, has a conspicuous place in history. It is memorable not so much for the number of the combatants engaged as it is for the skill of the general, the heroic conduct of his troops and, in view of the consequences that would have followed, the defeat of the union but sadly forces. Today, the story of greene brigade in general shape on the evening of july 2nd, 1863, the position on culps hill that his men would occupy, for several practical [interpreter] critical hours during the second of the battle has largely been forgotten. And it is a story today, that we are going to bring back to the forefront. But who was George Sears Greene . We already heard a general sprays for this man, but who was he, and worked so hard to rank or the new armies on july 2nd, 1863 . George sears greene was arguably one of the oldest commander officers, generals at the battle of gettysburg. He had been born in rhode island, on may 6th 1801. And he was a direct descendant of Many American history luminaries. He was a descendant of one of the pioneers that had helped roger settled a colony. Several of his hand testers and sisters has served that he was senator, governors, justice of the Supreme Court as well as being a descendant of and saying it revolutionary war fame. He was educated in rhode island, and then he would go on to latin school. Before he was all set to go to brown university, to continue his studies. Unfortunately, financial setbacks in the family and gain greenes personal life would force him to move to new york city, to find a job at a dry goods store, inside of a merchants office. And while in new york city, and working to provide some income for himself and his family, greene received an appointment to the United States military academy. He would enter this at the age of 18, and he would graduate as part of the class of 1823, with high honors, second in his class of 79. He would serve as a lieutenant of artillery upon his graduation, and then he would go on to teach mathematics for four years, at west point. He would fall in love during his time, at west point, marrying a sister of one of his classmates. Elizabeth bitten, in 1828. But upon graduation, and moving up the chain of command, greene would eventually be sent to maine, in the station of fort sullivan it between 1832 and 1833. When he took the assignment, him and his wife elizabeth, and their three children, would all go with him up to fort sullivan. Worst tragedy with strike. And under and alter greenes course for the rest of his life. Elizabeth and all three of his children with pass away, while greene was stationed in fort sullivan, in maine. He would retreat much inside in itself, as you can imagine this tragedy affecting him. But one of the things that he did to deal with this loss in his life, was to turn to studying and education. And he began to wait revoke some law, and medicine. And in just three years time he, would resigned his commission, and he would be prepared to passing it only the bar exam but also the medical board exam. And in both professions. So here is a man that has been a graduate of west point, educator at west point, you know has additional degrees in law and medicine, and he decides to not work in any of those fields, but tackle yet another challenge, another educational challenge. To begin work as a Civil Engineer building railroads. He would later find love, again. He would marry martha barrett, have six children, it beginning in 1837. And three of his sons, three of his four sons would go on to serve in the military, in the union army, during the American Civil War. And when war broke out in 1860, one greene and his family were living in new york city. When lincoln would put up that call for volunteers, after the firing on Charleston Harbor as we heard from marks presentation, in this virtual symposium, greene did not initially volunteer his services. He would wait. He would wait, and white, and white. And finally, in january 1862, he could wait no longer. And greene decided to offer his prior military experienced to the union army. And he would be assigned command of the 60th new york volunteering infantry. Between january 1862 in the battle of gettysburg of july of 1863, little have been written about greene and his performance on the battlefield. There had been several notes, here and they, are by other officers in the brigade, in which he served. Several of his subordinates left thought underneath him in the 60th new york. But perhaps, was eight putin and fox, and his dedication remarks in the life and military services, of general greene. He would later write perhaps the best description of general greene as he came to gettysburg and would fight there on july 2nd and third, 1863. Fox wrote this, quote, general greenes personal appearance at this time was about 62 years old, six set, five feet ten inches high, of dark complexion, iron gray hair. With a great beard, and mustache. Rough in manner, and eastern in appearance. But with all an excellent officer, and under a rough exterior, possessing a kind heart. In the, and the men learned to love and respect him as much as in the beginning that they feared him. And this was saying a good deal on the subject. He knew how to drill, how to command, and in the hour of peril, how to care for his command. And the men respected him, importantly. Greene would need all of his past training in military experience, as well as that kind heart, to look after his command, because our peril would begin on the late evening of his position, of july 2nd, 1863. At gettysburg. Now, by the time of the battle of gettysburg, in the summer of 1863, green had been promoted. He was no longer just a Commanding Officer of the 60th new york, but a commander of a brigade of new york soldiers, consisting of the 68 78, 102nd one 37th, and a 149th new york volunteer infantry measurements. The amendment contrite these units came from places like new york city, buffalo, rochester, utica, being in ten, and many other smaller towns and state of new york. It would be these men, that greene would lead to battle at culps hill. Now before greenes brigade would take a position at culps hill, union deployments on his hill would have started the evening before, on the afternoon of july 1st. The union army had fought for approximately nine and a half hours Western North of the town of gettysburg. The town of gettysburg itself, ultimately suffering a defeat. And by four, 4 30 in the afternoon of july 1st, then ian army for sullivan quarter, the army petulant would sweep through the town. They would begin to rally again, on an allocation known as cemetery hill, which had been selected earlier in the day by 11th commander as a full back position. Not far from cemetery kayla, just south of the town of gettysburg itself, is another widescale known as culps hill. And as the remnants of the union army first in the levers quarter were beginning to rally again, and some of those units after the 5 36 pm hour until i first, would eventually be ordered towards culps hill proper. These units had already seen heavy fighting throughout the day of july 1st, in the fields west of town. A man from the feign iran brigade, and colors brigade. As mentioned earlier, these units from the iron brigade, and a center colors brigade began to take position on cults hill, or in Northwestern Center at approximately 5 30 pm. And as he did so, one of the things they began to do was to intrench their position. They would build breast works. It was a trend that would continue in the coming hours, as more Union Soldiers, including greenes brigade, arrived too culps hill. Now, john kerrys division of the union army 12 courts, which included greenes brigade, would not arrive to culps hill since predawn hours, in the morning of july 2nd. They arrived to the gettysburg buyer battlefield later in the evening, remnants of the first score. Constructing their position on the northwestern quadrant of culps hill. The weight of the 12th court had a right to another hailed, south of culps hill, south of cemetery hill. A hill that would become famous for other events, on july 2nd. A little round top. But about 5 am, on the morning of july 2nd, greene, his brigade, john kerrys, division the 12th floor, would receive orders to move out, to continue their march northward and to make their way towards the union army is developing right flank, on culps hill. General greene but recall in his official report of the battle of gettysburg upon receiving this orders and marching as men, towards culps hill. He wrote, which a position of about 6 pm on the cross but the steep rocky hill, being thrown back nearly at right angles with the line of the first goal. Rock creek running past our front, at a distance of two to 400 yards. Our position in front recovered with the heavy growth of timber, free from undergrowth, with large lead just projecting above the surface. These rocks and trees offered good cover from marksman. The surface was very steep, on our left. Diminishing to a gentle slow, on our right. As soon as we were in position we began to intrench ourselves, and throw up brass words, of covering height of locks and core, would stones, and of earth. The same was done by the troops on our right. So as greenes men begin to arrive to culps hill, about 60 in the morning of july 2nd, they began to take this position. And greene described a lot of natural obstacles that make this position so strong. A very steep ascent, on the left side of his brigades position. Declining rise, towards his right. His immense legends, these protrusions of rock outcroppings, of heavy timber, minimal undergrowth. A creek, two to 400 yards, in front of his position. All obstacles for any fours trying to attack the union armies, right flank. Now the left off greenes line on culps hill, would be occupied by greenes old regiment, the 68 new york. And he would have the strongest position, as greene describing the steepest position, or the steepness of the position in his front. But because the position began to decline, and began to lose some of that height, the right of greenes mind would not be as strong. Steepness gave away. And so units such as a 149th new york, and a 137th new york, on the farright of greenes line would have a much different experience if an attack was to come in their direction. To give you an idea of the change in height from the very left end of greenes line occupied by the 68 new york, at the time of the fighting on the evening of july 2nd, to the farright of greenes line occupied by the hundred and 35, is there was a 90degree drop overall innovation. So greenes line was a mix. Back had some strong elements to his position, that they were gonna set out to make it even stronger. In the coming hours, after they went in, to their position of approximately 1500 feet. In length. But before they get, at one of the things they needed to do was to run security. And so, general greene ordered by his divisional commander, with throw together a force of about 170 men, drawn from each regiment of the brigade. All going to be put under the commendably aaron john, to 60th new york. These men would occupy a skirmish forced, that would be set out in front of greens position and push down towards the creek itself. They would act as an Early Warning system, an early alert system that if the confederate attack was coming this way, these skirmishes could advised a race of the line of greenes division in the remnants of the first board rates of the iran brigade, then attack was making their way. But the hundred and 70 men just didnt seem enough to the commander john gary. So gary would end up sending out some more men, of the 20th pennsylvania. To bolster the. Line later would be recalled in the afternoon, that is quite an impressive skirmish force that was sent out in front of greenes position. One soldier that would be on the skirmish line, henry bail, ease of the hundred seven new york, would recall in july six of this moment. He said, quote we took our position on the right, on the second, we set out skirmishes in front. I was one of them, we went out about a quarter of a mile in a piece of woods. There was nothing but large trees, and no under brush. With lots of large rocks to hide behind. By 12 pm, on july 2nd, over 8600 federal soldiers stood behind a solid position of earth and works in breast works, on culps hill. And part of that strong position, part of those 8600 men, war of greenes brigade of new yorkers. And one of the things that they had been working on, since arrival at 6 am, was constructing those earthworks and those rest works. There was nothing new for the union troops, on culps hill. As you might recall earlier, the remnants of the abrogate on the evening of july 1st, upon being ordered out to the northwestern slope of culps hill, had begun to entrance them selves to prepare their position. After all these men had been fighting out in the open, north of the railroad, west of the town of gettysburg, in the piercing would locks. We made a brief stand on the seminary bridge, as union line was crumbling throughout the Late Afternoon of july 1st. And, so when john scariest evasion, arrived and greenes division arrived they too would begin to construct earthworks and breast works to bolster their position. Not only was it greenes okay that was working on this nearly, morning on july. Second colonel charles brigade, another brigade of a Second Division would also begin to entrench. Captain george paul, is hundred 49 new york, who is featured here on this flight and screen in front of you, in the post war image. He would later become the regimental historian of the 1 41 through new york, he would recall that morning of building these earthworks. He said general erie called a conference of his brigade commanders, including greene. And it was understood, submitted to them, the question of building rightful putts. And gearing expressed himself as being adverse to the practice, on the ground, that it and fitted men for fighting without them. So, the Division Commander john geary calls, days as they arrive in culps hill, and he put on the question in front of. Them should we build these trenches, these rifle pants . And geary put out the question immediately answered it, says now. And then will never find out in the open, again if we let them start digging in and taking these protective measures. We shouldnt build them. But general greene, westbound educated, and instructor of mathematics at west point, Civil Engineering background, degrees and medicine in law, an incredibly smart and intelligent men with a wealth of experience, says yes. Collins remember the rest of the conference he says general greene was credited with replying that the saving of lives was a far more consequence to him, then any theories as to brass works. And that so far as his men were concerned, and his brigade, they would have those breast works if they had the time to build them. Colonel, doing of the hundred seven in new york, recalls moments after this conference broke up and greene began searches years for his five new york regiments to construct these works. Statement said immediately upon our arrival by order of general greene personally, superintendent lowered the work commit to construct the work. That works for finished by noon. Many women who sits before rumble that morning, and throughout the afternoon and the persistent sea of old bob greene, their term of endearment. And profit sized that they would have their laborers for their paintings. But before many hours, they rendered thanks and blessings, for the skillful plans and judgments of their beloved commander. Construction of the earthworks in front of greenes, would utilize known only the terrain itself, but many of the Natural Resources that culps hill provide. It just a chance for later write in battles and leaders following the American Civil War, in the post one area that, im culps hill was covered with woods. So all the materials needed for were at their disposal. Right and left them and felt the trees, they block them up into a close block fence. Piles of course would which lane, europe by were quickly appropriated. This takes that standing on and against the outer face of the logs, made excellent george collins, regiment i story live the 1 49 new york also wrote that a law was blocked up on top of the works to permit it must get to be fired under it. While the low is intended to protect the head. So by 12 00, on the afternoon of july 2nd, culps hill is in a secure position. Its in a secure away. The 12 court, john Geary Division has arrived, the remnants of the first court has been there since the evening of july 1st, 1863. They have been gun have begun to intrench them selves, they have made a very strong position of a natural topography and drainage, and resources around them. And now, they sit and they will wait. As