The Legend of "Little Peter" Shevlin

  Often throughout the Civil War members of infantry regiments where placed on "detached" service with artillery units to help complete the crews, and keep the guns in action. On July 2nd 1863, during the second day of the battle of Gettysburg, the regimental history of Battery "B" 1st Regiment Light Artillery relates the story of little Peter Shevlin. Although not a member of the battery, his contribution on that historic day, was so significant so unusual, that John H. Rhodes late Sergeant of the battery, and the author of its history saw it fit to include it, and pass it on through his historical records. The batteries history reads as follows:

   The following incident connected with the above the engagement is worthy of note.  Too many men in line on a battlefield water was a precious article, and no exception in our case, while in position on the Codori's field, waiting under the hot rays of the afternoon sun.  In the sixth gun detachment was a short, thickset, "detached man" from the 140th Pennsylvania regiment.  Not a drop of cowardly blood flowed through his veins, he was good-natured, clever, and obliging, but so awkward and blundering that, many times he was in the way and more of a hindrance than a help.  But this occasion was unexceptional one.  The water in our canteens was getting low, and there was little prospect of refilling them, as we could not leave 

Corp. John Delavan

our posts. " Coplar, I will take the boys' canteens and go to the house beyant there, shure they are must be out well, and I'll fill them and be back in a jiffy." Thus spoke little Peter Shevlin to his corporal, John Delevan.  (Glancing at the house Codori's) the corporal said, "Yes, there might be a while there, and the enemy beyond in the woods, and they might make it to red-hot for you, and make you turn out your toes."  "Divil a bit of it." Said Peter, "for shure, our skirmishers are beyant 

the house, and as long as they stay I'll be safe. When they run, shure, I can't run too." Corporal Delevan said, "Well Peter, if you go, you will go at your own risk." However, Peter was willing to take the risk and was soon loaded with a dozen or more canteens (each would hold three pints when full) going off in that direction of the house "beyant".  

  In the engagement of the battery, which soon followed Peter would be canteens was forgotten.  After the charge was over, and we were congratulating one another on our escape, a familiar voice was heard saying, " Ah, ah! Boys, here's yer wather!" For a moment the men seemed paralyzed.  There stood Peter with a grin on his face, and the canteens filled with water, attached to his shoulders.  The grimy cannoneers gathered about him in surprise, explaining; " For Gods sake, Peter, how did you escape not being gobbled up by the Johnnies?"

Battery 1st Day Marker in Codori's field.

 Although our mouths were parched we listened to Peter's story.  He said:" When I came to the house beyant, I found a well and bucket, but the bucket was so big, and the muzzle of the canteens so small that it took a long while to fill them.  I got them filled, after a bit, and got them on me shoulders, I can't fight." Then he said," Get to the rear." Then another one seed me, and came at me with his baynet, I found a well and bucket, but the bucket was so big, and the muzzle of the canteens so small that it took a long while to fill them.  I got them filled, after a bit, and got them on me shoulders, and had jest started return, when Pop! Pop! I heard behind me.  I looked and our skirmishers were firing and running, and the Rebs were coming.  I tried to run, but the canteens would pick me up.  At first I thought I would fling them away, but no, I said to me self, I will, for the boys wants the wather.  Soon the Rebs came up to me and one of them, along lank divil, rated to meet with his baynet and asked me, if I would surrender; I told him, of course I would.  I had no gun; and said I, too him, "see me condition, I can't fight." Then he said," Get to the rear." Then another one seed me, and came at me with his baynet asking if I would surrender.  I told him to see me condition, I had no gun and could not fight; and he told me to get to the rear.  Four or five of these divils took the prisoner and asked me to surrender, and I told them all to see me condition.  I had no gun, and could not fight.  In their came a big roar up at the battery.  I looked and seed the battery had opened on them, and the shot came tearing up the ground, and the shells bursting among them from our guns.  At this they left me and went for the battery.  There was a big rock convenient to be so I went behind it with the canteens and squat down, like a hen with her chickens, and stayed there while the fight was going on. Bye-and-bye the Johnnies came back in such a hurry, that divil a man of them stopped to ask me what I surrender.  Then I got up and come in.  So here is your wather boys." As we raise those canteens to our parched lips, we drank to the health of little Peter.