ry,
and its left on Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery, Lieutenant
Brown commanding. The 69th Regiment was placed behind a fence, a
little in advance of the ridge, the remaining three regiments of the
Brigade under cover of the hill in the rear.

"Immediately after assuming this position, a detail, ordered from
each regiment, was advanced as skirmishers beyond the Emmettsburg
Road and parallel with the Confederate line of battle on Seminary
Ridge. This disposition was scarcely completed before the enemy
opened with sharpshooters and artillery.

"A few hundred yards in front of our line of battle and towards the
left, a farm house and buildings were located. To prevent these
affording cover to the enemy, they were occupied by the Brigade
pioneers, with orders to destroy them upon a signal from General
Webb. During the fight of Sickles the Brigade skirmishers were
engaged for an hour with those of the enemy, both parties suffering
losses, but neither giving ground. This contest was in full view of
the entire Corps, and the manly bearing of their comrades was a
matter of pride to the men of the Philadelphia Brigade. That portion
of the field lying between Granite and Seminary Ridge being an open
plain without trees or shelter, the contests of our skirmishers were
literally a series of duels fought with rifles at an easy range.

"'The enemy made the assault on the 2d at about six and a half P. M.
Their line of battle advanced beyond one gun of Brown's Battery,
receiving at that point the fire of the 69th, of the 71st, advanced
to the support of the 69th, of the 72d and of the 106th, which had
previously been moved to the left by command of General Hancock.
Colonel Baxter at this time was wounded. The enemy maneuvred and fell
back, pursued by the 106th, 72d and part of the 71st. The 72d and
106th followed them to the Emmettsburg Road, capturing and sending to
the rear about 250 prisoners, among whom were one colonel, five
captains and fifteen lieutenants.'"

"The assault, thus officially reported by Webb, was executed with
much celerity, and when the column of the enemy burst forth from the
woods on Seminary Ridge, it seemed but a few moments before the
Emmettsburg Road was crossed, and our skirmishers driven like leaves
before the wind. As