Chapter 15 – This poem, Culp’s Hill, focuses on General Greene’s and Colonel Ireland’s efforts to safeguard Culp’s Hill on the night of July 2nd, 1863. Most of the forces had been moved to the Union Center and Left. General Slocum was only allowed to leave one Brigade behind to guard the hill. He chose General Greene’s Brigade. Greene was the oldest Union General at the age of 62. He was a descendant of Nathaniel Greene who was George Washington’s 2nd in Command during the Revolutionary War. The Hill was defended, and if it had fallen the Rebels could have gained access to the Baltimore Pike. This road was a vital line of supplies to Union forces at Gettysburg, and the road if followed south eventually leads to Washington D.C.
by Christopher Rudolph © 2015
Chapter 15 – Culp’s Hill – Day 2
General Meade realized
The Union left needed troops more
So he told General Slocum
To send the XII Corps
But the XII Corps was guarding
The far right on Culp’s hill
Slocum wanted to leave a division
They might need them still
But Meade was adamant
All troops must come to the left’s aide
Slocum pleaded some more
Meade left him one Brigade
Slocum picked a Brigade
In the Second Division mean
Led by Brigadier General
George Sears Greene
Greene was the oldest General
From the Union at Gettysburg
62 years old and fiery
A commander superb
Greene was from Rhode Island
But commanded men from New York
On Culp’s Hill that day
They built formidable breastworks
For they felt a life and death struggle
Was impending
Upon ramparts of stone and wood
They would be depending
By 7 PM
Greene’s troops were left alone
His brigade just 5 regiments
1,350 men prone
These men from New York
A thin line they did make
Only one man deep
So easily it could brake
Walker’s Stonewall brigade soon spotted
Crossing Rock Creek
At the bottom of Culp’s hill
Stalking in they sneaked
Three more of Johnson’s brigades
Across Rock Creek waded
Confederates finally attacking
As the Sun slowly faded
Random shots rang out
As Rebels climbed Culp’s Hill
Behind their bulwarks crouched
The Yankees waiting still
Then out of the shadows
Rebel ranks shooting steady
New Yorkers ordered
To fire when ready
From the zig-zag line of fire
Chain lightning leaped
Rebels blasted rolled
Down the hill so steep
Union muskets popped
In the dark sparked
Bouncing flames flickered
Lead balls found their mark
The Rebels fell back
Into the woods to regroup
Back again they came
Advancing all their troops
Shots rang behind rocks
And behind trees large
But Yanks were dug in good
Rebels must muster another charge
This time they attacked
The extreme flank right
Colonel Ireland’s 137th NY
Braced for the fight
The Rebels charged hard
Intense fire was exchanged
Whites of their eyes could be seen
They fired at close range
Ireland’s men fought fierce
But they could barely hold the line
Then reinforcements arrived
They got there just in time
It was Brooklyn’s 14th
And the 6th Wisconsin
They would need to save this battle
Fight bravely once again
The 6th Wisconsin ordered
Breastworks they must hold
Led by Lt. Colonel Rufus Dawes
Dependable and bold
Brooklyn’s finest 14th
Immediately ordered to attack
Joining Ireland’s fighting men
They must push the Rebels back
Ireland’s men were taking
Rebel fire from three sides
They crawled behind some rocks
Where they could partly hide
Brooklyn’s 14th arrived
Colors in front streaming
Angry contorted faces
Each one fiercely screaming
So, with the 137th NY
They joined the line too
One the Rebels couldn’t brake
They never let them through
Strengthening the line left
At the expense of the line right
Could have proved to be a calamity
If they lost Culp’s Hill that night
But Culp’s Hill never fell
Thanks to the sheer valor that was seen
By the Boys of Blue
Led by old General Greene