James Lane's Brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia had seen a lot of hard fighting during the early months and years of the Civil War. The North Carolinians had criss-crossed Virginia fighting Yankees, and had seen action in Maryland at Antietam and in other fierce fights.

Brig. Gen. James Henry Lane (top), CSA and Col. William Gamble, USA

Marching northward into the lush farm fields of south-central Pennsylvania in late June of 1863, the Southerners were in awe of the fertile land, bumper crops, sturdy houses, and huge bank barns that dotted the hilly landscape.

Several wrote home to tell the kinfolk how prosperous was this section of Yankee land. Emotions ran high as Lane's men tramped the Keystone roads, not minding the stifling heat and at times, the driving morning rains. They were the veterans of Lane's Brigade, and by gum, they would show the Yankees a thing or two! Some sensed that a victory on Northern soil might end the war.

Marching eastward from Chambersburg early on July 1st, they could bear the distant rumble of cannons. Within a few hours, they could also bear the crackle of small arms. Forming into battleline south of Chambersburg Pike on the outskirts of Gettysburg, they moved forward towards the Yankee line along the eastern spur of McPherson's Ridge.

From Horting's small apple orchard to their right near Fairfield Road, they encountered dismounted Union cavalry (the 8th Illinois of Gamble's Brigade of Buford's Division), their carbines spitting lead balls at the Carolinians. The 37th NC, on the extreme right of Lane's approach changed front to the south to face the horse soldiers. Outnumbered, the 8th fell back to Seminary Ridge, where they rejoined Gamble's main line.

After crossing the fence-lined road, Lane's Tarheels continued advancing through the rolling Adams County farmlands, hoping to turn the Federals' flank on Seminary Ridge. A portion of Gamble's men had formed a dismounted firing line behind a stonewall just south of the Lutheran Seminary, and were beginning to shoot at the advancing Rebel line. The remainder were mounted on the crest of the ridge.

Fearing a mounted cavalry charge on his own exposed position, Lane appears to have formed a hollow square (Napoleonic style) to ward off such an attack. No cavalry charge occurred, and Lane's men held their ground. Gamble finally withdrew to Cemetery Ridge, and Lane occupied Seminary Ridge, but the delay may have allowed the I Corps infantry to make an orderly withdraw from the ridge.

Lane's Brigade added to Scales and Perrin's attack north of Fairfield Road may have decisively beaten the Yankees, forcing an earlier and perhaps less orderly retreat to Cemetery Ridge. It was one of the first in a long string of "what might have been" questions for the Rebels at Gettysburg.

From William Gamble's official report on Gettysburg...

"In the afternoon, the enemy, being strongly re-enforced, extended his flanks, and advanced on our left in three strong lines, to turn that flank. The general commanding the division ordered my brigade forward at a trot, and deployed in line on the ridge of woods, with the seminary on our right. Half of the Eighth New York, Third Indiana, and Twelfth Illinois were dismounted and placed behind a portion of a stonewall and under cover of trees. The enemy being close upon us, we opened a sharp and rapid carbine fire, which killed and wounded so many of the first line of the enemy that it fell back upon the second line.

Our men kept up the fire until the enemy in overwhelming numbers approached so near that, in order to save my men and horses from capture, they were ordered to mount and fall back rapidly to the next ridge, on the left of the town, where our artillery was posted. The stand which we made against the enemy prevented our left flank from being turned, and saved a division of our infantry."

From James H. Lane's official report on Gettysburg

"We were soon ordered forward again after taking this position, the Seventh being instructed to move as skirmishers by the left flank. In advancing we gained ground to the right & on emerging from the woods in which Pettigrew's brigade had been formed, I found that my line had passed Archer's, & that my entire front was unmasked. We then moved about a mile, & as the Seventh regiment had been detained a short time, Col. Barbour threw out forty men under Capt. Hudson, to keep back some of the enemy's cavalry which had dismounted, & were annoying us with an enfilade fire.

We moved across this open field at a quick time, until a body of the enemy's cavalry & a few infantry opened upon us from the woods, subsequently occupied by Pegram's battalion of artillery, when the men gave a yell & rushed forward at a double-quick -- the whole of the enemy's force beating a hasty retreat to Cemetery Hill. My right now extended into the woods referred to, & my left was a short distance from the Fairfield road. On passing beyond the stone-fence & into the peach orchard near McMillan's house, I was ordered by Genl. Pender not to advance further unless there was another general forward movement."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: It can readily be seen that the two major participants had decidedly different views of what transpired near Fairfield Road. As was often the case, each side tended to exaggerate their own success, and downplay their failures. The truth was often something in between. Often, the bitterest fighting in the Civil War was the war of uncivil words that occurred after the guns had stopped shooting.

Battle of Fairfield Road Gettysburg, PA July 1st, 1863

Historical Setting
Wargame Notes
Orders of Battle
Map (slow: 134K)