THE FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG.
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GENERAL LEE’S HEADQUARTERS ON THE CHAMBEU8BURG PIKE.FROM A WAR-TIME PHOTOGRAPH.
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there to he joined by itsgarrison from MarylandHeights, in order to cutLee’s communications withVirginia, and in conjunctionwith Reynolds to operateon his rear. General Hal-leek, however, objected tothe abandonment of theHeights, notwithstandingHooker’s representationsthat the position was ut-terly useless for any pur-pose ; whereupon Hookerabandoned his project, andfinding now that he was
“ not allowed to manoeuvre his own army in the presence of the enemy/asked to be relieved from his command. He had encountered some of thedifficulties which had beset a predecessor whom I 10 had himself mercilesslycriticised, and promptly succumbed to them. His request was compliedwith, and Major-General George G. Meade was appointed his successor, thisbeing the fifth change of commanders of the army in front of Washington inton months. Meade was an excellent officer of long service, who had alwaysproved equal to his position, whether as a specialist or a commander of troops.Many welcomed his advent—some regretted Hooker’s departure. All thoughtthe time for the change unfortunate, but accepted loyally, as that army everdid, the leader designated by the President, and gave Meade their hearty slip'port. He was succeeded in the command of the Fifth Corps by Major-Gen-eral George Sykes, a veteran of the Mexican war and a distinguished soldier.
When General Meade assumed command, June 2Hth, the best informationplaced Longstreet at Chambersburg, A. P. Hill between that place and Cash-town, and Ewell in occupation of Carlisle, York, and the country betweenthem, threatening Harrisburg . Unacquainted with Hooker’s plans and views[see p. 243], lie determined at once to move on the main line from Frederickto Harrisburg , extending his wings as far as compatible with a ready concen-tration, in order to force Lee to battle before I 10 could cross the Susquehanna-AVith this view he spent the day in ascertaining tlve position of his army, andbrought up his cavalry, Buford to his left, Gregg to his right, and Kilpatrickto the front. Directing French to occupy Frederick with seven thousandmen of the garrison of Harper’s Ferry , lie put his army in motion early onthe morning of the 29th. Kilpatrick reached Littlestown that night; andon the morning of the 30th the rear of his division, while passing throughHanover, was attacked by a portion of Stuart’s cavalry. Stuart, availing'himself of the discretion allowed him, had left Robertson’s and Jones’sbrigades to guard the passes of the Blue Ridge, and on the night of the 24tb>with those of Hampton, Fitzhugh Lee, and Chambliss, had started to move
GEN. LEE'S HEADQUARTER 5 '