"Some of My Recollections of the Battle of Gettysburg"

by Andrew Park

“On the morning of July 3rd, 1863, Davis’s brigade of Heath’s Division, in A. P. Hill’s corps, was ordered in line; and took up the line of march for Gettysburg. About two miles from that place we were halted, and formed a line of battle. This was the first intimation we had that we were so close to a fight. After forming his command, Col. Hugh R. Miller walked down the line, and state that if there was a man there who could not stand the smell of gunpowder he had better step out, for we were going into a fight. To may astonishment one poor fellow went to him and said: “Colonel, I just cannot go into a fight today, for if I do I will get wounded or killed”.  The Colonel, with an oath, ordered him back into line. Just at this moment General Davis, and staff rode up and gave the command to move forward, and to let nothing stop us. The Mississippi Regiment, commanded by Colonel J. M. Stone, who afterwards became Governor of Mississippi, and the 42nd Miss., commanded by Col. H. K. Miller, we were on the left of the railroad. The 11th Miss., commanded by Col. G. W. Green and the 55th North Carolina, commanded by Col. N. B. Connely on the right, and we moved down nearly three quarters of a mile.
I should have stated in the beginning that we were thrown into a fine field of wheat as I ever saw. We had not gone more than three or four hundred yards in this field until we met the enemy’s skirmishers. We drove them in, and they fell back over their main line. This drew us up to within fifty or sixty yards of that line, where they were lying down in the wheat. They rose up and resting on one knee fired the first volley. But they shot too high, and but few of our men were hurt. We received orders to fire and charge. This broke their line, and they retreated down the railroad cut, which was twelve or fifteen feet deep. Out troops on the left were ordered to fire right oblique; and those on the right to fire left oblique. In this manner we poured volley after volley into them as they ran down this railroad cut. I think there never was such slaughter as we made on this occasion. I could have walked a half or three quarters of a mile on the dead soldiers of the enemy and not have put my feet on the ground. In some places they were lying three deep. The enemy now brought up more troops when we were about a half mile from the town. They were very strong now, while our forces consisted of only Health’s division; so we received orders to fall back and wait for reinforcements. We fell back about three hundred yards. We had been fighting about two hours and our loss was quite heavy, and right here I will I will say that among first of my company to get hurt was the man who in the outset told the Colonel he could not go into battle. His arm was broken by a ball. In about one hour after we fell back Gen. Ewell came in on our left, when we were again ordered forward. When we arrived on the ground where we first began the fight in the morning we could see no Yankees. But about three hundred yards farther to our right we saw standing two flags; one of which was the flag of Pennsylvania and the other the National flag. There seemed to be no one about them; and Col. Miller called to his men asked if he had a man in his regiment that could or would bring those flags to him. In an instant Willie Clarke, a fourteen year old lad, said: “I can.”, and started after them. At about the same time five others started, two of them being from my regiment (42nd) and three from the 2nd regiment. Willie Clark outran the rest, having had a little head start of them, and got there first, and threw his arms around the flag-staff. But, low and behold! the flags were not alone, for six Yankees were there, and a hand to hand fight began. Two men from the 42nd were wounded and two from the 2nd killed and the other wounded. Five of the Yankees were killed, and the sixth took the flags and started off with them. But Willie Clarke shot him before he got fifty yards. And capturing the flags brought them to Col. Miller, without receiving a scratch. Willie’s father, who was Captain of Company F. in my regiment, and his son John were both killed that morning, early in the engagement, and fell within ten feet of each other. Willie was also killed on the second day of the fight, while in charge on the rock wall or fence. We fought on disputed ground all day long. Late in the afternoon we drove the enemy through the town and captured it about one hour before sundown. McGowan’s Brigade of Alabamians relieved us.
Early in the morning during the engagement I had dropped my knapsack near a ravine; and in the evening I went to hunt for it, but it had been opened all the contents taken out. While I was standing there looking at the dead bodies where they had been shot down during the engagement in the morning, I head a noise close by me, and on looking up saw a Major of the Federal army, in the act of drawing his pistol, evidently intending to shoot me. But I was too quick for him and in an instant had my gun to my face and leveled at him. I ordered him to throw up his hands. He asked me if I was an officer, or by what authority or right I demanded his surrender.  I told him I did it by the authority of this gun; and gave him one minute to get out of his accouterments. He obeyed me, and I then marched him down where my regiment was lying in line. While taking him there he was cursing because he had been captured by a non-commissioned officer. When I got to my command I reported to Col. Miller, and told him I had captured a Yankee. The Federal Major asked Col. Miller what kind of orders he gave his men that a private could demand the surrender of commissioned officers. Col. Miller said: “Major my men have orders to capture any damn Yankee.” The Major was sent off with a lot of other prisoners, and I never saw him any more.
Our loss in the battle that day was very heavy; my company having two lieutenants killed, and one wounded. We lost twelve men killed and twelve men wounded.
My command was moved that evening about twelve miles to the right and then we went into camp for the night. On the next morning, the 4th, command was ordered still farther to the right and doubled up on Gen. Posey’s brigade. At one o’clock Gen. Longstreet, who was in on our right, fired the signal gun. At that time we were lying down in an open field with nothing to protect us except a small ditch; and the sun was coming down on us pretty hot. Two brigades were in this ditch; and just behind all of us was Gen. Lee’s artillery of about three hundred and sixty pieces. All of these guns in both armies were firing at the same time, and it seemed as if every shell came our way. Of course we got as close to the ground as possible! I do not think mortal man ever heard such an artillery duel as we did at that time. This lasted about one hour. When it ceased we were ordered up and forward. The Yankees were stationed behind a rock wall or fence; and we had to charge through an open field and up a hill which was covered with reed clover and running briars, [sic] which made it more difficult for us to get along. Our colors were shot down three times before reaching the wall. Lieutenant Davenport of Company K., of the 42nd regiment, seized the colors and planted them on top of the wall, but was immediately shot down by the enemy. The few of us that were left got back to where we started from. Some companies had not more than five men left. Nine others and myself were all that were left out of fifty-five that we went in with. Two lieutenants and nearly all of the missing in my company were killed. About ten were taken prisoners. It was here that we lost Col. Miller, who was shot seven times. [*I have a story on Col. Miller being shot.]  About dark five of my company came in who had been left sick on the march; and being second sergeant I was put in command of the five belonging to my company, and nine others who belonged to Company F. I held that position until we got back to Virginia; to which we started at ten o’clock that night.
The retreat was made to Heggearstoune, Maryland, without any serious trouble, although it rained every day. We had some skirmishes as we got in the neighborhood of Heaggearstoune. Now, as the army went into Pennsylvania, we forded the Potomac River; on our return the river had swollen so much there had to be a pontoon bridge put in for the army to cross upon and this caused some delay, and while here we had some little picket fighting but nothing of a serious nature. On the 12th of July, we had a little fight with some cavalry but very little gained on either side, although we lay in line of battle the remainder of the day and night. On the 13th everything was quiet and we coked rations and that night started for the pontoon bridge. We were halted within some two miles of Falling Water, where the pontoon bridge was thrown across the Potomac River. Here we were told that we could lie down and rest until the advance of the army could cross the river. We were also told that Gen. Stewart was looking after the rear. So we lay down, and, having lost so much sleep we were soon asleep, and while in this condition the Federal Cavalry made a raid on us. When we woke up the Yankees were all around us. But in a very few minutes we had rallied and formed our forces and a hand to hand conflict began. We drove them back some eight hundred yards with heavy loss on both sides. My regiment only had one hundred and forty-five men engaged and we lost forty-five men in this engagement. I had seven balls shot though my clothes and three lodged in my cartridge box and one in the britch [sic] of my gun, and  did not break the skin on my person. I thought at the time, and think so yet, that one man shot all these balls that struck me, for it was done before I could have walked thirty yards and they were armed with Spencer Rifles. Either one of the balls that lodged in my cartridge box would have killed me if it had not been full of cartridges. They all three stopped in the third tier of cartridges.
The writer of this battle was born in Carroll County, Tennessee, September the 8th, 1834, and removed with my parents to Panola County, Mississippi in the year 1844, and settled on a farm. On the 6th day of July, 1848. My father, Ephriam Park, died and left my mother and three sisters, two older and one younger than myself, and I only a little more than fourteen years old. The support of this family devolved on me. On the 31st day of August, 1856, I was married to Miss Delila Adaline Foster who is still living, I being three years older than she.
On the 9th day of March, 1862, I enlisted in the Confederate Army in Company I, 42nd Mississippi Regiment and served in the army of Northern Virginia until April the 2nd, 1865--seven days before the surrender of Gen. R. E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, on the 9th, 1865.
I was carried to Point Lookout, Maryland, and lay in Federal prison for two months and fourteen days. Returned to my home in Panola County, Mississippi, June the 25th, and engaged in farming until winter of Seventy-Eight. I moved to Lonoke County, Arkansas, and settled on a farm where I remained until 1898. I came to Pulaski County, Arkansas, and lived on the John R. Fraser Farm one year and then moved to Little Rock on January the 16th, 1899, and stopped at 2219 Center Street where I have remained ever since, engaged in carpenter work.
Religious belief, Methodist. Politics, Democrat, warp and filling. My grandfather on my father’s side was killed in the Battle of 1812 at New Orleans. Myself and wife have thirty-eight grandchildren now living--all in Arkansas.
Andrew Park
2219 Center Street
Little Rock, Arkansas

This story was placed in the "Civil War Times" by R. M. Moore, a decendant of Andrew Park's.  It is in the August 2005, Vol. XLIV, No. 3. edition.

"Confederate Veteran" about Andrew Park

Omer Weaver Camp No. 354 U. C. V. of Little Rock, Arkansas, mourns the loss of its loved commander Judge Andrew Park, who died on September 7th (1923). He was born in Carroll, Tenn., September 8, 1834 he moved to Panola County, Miss., and there married Miss Deliah Adeline Foster in 1856.

He enlisted in the Confederate army on March 5, 1862, joining Company I, of the 42nd Mississippi Regiment, Davis' Bridgade, Heth's Division, A. P. Hill's Corps. A. N. V. Just seven days before General Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox Court House, Andrew Park was captured and sent to Point Lookout, Md., where he was held for twom monts and fourteen days, being released on June 16, 1865, and reached home June 25th.

Coming to Arkansas some twenty-five years ago, Judge Park became a leading citizen of the state. In 1907 he was appointed county judge by Governor Pindall, and he had served the Omer R. Weaver Camp as Commander for two terms, first filling the unexpired term of Commander A. L. Smith. He was elected Commander in January, 1923, but was unable to serve on account of failing health.

Judge Park is survived by his wife, six daughters, two sons, fifty-two grandchildren, sixty-four great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. After funeral services at the home of his daughter, Mrs. McCraw, in Little Rock, his body was taken to Cabot andlaid to rest in Mount Carmel Cemetery.

[Committee: A. J. Snodgrass, H. E. H. Fowlkes, & Sam R. Bobb. Miss Bessy Henry]

Andrew Park of Central Arkansas

Andrew Park is the first person I researched. He and Deliah/Delia were my great-great-grandparents. They lived in Mississippi at the start of the Civil War and later moved to Lonoke in 1876. He owned 160 acres that he farmed a few years and then moved to Little Rock. In 1901 he was appointed Circuit Judge by Governor N. O. Pindall to fill the unexpired term of T. W. Wilson. Andrew and Delilah’s daughter, Katie, married Hugh McNew in 1897. Hugh’s father was James T. McNew, he was County Judge 1896 -1898 and 1898 – 1900. James T. McNew and Andrew Park were in-laws. I think this was the political connection for being appointed Judge.
My sister, Ann Jones, was helping me with my Civil War soldiers. She put out a query on a message board on a Civil War website. A man that worked at one of the colleges in Memphis, TN. answered the message. He said that Andrew Park was in the book “Gettysburg”, so I bought the book. In the back of the book it referred you to the History Commission at Little Rock where he got this information. I went then to the History Commission in L.R. and showed the head man working there that I had not been able to find this info that it referred to in the back of this book. In about 20 minutes he came out with a manuscript. Andrew Park had written a seven page manuscript in 1900 about his recollection of the Battle of Gettysburg. It is included in this book.
I had been searching Andrew at the History Commission at Little Rock, AR. off and on for about a year and never had ran across the manuscript. To find it was a good find when you have been researching your ancestors. The man that worked at the college in Memphis name is Mr. Miller. I think he was a professor; he wanted to see the manuscript also. I met him at the library in Memphis and gave him a copy of the manuscript and he gave me copies of letters that the 42nd Mississippi Regiment officers sent to Colonel Hugh Miller’s wife, when Col. Miller was killed at Gettysburg.
Mr. Miller was researching the 42nd Mississippi. The 41st Reg. was college students that joined the Confederate Army and fought beside the 42nd Miss. Regiment for most of the War.
Mr. Miller told me that he knew Rod Hardin, from Larkspur, Co. a man that was researching the 42nd Miss., also. He wanted to do a book on the 42nd. Rod had contacted the History Comm. in L.R. and even hired a man to do research for him and had no luck in finding this manuscript there. I called Rod and sent him a copy of the manuscript too. You will find a copy of his letter to me in this book. Mr. Miller also referred me to Mr. Bob Thompson, a lawyer from Tennessee. His great-great-grandfather was Colonel Hugh Miller. Bob Thompson sent me a copy of some letters where Colonel Miller died at Gettysburg. I’m putting a copy of these letters in this book also.
On this past Memorial Day, (now a few years ago) Andrew Park, a Civil War veteran, who is buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, in Cabot, AR. was presented a military foot marker by his great-great-grandson, R. B. Moore, of Lonoke, AR. Andrew was a soldier in the 42nd Miss., Co. I, and was in some of the major Civil War battles. At the History Commission, in Little Rock, R. B. found a 7 page manuscript of Andrew’s at the Battle of Gettysburg, also a book done by Time Life, Voices of the Civil War “Gettysburg”, which Andrew recalled, has a page in this book. R. B. is a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans. Sherryl Miller, who works in the research room of the Lonoke Co. Library, has helped R. B. research his Park ancestors. R. B. is looking for relatives in the Cabot area who are descendants of Andrew and Delia Park. Some of these people are John Hall, Montine Hall, Maria Hall, T. C. Wiley, J. W. Calk (Caulk?), Walter B. Park, and Walter M. Park.

Intro to R. B. Moore's Journal

(Written about 2004)

My interest of Civil War soldiers started when Becky Moore was graduating from high school. Her dad, Bob Moore, thought it would be neat if he could join the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and she could apply for a scholarship to be presented to her at the Lonoke school graduation. Bob remembered that Aunt Jewell Moore had a newspaper clipping of a Civil War veteran that was related to the family, this was several years before Aunt Jewell passed away. She pulled out this newspaper clipping and told us it was Andrew Park and his wife Delia/Delilah. They were the great-grandparents of my Mom and Aunt Jewell on Grandmother Cora’s side of the family. Bob didn’t get into the Sons of Confederates, but I became a member, and ultimately researched other Confederate soldiers.
This book is based on information from my research on my Civil War soldiers that are related to me and my family. I traveled to Memphis, TN. twice to the library, where they have Civil War Pension and Military records of Tennessee soldiers. Pension records for the Civil War soldiers are available in the state where the soldier drew the pension, but the military records are available in the state that he where he enlisted. (For instance if the soldier was in the TN Cavalry you would need to go to Tennessee) You can send off to Washington for those records also, if there is one on him, for a fee. Another place I spent a lot of time at was at the History Commission in Little Rock, AR. where they had these records for the Arkansas soldiers. I also researched material at the Lonoke County court house in Lonoke and at the Walker Library in Lonoke.
R. B. Moore

contact me @ morechev@ipa.net

Burris Branch Cemetery in Furlow, Arkansas

BURRIS BRANCH CEMETERY
This cemetery is located about 1 mile north of Furlow, AR. on Hwy 294 (Military Road)
Also known as the Jackson Cemetery.
* ADDED ON: Found in newspaper to have been buried in this cemetery, but no headstone found.
(surname) (first) (birth) (death date) (deaceased I.D.) (Inscription on headstone) (comments)
Benson, Lola R. Aug. 24, 1898 July 1899 7390 (On J.W. Olender headstone)
Blendon, W. M. @ 1820 Nov. 30, 1884 7399 (Aged 64 years)
Blendon, Albert --- --- 7419 (s/o. W.N. & E.A. Blendon) (No dates)
Blendon, James A. Feb. 6, 1869 May 6, 1870 12051 (s/o W.H. & E.A. Blendon)
Clemens, Anne March 18, 1892 Sept. 27, 1899 7388
Counts, Lurenda Dec. 31, 1890 Dec. 31, 1890 7395 (d/o W.H. & Josie Counts)
Eagle, Joseph E. 1848 1899 ???? *(Pvt. CSA, Marmadukes’ AR Mounted Infantry)
Eagle, Baby --- --- 7413 (No dates, stone not found)
Eagle, Baby --- --- 7414 (No dates, stone not found)
Eagle, J.E. --- --- 7412 (No dates, stone not found)
Eagle, R.O. --- --- 7411 (No dates, stone not found)
Felton, J.N. March 13, 1836 June 28, 1918 7366 (h/o Belle I.V. Felton)
Felton, Belle I.V. July 4, 1849 Aug. 21, 1913 7365 (w/o J.N. Felton)
Felton, Virginia Elizabeth Oct. 4, 1868 May 29, 1870 7397 (d/o J.N. & V.E. Felton)
Felton, Ella D. May 25, 1879 Jan. 7, 1910 7366 (d/o J.N. & I.V. Felton)
Foreman, Bill 1917 1918 7357 (Westbrook F.H. marker)
Hall, Tabitha A. March 24, 1848 Nov. 29, 1919 (no I.D.#, w/o Thomas Turner, m/o Albert P. Turner, d/o Mrs. Will McGuagey)
Henry, Mary J. Aug. 2, 1838 March 16, 1887 7385
(Illegible), Loyce 1936 --- 12036 (no Death date, Home-made stone, illegible)
Jones, Martha A. March 17, 1847 February 8, 1884 7410 (d/o B. & J. Jones)
Kindell, Lucy 1837 1900 7345
Kirkpatrick, May April 20, 1907 April 20, 1907 (d/o J.S. & Annie Kirkpatrick)
Kirkpatrick, Tyra September 13, 1907 Oct. 24, 1909 (d/o J.S. & Annie Kirkpatrick)
Kirkpatrick, Ella Margaret April 18, 1913 May 21, 1913 (d/o J.S. & Annie Kirkpatrick)
Lamb, Viola Oct. 14, 1891 April 16, 1970 7376
Lamb, Gedie McKenley Dec. 16, 1896 July 5, 1938 12053 (w/o Jim Lamb)
Lamb, Jim Feb. 2, 1902 March 22, 1966 7374
Lamb, Medie Feb. 2, 1902 March 22, 1966 7375
Lamb, Infant May 13, 1917 May 13, 1917 7373 (s/o W.Q. & Mary L. Lamb)
Lamb, Gervase McKinley July 2, 1967 Jan. 5, 1972 7377 (“Our Big Shot”) (Photo on stone)
McKinley, Gedie (see Lamb, Gedie M.)
McNew, John April 13, 1829 July 14, 1907 7353 (h/o Mary McNew)
McNew, Mary April 13, 1826 Sept. 17, 1906 7352 (w/o John McNew)
McNew, Louisa E. May 25, 1849 May 12, 1889 7354
McNew, Ella E. March 1, 1860 July 11, 1889 7405 (w/o J.T. McNew)
McNew, Etta Dempsey 1883 1918 7382
McNew, Mary A. Aug. 2, 1884 Sept. 22, 1886 7396 (d/o J.T. & E.E. McNew)
McNew, Ollie Sullivan 1885 1926 7383
McNew, Verta B. 1886 1917 7380 (d/o J.T. & E.E. McNew)
McNew, Corea (sic) A. Aug. 27, 1886 Sept. 27, 1886 7407 (d/o J.T. & E. E. McNew)
McNew, Hugh 1877 1955 7351 (Westbrook F.H. marker)
McNew, Katie Pearl * July 15, 1878 May 26, 1933 (Wife of Hugh McNew)
McNew, Huber April 5, 1877 Aug. 2, 1955 12055 (78ym 3nm 28dys) (Cabot FH.marker)
McNew, Sallie Sept. 20, 1887 July 31, 1888 7408 (d/o J.T. & E.E. McNew)
McNew, Annie I. June 10, 1892 Sept. 5, 1892 7409 (d/o J.T. & S. A. McNew)
McNew, Mary D. 1906 1920 7381
McNew, Luther Oct. 10, 1915 Jan. 19, 1930 ???? (son of Hugh & Katie McNew)
McNew, Katie Pearl June 23, 1922 July 21, 1924 (no I.D.#, d/o Hugh and Katie McNew)
McNew, Evelyn May 7, 1925 May 17, 1927 7350 (d/o Edward & Bonnie McNew)
Mitchell, Bettie June 22, 1850 June 1, 1910 7347 (w/o M.T. Mitchell)
Mitchell, Alice Jan. 21, 1867 Oct. 28, 1912 7349 (w/o M.C. Mitchell)
Mitchell, Moses C. Dec. 10, 1870 Jan. 24, 1943 7346
Mitchell, Our only Baby July 1893 July 1893 7348
Montague, Henry Elias --- Dec. 1, 1918 7403 (WW1, AR Pvt. Medical Corp.)
Montague, Nathaniel A. March 23, 1842 Aug. 19, 1897 7422 *(CSA, Co. F. 9th Tenn. Cavalry) *(correction: Nathaniel was listed as Martha Nella)
Montague, Robert E. Jan. 18, 1871 Dec. 5, 1900 7423
Montague, Thomas 1873 1930 7424 (h/o Addie Montague)
Montague, Addie 1877 1944 7425 (w/o Thomas Montague)
Montague, H.C. 1884 1954 7401
Montague, Fanny Mary Nov. 4, 1898 March 5, 1900 7421
Montague, Robert Horner Mar. 30, 1901 Nov. 30, 1901 7420
Montague, Lella May 1904 1905 7402
Montague, Allen 1906 1939 7400
Montague, Thomas Gilbert 1908 1908 7404
Morris, Nancy M. February 16, 1872 Jan. 2, 1918 7391 (w/o T.J. Morris)
Morris, Lular M. May 27, 1890 July 28, 1898 7394
Morris, Lonie Cloe January 3, 1896 March 29, 1911 7394
Morris, Thomas M. Jan. 16, 1898 March 4, 1898 7393
Orender, M.E. June 16, 1892 Dec. 5, 1893 7371
Orender, Elvis M. Feb. 26, 1902 Feb. 29, 1904 7368
Orender, J.W. July 25, 1837 Feb. 26, 1901 7369
Orender, M.A. Sept. 2, 1844 Feb. 13, 1900 7379
Orender, Anna A. Jan. 17, 1880 Oct. 10, 1892 7370
Orender, W.A. May 29, 1883 Oct. 16, 1906 7367
Pennington, Wilbur Mason* (Died March 15, 1957, Age 80)
Shelton, L.E. March 31, 1812 Dec. 7, 1895 7337
Shelton, W.H. Jan. 8, 1861 Jan. 16, 1887 7333
Shelton, John Lee 1864 1921 7334
Shelton, Jessie B. 1875 1947 7340 (h/o Nellie L. Shelton)
Shelton, Nellie L. 1877 1952 7339 (w/o James B. Shelton)
Shelton, W.F. 1913 1959 7341
Shelton, Helen 1915 1915 7342 (Westbrook F.H. marker)
Shelton, Marcus 1916 1945 7336 (Westbrook F.H. marker)
Shelton, Infant 1929 1929 7335
Shelton, James A. --- --- 7398 (No dates) (s/o M.N. & E.A. Shelton)
Sullivan, Infant --- --- 7384 (No dates, with the McNew family)
Tackett, Grant About 1868 May 15, 1889 7343 (About 21 years)
Tackett, W.R. June 1, 1861 Nov. 9, 1900 7344
Turner, Thomas Aug. 27, 1846 Aug. 7, 1881 ????
Turner, Roxie G. Sept. 14, 1881 April 2, 1918 ???? (wife of A.P. Turner)
Williams, James G.* Aug. 20, 1876 Aug. 22, 1878 (Son of J.D. & N.T. Williams)
Wright, Joe Nov. 12, 1907 Sept. 12, 1908 ????

If you have an an ancestor or family member located in this cemetery and would like to help in the preservation and/or cleaning of this cemetery I would appreciate your help in the maintenance of it or with a monetery donation. Please contact me if you would like to contribute.

Thanks,

R. B. Moore
(contact me by email so I can give you my snail mail address)
morechev@ipa.net