Gettysburg Day 1: Fighting on the Ridges
The Battle for the High Ground
According to Stephen Sears in his book “Gettysburg”: “On the morning of July 1, Union cavalry under General John Buford was awaiting the approach of Confederate infantry forces from the direction of Cashtown, to the northwest. The Rebels mistakenly believed the cavalry they faced were Pennsylvania militia of little consequence. Instead, they were seasoned, regular army cavalry that was screening the approach of the Army of the Potomac.”
The first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg is said to have been fired by a Union cavalry officer at 7:30 A.M. on July 1, 1863, along the Chambersburg Turnpike three miles west of the town. The Southern column halted and threw skirmishers forward.
Sears continues: “Union General Buford recognized the importance of the high ground directly to the south of Gettysburg [where Meade would consolidate his troops later that day]. He knew that if the Confederates could gain control of the heights, Meade's army would have a hard time dislodging them. Buford decided to utilize three ridges on the opposite end of Gettysburg: Herr Ridge, McPherson Ridge, and Seminary Ridge. These were appropriate terrain for a delaying action by his small division against superior Confederate infantry forces. His goal was to buy time awaiting the arrival of Union infantrymen who could occupy the strong defensive positions south of town, Cemetery Hill, Cemetery Ridge, and Culp's Hill.”
By mid-morning, the Confederates had pushed the smaller, dismounted Federal cavalry from Herr Ridge back to secondary positions at McPherson Ridge. At that time, the vanguard of the main Federal army arrived to reinforce Buford’s men on the ridge.
At the Union center, forces under General Reynolds put a solid defense against superior numbers and focused artillery from Herr’s Ridge. Reynolds was killed when a stray bullet from a volley of fire hit him behind the ear. He was replaced by his next in command, General Abner Doubleday, who you might recognize as the disputed inventor of baseball.
On the left flank in Herbst Woods, the famed Union Iron Brigade, formed from regiments of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, put up a fierce fight that halted the strategic advance of Confederate forces.
According to Tim Smith of the American Battlefield Trust, occupation of this wood lot was deemed crucial to the Union defensive position west of the town. A soldier in the 2nd Wisconsin said, “the grove was our citadel, and it furnished the means for a strong defense. Every tree was a breastwork, every log a barricade, every bush a cover and concealment, and we made good use of every defensive object.”
To attack this position, the Rebels were forced to cross the open ground under fire, and forcibly drive the Union defenders from the woods. During the fighting on the left flank, General Archer was captured by Union forces, the first member of Lee’s staff to suffer the indignity.
As forces paused mid-day, the Confederates were facing significant losses with little gain to show for the effort.
Sidenote: It was about this time that Lawrence Burns joined the Union cause. He was the oldest veteran to fight at Gettysburg and was a veteran of the war of 1812. Burns showed up with his flintlock rifle and powder horn and fell in with one of the defending regiments.
As the afternoon unfolded, reinforcements from the main forces of both armies arrived to bolster troops who had fought in the morning. Unfortunately for the Union defenders, the Confederates jumped to a 2 to 1 advantage in manpower. On the right flank, the Union forces were in a poor defensive position below the Confederates who occupied the high ground on Oak Hill.
By mid-afternoon, Lee had arrived, and recognizing the magnitude of the fight, immediately ordered his forces to resume the mid-morning attack. And it was the overwhelming number of Rebel forces, now coordinated in their movement and attacks, that drove the Union troops out of their defensive positions.
In different varieties of disorder and panic, the Union forces retreated through Gettysburg. Fierce-holding actions and hand-to-hand fighting enabled the Federal troops to reach the safety of Cemetery Hill.
Seeking to press his advantage before more Union troops could arrive, Lee gave discretionary orders to General Richard Ewell to attack Cemetery Hill “if it was practicable”. His men were exhausted so he declined to push forward. This reticence would give Meade the high ground for the remainder of the battle.
By dusk, a Union Corps under Winfield Scott Hancock had arrived and extended the defensive line along Cemetery Ridge to the hill known as Little Round Top. Three more Union Corps arrived overnight to strengthen its defenses.
While July 1 had been a Confederate tactical victory, it ultimately forced Federal troops to the strong defensive ground.
According to Noah Trudeau in his book “Gettysburg” A Testing of Courage”, “The first day at Gettysburg—more significant than simply a prelude to the bloody second and third days—ranks as the 23rd biggest battle of the war by a number of troops engaged. About one-quarter of Meade's army (22,000 men) and one-third of Lee's army (27,000) were engaged. Union casualties were almost 9,000, Confederate slightly more than 6,000.”
But Day 1 was just the beginning of the unending slaughter that would define Gettysburg in the history books.
To learn more about Gettysburg and explore the consequences of Lee winning the battle listen to Episode 3 of the podcast on April 15..
Episode 3: Lee’s Victory at Gettysburg
To re-imagine the Battle of Gettysburg, check out Episode 3: Lee’s Victory of Gettysburg. In this episode, we look at the events that led to Lee’s defeat. We then re-think how Lee could have won that battle and what its consequences would be. Hint: The South would lose the Civil War a year earlier.
