Gettysburg after battle report:

Report of Capt. Jesse M. Richardson, Forty-second Virginia Infantry.

Near Hagerstown, Md., July 12, 1863.

Sir: Lieut.-Col. [R. W.] Withers having been wounded
in the battle of Gettysburg, and Capt. [S. H.] Saunders being sick,
it devolves upon me as the next officer in rank in the regiment to
report the operations of the Forty-second Virginia Regt. in the
battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 3, and 4.

This regiment is a part of Brig. Gen. J. M. Jones' brigade (Second
Virginia), Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson's division. It left camp near
Scotland, Pa., on the morning of July 1, and arrived upon the battlefield
and town of Gettysburg about sunset, and was placed in position
near the extreme left of our lines, with the right of the regiment
resting on the Twenty-fifth Virginia Regt., and its left on the
Fiftieth Virginia Regt., where it remained during the night and
until about 4 o'clock next day.

The regiment was then moved by the flank, following the Twenty-fifth
virginia toward the enemy's position on the hills, to support
the batteries of the division, then taking position nearer the enemy,
and was halted at the stone house, where it remained some two hours,
until the artillery fight was about over. The regiment was not much
exposed here, and suffered no loss.

The regiment was then moved up to the position of the artillery,
and formed into line, with its right on the Fiftieth Virginia Regt.
and its left on the Forty-eighth Virginia Regt., and moved
forward in a splendid line across the field into the woods. A temporary
halt was made at the creek at the foot of the mountain, where
the regiment suffered some from the enemy's shells, which had been
harmless until the creek was reached. The regiment soon moved forward
from the creek, and advanced up the mountain some 75 yards,
when it opened fire upon the enemy. It continued loading and firing,
and pressing forward up the hill.

It was now dark, and, owing to the nature of the ground, our lines
had become disorganized. The regiment got within 30 paces of the
enemy's works, driving all the enemy within them. Some of the
men got nearer.

In about one hour from the time the firing commenced, the line
was ordered to fall back slowly, which was done about half way
down the hill, where it remained until ordered across the creek,
where the brigade was reformed.

After the brigade was reformed, the line again crossed the creek,
and took position some 50 yards from the creek, where it remained
through the night, the next day, and part of the next night, skirmishing
with the enemy.

On the morning of the 4th, the regiment moved with the brigade
and division to a new position on the road, about 1 mile from town,
where it remained during the day, unengaged.

The loss of the regiment (which has been furnished you*) all occurred
in the fight of the 2d.

I desire to mention here the name of Robert Lemmon, of Baltimore,
not a member of the regiment, but acting lieutenant in one of the
companies, who was killed. He acted gallantly, as did all the officers
and men of the regiment.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JESSE M. RICHARDSON,
Capt., Comdg. Forty-second Virginia Infantry.

Capt. Reuben Cleary,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part II. Reports. Serial No. 44