The Battle of Gettysburg: The Country, the Contestants, the Results — John Shaqi
The Battle of Gettysburg: The Country, the Contestants, the ResultsStorrick, W. C. (William Clayton)
History
The Battle of Gettysburg: The Country, the Contestants, the Results
Storrick, W. C. (William Clayton)
Gettysburg National Military Park (Pa.); Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863
Union reinforcements were at hand. General Reynolds, in advance of the
1st Corps, arrived from Marsh Creek, via the Emmitsburg Road. After a
short conference with Buford at the Seminary buildings, he sent an
orderly urging Wadsworth, whose division was advancing across the
fields, to hasten. On its arrival, Reynolds posted Cutler to the right,
across the railroad cut which lies parallel to the Chambersburg Pike,
and Meredith on the left. (Reynolds Avenue now marks this line.)
Death of Reynolds.
After posting Hall’s battery in place of Calef’s, Reynolds rode to the
McPherson Woods, and while directing the advance of Meredith at 10.15
A.M. was instantly killed by a Confederate sharpshooter. Doubleday
consequently assumed command of the 1st Corps, and Rowley succeeded
Doubleday in command of the Division. Compelled to fall back into the
grove, Buford moved his cavalry to the left near the Fairfield Road, and
Meredith advanced into the woods, drove Hill’s right across Willoughby
Run, and captured General Archer and part of his men.
On the Union right, Cutler was attacked in flank by Davis’s Brigade, of
the left of Hill’s line, and was compelled to withdraw. Davis advanced
into the railroad cut where part of his force was captured. He then
withdrew to his original line.
A Morning Lull.
At 11 A.M. there was a lull. Doubleday withdrew his forces from across
Willoughby Run and established a new line through the McPherson Woods
from north to south. Robinson’s Division reached the field and was held
in reserve at the Seminary buildings. Rowley’s Division (formerly
Doubleday’s) arrived a little later; Stone’s Brigade of this Division
was deployed in the front line on what is now Stone Avenue, and Biddle’s
Brigade was placed on the left of Meredith, along what is now South
Reynolds Avenue. In the afternoon, Robinson’s Division was moved to the
right, prolonging the Union line to the Mummasburg Road in order to meet
the advance of Rodes’ Division, coming forward via the Carlisle Road.
Devin’s cavalry was moved from Buford’s right to the vicinity of the
York Pike and the Hanover Road.
[Illustration: Gettysburg Seminary Doorway.—The Lutheran Theological
Seminary was used as an observation point and hospital. The portico
was erected in 1913 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the
battle.]
In this preliminary action of the forenoon the advantage was in favor of
the Union forces. The Confederate General Heth reported:
“_The enemy had now been felt, and found in heavy force in and around
Gettysburg. The division was now formed in line of battle on the right
of the road; Archer’s brigade on the right, Pettigrew’s in the center,
and Brockenbrough’s on the left. Davis’s brigade was kept on the left
of the road that it might collect its stragglers, and from its
shattered condition it was not deemed advisable to bring it again into
action that day._”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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