Battle of the Wheatfield at Gettysburg

Thursday, July 2, 1863

The Twenty Seventh Connecticut Regiment spent the morning of July 2 in relative quiet in position with the Second Corps about 1 1/2 miles south of Cemetery Hill along Cemetery Ridge, which runs from the north at Cemetery Hill to the south at Little and Big Round Tops. Around 4:00 P.M. Union General Daniel Sickles led his Third Corps forward from the Union line along Cemetery Ridge to the Emmitsburg Road. This salient movement created gaps in the Union line, enticing the Confederate forces on the opposite side of the Emmitsburg Road to attack. Confederate General James Longstreet hurled his men at the Third Corps, which rapidly retreated toward the Union line. A series of regiments hurried into the fray to prevent the strong Union line from breaking. The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut, along with other Second Corps regiments, joined the attacks. As the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut entered the Wheatfield, situated at the base of Little Round Top, they encountered the retreating Third Corps, followed by the pursuing Confederate forces. Heavy fire from both sides ensued, and Lieutentant Colonel Henry C. Merwin fell mortally wounded. Major James H. Coburn leads the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut as the attacks continued until darkness. By nightfall the Confederates had taken the Wheatfield but the Union line along Cemetery Ridge to the Round Tops had been secured. The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut suffered thirty-eight casualties, including eleven killed. Lieutenant Colonel Henry C. Merwin and Captain Jedediah Chapman were among the officers slain.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 75-78.

Battle of Fredericksburg - Day 3

Saturday, December 13, 1862

General Ambrose Burnside ordered General William Franklin's Left Grand Division to strike Confederate Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson south of Fredericksburg, and ordered General Edwin "Bull" Sumner's Right Grand Division and General Joseph Hooker's Center Grand Division to assault Confederate General James Longstreet at Marye's Heights.

Early in the morning the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut formed a line of battle along Caroline Street. General Winfield Hancock, commander of their division, inspected the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut and proclaimed, "You are the only Connecticut regiment in my division. Bring no dishonor upon the State you represent." The order to march was issued around noon.

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut proceeded past the railroad depot to an open expanse of farmland near a hill known as Marye's Heights. At the base of Marye's Heights was a stone wall that afforded protection for Confederate rifleman situated securely behind the wall. As the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut advanced across the open farmland a swale in the landscape offered some protection from the rifle fire at the base of the stone wall. As they neared the Stratton House, nearly 75 yards from the stone wall, they emerged from the swale and were exposed to a killing fire from the Confederates behind the wall. The men of the Twenty-Seventh sought protection from the Stratton House and the swale. Every attempt to assault Marye's Heights suffered the same disastrous fate, and the casualties among the Union soldiers was catastrophic. Approximately 8,000 Union soldiers were killed or wounded in front of the stone wall during this terrible, long day.

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut suffered heavily, losing one-third of their men to death or wounding. Among those killed was Private Augustus Baldwin Fairchild of Company A. ¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 25-30. Compiled service record, Augustus Baldwin Fairchild, Pvt., Co. A, 27th Connecticut Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.