THE FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG.

273

lias a clear view of tlie slopes of both ridges and of the valley between them.West of McPherson’s ridge Willoughby Run flows south into Marsh Creek.South of the farm buildings and directly opposite the seminary, a woodborders the run for about 300 yards, and stretches back to the summit of Mc-Pherson’s ridge. Prom the town two roads run: one south-west to Hagers-town via Fairfield, the other north-westerly to Chambersburg via Cashtown.The seminary is midway between them, about 300 yards from each. Parallelto and 150 yards north of the Chambersburg pike, is the bed of an unfinishedrailroad, with deep cuttings through the two ridges. Directly north of thetown the country is comparatively flat and open: on the east of it, RockCreek flows south.

On the south, andoverlooking it, is aridge of bold, highground, terminatedon the west by Cem-etery Hill and onthe east by Culp’sHill, which, bendingto the south, ex-tends half a mile ormore and terminatesm low grounds nearSpangler’s Spring.

Culp’s Hill is steeptoward the east, is■well wooded, andits eastern base ishashed by RockCreek.

Impressed by the importance of the position, Buford, expecting the earlyreturn of the enemy in force, assigned to Devin’s brigade the country north,and to G-amble’s that west of the town; sent out scouting parties on all theroads to collect information, and reported the condition of affairs to Reynolds.His pickets extended from below the Fairfield road, along the eastern bank ofWilloughby Run, to the railroad cut, then easterly some 1500 yards north ofthe town, to a wooded hillock near Rock Creek.

On the night of June 30th Meade’s headquarters and the Artillery Reserve^ere at Taneytown; the First Corps at Marsh Run, the Eleventh at Emmits-burg, Third at Bridgeport, Twelfth at Littlestown, Second at Uniontown,Hiftli at Union Mills, Sixth and Gregg’s cavalry at Manchester, Kilpatrick’s atHanover. A glance at the map [p. 266] will show at what disadvantage Meade’sarmy was now placed. Lee’s whole army was nearing Glettysburg, whileMeade’s was scattered over a wide region to the east and south of that town.

Meade was now convinced that all designs on the Susquehanna had beenabandoned; but as Lee’s corps were reported as occupying the country from

CONFEDERATE DEAD ON THE FIELD OF THE FIRST DAY.

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