Three Other 118th Pa. Officers Killed at Shepherdstown: Captains Ricketts and Saunders and Lt. Moss

From the "History of the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers:  Corn Exchange Regiment."

Right as Lt. Col. Gwynn took command of the regiment after the wounding of Prevost,  Captain Courtland Saunders was killed by a musket ball through the head.    Lieutenant  J. Mora Moss was killed by a bullet through the heart.  The regiment was under heavy fire at the time.

Captain Joseph Wattson Ricketts also fell while in the act of firing his pistol.  Staggering forward, he was saved from falling by  Private William L. Gabe, who started to escort him to the rear.  "Leave me, Gabe," ordered the captain, "and save yourself."

But Gabe refused and continued until both were shot together and went down.  Gabe was wounded and the captain killed by these shots.  As they fell, Captain Ricketts gasped, "My God!  I am shot by my own men."

"Not so," said Gabe, "but by the 'rebs,'  who are right on top of us."

And then, the Confederate line swept over them.  The enemy's stragglers stooped over the body of Ricketts and against the  protest of the wounded Gabe proceeded to rifle the pockets of the captain.  They took his watch, diary, money and everything, including his sword and stole his coat, vest and boots.

--Old Secesh

The Second Day of Shepherdstown-- Part 4: The 118thPennsylvania Sees the Elephant in the Worst Kind of Way

The 20th Maine got off fairly easily in what could have been a debacle.  However, the 118th Pennsylvania wasn't so fortunate.  (This is where Lt. Lemuel Crocker comes in).  They were positioned across a ravine from the other Union troops when couriers brought orders to withdraw across the Potomac River.

The messenger sent to the 118th delivered the message to a line officer, who relayed them to the colonel.  Men from other regiments yelled across the ravine to tell them to withdraw.    When word reached Col.  Charles Mallet  Prevost, he refused to accept them, saying: "I do not receive orders in that way.  If Colonel Barnes has any messages to give me, let his aide come to me."

Colonel Prevost grabbed the  regimental standard and started waving it to urge his men to move forward.  Just then, a musket ball slammed into his shoulder and ended the brief rally.  Command passed to Lt. Col. James Gwyn.  An aide brought  new orders to retreat and this time they were promptly followed.

The intensity of Confederate General A.P. Hill's attack and inexperience of the 118th began to tell.  They fell back to the edge of the bluff and began to break up in panic and confusion.  Men rushed and tumbled down the steep  hillside and streamed into the river.  Hill's men reached the top of the bluff and began pouring fire into the 118th.

One Tar Heel soldier wrote that he watched "them take to the water like ducks."

And, it is not yet over for the 118th.

--Old Secesh