JULY

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

July 1, 2, and 3, 1863

The Union Army of the Potomac was terribly defeated by the Confederate army under General Lee in two great battles, at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and five months later, on May 1, 2 and 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va. Immediately after the latter battle, General Lee, yielding to the demand of the Southern people, prepared to invade the Northern States, capture Philadelphia, and perhaps New York.

In the first week of June, Lee's army, numbering about 75,000 men, left its encampment near Fredericksburg and marched west to the Shenandoah Valley and then north through this valley, crossing the Potomac River, thence northward through western Maryland into Pennsylvania. By this bold movement, he had swept around the Union Army of the Potomac which under Gen. Joseph Hooker guarded Washington. Lee left this army far to the southward. Indeed, if the Union commanders desired, they could have then marched South and captured Richmond, but on the other hand, in that event Lee could turn back and capture Washington. So the Union Army followed Lee northward to protect Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. A decisive battle between the two armies was inevitable and both commanders manoeuvered to get the advantage of position. General Hooker, who had been criticised for apparent dilatoriness, resigned, and on June 28, Gen. George G. Meade was appointed to succeed him in the command. The Union Army counted about 90,000 men.

Before either army had taken position for battle, and while the two main bodies were more than twenty-five miles apart, the advance or scouting forces of the two armies came together near Gettysburg, Pa., in the forenoon of Wednesday, July 1.

Lee's advance was moving to take position upon the hills at Gettysburg, not knowing that Meade's advance force had already taken possession of the roads leading to those hills. So the first clash was a surprise to both armies. The Confederate advance attacked the Union advance on comparatively level ground west of Gettysburg. Reinforcements came steadily to both sides. After six hours' fighting, the Union forces retreated a short distance to Cemetery Hill, a strong position, and the first day's battle ended. The total number of Union troops engaged on this day was 18,000. The Confederates had about 25,000 in their final advance in the afternoon. The Confederate loss was about 2,500. The Union loss was not reported, but was very heavy. General Reynolds, an able and popular Union leader, was killed.

Cemetery Hill, just outside the town of Gettysburg, forms one of a number of hills and ridges which run together making a line from a birdseye view in the form of a fishhook. The names of the different hills in this line, beginning at the head or eye of the fishhook, are in order, Round Top, Little Round Top, Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill, all in the "shank” of the hook; East Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill in the bend and Power's Hill at the point. From the eye to the point of this line is about five miles.

Parallel to the shank of the fishhook line and west of it on the side away from the bend and point, is a high ridge about four miles in length, called Seminary Ridge because a Lutheran seminary was established at one end of it. Between this ridge and the shank of the fishhook line is a valley through which ran the entire length, the pike road to Emmetsburg, Md. At the north end of the valley was the town of Gettysburg-then a small town.

On the night of July 1 and early morning of the 2nd, almost the entire Confederate army arrived and took position on Seminary Ridge. General Lee was personally in command. At the same time, General Meade had been hurrying forward his various corps, and one by one they

arrived and took position in the fishhook line. In the forenoon of July 2, the entire Union army was in position.

Before the battle of the second day began, Lee had extended his line so as to lap the bend and point of Meade's line. Thus he also formed a fishhook line, about seven miles in total length. In this position, Meade had the advantage, for he had the inner and shorter line. The two armies were about a mile apart, separated by a valley.

In more definite detail, the positions of the two armies were as follows: The lines of both, facing each other, extended north and south, both bending to the east at the north end, and about a mile of distance across a valley separating them. Lee's right wing was commanded by General Longstreet; opposed to him on Meade's left was General Sickles with General Sykes in reserve; Meade's left covered Little Round Top, Round Top, and one part of Cemetery Ridge. Lee's center was under General Hill and opposed to him was Meade's subordinates General Hancock and General Howard; Meade's center covered part of Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill and East Cemetery Hill. Lee's left wing was commanded by General Ewall; opposed to him was General Slocum, commanding Meade's right wing, which covered the bend and point of the fishhook-Culp's Hill and Power's Hill.

General Longstreet, after the war, wrote that he advised General Lee against a frontal attack, since Meade's position was a strong one and the Union forces were numerically superior. Longstreet proposed a movement of the whole Confederate army around Meade's left, thus cutting Meade off from Washington and compelling the Federals to fight an offensive battle where they would not have such a strong position as that of the fishhook line at Gettysburg. According to General Longstreet, Lee replied:

"No. The enemy is there, and I am going to attack him there."

At half past three o'clock in the afternoon of July 2, Lee ordered Longstreet to advance against Meade's left wing. At the same time Ewall opened a cannonade against Meade's right wing to stop reinforcements that might go to Meade's left.

Longstreet, at 4 p. m. began his attack on Sickles, who had, contrary to orders, moved forward into the valley at a place called the Peach Orchard. At the same time Hood's Confederate division swept around the Union left with intent to gain the heights of Little Round Top and Round Top, and then roll up the entire left and center of Meade's army. The movement partially succeeded. A fearful struggle ensued for the possession of the heights. The ground was rough, rocks and trees everywhere breaking the surface; it was a soldiers' battle, man against man, with little need of officers to direct the firing. Foot by foot the Confederates fought their way upward. But Meade saw the danger and rushed reinforcements barely in time from his reserves at the center and left. Meanwhile Longstreet had overwhelmed Sickles and driven him back past his original position. The whole Union left was in retreat, though fighting desperately. Now the Confederates, widening their attack, pushed on to the base of Cemetery Hill and threw themselves against the center commanded by Hancock with Meade upon the battlefield near him. The Union center held, and thus the Union army was saved. The Confederate attack was thrown back as twilight dimmed the hills, and they withdrew a short distance, having beaten Sickles at Peach Orchard, but failing to capture Round Top and Little Round Top, nor any part of Cemetery Ridge.

At the bend of the fishhook, Ewall had attacked Slocum and his men had pressed up the northern slope of Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill in the face of murderous fire. The struggle here lasted until 10 o'clock at night when both sides were compelled by exhaustion to desist.