274

THE FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG ,

1

Amin

^7C.

c

■SSg-io''

siss

ffilpl:

v_5

Wf

'fjW 1

■'03»"

v l J5i

!(«V-8)i

safe

UNION DEAD WEST OP THE SEMINARY. PROM A PHOTOGRAPII.

Chambersburg to Carlisle, he ordered, tor the next day’s moves, the First and

Eleventh corps to Gettysburg , under Reynolds, the Third to Emmitsburgjthe Second to Taneytown, the Fifth to Hanover, and the Twelfth to TwoTaverns, directing Slocum to take command of the Fifth in addition to hisown. The Sixth Corps was left at Manchester, thirty-four miles from Gettys-burg, to await orders. But Meade , while conforming to the current of Lee’smovement, was not merely drifting. The same afternoon he directed thechiefs of engineers and artillery to select a lield of battle on which his armymight be concentrated, whatever Lee’s lines of approach, whether by Harris-burg or Gettysburg, —indicating the general lino of Pipe Creek as a suitablelocality. Carefully drawn instructions wore sent to the corps commandersas to the occupation of this line, should it be ordered; but it was added thatdevelopments might cause the offensive to be assumed from present positions-These orders were afterward cited as indicating General Meade ’s intentionnot to fight at Gettysburg . They were, under any circumstances, wise andproper orders, and it would probably have been better had he concentratedhis army behind Pipe Creek rather than at Gettysburg ; but events fin albcontrolled the actions of both leaders.

At 8 a. m., July 1st, Buford’s scouts reported Iloth’s advance on the Cash'

town road, 5, when Gamble’s brigade formed on McPherson’s Ridge, from th e

& The opening of the battle on the Chambersburg the brigade, picket-line made up of dntailH fr0,urnnfl. on Julv 1st. is thus rlosorilipfl hv f!«nt«in regiment of Devin's brigade (0th N. Y., flt-h Y.» • ^

“Colonel William Backctt, commanding the 9th N. Y. road, near the Lutheran . Seminary. TinCavalry, was brigade officer of the day and in charge of picket put on the Chambersburg road near

ear Willou* llU >