After covering over 50 miles in three days, they forded the Rapidan river. Crossing was hard as the water was chest deep and the cavalry had been posted down river to pick up any who were swept away in the fast current. After reaching the other side, the men had started fires to dry off, wrapped themselves in their blankets, and prepared to sleep on the side of a hill. They had encountered the enemy on a few occasions during their trip; had a few skirmishes, but nothing major. Unfortunately that night it poured. There were almost rivers running down the hill in and among the 22nd and, because of their exhaustion, they had not bothered to set up any tents or shelters. By morning, the men and everything that they had was soaked. The extra weight of the water and the mud made the next day's march even harder.
They were getting close to the main Confederate forces. The cavalry had been sent out as scouts and the 22nd was ordered to send the Sharpshooters out as skirmishers with two companies in support. The road which they were on was heavily wooded and narrow. The skirmishers had driven out a small band of rebels but had seen no other troops. The 22nd was leading the army at Chancellorsville. They took the Fredericksburg turnpike, moving in a column, as the countryside started to become more open. They had advanced to the enemy works when they were stopped. The enemy artillery could be seen moving in the distance. They went no further that day but, rather, were moved to the rear, where they spent the night.
The battle plan was to move the army rapidly so that the Confederate forces would not have time to either mount an attack or set up any defenses. They had been successful so far. On May 1, Hooker's plan was move beyond the forest around Chancellorsville and form a battle line on a high hill. There he would "invite" the enemy to attack him in a defensive position. This would put the Confederate army in a position where they would have to either retreat in defeat without even firing a shot or fight a battle that they could not win. Lee, realizing his situation was critical, had marched his army all night so that he might occupy that same hill.
The Union troops advanced toward their defensive position on the top of the hill. The Confederate troops, because of their night movements, were approaching the same hill on the opposite side. A desperate fight ensued. The 22nd's unit was protecting the flank, preventing the enemy advance on that side, when they were ordered to withdraw by Hooker. Hooker, realizing his mistake, ordered the brigade back to their original position. A Confederate Division had followed the Union withdrawal. After attempting to retrace their steps, the union brigade was forced to stop part way. The lines were so close that the 22nd could distinctly hear every command being given by the rebel leaders. The rebel force stopped their advance, not knowing the size of the Union force because of the thick forest and dense underbrush. The Union skirmishers were keeping up a constant fire preventing the Confederate reconnoiters from coming any closer. The rebel artillery were keeping up a constant bombardment of canister. The onl y thing that the 22nd could do was to stay flat on the ground and hope. A little after midnight, they crawled, crept, and gradually withdrew from their dangerous position. They finally reached a safe place to bivouac about four in the morning.
They remained there, building barricades and breastworks, all day Saturday, May 2. Saturday night they were moved forward, into the forest, as pickets. The moon was full and even though they could see nothing through the dense underbrush, the sound of battle was intense. Near daybreak, the firing became sporadic and the cannons had almost ceased. A short time later, as the 22nd was being relieved, musket fire began again on their right. It increased to such volume that, even from a short distance, voices could not be heard even at a shout. Louder, in fact, than the 22nd had ever heard.
Returning to the barricades, the 22nd found them abandoned. They were rapidly moved towards the sound of battle. They caught up with the rest of the corps at the center. On the way, they past Annie Etheridge, the heroine of Birney's division, Third Corps, who was with Sickles' command that fearful night. Exhausted, she was sitting on a stump with a rubber blanket over her shoulders, still giving the wounded a cheering word as they past her. The 2nd was moved forward into position and ordered to lie down. The Third Corps, who had taken heavy casualties, was moved behind them. Also on line with the 22nd's group were about seventy cannon, which periodically opened fire causing a deafening roar. About dusk, the 22nd was ordered to the front to act as pickets. Heavy cannon fire could be heard in the direction of Fredericksburg followed by cheering and the rebel yell.
On Tuesday afternoon, May 5, a truce was called and the dead were removed from the battlefield and buried. The day was foggy and, except for the usual skirmish and picket fire, no fighting took place. That night it rained hard turning the ground into mud. The next morning, the 22nd dried there rifles, reloaded, and prepared to enter the fight. They moved forward, knee deep in mud, with battle flags flying. After going a mile or so, they were stopped and assigned to help the engineers take up a pontoon bridge. They were disappointed, but undertook the task. They remained doing this type of work until the end of the battle. The 22nd had been held in reserve. Over half there corps had never been engaged. In fact, thirty-seven thousand Union troops had scarcely fired a shot; all being held in reserve. Had they been utilized...
At about 4:00 on the afternoon of July 2, the Fifth Corps received orders to move out in support of the Third. Descending the slope and passing to the right of Little Round Top, the 22nd moved about a mile and three-quarters, entered the woods south of Trostle's house and stopped a short distance in at a ravine. Less than 50 yards to the right was an open field and about 1000 yards in the same direction was Sherfy's peach orchard. The wheat field was on their left as they passed. The skirmishers came over their line yelling "fix bayonets" and the fight was on. The men of the 22nd piled cartridges and caps on the ground in front of them and started firing as fast as they could load. They carried 67 guns into the battle. To the front, the rebel forces could now be seen with their cross-barred Confederate flags flying. Being now well seasoned, the 22nd prepared to defend their position. They had come too far and had borne too much to be pushed over the ridge now. The smoke thickened in the still air.
The enemy then mounted a massive charge towards a gap between the left of the Third Corps and the right of the Fifth Corps. The 118th Pennsylvania had tried to hold back the rebel forces with no avail. The command was given to "Change front." No command like this had ever been given to them. With no further instruction being given, the brigade attempted to fulfill their orders by the right flank. Simultaneously, Birney's division of the Third Corps was being moved in to try and plug the hole. Much confusion ensued with both units going threw each others columns. The 22nd, with their belongings and wounded, moved toward the rear. They again faced forward at the outer edge of the clearing at the base of Little Round Top. This time they were facing Trostle's Farm. Although the lines were broken and irregular, they started fighting again with vigor. After the second brigade had been reassigned to Caldwell's division of the Second Corps, the first division, which included the 22nd, backed slowly across the field to the base of Little Round Top, continually firing as fast as they could. While the 20th Maine was fighting on the front and left, the 22nd was defending the right. Little Round Top was considered a critical area by the Confederate forces. If they could get control, it would be monumental in their battle plan. After the Confederate were stopped that fateful night, the day's fighting ceased.
Early the next morning, the 22nd was moved to their left, between the two Round Tops. About four to five hundred yards to the front was Devil's Den. There the rebel sharpshooters were sniping the artillery and the 22nd.
The infamous Picket's Charge took place on that memorable day, when 13,000 Confederate soldiers had marched over one mile in an open field to attach the center of the Union line. This took place because the Third and Fifth Corps had repulsed Longstreet's entire right wing of 45,000 men. They had defended their small plot with rifles, bayonets, rocks, and even fists. That evening the 22nd went out on picket. All around them were hundreds of dead and dying.
On the Forth of July, only an occasional picket-shot was heard. In the afternoon, the 22nd and their brigade was sent out through the woods which skirted Big Round Top to their left. There were some skirmishes but no battle line developed. The first brigade, first division, Fifth Corps, which included the 22nd Massachusetts, had the honor of firing the last shot at Lee's rear guard - the last shot of the Battle of Gettysburg. The 22nd had lost 15 killed or died of wounds and 25 wounded. This was out of a total of 67 guns carried into battle - a loss of over fifth-nine percent. They had captured many rebel prisoners and at least had lost none of theirs as prisoners of the enemy.
On the morning of the 5th, the 22nd was assigned to burial detail. Because of the hot weather, many of the bodies had started to decompose. It was vile duty. Fortunately, that afternoon they set off in pursuit of Lee's army. They spent most of that summer chasing Lee with only a few skirmishes and no major battles.
On May 2, twenty-six men from the 22nd were transferred to the navy. Because of previous details which reduced the 22nd's ranks, they now had about 280 guns. On the 3rd, they left their camp and moved towards Culpepper, camping there for the night. The next morning, they, and the rest of the army, crossed the Wilderness Run and moved 20 miles closer to Lee.
On May 5, the Fifth Corps started for Parker's Store to extend their right towards the Sixth Corps, who were at Wilderness Tavern. They had scarcely begun to move when the enemy's infantry was discovered along the road. The 22nd, along with the rest of the Fifth, was ordered up the Orange turnpike to attack. The Sixth was already engaged as was the First. The Fifth was told to "Pitch in with every man you have!" They advanced but, because of the dense woods and heavy underbrush, it was two or three hours before lines of battle were developed.
About one o'clock, the 22nd finally arrived to support the front line. They slowly advanced through the thickets and attacked the leading Confederate brigade. The Confederates were attempting to fortify their position with two more brigades but the 22nd, with their brigade, forced the lead rebel brigade back before their support arrived causing much confusion with an enemy advance and retreat taking place simultaneously. A division of the Sixth Corps, was supposed to attack with the Fifth, could not make it to the front in time because of the almost impenetrable undergrowth and the rebel forces were able to regroup and hold their line. This forced the Union troops to withdraw from their attack and fall back to avoid being flanked on their unprotected side where the Sixth was to be. The 4th division became lost in the thick underbrush and suffered heavy casualties. Fighting continued until darkness forced a cease fire. The lines had become so close that many prisoners were taken that night by both sides.
The next morning, with the Sixth Corps now on the right of the Fifth, orders were given to attack along the entire line. It was an anticipated attack by Lee and his forces were firmly entrenched. The attack commenced and the Union forces were starting to show some success but that would be short lived. The lines became broken and confused because of the undergrowth and it became necessary to regroup. At the same time, reinforcements arrived for the enemy. The rebel line once again stood firm. Fires were breaking out and the smoke hung like a fog. The day ensued with one line after another attacking the other's front only to be pushed back. Darkness again stopped the fighting.
The next morning, the Confederate forces made an attack but were pushed back. Both armies, now exhausted, settled for a defensive position and the Battle of the Wilderness ended. The Union had lost 15,387 men where the Confederates had lost about 8700 but the fight was a "draw". Never again would Lee assume an offensive position but rather prefer the defense. The 22nd had lost 15 killed or died of wounds and 24 wounded.
Had the obstacles not existed, the 22nd would have been at Spotsylvania Court House by daylight. Instead, details from the Fifth Corps were dispatched to clear the road that morning, May 8. At about 8:30 AM, the lead unit of the Fifth arrived at Allsop's house which was about two and a half miles from the court house. They advanced a little further and were attacked by the enemy. They were forced moved back a short distance and took up a line of battle. The 22nd formed with them and commenced to fire. All day long they fought there, until nightfall caused a cease fire. Breastworks were thrown up and the men "slept on their arms." The 22nd lost 10 men killed, wounded, and missing. This had been "Laurel Hill." The rebels, that night, had moved into the court house.
As this battle was taking place, about 60 members of the 22nd, who had been left behind as pickets at the wilderness, were with the 118th Pennsylvania. The picket had not been able to find the rest of the 22nd, who had been moved. The Sixth Corps had been attacked and the detachment of the 22nd were following them. Two or three of the detachment were hit and the detachment fired a volley, moved back a few rods to avoid being flanked, and faced the enemy again. They were comfronted with an advancing Confederate line of battle. The 22nd detachment stayed on the ground until the enemy was within a few feet. Where it was already dark, the rebels had not seen the 22nd detachment. The 22nd sprung up and a fearful hand-to-hand struggle ensued. Scores of rebels were hauled in as prisoners and dozens more fell in the struggle. The 22nd captured a trophy for their efforts. They now owned the battleflag of the 6th Alabama! A rebel officer was ordered to surrender and when he refused, he was shot. His sword a lso became the 22nd's trophy. The detachment then returned to the main body of the 22nd.
On the 9th, the 22nd was mainly held in reserve. That day the Fifth had advanced near Spindler's buildings and had dug advanced rifle pits. They were driven from the pits by rebel forces that night. On May 10, the 22nd and the 4th Michigan were ordered to advance and retake the pits. They did this but with a great sacrifice of life. They were under a terrific cross-fire of canister and musketry. Their only option was to stay low and wait. By the end of the day, the 22nd retained the pits but had lost 84 killed, wounded, and missing.
There was not much fighting on the front of the 22nd on May 11 but fighting had occurred on their right and left. The Ninth Corps with three divisions of the Second were moved in behind the Fifth and Sixth Corps to prepare for an assault the next morning. On the 12th, part of the Sixth Corps attacked at "Bloody Angle." The rebels were forced back to a line set up behind the salient. The Fifth Corps had attacked and had been repulsed and were preparing to attack again when orders came down to suspend that attack. The 22nd was ordered back into the pits that they had previously fought for. They remained there until the 13th. It rained for the 36 hours that the 22nd remained in the pits turning them into mud holes. The 22nd had lost 123 killed, wounded, and captured since leaving the Rapidan. At 8:00 PM on the 11th of May, the 22nd had presented 130 guns.