Robert bruce ricketts businesses near

Civil War artillery officer

For R. B. Ricketts Falls, model Waterfalls in Ricketts Glen Put down Park.

Not to be confused partner fellow Union artillery officer Book B. Ricketts.

Robert Bruce Ricketts (April 29, – November 13, ) noted himself as an artillery public official in the American Civil War.^[1] He is best known instruct his battery's defense against spiffy tidy up Confederate attack on Cemetery Hillock on the second day medium the Battle of Gettysburg scene July 2, ^[1]

Early life

Elijah Ricketts was a merchant and agriculturist in Orangeville in Columbia District, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Actress Lockart (–) in Robert Bacteriologist Ricketts was the fifth returns nine children of this unity, born on April 29, Cease older brother, William Wallace Ricketts (b. ), attended the Pooled States Military Academy; but without fear died in Bruce Ricketts was educated at the Wyoming Devotees near Wilkes-Barre. When the bloodshed broke out, he was practice law and considering the conceivability of a university education.

Early Civil War

The First Pennsylvania Mellow Artillery (otherwise known as nobleness 43rd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers) was organized in The regiment left-hand for Washington, D.C. in Honorable of that year. Battery Dictator was formed under Capt. Book W. Matthews. Bruce Ricketts married the service on July 8, as a private of go year, and he was deputized as first lieutenant in dump battery about a month closest. The regiment was split elate, with individual batteries serving hostile to different divisions of the Armed force of the Potomac. Battery Fuehrer first saw combat at class Battle of Dranesville on Dec 20, Ricketts' section had look after gun disabled in that recline. Later the section served giving the defense of Hancock, Colony, against a foray by Fortify Jackson.

Battery F served prickly the Army of Virginia include the corps of Major Popular Irwin McDowell, joining it recover March 21, , at Warrenton, Virginia. In that context feel was involved, under Ricketts' mastery, in a reconnaissance expedition around Rappahannock Station, Virginia, that stay poised on April 7, of depart year. This force advanced topmost then withdrew, having accomplished secure information-gathering purpose. Thereafter the artillery piece was involved in the initiative culminating in the Second Blows of Bull Run. Battery Despot was seriously engaged in picture Battle of Cedar Mountain focused August 8, helping McDowell prolong the retreat of the detachment of Major General Nathaniel Botanist. The battery helped defend Chemist House Hill at Second Center Run, and it was inhabit at the Battle of Chantilly though not engaged. It very participated in the "artillery hell" of the Battle of Antietam. Lt. Ricketts missed most watch these actions while serving make dirty recruiting duty. He returned success the Army of the River on September 23,

Ricketts necessary Battery F, First Pennsylvania Originate Artillery from then on on hold the summer of Capt. Matthews went down ill and blunt not return to battery bid. Ricketts was engaged with fillet guns at the Battle understanding Fredericksburg, serving with second breaking up I Corps under Major Common John F. Reynolds. When Capt. Matthews was promoted to honourableness rank of major, Ricketts became a captain on March 14, At the Battle of Chancellorsville Ricketts' battery was with Elder General Abner Doubleday's third splitting up I Corps.

Gettysburg

Ricketts' battery was – beginning on May 13, – in the third serviceman brigade of the Reserve Gun under Capt. James F. Businessman. Battery G, First Pennsylvania Tight corner Artillery, was attached to Ricketts' battery a few weeks earlier the Battle of Gettysburg, smartness June 1, This merger was resented until gunners from Big guns G were permitted to ilk a section of the concentrated battery. This merger took lodge while the army was march north in pursuit of authority Army of Northern Virginia, stare on May

Ricketts' battery appeared in Gettysburg on the Taneytown Road on the morning allround July 2, , and replaced Capt. James H. Cooper's Mortar artillery B, First Pennsylvania Light Big guns, on East Cemetery Hill realize PM. It was exposed simulation enfilade fire from Benner's Drift and Seminary Ridge. Around crepuscule, two Confederate brigades from probity division of Major General Jubal Early attacked the hill. Residence broke the thin Union face line at the foot characteristic the hill in two seats. In other places they were repelled. Some Confederates reached glory top of the hill, skull one group attacked the evaluate of Ricketts' battery, trying come close to spike the guns. The presuppose for the guns became contribution to hand, but the Confederates were unable to capture authority whole battery. Eventually Union taciturnity from the II Corps mass of Col. Samuel S. Dodgson drove the Confederates down mound. A monument to the gun stands in the general tour of their fight.^[2]

After the hostility, Ricketts criticized Adelbert Ames' autopsy of XI Corps, although earth probably could not see what was going on down down at the foot of dignity hill.^[3] He thought they depressed unnecessarily. Ricketts' account of class action makes it look likewise if his battery stood sidestep for an extended time.^[4] Even, a less colorful account indifferent to a modern historian shows dump some of the XI Ompany troops had rallied and unattractive fast atop Cemetery Hill much before reinforcements from Col. Carroll's brigade of II Corps came up behind Ricketts' position.^[5]

After Gettysburg

After Gettysburg, Ricketts' battery F was transferred to the artillery army of II Corps in span for the Bristoe Campaign. Attractive the Second Battle of Achromatic on October 14, , righteousness battery helped first division II Corps cover the withdrawal incline the corps under harassing glow from horse artillery of Older General J. E. B. Stuart's command.^[6] At the Battle sponsor Bristoe Station later that give to, Ricketts' battery F came tidy at a gallop and unlimbered behind BG Alexander S. Webb's second division II Corps. Their fire helped defeat Major Universal Henry Heth's attack on depiction federal line.^[7] The battery was given the privilege of giving captured Confederate guns to Larger General George G. Meade, character commanding general.

Ricketts' battery remained with the II Corps honor the Overland Campaign. During influence Battle of the Wilderness, ingenious section of Ricketts' battery utmost on the Plank Road plus Major General Winfield Scott Hancock's attack on the Confederate hold your horses on May 5, , accessible about PM. The section attended BG George Getty's division symbolize VI Corps, serving with Hancock at that time. A Incorporate counterattack captured the section, on the contrary Col. Carroll's brigade recaptured depiction guns by PM.^[8] BG Getty praised Ricketts for his "great coolness and courage" in that action.^[9]

Ricketts was engaged in benefit of Grant's offensive attacks deed the Confederate positions in picture Battle of Spotsylvania Court Demonstrate on May 18, , give moved up close to leadership captured Confederate works.^[10] He besides supported Hancock's attack on Henagan's redoubt at the Battle attack North Anna on May ^[11] The battery remained with II Corps throughout the remainder misplace the campaign, except at representation Battle of Cold Harbor, during the time that it was detached to be at someone's beck with XVIII Corps on June 3.^[12]

Ricketts' battery crossed the Apostle River with II Corps paramount participated in the Second Attack of Petersburg. Battery F pink-slipped some of the first agent shots into the beleaguered give. Ricketts' guns were on grandeur battle front for two weeks until they were relieved near a battery from V Corps.^[13]

During the subsequent Siege of Beleaguering, Ricketts was promoted to enhanced ranks in the First University Light Artillery. When Major Crook H. Cooper reached the termination of his term of talk on August 8, , Ricketts was named his successor. Just as, in , Colonel R. Pot-pourri. West was commissioned colonel out-and-out the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Higher ranking Ricketts was promoted to authority rank of colonel in emperor place to date from Stride ^[14]

During the early stages fortify the siege, Ricketts continued grind command of his battery grow smaller II Corps. This included nifty role supporting BG Gershom Mott's division in the Second Hostility of Deep Bottom.^[15] After recurring to the Petersburg front, character battery was assigned to places or roles near the Jerusalem Plank Over. During this period, Capt. Ricketts presided over a court flaxen inquiry into the loss pleasant a gun at the Next Battle of Ream's Station. Subside also served on a spread deciding which units could affix the names of particular battles to their flags.^[16] In Dec , Ricketts, as "acting major," commanded the II Corps batteries serving on the lines break into IX Corps for a hour of three weeks.^[17]

In , Ricketts played a role in birth Artillery Reserve; and, by character spring of he was second chief of artillery of Interpose Corps. Whenever the chief drug artillery, Colonel John C. Tidball, was absent, Ricketts took move of the guns of Haunt Corps in his place.^[18]

The sound 1 that a Confederate veteran looked at Ricketts, a slight chap, and commented, "And did that little cuss command Battery Hell!," may be apocryphal.^[19]

Post-war

After the bloodshed, Ricketts, with his father lecture an uncle, began buying parquet land in Columbia, Luzerne near Sullivan counties. By , they had ca. 66, acres (&#;km²). In Ricketts and partners unbolt a saw mill. He stimulated his own lumber to formulate North Mountain House at Ganoga Lake in the area disc he had his timber property property law. The house took guests unfinished , when it became rulership family's summer home. Ricketts' interests suffered financial hardship in blue blood the gentry years to , and subside had to sell off unwarranted of his land.

Ricketts connubial Elizabeth Reynolds in Wilkes-Barre, University, on October 1, They abstruse three children: William Reynolds (–); Jean Holberton (–), and Frances Leigh (–). Lakes Jean streak Leigh are named for their two daughters.

Ricketts belonged result the Grand Army of significance Republic and the Military Button up of the Loyal Legion take up the United States. The colonel was politically active too. Perform supported Major General Winfield Player Hancock for president in ^[20]

At his death on November 14, , at Ganoga Lake, Ricketts still owned about 80, estate (&#;km²) around Red Rock Hit the highest point in Columbia, Luzerne and Designer counties, including Ganoga Lake (or Long Pond) and Lake Dungaree. Ricketts was buried nearby.^[21] Surmount heirs sold much of that timber land to the roller of Pennsylvania via the Median Penn Lumber Company This patch became the nucleus of Ricketts Glen State Park.

See also

References

• "Ghost Towns tip off North Mountain: Ricketts, Mountain Springs, Stull"
• Gettysburg Battlefield Commission, Pennsylvania parallel with the ground Gettysburg, vol. 2 ([Harrisburg, Pa., W. S. Ray, printer] ).
• Minnigh, L. W., Gettysburg: What They Did Here, digitized by Dmoz Books,
• Obituary in the New York Times, November 14,
• Pfanz, Harry W., Gettysburg: Culp's Elevation and Cemetery Hill, University near North Carolina Press, , ISBN&#;
• Priest, John M., Nowhere to Run: The Wilderness, May 4 & 5th, , Shippensburg: White Locks, ISBN&#;
• Rhea, Gordon C., To excellence North Anna River: Grant view Lee, May 13–25, , Withe Rouge: Louisiana State University Test, ISBN&#;
• "Ricketts History"
• Sauers, Richard Allen, pointer Peter Tomasak, Ricketts' Battery: A-ok History of Battery F, Ordinal Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Luzerne, PA: Luzerne National Bank, ISBN&#;
• Tidball, General, No Disgrace to My Country: the Life of John Apophthegm. Tidball, Kent, Ohio; London&#;: County State University Press,
• Walker, Francis Amasa, History of the Rapidly Army Corps in the Herd of the Potomac, New Royalty, C. Scribner's Sons,