Day 1 - July 1, 1863

• 9:45-10:05 am – The 55th NC of Davis’ brigade (Heth’s Division, Hills’ Corps) pushes elements of Devin’s troopers (Buford’s Division, Calvary Corps) back from the fields west of Oak Ridge. The 9th NY and 17th PA take position behind the rock walls on the ridge’s crest.
• 10:20-10:35 am – As the fighting in their front shifts well to the south, the 17th PA withdraws from the ridge’s crest and begins its move back to patrol their original positions to the northeast.
• 11:15-11:35 am – The 9th NY withdraws off the ridge. The main body of the regiment heads to the east, returning to guard the possible enemy approaches from the north and east; while two companies, A & H, are dispatched to escort prisoners from the morning fight, to Westminster.
• 12:05-12:30 pm – Skirmishers from O’Neal’s and Iverson’s brigades (Rodes’ Division, Ewell’s Corps) advance from Oak Hill on to the ridge.
• 12:45-12:55 pm – The 11th PA and the 97th NY of Baxter’s brigade (Robinson’s division, First Corps) are sent to Oak Ridge from their staging area near the Seminary. They follow skirmishers from the 97th NY. The regiments form a line at the northern edge of Shead’s Woods within the tree line; while the skirmishers continue north, pushing some of Rodes’ skirmishers from the ridge back toward Oak Hill.
• 1:00-1:20 pm – As Amsberg’s brigade (Schimmelfennig’s division, Eleventh Corps) begins taking positions in the plains below Oak Ridge to the east, the 45th NY advances in support of Robinson’s right.
• 1:00-1:20 pm – The 11th PA deploys skirmishers to the open fields west of Oak Ridge; while the 97th NY skirmishers are being recalled; but in a few minutes they are ordered out again, this time to support the 11th PA’s forward unit. Together the two squads successfully push back the more of Rodes’ skirmishers.
• 1:15-1:30 pm – Baxter’s remaining four regiments, the 90th PA, 12th MA, 88th PA, and 83rd NY arrive from the south and form a line of battle on the ridge behind a stone wall. The 11th PA and the 97th NY, at the north edge of Shead’s Woods, adjust their position to extend that line, while their skirmishers rejoin their respective regiments.
• 1:40-1:45 pm – Realizing that O’Neal is a threat to his right, Baxter re-deploys three regiments along the southwest side of the Mummasburg Road, in front of a grove of oaks. Two companies of the 12th MA, on the left of the line, shift to face the McLean barn. The 90th and 88th PA, and 83rd NY carry the line downhill to the foot of the ridge.
• 1:45-1:50 pm – Baxter’s left regiments, the 11th PA and 97th NY adjust their positions closing the gap in the brigade line.
• 2:25-2:40 pm – Preceded by over an hour of heavy skirmishing, O’Neal’s 12th, 26th and 6th AL regiments attack Baxter from Oak Hill. After a 15-minute desperate fight, the 6th AL, on the left of the line, is flanked by Baxter’s 88th PA & 83rd NY, and the 45th NY from Amsberg’s brigade. The 6th AL begins to withdraw in chaos.
• 2:40–2:50 pm – O’Neal’s three core regiments retreat, but as they do Rodes orders the 5th AL, that was earlier detached, to quickly move forward to join the attack. Sharpshooters from Company D race ahead and take up positions in the barn, as the rest of the regiment catches up; but they arrive too late and do little, if any, good.
• 2:45-2:55 pm – Iverson’s brigade moves from west to east thru the grain fields in front of Oak Ridge. The 5th, 20th, 23rd, and 12th NC blindly charge up the slope towards the ridge, little knowing what awaits. Baxter’s three, as yet un-engaged regiments, the 12th MA, 97th NY and 11th PA, are crouched hidden behind the stone wall running along the crest. Moments before rising and firing, the 83rd PA and the 88th NY join the hidden brigade line, coming up from the Mummasburg Rd. just minutes after dispatching O’Neal. Iverson’s left is joined by a strong line of his skirmishers/sharpshooters that have been in the fields since midday.
• 2:50–3:05 pm – The 45th NY is in perfect position at the base of the eastern slope of the ridge to fire into the flank of the late arriving 5th AL. Four companies of the 45th NY chase the 5th AL all the way to the McLean farm barn, where they reportedly take hundreds of prisoners.
• 2:50–3:05 pm – As soon as the 12th MA and 90th PA cease their fire against O’Neal’s retreating 12th and 26th AL, they move back up the eastern slope of the ridge and take up a position on the extreme right of Baxter’s line. They deploy behind a second wall on the ridge crest, this wall forming a salient with the Mummasburg Rd. They are just in time to engage the NC Sharpshooters in the tall timothy grass to their immediate front, and to pour enfilading fire into the left flank of the 5th NC.
• 2:55-3:00 pm – After Iverson’s lines pass thru the swale in the middle of the fields west of Oak Ridge, its right regiment, the 12th NC, nears the northwest corner of Shead’s Woods where the woods jut out 500 feet. They are engaged by units of Cutler’s brigade hidden in the woods. (Editor’s note: See the Shead’s Woods timeline for subsequent actions involving the 12th NC and Cutler’s brigade). Meanwhile the brigade’s left regiments continue forward relatively unhindered toward the ridge. When Iverson’s 23rd, 20th and 5th NC are within 50 yards of the rock wall Baxter’s five regiments rise and deliver a devastating series of volleys. Cutler’s 56th PA and 147th NY (Wadsworth’s division), concealed in Shead’s Woods add to the carnage with horrific enfilading fire into the 23rd and 20th NC. Iverson’s line is decimated, sustaining over 50% casualties.
• 3:05–3:20 pm – Baxter’s brigade scrambles over the rock wall further brutalizing Iverson’s line, collecting hundreds of prisoners. What remains of the 23rd, 20th and 5th NC trudge back across the field. Baxter’s sweep is hastened due to the presence of the strong line of NC sharpshooters to their left front and sudden appearance of Ramseur’s brigade (Rodes’ division) at tree line on Oak Hill.
• 3:10-3:15 pm – The four companies from 45th NY, that occupied the McLean barn, withdraw in the face of skirmishers from Ramseur’s left wing regiments, the 2nd and 4th NC, who now take control of the barn. The Rebel skirmish line is screening the approach of their respective regiments, but Rodes recalls the regiments when he sees the approach of a Paul’s fresh infantry brigade (Robinson’s division).
• 3:15-3:20 pm – The right wing of Paul’s brigade, the 107th PA, 104th NY and 13th MA, arrives from the Seminary having headed north along the eastern base of the ridge. Once past eastern Shead’s Woods, they turn left and up the slope to the ridge crest. The 107th PA takes position behind the rock wall, while the 104th NY deploys at the apex of the ridge and the Oak Grove. The 13th MA forms their battle line in the grove and faces the Mummasburg Rd. and the open plain beyond to the northeast.
• 3:20-3:30 pm – After taking hundreds of Iverson’s men as prisoners, Baxter’s brigade withdraws back behind the stone wall only to find two of Paul’s regiments, the 107th PA and the 104th NY occupying positions along the ridge that Baxter’s men had previously occupied. The 11th, 88th and 90th PA as well as the 83rd NY find their way back to near their original positions; but the 97th NY and 12th MA take up reserve positions further down the eastern slope of the ridge. Paul is seriously wounded shortly after his brigade arrives, with Col. Leonard assuming command.
• 3:25–3:35 pm – In response to a heavy line of Ramseur’s skirmishers taking up positions at the McLean farm, the 104th NY is ordered to adjust its front accordingly. But no sooner does the regiment face toward the farm than the NC sharpshooters to the northwest move forward and occupy the stone wall at the Mummasburg Rd. intersection with the ridge, and fire into their left flank. Within minutes of assuming command of the brigade Leonard is wounded and replaced by Col. Root.
• 3:30-3:40 pm – The 90th PA, at the angle in Robinson’s line, is being assailed on the right with a withering fire from Confederates on Oak Hill. They change front from the west to north. Maj. Alfred Sellers rushes to the front of the regiment, gesturing with his sword in an effort to direct the fire until the regiment is relieved by Paul’s regiments. He is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions.
• 3:35-3:40 pm – Col. Prey, of the 104th NY, orders his left wing to charge the snipers, sharpshooters from 5th and 20th NC. When they hesitate, Prey leads the charge and drives the North Carolinians from behind the wall. After their earlier false start, Rodes’ has now realized that Paul is not going to attack. He orders Ramseur’s left wing, the 2nd and 4th NC, to advance again. They move thru the McLean farm headed straight at the 104th NY’s right wing and the 13th MA, both at the northern edge of the Oak Grove facing the Mummasburg Rd. Col. Root becomes the third brigade commander to be wounded in a fifteen minute period; and now Col. Prey assumes command.
• 3:35-3:50 pm – The 97th NY, which was in a reserve position after returning from their first sortie, and played a role in “rallying” some of Paul’s newly arrived “unsteady” regiments, is now ordered by regimental Col. Wheelock back over the wall where they capture another 80 or so of Iverson’s disoriented men. Their foray is a brief one due to the sudden arrival of the wandering 3rd AL (O’Neal’s brigade) about 300 yards to their immediate front.
• 3:35-3:50 pm – Baxter’s regiments are low on ammunition and with the arrival of Paul’s brigade, begin to retire to the south into Shead’s Woods. After fighting earlier from Shead’s Woods, the 94th NY and the 16th ME adjust their position, extending Paul’s brigade line along Oak Ridge. (Editor’s note: See the Shead’s Woods timeline for prior action of Paul’s, and subsequent actions of Baxter’s brigades). With the shift, all five of Paul’s regiments are reunited, with the Baxter’s adventuresome 97th NY holding over within the line. They are formed in a salient, similarly aligned to Baxter’s brigade from an hour or so earlier, but this time Paul’s brigade is virtually alone out on this exposed point, as there are no First Corps reserves in waiting.
• 3:40-4:00 pm – The 2nd and 4th NC (Ramseur’s brigade) reach the Mummasburg Rd, and after exchanging volleys with the right wing of 104th NY and 13th MA in the Oak Grove, they charge across the road and up the slope while under a withering fire. The left of the 104th NY rejoins the line and after a few more minutes of heavy fire by both sides, the Union line charges down the slope to the road, pushing the Rebels back and taking numerous prisoners in the process.
• 3:50-3:50 pm – Iverson’s remnants reorganize their lines in anticipation of supporting the forth coming push by Ramseur and the 3rd AL which has taken up a fighting position on their right.
• 3:55-4:05 pm – On Paul’s left, the 107th PA, 16th ME and the 94th and 97th NY battle Iverson’s remnants and the 3rd AL as the Rebels begin moving east toward the ridge’s crest. The 97th NY leaps over the wall in a charge, and the 107th PA joins them. The 3rd AL and Iverson’s line punish the Union soldiers for their rashness by driving them back.
• 3:55-4:15 pm – Ramseur did not witness Iverson’s earlier tragic assault against the shank of Robinson’s line, but he is warned of the dangers of attacking over that same ground. He elects to shift his right wing to the left and strike the enemy position head on. After repositioning, he realigns the 14th and 30th NC. With the 3rd AL and Iverson’s remnants on his right, O’Neal’s reorganized brigade to his left rear, and his left wing along the McLean farm lane, he coordinates the final charge, from three directions, against Paul’s lone brigade.
• 4:00-4:10 pm – Robinson sees the Eleventh Corps to his right, in the plains below the ridge, fully in retreat. On his left he sees the other two First Corps divisions withdrawing back to the Seminary. He concludes his only task is to get Paul’s brigade off the ridge with as few losses as possible. He selects the 16th ME to cover the brigade’s retreat, and orders it to the intersection of the wall on the ridge’s crest and the Mummasburg Rd.
• 4:10-4:25 pm – Col. Tilden of the 16th ME posts the regiment in the angle formed by the wall and road. He places his right wing along the road facing northeast and the left wing behind the wall fronting northwest. They are in position for just a few minutes when the 14th and 20th NC open fire and begin their final push. Ramseur’s right regiments are soon joined by the 3rd AL and Iverson’s regiments on the right and the O’Neal’s brigade’s remnants on the left. Confederates shoot at the 16th ME from front and flanks. The Maine men look for help, see none, and begin to fall back grudgingly along the ridge, firing as they go.
• 4:15- 4:25 pm – The 2nd and 4th NC on Ramseur’s left wing join the advance, this time approaching the Union position from below the ridge crest and hitting Paul’s retreating regiments as they withdraw along the eastern backside of the ridge.
• 4:25-4:35 pm – An overwhelming wave of Confederate infantry comprised of Ramseur’s brigade, and remnants of Iverson’s and O’Neal’s brigades chases five regiments of Paul’s brigade (Prey now commanding) and the 97th NY off the ridge to the south, toward the unfinished railroad bed. The 16th ME, given the assignment of covering the brigade’s retreat, is overwhelmed and incurs over 70% casualties, with just a handful of men eventually catching up with the brigade as it makes its way back thru the streets of the town.