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Gettysburg ... Pickett's Charge - 1863

Colonel William Colvill

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susquesus	Posted - July 28 2004 : 3:11:39 PM I'm trying to find out more about Colonel William Colvill, he participated in the battle of Gettysburgh(heading the 1st Minnesota?). He's from my home town of Red Wing, MN. I went to "Colvill Elementary School", lived a block from "Colvill Park", and used to deliver papers to the house built on the site of his former residence. Does anyone know if he did anything significant, or was he just a hometown hero?
6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
susquesus	Posted - July 30 2004 : 8:49:31 PM Susquesus, Gadget Girl and I have been discussing a trip to Gettysburg next spring, and since I live only 30 miles away I've volunteered to find us a guide (very likely my husband, who graduated from Gettysburg College and spent lots of time roaming the battlefield). Maybe you can join us! Maybe you can too, WW! -Bookworm That sounds like something to consider, who knows what the future may hold- but that does sound darned fun. Thanks for the suggestion!
Bookworm	Posted - July 30 2004 : 6:37:36 PM In his book "Gettysburg," Stephen Sears offers the following description of the famous charge: "The veterans of the 1st Minnesota, that state's one regiment in the Army of the Potomac, had fought at First Bull Run and in every campaign since and they knew a forlorn hope when they became one, yet they fixed bayonets and charged anyway." Beautiful writing, as it should be to describe an action like that. According to Sears, Hancock later wrote, "I cannot speak too highly of this regiment and its commander in its attack." As a source Sears cites "The Last Full Measure: The LIfe and Death of the First MInnesota Volunteers" by Richard Moe (New York: Holt, 1993). Bruce Catton offers an interesting twist to the story in "Glory Road" (vol. 2 of his Army of the Potomac series): It seems that Col. Colvill had only recently been returned to command of the regiment, having been placed under arrest by General Hancock during the march through Maryland. Hancock had driven the men so hard that they weren't allowed to remove their shoes and socks before fording a creek, always plunging straight ahead, and Colvill's offense was to allow his men to make a brief detour in order to use a footbridge instead of wading through a stream. Susquesus, Gadget Girl and I have been discussing a trip to Gettysburg next spring, and since I live only 30 miles away I've volunteered to find us a guide (very likely my husband, who graduated from Gettysburg College and spent lots of time roaming the battlefield). Maybe you can join us! Maybe you can too, WW!
susquesus	Posted - July 29 2004 : 7:21:50 PM Thanks again WW! I can almost the imagine the old fellow walking down my old street.
Wilderness Woman	Posted - July 29 2004 : 12:40:55 PM You are most welcome, Susquesus. But you don't have to wait that long to see what Col. Colvill looked like. (Apparently he was Brevetted a General at some point.) Take a look here.
susquesus	Posted - July 28 2004 : 10:32:15 PM Thank you so much for those tidbits! It makes all of "Colvills" around my old neighborhood make a little bit more sense. Next time I go home I'm heading for the Red Wing Historical Society to look for a picture. Thanks again WW.
Wilderness Woman	Posted - July 28 2004 : 9:57:02 PM You piqued my curiosity, so I did a quick Google search on his name. It seems he did do something significant: THE FIRST MINNESOTA On July 2, 1863, the First Minnesota Volunteers were positioned on Cemetery Ridge, south of Gettysburg, for the decisive battle of the war. When Confederate forces began to break through the Union line, threatening a rout, only 262 men of the First Minnesota stood in the path of an advancing brigade of 1,600, supported by well-positioned artillery. Union reserves were called for, but it was obvious they could not arrive before the Confederates reached the ridge. To delay the Confederates' advance, General Hancock ordered the First Minnesota to charge their lines. He and the Minnesotans knew the order meant the sacrifice of the regiment to gain a few minutes' time and save the position. The charge of the Minnesotans was led by Colonel William Colvill, a lawyer from Red Wing. With fixed bayonets, they ran down an exposed slope toward the Confederate forces. William Lochren, a lawyer from St. Anthony, later recalled: "The First Minnesota rushed through the storm of bullets coming from the direct fire of two brigades, into the midst and centre of this overwhelming force, with nothing but death to look for, and no hope or chance for any other success than to gain the brief time needed to save that battle-field. And not a man wavered." The charge had the desired effect; it stopped the advance of the surprised Confederates. But the Minnesotans still had to hold their position under heavy fire until darkness and reinforcements allowed them to return to the ridge. Their casualties in the battle totaled at least two-thirds of those engaged. During the night, the regiment recovered dead and wounded from the field and returned to its morning position. On the following day the regiment was in the middle of heavy artillery fire, and in the path of General Pickett's famous charge. Again they were ordered to charge into the enemy ranks and engaged in close fighting. They suffered another 55 casualties, bringing their total for the two days fighting to 229, of whom at least 80 were killed or mortally wounded. William Lochren said of his regiment's actions on July 2: "The annals of war contain no parallel to this charge. In its desperate valor, complete execution, successful result, and in its sacrifice of men in proportion to the number engaged, authentic history has no record with which it can be compared." General Hancock, who ordered the charge, said: "There is no more gallant deed recorded in history." Look here: Keith Rocco And here is an interesting first-hand account, written by Tillie Pierce, who lived in Gettysburg: A few days after the battle, several soldiers came to our house and asked mother if she would allow them to bring their wounded Colonel to the place, provided they would send two nurses along to help wait on him, saying they would like to have him kept at a private house. As we had a very suitable room she consented. The wounded officer was carried to the house on a litter, and was suffering greatly. After they got him up stairs, and were about placing him on the bed, it was found to be too short, so that the foot-board had to be taken off and an extension added. The Colonel was a very tall man and of fine proportions. He had been severely wounded in the right ankle and shoulder, the latter would extending to his spine. The surgeons wanted to amputate his foot, saying it was necessary in order to save his life; but the Colonel objected, and said that if his foot must go he would go too. Mother waited on him constantly, and the nurses could not have been more devoted. He was highly esteemed by all his men, many of whom visited him at the house, and even wept over him in his suffering and helpl

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