THE FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG.
283
w.m
$ Sm :
wm
FPgag.
!iS£!£!S!23?'‘
•ws;
THE LINE OF DEFENSE AT THE CEMETERY GATE-HOUSE. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
comparatively good order, the rear, covered by the 7th Wisconsin , turning^vhen necessary to check pursuit. Colonel Wainwright, mistaking the order,had clung with his artillery to Seminary Hill, until, seeing the infantry retreat-lag to the town, he moved his batteries down the Cashtown pike until lapped01 > both sides by the enemy’s skirmishers, at close range, when they werecompelled to abandon one gun on the road, all its horses being killed. TheEleventh Corps also left a disabled gun on the field. Of the troops whopassed through the town, many, principally men of the Eleventh Corps, gotentangled in the streets, lost their way, and were captured.
On ascending Cemetery Hill, the retreating. troops found Steinwehr ’sdivision in position covered by stone fences on the slopes, and occupying bytheir skirmishers the houses in front of their line. As they arrived they^ V( -re formed, the Eleventh Corps on the right, the Eirst Corps on the left ofSteinwehr. As the batteries came up, they were well posted by ColonelsT * ainwright and Osborn, and soon a formidable array of artillery was ready
Waito
cover with its fire all the approaches. Buford assembled his command onae plain west of Cemetery Hill, covering the left flank and presenting a firmr °nt to any attempt at pursuit. The First Corps found a small reenforce-■^ent awaiting it, in the 7tli Indiana , part of the train escort, which broughtdearly five hundred fresh men. Wadsworth met them and led them tonip’s Hill, where, under direction of Captain Pattison of that regiment, a defen-SlVe line Avas marked out. Their brigade (Cutler’s) soon joined them; wooda nd stone were plentiful, and soon the right of the line was solidly established.
Nor was there wanting other assurance to the men who had fought so longnat their sacrifices had not been in vain. As they reached the hill they werejnceived by General Hancock, who arrived just as they were coming up frome town, under orders from General Meade to assume the command. HisPerson was Avell known; his presence inspired confidence, and it implied alsoie Ue ar approach of his army-corps. He ordered Wadsworth at once to