The Union 12th Corps

The Union 12th Corps. . By 4:30 PM on July 1st, as the Union battle line was collapsing on Seminary Ridge and the Confederate Brigades of Hays and Avery were enveloping Coster's Brigade in Kuhns Brickyard, there were reports of Union troops moving towards the York Road. In protection of his left rear, Ewell dispatched William "Extra Billy" Smith's Virginia Brigade to guard against attack. They wore later Joined by John Gordon's Brigade of Georgians. Brigadier General Alpheus Williams' Division of the Union 12th Corps had been ordered to leave the Baltimore Pike, cross Wolf's Hill. and proceed into battle line on the Hanover Road with intention of flanking the Confederates in the town. It is also important to note that Benner's Hill stretches from the South side of the Hanover Road to the North along the ridge towards the blue water tower., This maneuver placed one entire Union Division in a collision course with Ewell's flank. Johnson's Division was on the scene, but they were still working their way through the town and not formed for battle. It was at this moment that Early and Ewell conferred on Lee's order to continue pushing the retreating Union troops that were massing on Cemetery Hill "if practicable." They had Just received word of Union troops moving "on [towards] the York road" and Early said to Ewell, "I don't much believe in this but prefer to suspend my movements until I can send and inquire into it." Interestingly enough, Brigadier General John Geary, commanding the 2" Division 12th Corps, went as far as to claim that "the appearance of the [first] division in this position at the time it occurred was apparently a timely diversion in favor of our forces, as the farther advance of the enemy ceased.", According to Williams, Ruger's brigade was "actually ascending the slope of the hill" when the division was recalled back to the Baltimore Pike somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00PM. By 6:30, the lead elements of Johnson's Confederate Division were on the York Pike and ascending Benner's Hill from the opposite side. In case of any confusion to locations, Williams clarified that "the position occupied by Johnson's division on the night of the first was also the objective point of the First Division, Twelfth Corps...", "By the time the regiment had reached a ravine or small creed [largely on the Lady farm], thickly skirted with undergrowth, at the foot of the hill, my skirmishers had nearly reached the crest of the [Benner's] hill occupied by the enemy, who had retired as my skirmishers advanced." - Colonel Silas Colgrove of the 27th Indiana., "[We marched]…until it faced a slope towards Benner's Hill, where the line was halted and deployed with skirmishers in front. The country here was open and mounted officers of the enemy could be seen on the high ground apparently examining the position" - from Colonel Charles Morse of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, (captions) , L.J. and I. Phillips Type II Forage Cap - Note the 13, Infantry Horn, and Red Star - This denoted the soldier as belonging to the 13th New Jersey Regiment of Infantry, 1st Division 12th Corps., Map depicting the advance of William's Division across the Lady Farm , Courtesy Troy D. Harmmon, Brigadier General Alpheus Williams, Commanding 1st Division 12th Corps