 |
Day 1
July 1st 1863
|
|
|
|
|
| Bufords men hold the confederates | Map | Buford |
Day 1
JULY 1st 1863
In the morning Confederate troops moved on the town and the battle began when
they engaged the Union dismounted skirmishers. They managed to hold the advance
for over an hour but eventually, Buford was gradually forced to retreat. At the
same time as the retreat two brigades under Reynolds overall command arrived to
relieve Buford’s cavalry Brigade. Seeing the position of the confederates he
ordered two corps to move towards Gettysburg. While personally positioning two
brigades Reynolds was shot and killed. This left Doubleday as the senior officer
in the field. The Confederates attacked the position vacated by the retreating
cavalry brigades, they marched into a fresh Union infantry this forced the
Confederates retreat back across Willoughby Run much of one brigade was captured
including the commander Archer. The other Confederate brigade under Davis soon
found itself outflanked. The retreating Confederates were forced to re-access
their approach to Gettysburg but Heth the confederate commander in the field was
still determined to occupy the town. General Meade’s headquarters were nine
miles away from Gettysburg at Tannytown, Maryland. Here he received word that
Gettysburg would be the place to make stand. Meade and his main force arrived
about 23:00 on July 1st he then positioned his corps into defensive positions.
Meanwhile the main Confederate was arriving from the North and Northwest.
Map 2
| Day1 |
| Day 2 |
| Day3 |
| Conclusion |