Wheatfield Part 2

When General Hancock saw General Sickles Third Corps heading for the Peach Orchard, he went to his reserve Division, under John C. Caldwell, and told them to prepare to go help the Third Corps. So they got themselves prepared to go help.

Off Caldwell's men went. There were 4 brigades: Zook, Brooke, Kelly, and Cross. Brooke's brigade was held in reserve while the other three went straight into the Wheatfield. Zook and Kelly (the Irish Brigade) drove the Confederates off of the Stony Hill while Cross cleared the Wheatfield of Confederates. But within 15 minutes, Cross's men ran out of ammunition. So they had to fall back....but in came Brooke's men.

The Confederates fell back to the edge of Rose Woods (southern edge of the Wheatfield). The Federal army was able to capture dozens of prisoners and then advance back to the stonewall. But then the Peach Orchard completely fell apart and now Confederate reinforcements were on the way. Brooke went to Caldwell asking for help but Caldwell was already looking for help. And there was nothing that Brooke could do but fall back.

The Confederates were back in control of the Wheatfield (for the second time).

I've actually had a friend who claims to know "all things" Gettysburg, tell me that the monuments to Brooke's men in the Wheatfield are wrong. That none of these men were actually in or around the Wheatfield. That's the most rediculous thing I have ever heard. Brooke WAS in and around the Wheatfield. That's how the Union regained control of it the second time.

Another thing to keep in mind, during this time two of the four brigade commanders were killed: Zook and Cross. So, in losing their commanders, sometimes the control of the brigade gets a little out of wack. This happened to half of this division and might explain why they were able to fall back so much easier than they normally would have. They fought hard....but there was chaos also.

These are just some things to keep in mind while touring the Wheatfield while in Gettysburg.