On the morning of July 1st, 1863, the 1st Corps under Major General John F. Reynolds received reports that would need his immediate assistance of the Union Army in Gettysburg. Behind the 1st Corps was the 11th Corps under Major General Oliver O. Howard. Within the 11th Corps were 27 regiments, with one being that of the 154th New York. This is where our story starts.
In Emmitsburg, there is a college called Mount St. Mary’s, located along the South Mountains. Hidden on the campus is the convent of the Daughters of Charity. The 154th New York regiment have been hiking long dusty marches over the last few weeks and were greeted warmly with Union supporters as they entered into town. The nuns at the convent gave them milk, water, and food as they rested from their long journey.
The regiment, which is part of the 2nd Division of the 11th Corps, reaches Cemetery Hill in Gettysburg around 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.. After resting briefly, they were sent northward by the double-quick and reached the northeast side of Gettysburg near Stevens Run and south of Barlow Knoll. This location is the brickyard of Gettysburg, where a brick mill is found.
Around the same time, the Union soldiers on Barlow Knoll are retreating through town from north to south. However, the 154th New York along with the 27th Pennsylvania on the left and the 134th New York on the right is holding the flanks.
As Coster’s brigade begins to retreat after firing 7-10 rounds into the approaching enemy troops, the 154th New York consisting of 254 men run for their lives. Of these soldiers, all but 15 men and 3 officers were captured. The officers captured were Lt. Col. Daniel B. Allen, Capt. M.B. Cheney, and Lt. James W. Bird.
Six soldiers were killed through the battle of Gettysburg within the 154th New York. One of these men was Sergeant Amos Humiston. As he tried to escape from the Confederate bullets, he was struck down and mortally wounded. As he slipped into his death, he clutched a tin-type photograph of three children close to his chest. His children’s names were Alice, Frank, and Frederick. He died in the battle of Gettysburg.
Therefore, everyone would think that this is the end of the story. It is the start of something in Gettysburg that would affect the town both in morals and common respect after the war, but would turn into something disturbing as the 1870s arrived.