Episode 49: CPT Fritsch and the 68th New York face PVT Nichols and the 61st Georgia on 1 July and CPT Ray and the 6th North Carolina on 2 July at the Battle of Gettysburg

At the Battle of Gettysburg, 1 July 1863, CPT Frederick Otto Baron von Fritsch and the 68th New York face PVT George Washington Nichols and the 61st Georgia north of the town of Gettysburg along Rock Creek and what would soon be known as Barlow’s Knoll. The 68th New York retreated with the rest of the XI Corps and reformed south of the town on Cemetery Hill. On 2the evening of July, CPT Neill W. Ray and the 6th North Carolina advance upon CPT Fritsch, the 68th New York and their entire division on the eastern face of Cemetery Hill. The North Carolinians see initial success but have to face the Union counterattack.

Sources used for this episode:

Butts, Joseph T. A Gallant Captain of the Civil War: Being the Record of the Extraordinary Adventures of Frederick Otto Baron von Fritsch. New York: F. Tennyson Neely, 1902. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t86h50k2h&seq=11.

Nichols, George W. A Soldier’s Story of His Regiment (61st Georgia): and Incidentally of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Brigade. Jesup, 1898. https://archive.org/details/01494987.3402.emory.edu/page/n1/mode/2up.

CPT Ray, Neill W. “Sixth Regiment.” In Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-’65, vol. 1, edited by Walter Clark. Raliegh: E. M. Uzzell, 1901. https://www.carolana.com/NC/Civil_War/Histories_of_the_Several_Regiments_and_Battalions_from_NC_in_the_Great_War_Volume_I_Walter_Clark_1901.pdf.

Transcript

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They were harder to drive than we had ever known them before. Men were being moaned down in great numbers on both sides. We drove them across a fence where they stopped and fought us for a while. Hi, my name is Bill Coghlan and host the first person Civil War podcast. While the generals of both sides get most of the recognition. The Civil War was fought by the men in the ranks, and they told their stories during and after the war. Follow me as I reveal what these men witnessed in the battles of the Civil War. To Mark the 162nd anniversary. I have decided to make another special episode. Episode 49 is entitled Captain Fri and the 68th New York Face. Private Nichols in the 61st, Georgia on one July, and Captain Ray in the sixth North Carolina on two July at the Battle of Gettysburg. This episode relies on three sources from the men who fought at Gettysburg. First. A Gallant captain of the Civil War being the record of the Extraordinary Adventures of Frederick Otto Baron Fon Fritch, published by Joseph Tyler Butts in 1902, who compiled and edited Captain Fritz's diary next is. A soldier story of his regiment, 61st Georgia and incidentally of the Lawton Gordon Evans brigade, privately published by George Washington Nichols in 1898. And finally, a regimental history. Sixth Regiment in histories of the several regiments and battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861 to 1865 Volume one, written by Neil w Ray and published in 1901. If you would like a map to reference the clash of these regimens at the Battle of Gettysburg, I recommend battlefields.org. They have detailed maps of Barlow's, Knoll, and Cemetery Hill, which include terrain, features, regimental dispositions, and even troop movements By the time of day on one July. Frederick Otto Baron. Fond Fritch was born into a noble family on 28 September, 1834 in Weimar, Germany. He entered the Dresden Military Academy at age 13 and went on to serve a little over three years as a lieutenant in the Royal Cavalry's first regiment of the Royal Saxon Army. Baron von Fri then immigrated to the United States while traveling south into Mexico, he joined the Mexican army as a colonel to help Pel the French invasion of 1861 and was captured on 14 September, 1862. Baron Fon Fri was ordered to depart Mexico and eventually returned to New York. Where on one November, 1862, he enlisted as a first lieutenant in Company I 68th, New York, also known as the second German rifle regiment, as the majority of the ranks were German immigrants. The 68th New York saw service during Jackson's Valley campaign, second Bull Run, and Chancellorville in late May, 1863, Baron Fon Fritch received a promotion to Captain and took command of the 68th New York's company a. George Washington Nichols was born in Statesboro, Georgia on 22 January, 1843, but little is known about his early life. On 10 May, 1862, he enlisted in company D 61st Georgia and was sent up to Virginia, where it fought in the army of Northern Virginia from the Battle of Gaines Mill through Chancellorville. Neil. William Ray was born on four August, 1839 in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Prior to the war, Neil Ray attended the North Carolina Military Institute in Charlotte, but he soon departed after the firing on Fort Sumpter. I. As regiments began to form, he enlisted as a second lieutenant in Company D, sixth North Carolina on 16 May, 1861. The sixth North Carolina saw service from the first Battle of Bull run through the Battle of Chancellorsville and Neil Ray, promoted to the rink of Captain and commanded company D from January, 1863. Onward. Following the Confederate victory at the Battle of Chancellorville 30, April to sixth May, 1863. General Robert E. Lee decided to invade the North with his army of Northern Virginia for a second time and began the long march toward Pennsylvania. In early June, 1863, the army of the Potomac began its pursuit shortly thereafter, and marched parallel to the Confederates, ensuring the safety of Washington DC while it marched north. In the leading core on the march were both private Nichols and Captain Ray Private Nichols in the 61st, Georgia marched in Brigadier General John b Gordon's brigade while Captain Ray in the sixth North Carolina. Marched in Hoax Brigade commanded by Colonel Isaac e Avery. Both brigades were in major General Jule, a Leys division of the Second Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Richard s ell. As the army of Northern Virginia continued its March, private Nichols encountered the local populace. Our regiment was the first infantry to march into the town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. I saw a little girl probably about eight years of age standing on the stoop in front of her house. And heard her say, mama, are those men rebels? Yes. My daughter. Why mama? They haven't got horns. They just look like our people. The army of the Potomac by late June had only begun to enter into Pennsylvania with the weight of its forces. Still on the march through Maryland. While Union Cavalry operated around the small crossroad town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, captain Fr and the 68th New York, were still in Maryland and marched in the First Brigade. I. Commanded by Colonel Leopold von Gisa of the first division, commanded by Brigadier General Francis c Barlow and Major General Oliver o Howard's 11th Corps in the army of the Potomac, commanded by major General George g Mead, who had just taken command of the Army on 28 June. By 30 June. Captain Fr. In the 68th New York camped at Emmitsburg Maryland, approximately 12 miles to the North. Brigadier General John Buford's cavalry division, scouted around Gettysburg and identified the army of Northern Virginia, concentrated to the north and west of his position, and sent couriers to the first and 11th Corps, the closest infantry to march to his aid the next morning lead elements of major General Henry Heath's division Advanced East toward Brigadier General Buford's Cavalry, who had posted on the north and west side of the town. The Battle of Gettysburg had begun a. As the opening shots rang out in Gettysburg, captain Fr and the 68th New York began their final day of marching northward. On July 1st, at dawn, we were awakened and at once began preparations to march, but not until eight that morning did our division follow closely. The first core toward Gettysburg, about 11, we were ordered to proceed on the double quick, and we heard the roaring of cannons at a distance. As the 11th Corps approached Gettysburg. The First Corps was already in position on the western side of the town, but there were also reports that Lieutenant General ELLs Corps was massing to the north of the town. The first division of the 11th core was ordered north and established a line of battle along Rock Creek and an adjacent hill known as Blocher's Knoll. And in doing so, formed a salient in the union line now situated on the right flank of the division, captain Fri and the 68th New York prepared for the arrival of the Confederates. Our men were ordered to sit down and we mounted. Officers gathered around General Barlow, the division commander outside the woods, take a skirmish line out in front of us, barren, he said to me and stretched the men to the right. I deployed a company, and by two o'clock the Confederate skirmish line faced us. Firing began at once. I rode up and down encouraging the men to keep cool and name well, and soon we drove the Confederate Skirmishers back. But now I noticed heavy columns approaching in front and from the right we fired. Then I ordered the commanding officer of the skirmishers to fall slowly back into the woods and fire from tree to tree. Then I rode to the brigade in the woods and sang out. Look sharp, boys. Don't fire too soon, nor too high. Wait until they get to the creek. This Confederate line was that of Brigadier General Gordon's brigade and advancing upon Captain Fritch was private Nichols in the 61st Georgia. Our brigade and the rest of Berkeley's division formed in line of battle and advanced. We met the enemy at Rock Creek. We attacked them immediately, but we had a hard time in moving them. We advanced with our customed yell, but they stood firm until we got near them. They then began to retreat in fine order shooting at us as they retreated. Though Captain Fr. And the 68th New York rejoined their brigade upon the knoll. They were still facing a numerically superior confederate brigade. the Confederates approach slowly and in magnificent order, and after the first volley of our men, they sent a strong volume return. Our men now standing fired twice more than the Confederates charged through the creek screaming savagely. As the 61st Georgia charged upon Captain Fri and the 68th New York Private Nichols commended the fighting spirit of the men they faced. They were harder to drive than we had ever known them before. Men were being moaned down in great numbers on both sides. We drove them across a fence where they stopped and fought us for a while. The weight of Brigadier General Gordon's Georgia Brigade was too much for the Union First Brigade Captain Fri and the 68th New York broke and retreated South where they reformed behind Brigadier General Bert Ames Second Brigade. Someone shouted. Run for your lives boys. In fact, our small regiments were attacked by a force apparently a hundred times larger, not alone in front. But also from the right side of our position. This was a Louisiana brigade. They came on running to surround us. Our men fell back through the light woods. Just when Brave General Ames on foot. But in front of his brigade marched into the woods. He found them full of screaming Southerners and after a volley, his men, of course, had to run out. Also, having successfully pushed Captain fr. In the 68th New York back private Nichols in the 61st, Georgia met this fresh Union brigade and bested them as well. We advanced and drove them into and out of a deep road cut onto the alms house where the Yankees stopped and made a desperate stand. Their officers were cheering like men and behaving like heroes and commanders of the first water. The 11th chorus position around the knoll was at a critical point. On the afternoon of one July, captain Fr and the 68th New York were unable to rally their men before brigadier General Amess Brigade began to break under the pressure of the Georgians charge. Confederate numbers were too great all along the line. And finally, the order for the 11th and first corps to retreat through Gettysburg was issued private Nichols, continued with the 61st Georgia through the town, and summarized the retreat. Here, the Gallant Barlow, the enemy's commander fell into our hands, severely wounded. He was treated kindly. We drove them on through Gettysburg and had them greatly confused. General Rhodes of Yu's core seemed to drive in the enemy about the same time, badly torn up. We pursued. And when the enemy got into Gettysburg, they became one confused mass. Their officers seemed to lose control of them, and we captured some 5,000 prisoners. This is unconfirmed, and we drove the enemy through and out of the town and we occupied the town. Later in the afternoon, captain Ray in the sixth North Carolina took the field to pursue the 11th Core through Gettysburg, but they did not directly engage the 68th New York joining in the retreat and attempting to stay with his regiment as best he could was Captain Fr. I rode behind our men into the town and saw many captured by gray coats everywhere. He passed the regimental surgeon and instructed him to tend to the wounded before continuing. This delayed me and some 20 Confederates came rushing on Halling to me to surrender. One excited fellow got hold of Caesar's Bridal with his left hand and was ready to plunge his bayonet into me with his right screaming. Surrender, get down. You damned yank. You be damned. I answered. Cut off his hand with my Saxon sword. Then I started off, gave spurs to my horse, but to my horror, found myself and a yard surrounded by high fence rails. They shot at me from behind and demanded surrender. And Caesar with an enormous effort, jumped the fence and made off towards Cemetery Hill. South of the town of Gettysburg, where a series of hills, which included Cemetery Hill, it was here that major General Winfield s Hancock commander of the Second Corps, rallied the first and 11th Corps with the Confederates in possession of Gettysburg and the Union Army fortifying the hills to the south. The first day of the Battle of Gettysburg was over. It is estimated that the Union Army suffered approximately 9,000 casualties compared to the Confederacy, approximately 6,000. While Captain Fr was rallying the remnant of the 68th New York and other regiments in the cemetery, he was tasked by Brigadier General Alpert Ames now commander of the first division as a temporary member of his staff. When Colonel Fond Gisa finally made it into the division's lines. That evening, captain Fr brought him to the stone wall where the brigade formed. You can now command your brigade easily with the voice. My dear Colonel, I said, this is all that's left pointing to a few flags each surrounded by a handful of sleeping dusty men. I. Like many places on the battlefields of the Civil War, Blocher Knoll would be renamed after the battle. This Knoll where Captain Fri and the first division of the 11th Corps fought upon was renamed Barlow's Knoll in honor of the division commander who was ultimately wounded and captured there. It would not be the last piece of geography renamed around the town of Gettysburg. Through the night of the first into the second, most of the corps of the Army of the Potomac arrived and took positions upon the hills south of Gettysburg. The 11th core remained on Cemetery Hill with the depleted first division holding a wall on the eastern face while at the summit was not only the artillery of the 11th core, but also elements of the first core and the artillery reserve. Approximately 15 batteries in total with six facing east the remainder of the Confederate army also arrived in the vicinity of Gettysburg with Lieutenant General ELLs Corps occupying most of the town and positions to the East, which were opposite the Union Corps that occupied Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill General Robert e Lee's plan of attack for two July was for Yu's Core to assault these two hills. After hearing the attack of Long Street's Core upon the Union, left flank further to the south. While this assault was intended for the afternoon, Lee did not send his orders until approximately 11:00 AM. Lieutenant General Longstreet Court did not begin its attack until 4:00 PM this meant that Yu's Advance came even later in the day while a general engagement did not coalesce until the evening, sharp shooters and artillery on, both were active throughout the day as witnessed by Captain fr. One of the sharp shooters seemed to be, especially after me, for whenever I rose a bullet whistled close by me. I found General Howard in the cemetery and soon 12 men with the finest rifles lay behind the wall near us. And bang went their bullets through the small openings of the church tower. After some 20 shots, we saw the fellows run out of the church and one drop down from a last well-directed shot of our, please pardon the pronunciation, but this is a French term that means rifleman while another was carried away wounded. In preparation for the advance, the Confederates brought several batteries to bear upon Cemetery Hill, which sparked an artillery duel for a few hours. Captain Ray and the sixth North Carolina witnessed the barrage from relative safety. There was a terrific canon aid between the enemy's guns and ours, which were posted on the north and east of the town. This was not very destructive to our infantry line because being in the valley, the shots passed over us. From his vantage point upon Cemetery Hill, captain Fr was able to see the effectiveness of the Union Artillery 12 batteries opened on us every shot being directed at Cemetery Hill. Our batteries replied with great rapidity and accuracy as I could see through my spy glass. Cassons exploded. And horses were thrown down in numbers. After several hours, Lieutenant General Ell finally began his assault upon Cemetery Hill with Captain Ray in the sixth North Carolina advancing directly upon the 68th New York. By late in the afternoon after the artillery had about ceased firing couriers and aides were seen riding rapidly from one commanding officer to another. We knew what that meant. The orders were given. Forward Guide Wright Hayes Brigade of Louisianans was on our right. Ours, the sixth regiment was next to Hayes. Never can that time be forgotten. Every man in line knew what was before him. We had seen the enemy gathering on Cemetery Hill. We had laid under the fire of his numerous guns. We knew the preparations he had made for us yet promptly at the command. The line moved forward and in a few minutes we were in full view of the enemy's batteries and his lines of infantry. The fire was terrific, but our men moved forward very rapidly. Bearing to the right, having the batteries of Cemetery Hill as their objective point. Though a temporary member of the division staff, captain Fri was now in line with his brigade ready to meet the Louisianans. And whether he knew it or not, the North Carolinians charge. In splendid order. They came marching through the cornfield and impetuously. They charged Colonel fund, Gil's brigade screaming. We are the Louisiana Tigers. Our men fired in good time and their bullets told, but on came the enemy. More and more of them climbing the wall and forcing the brigade up the hill behind the batteries. Captain Ray in the sixth North Carolina, after braving the fire of the New Yorkers to their front, continued their advance. As we approach the hill. The guns on battery hill over towards Culp's Hill had an inflating fire on us. Still, our men rushed forward, crawled over the stone wall near the base of the hill, drove from behind it, a strong line of infantry and went still forward to the top of the hill and silenced. The numerous pieces of artillery that have been so advantageously posted. We had full possession of East Cemetery Hill, the key to General Mead's position. We held it for several minutes. Lieutenant Colonel Dele F Ein Cedal, commander of the 41st New York. A regiment within Colonel f Gil's Brigade states that the brigade was arrayed from left to right, the 153rd Pennsylvania, the 68th New York, the 54th New York, and finally his own 41st New York. It was to his left where the breach in the line began directly at the point of the sixth North Carolina's Advance. An attack was made by the enemy at 6:30 PM this attack was repulsed without the assistance of the 33rd Massachusetts, which was a regiment sent to reinforce Fon Gisa. On the left wing, the enemy came so far as to break through the line, which was kept either by the 68th New York or the 54th New York, and moved on to the batteries. Reforming at the top of the hill was Captain Fr. And the 68th New York, among several other regiments. Now our batteries began to fire, grape and canister, but some brave fellows came up to one of the batteries and demanded surrender the battery men assisted by General Ames, two officers and myself, cut them down with hand spikes and rams. The cannonier struck at their heads and my good sword behaved well Again, all who had reached the battery were killed. Then the guns were reloaded and rapidly fired, and we stood surrounded by dense smoke. Of the numerous batteries on the Eastern face of Cemetery Hill, there was only one commander who reported Confederates reaching their guns and fighting hand to hand. Captain r Bryce Ricketts, commander of batteries f and g of the first Pennsylvania Light Artillery who was posted behind Colonel Fonda's Brigade. At about 8:00 PM a heavy column of the enemy charged on my battery and succeeded in capturing and spiking my left piece. The caners fought them hand to hand with hand spikes, rams and pistols, and succeeded in checking them for a moment when part of the second Army Corps charged in and drove them back during the charge, I expended every round of canister in the battery and then fired case shot. Without the fuses, the enemy suffered severely. I. Captain Ray in the sixth North Carolina. Unable to take the artillery prepared to defend their newly won ground. It was after daylight had gone down, the smoke was very dense, and although the moon was rising, we could not see what the enemy was doing, but we could hear him attempting to rally his men. And more than once, he rallied up close to us. Our men had formed behind a rock wall, and as he approached, we fired a volley into him, which drove him back. This occurred at least twice. No one who has ever been in a similar position can understand how anxiously we looked for reinforcements. None came, however, and before long orders came for us to fall back to our original position. The Confederate attack upon Cemetery Hill only saw success against the first division of the 11th Corps. Not only was the Second Corps able to reinforce the first division, but Captain Fr also identified other brigades now able to come to the first division's aid. General Shirtz had sent a brigade to reinforce us. This being from the 11th core and hearing them advance, I joined and charged with them down the hill. They drove the Confederates back over the wall. And then we laid down as our cannons were firing very close over our heads. When the last stopped firing, we saw the enemy flying over the fields and noticed the brigade of the First Corps, which had assisted us in the charge. The Confederate attacks on the flanks of the Union Army on two July were seen to some of the heaviest fighting of the war with an estimated 20,000 killed, wounded, and missing when added to the figures of one July. Both Union and Confederate armies had sustained an estimated 35,000 casualties, which made the Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest of the war. By the end of two July, still confident in his army General. Lee ordered a renewed attack on three July, which began upon the flanks and culminated in Pickett's charge toward the Union Center. Captain fr Captain Ray and Private Nichols who saw only Skirmishing on two July. Did not participate in the fighting on three July with such a high concentration of Union artillery still in place upon Cemetery Hill. Captain Fri did witness some of the devastation of the Confederate bombardment in preparation for Pickett's charge after the failure of Pickett's charge, the Battle of Gettysburg was over and the army of Northern Virginia began to depart the battlefield on the afternoon of four July. I. In his history of the sixth North Carolina, published in 1901 within history of the several regiments and battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861 to 1865, volume one, Neil w Ray was convinced that the Confederate army was on the verge of victory on two July. By not supporting Hoax Brigade of North Carolina and Hay's Brigade of Louisiana in the storming and capturing of Cemetery Hill. The Battle of Gettysburg was lost. I do not know whose fault it was, but I feel assured in saying that it is not the fault of the storming column. It did its whole duty and fell back only when orders came to do. So much has been written about the Battle of Gettysburg and what was accomplished by the different commands and the troops from the different states, but at the risk of being charged with Im modesty, I ventured a claim that the storming and capturing of Cemetery Hill on the evening of the second day was not surpassed by anything that was done during the three days fight. Captain Frederick Otto Baron. Fun. Fri though of German nobility, remained in the United States and became a citizen. He kept the diary during the Civil War, but did not attempt to publish it after his death in 1900, his oldest son commissioned a book based on the diary entitled, A Gallant Captain of The Civil War Being the Record of the Extraordinary Adventures of Frederick Otto Baron Fon Fri, which published in 1902. Following the war, George Washington Nichols wrote a brief history of his experiences within the 61st Georgia in 1887 for several publications within the state, but it was incomplete. Surviving members of his company as well as his family, encouraged him to write a more complete book. And in 1898, he published a Soldier's Story of his regiment, 61st Georgia and incidentally of the Lawton Gordon Evans Brigade. Thank you for listening to the 49th episode. Links to Captain Fritz's Private Nichols and Captain Ray's books are now available on the podcast website. First person Civil war podcast.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast financially. Link at the top left of the homepage on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. This week you'll find pictures of all three men. For this next battle. I have made several attempts at a special episode, but haven't found the appropriate number of sources until now making this episode will again take time and as one other factor. I will also be on vacation in early July given this, I will release my next episode on 13 August to provide enough time for completion. On 13 August to celebrate the 50th episode of the podcast, I have decided to mark the occasion with a special episode, Lieutenant Colonel Judson w Bishop of the Second, Minnesota on 19 September. Face. Corporal Thomas C. Carter of the 27th, Mississippi around Reed's Bridge Road and on 20 September in the afternoon against Lieutenant Colonel James M. Ray of the 60th North Carolina. And in the evening against Captain Isaac h Bailey and the 58th North Carolina on the Lafayette Road and then Horseshoe Ridge at the Battle of Chick Maga. My name is Bill Coghlan. And thank you for listening to First Person Civil War Podcast.