According to family historical records Levi R. Long was a private in the Company I/17th Pennsylvania Calvary. Levi's regiment, which was part of the Second Regiment of the first division of the calvary corps under the comand of General Pleasanton and General John Buford. Levi's division participated in the first day of the Battle at Gettysburg. According to a family letter written by Levi's brother H. F. Long, dated October 6, 1922:

"We were in the actual battle only the first day,-July 1. On the morning of the second day we were called off the field and sent to Westminister, Md., where was Gen. Meade's base of supplies. We were not in the second and third days of the battle. The first, however, was the hardest and most trying. We were detained a few days at Westminister and then went on to join the army which had followed the retreating rebels from Gettysburg and considerable fighting took place at Williamsport, Md. and Falling Waers, where Lee was making desperate efforts to get his army over the Potomac. We had just arrived at Falling Waters and standing at or near Falling Waters, not in battle line. Everything seemed quiet and we did not know that fighting was going on when to our utter surprise a shell from the enemy line fell down amongst us and struck Levi R. Long crushing one of his legs. I think between the knee and ankle. His brother, William, was first at his side to help him from his horse. The last I saw Levi he was being carried off the field to have his wound dressed. I am glad to learn from your letter that he lived to be married and left children to follow him to the eternal world. It seems too bad that in some way his name was omitted from the list of men who fought at Gettysburg on the Pa. monument.

Levi was a good soldier, brave and true to duty. I do not think he ever made an unnecessary trouble fo himself or anybody else. He was, I think, a general favorite in the company. Levi was wounded as described above, at the end of the Gettysburg campaign in which he acquitted himself like a valorous 17th Calvaryman. He was wounded on July 14, 1863 and discharged honorably on December 3, 1863."

As a result of his injury Levi had to have his let amputated.

Levi R Long