104 



AEMY OPERATIONS. 



It being reported that the enemy were now 

 massing a force north of the town to attack the 

 rear of the first corps, the first and third divis- 

 ions of the eleventh corps were ordered across 

 the rear of the first corps to take up a position 

 on the right, and Gen. Steinwehr was station- 

 ed as a reserve on Cemetery Hill, immediately 

 south of the town. This force of the enemy 

 was the advance of Gens. Ehodes and Early's 

 divisions falling back from the Susquehanna. 

 At this time, about half past two p. M., the 

 enemy advanced in force against the first corps, 

 which slowly fell back to its original position, 

 northwest of the town. Here it was some- 

 what reenforced and prepared to make a stand. 

 The force of the enemy advanced across the 

 open space in line of battle, while their batte- 

 ries shelled the position of the first corps to 

 cover the advance. At short range it met a 

 fire so sharp and well served as to cause it to 

 reel and fall back. The line was again formed 

 and reenforced, and once more advanced, but 

 with no better success. By this time the divis- 

 ions of Ehodes and Early had come up from 

 the east, and Fender's division of Gen. Hill's 

 moved up on the right to the support of Gen. 

 Heth. Another charge was now made by the 

 whole force of the enemy. Their superior 

 numbers enabled them to threaten both flanks 

 of the Union force. The main effort was di- 

 rected against the left, and, notwithstanding a 

 brave resistance, such advantages were gained 

 that the first corps was ordered back to the 

 town. By this movement the left of the 

 eleventh was uncovered, and a heavy advance 

 completely on its right flank compelled it to 

 retire. The enemy advanced and took posses- 

 sion of the town, while the two corps fell back 

 and occupied the western slope of the hill south 

 of the town, held by Gen. Steinwehr. 



Gen. Lee says : " The attack was not pressed 

 that afternoon, the enemy's force being un- 

 known, and it being considered advisable to 

 await the arrival of the rest of our troops. It 

 had not been intended to fight a general battle 

 at such a distance from our base, unless at- 

 tacked by the enemy ; but finding ourselves un- 

 expectedly confronted by the Federal army, it 

 became a matter of difficulty to withdraw 

 through the mountains with our largo trains. 

 At the same time the country was unfavorable 

 for collecting supplies while in the presence of 

 the enemy's main body, as he was enabled to 

 restrain our foraging parties by occupying the 

 passes of the mountains with regular and local 

 troops. A battle thus became, in a measure, 

 unavoidable. Encouraged by the successful is- 

 sue of the engagement of the first day, and in 

 view of the valuable results that would ensue 

 from the defeat of the army of Gen. Meade, it 

 was thought advisable to renew the attack." 



At dusk the third and twelfth corps arrived 

 and took positions, the former on the ridge ex- 

 tending south and to the left of Cemetery Hill, 

 and the latter on the same ridge as it curved to 

 the right of the hill. At 11 P. M., Gen. Meade 



arrived and examined the -"position. He then 

 posted the several corps in the following order : 

 the twelfth, under Gen. Slocum, on the right ; 

 the eleventh, Gen. Howard, next; the first, 

 Gen. Doubleday, the second, Gen. Hancock, 

 the third, Gen. Sickles, in the centre ; the fifth, 

 Gen. Sykes, arrived the next morning, and was 

 placed on the extreme left. The line stretch- 

 ed in a semicircle, having its convex centre 

 toward Gettysburg, with the extreme toward 

 the southwest and south. The heights on 

 which the troops were posted sloped gently 

 down from their front. 



On the part of the enemy, Gen. Anderson's 

 division of Gen. Hill's corps, and Gen. Mc- 

 Laws's division of Gen. Longstreet's corps ar- 

 rived late in the evening within a mile or two 

 of the town, and bivouacked for the night. 

 Early on the next morning, Gen. Hood's divis- 

 ion of Longstreet's corps arrived, and their line 

 of battle was soon after formed. 



The key of Gen. Meade's position was Cem- 

 etery Hill, a little distance south of the town, 

 and on the northern slope of which the town 

 itself is situated. It was so called because the 

 burial place of the town was there. Its sum- 

 mit was east of the road which runs sonth to 

 Taneytown. The ridge passed to the west of 

 this road and ran south along its west side, and 

 was occupied by the second, third, fifth, and 

 sixth corps respectively, in line of battle. On 

 the continuation of the ridge to the east and 

 southeast was a part of the eleventh and the 

 twelfth corps. On this part of the line the ridge 

 was rocky and thickly wooded, and some de- 

 fences were thrown up on Thursday morning 

 by Gens. Geary and "Williams. The ridge from 

 Cemetery Hill directly south was open and 

 clear, and the troops there faced to the west. 

 The left flank of Gen. Meade rested upon a 

 sharp, rugged, and almost perpendicular peak, 

 covered with original forest growth. At the 

 foot of the ridge on the west was a narrow 

 valley between one and two miles in width, on 

 the western side of which is another ridge, 

 somewhat lower and running nearly parallel, 

 and mostly covered with heavy timber. The 

 line of battle of the enemy was formed on the 

 slope of this ridge, with Gen. Ewell's corps on 

 the left. Beginning at the town, Gen. Early's 

 division was at the extreme right, then Gen. 

 Ehodes's ; on the right of his division was the 

 left of Gen. Hill's corps, commencing with 

 Gen. Heth's division, then Gens. Fender and 

 Anderson's divisions. On the right of Gen. 

 Anderson's division was the left of Gen. 

 Longstreet's corps, Gen. McLaws's division 

 being next to Gen. Anderson's, and Gen. 

 Hood's on the extreme right of their line 

 and opposite the extreme left of Gen. Meade. 

 Neither the division of Gen. E well's corps nor 

 that of Gen. Pickett of Longstreet's corps had 

 at this time arrived. Gen. Pickett had been 

 left at Chambersburg to protect the Confed- 

 erate rear and escort their reserve train. Gen. 

 Johnson had been operating near Harrisburg. 



