Steuart's Brigade

First Maryland C.S.A.

     One of the few regimental monuments of Confederate troops is located on Culp's Hill. This marker to the 2nd Maryland Infantry C.S.A. is located on lower Culp's Hill. It is actually a monument to the regiment known during the battle as the 1st Maryland Infantry C.S.A., but in order to avoid confusion with Union forces known as the 1st Maryland, this monument has "2nd" and is also inscribed "Formerly known as the 1st Maryland." Part of Steuart's Brigade, this regiment crossed Rock Creek and moved up the hill through the thick forest. In the account of a lieutenant in the Brigade, the First Maryland CSA was named the Second Maryland CSA at the time of the battle, but this narrative written in 1910 may not be accurate. They actually advanced farther than any of the other Confederate forces on July 3, 1863.

Maryland was a state divided, and stories abound of families and communities split, with brothers and neighbors literally fighting against one another. Also on Culp's Hill on July 2 & 3 were members of the Federal 1st Maryland Unit, from the Eastern Shore, led by James Wallace. On the morning of July 3, troops from North Carolina and Virginia and this Maryland troop attempted to advance toward the Baltimore Pike. The Marylanders advanced to a position that is marked by a small marker that many drive past.

     This marker is on the farthest point reached by the members of the Maryland CSA forces of Steuart's Brigade, at the edge of Pardee Field. At this point, USA Marylanders were firing upon the CSA Marylanders.  In fact, according to several sources, the Color Sergeant Robert Ross of the Union regiment was a cousin to Color Sergeant P.M. Moore of the Confederate battalion. Of the confrontation, Wallace said,
"The 1st Maryland Confederate Regiment met us and were cut to pieces.  We sorrowfully gathered up many of our old friends and acquaintances and had them carefully and tenderly cared for."
Approximately 50% of the Maryland Confederate troops in Steuart's brigade were killed or mortally wounded. Observing the battle, Steuart  said to have cried out, "My boys! My poor boys!" If you are standing at the point of this position marker, then you can visualize fire coming from the Union forces down the slope of Pardee Field, and also from the right, the upper part of Culp's Hill. The Pennsylvania regiment commanded by Thomas Kane, had been removed from the fighting by Geary's ill-timed move of July 2, 1863, when he moved his forces to join the line at Little Round Top but never got there.
   The fierce fighting on Culp's Hill tore branches from trees and cut whole tree trunks in half. Although both sides lost many men during the fighting of July 2 and 3, regiments from the Confederate forces lost one-third to one-half of their men, according to accounts by Lt. Randolph McKim of Steuart's Brigade. In 1910, he wrote his recollection of the battle and included an account of the death of Private Iglehart of Company A of the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA.
  "The next time I heard his voice was in that last terrible charge on Culp's Hill, when our column had been dashed back like a wave breaking in spray against a rock. McKim he cried, McKim, for God's sake, help me! I turned and saw him prostrate on the ground, shot through both thighs. I went back a few yards, and putting my arm around him dragged him to the shelter of a great rock and laid him down to die.

There are two things that raise in my thought when I think of this incident. One is that if he hadn't come to me two days before and relieved his mind as he did, the gallant fellow would not have asked for my help. And the other is that the men in blue in that breastwork must have been touched with pity when they saw me trying to help poor Iglehart. It took some minutes to go back and get him behind that rock, and they could have shot us both down with perfect ease if they had chosen to do it."


     Steuart's Brigade, driven back on July 3, 1863, under the cover of night in the early hours of July 4, 1863, rejoined the other CSA forces at Seminary Ridge. Eventually they joined in the long retreat through Williamsport, Maryland and across the Potomac.  Various reports placed the losses of the First (or second) Maryland CSA at from 206 to 250 men.