First Day of the Battle of Gettysburg

Lee’s concentration was rapid. The fight of Wednesday had been, to him, a surprise.

Continuing Battle of Gettysburg,
with a selection from History of the Southern Rebellion by Orville J. Victor published in 1898. This selection is presented in 7.5 easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Battle of Gettysburg.

Time: July 1-3, 1863
Place: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Simultaneous with this charge Doubleday relieved the Iron Brigade from its too advanced position, turned it quickly upon its center, and, sweeping down toward the right, caught a considerable number of the men of Archer’s brigade, including Archer himself, who had advanced over the run upon Cutler’s front.

These successes were now rapidly followed by an opening out of the respective battle lines. The arrival of Pender’s division of Hill’s corps as well as of the advance of Ewell, gave the enemy great additional strength, which was not fully counterbalanced by the coming up of the remaining divisions of the First Corps; and the Federals, therefore, fought at a disadvantage. Having re-formed his right brigade, Wadsworth moved still farther toward the right, to confront the increased strength of the enemy on his front, in that direction. Meredith’s men still were firmly holding the left, under a scathing fire, in which the Confederate artillery made sad work with the lion-hearted men of that Iron Brigade, when the division of Rowley (Doubleday’s old division) was put into the fight. With a wild cheer the columns moved forward, and soon the wood and hillsides became one blaze of musketry, while the several division batteries, getting at work, answered the enemy’s guns, shot for shot. The Federal left, thus sustained, for the time being held its ground.

On the right, Wadsworth was so pressed that the remaining division of the First Corps (Robinson’s), then in reserve, on Seminary Ridge, was sent to his support—two brigades (Baxter’s and Paul’s) getting into position on Cutler’s right, covering the Mummasburg road, along which Rodes’s division of Ewell’s corps was advancing. The enemy, pressing his brigades too far forward, met a stunning fire, which, by throwing back his right, uncovered his left. Observing this, by a happy movement the bulk of Lawton’s brigade was captured by the two fresh Federal commands. This second success was followed by the appearance, still farther on the right, of Early’s division of Ewell’s corps, just arrived from York. With his fine artillery Early soon so worried the Federal right as to compel it to give ground.

General Howard (Eleventh Corps) reached the field at noon, and as ranking officer he assumed command. Leaving one di vision (Steinwehr’s) in town to occupy Cemetery Hill, which he perceived was the key to the Gettysburg ground, he threw the two divisions of Barlow and Schurz, of the Eleventh Corps, to the extreme right to confront Early’s evident flanking advance. Thus posted he covered both the Carlisle and Harrisburg roads. This left a thin line, or, rather, no line at all, for a short distance between the Mummasburg and Carlisle roads; and while Barlow and Schurz were holding Early in check, Rodes pressed his brigades into the exposed section of the field. Doubleday detected the dangerous gap and tried to close it, by ordering in his last reserve brigade. This stayed the threatened perforation of the Federal line, and all again promised well. The battle raged with savage fury from one end to the other. About 3 P.M. the Eleventh Corps divisions opposed to Early fell away before his tremendous artillery fire. This was followed by a charge, beginning from their left column, when the entire Federal right was driven in, bearing with it the right division of the First Corps, which up to that time had held Rodes firmly at bay.

The First Corps division of Wadsworth fell back to Seminary Ridge, in fighting order, but the division of Robinson, and the two Eleventh Corps divisions were driven into the town, too disordered to offer any resistance. Once in the town this disorder was rendered complete by the dispersion of commands through the several streets; and the enemy, enveloping the northwest -section of the village, succeeded in capturing a large portion of the disorganized ranks—about five thousand prisoners * and three guns falling into Ewell’s hands. Wadsworth, with Bu ford’s ever-ready cavalry, held Seminary Ridge till its abandonment became necessary, when he moved off, with all his guns and the reserve artillery, to Cemetery Hill, which Howard’s fore thought had secured against all comers. The play of Steinwehr’s guns upon Ewell’s ranks warned him off, and the fight was ended — Buford’s command facing the foe to the last.

[* This number included all the wounded of the day, who had been borne to the town for care, as well as those left in the Seminary, too severely injured to be moved.]

The news of this conflict borne to Meade had changed his whole prearranged order of battle. When informed of Reynolds’s death he had dispatched General Hancock to the field, giving him discretionary power to order the battle at Gettysburg if that place appeared to him propitious for the general conflict. Followed by General Warren, chief of engineers, Hancock reached the town at the moment of the Federal retreat. His opinion of the feasibility of the ground for Meade’s operations already had been formed, and he so disposed the forces then available as to hold the commanding heights of Cemetery and Culp’s hills. But, before receiving the reports of Hancock and Warren regarding the situation, Meade had ordered forward all the troops within ready call-the Twelfth and Second corps. The Fifth and Sixth corps were instructed by messengers to hasten to the same point. The Third, moving from Emmetsburg, was on the ground by 6 RM. The Sixth, being at Manchester, had thirty miles to march, hence Sedgwick was instructed (at 7. 30 a.m., July 1st) to make a forced march by the shortest route.

Lee’s concentration was equally rapid. The fight of Wednesday had been, to him, a surprise. Moving his columns by easy marches, he expected to occupy Gettysburg unmolested, the absence of his cavalry, under Stuart, leaving him uninformed of Meade’s advance upon the same point. When the booming of guns along Willoughby Run announced the Federal presence, the Confederate commander found his second projection impeded, and it remained for him at once to decide there to fight the decisive battle or to retire by Chambersburg and Fairfield to the Potomac. The choice, indeed, was made for him. He therefore ordered forward his commands, and during the night the divisions were getting into position.

Orville J. Victor begins here. Edward A. Pollard begins here. Abraham Lincoln begins here.

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