“Mortal pen cannot describe the horrors of that unparalleled cannonade”

Union troops firing on approaching Confederate lines during Pickett's Charge.

Source: Warfare History Network

On July 3,1864 Philip briefly mentions it being the one-year anniversary of Gettysburg and losing two men in battle. One other man was wounded, Philip’s brother James. Philip’s only reference to his brother was in his very first diary entry and he did not mention him by name. During previous searches, I had come across references to a James Loufman being wounded at Gettysburg. After renewing my Ancestry.com subscription and digging a little deeper into my maternal grandfather’s family, I confirmed that Philip had a brother James.

So much has been written about Gettysburg that I knew anything I might write would just be a lame summary of events. As I was searching for information specifically about the involvement of 1st West Virginia Light Artillery, Battery C in the battle, I miraculously stumbled across an amazing first-hand account told by William Janvey. The full story is included in the book The History of Washington County Ohio with Illustrations.  I’ve quoted portions of Janvey’s account (pages 181-183 of the book) below and included the link (above) to the online PDF if you would like to read the original unabridged version. This book also includes more about the history of the battery (starting on page 178) and descriptions of other battles that the 1st West Virginia Light Artillery Battery C was involved in.

 

“All July 1st we heard heavy and incessant cannonading…until toward evening reports came in announcing the disaster to the First and Eleventh Corps, and the death of General Reynolds…The morning of the second we broke camp early and started briskly toward the contested ground, which we reached early, halted long enough to make coffee, when we were ordered into position on Cemetery Hill…

 

“On a gallop under heavy fire, we dashed up the hill, unlimbered and prepared for action. Soon the conflict raged with redoubled fury, reinforcements were coming up and rapidly taking position, and by noon both lines were completed.

 

“…All this time we had been actively engaged with the rebel artillery in our front. They were strong in force, and had been tasking us pretty severely. The sharpshooters too…had been annoying us terribly but as yet no casualty had taken place. All were congratulating themselves when a shell too surely aimed, came crashing through the air. Louis Fourgeres saw and avoided it, but poor Stephen Braddock, more unfortunate, was struck in the head. If his body had been made of stone he could not have fallen more rigidly.

 

“…About 10 o’clock P.M. the firing ceased, and every man laid down by his gun, and slept.

 

“The next morning, July 3d, we awoke refreshed and ready for the attack, nor had we long to wait, for with the break of day began the engagement and we kept up a brisk fire until about noon, when a deadly calm fell on the whole field.

 

“…The intense calm over the whole field we knew portended the anticipated attack, nor were we long in anticipation, for at a signal from a gun on the rebel right, the whole field was as convulsed as if an earthquake had occurred. The whole rebel artillery…had opened on us at once. Mortal pen cannot describe the horrors of that unparalleled cannonade…In the first battery to our left forty men had been killed and wounded and nearly all their horses…Still, although our position was higher and more exposed, it appeared as if some guardian angel was watching over us, for our losses were but few. Charles Lacey, a driver on Seargent O’Neil’s gun, while keeping the horses still, was struck by half of a light twelve pounder shell above the right eye, killing him the same way as Braddock…James Loufman was struck in the breast with a piece of shell, but its force had been spent, causing no injury.

 

“The battle still raged hotter and hotter. Our ammunition having given out, we fired back a few of the rebel shells, hot as they were, literally paying them back in their own coin. Our ammunition being exhausted, we were compelled to withdraw.

 

“…We had no sooner got out of harm’s way when the firing ceased…Thus ended this memorable engagement…Some of the boys, on going over the field to our front and left, said that fully three acres could be traversed without touching the ground, so thickly were the bodies strewn. I was content to take the view from our position. It was too horrible to take a closer look at. We remained in position until noon of the fifth, when it was fully known that the rebels were retreating.”

The monument to Battery C, First West Virginia Artillery in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg

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JULY 1^ST

Received two letters. Was on guard. Had some rain. Went down to the Potomac to bathe. Was taken like ill but soon got better.

JULY 2^ND

Was on police duty this morning. Missed roll call and was put on extra duty. No news from the front today.

JULY 3^RD

Had Sunday morning inspection by Captain Hill. This day brings back the remembrance of Gettysburg, Pa one year ago where we was engaged in battle and lost two men. It was the last day of the fight and on the evening of the 3^rd Lee commenced to retreat and on the 4^th we advanced our lines and was successful. We had dress parade this eve and it was a grand thing.

JULY 4^TH

We had a very good time of it. Everything passed off quietly with one or two exceptions. We had a half barrel of ale. We opened it at 2 o’clock, then took to dancing. Was detailed for guard.