Day 1, Wednesday, July 1
"I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than the dissolution of the Union. It would be an accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and I am willing to sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation." Col. Robert E. Lee, U.S.A. in a letter to his son Custis, January 23, 1861
Timeline
7:30 am- First shot fired 3 miles North West of Gettysburg at intersection of Knoxlyn Road and US Route by Union Leutenant Marcellus Jones, against Major General Henry Heth's division as they approached Gettysburg.
10:30 am- General John Reynolds and two brigades of the Union First Corps infantry arrive and join the other soldiers along the McPherson Ridge. One of the brigades was the PA Bucktail Brigade, and the other was the Iron Brigade. Reynolds dies from a bullet to the head. General Abner Doubleday takes command.
11:00 am- Two divisions of the Union Eleventh Corps arrive and take positions at the noth of the town of Gettysburg.
2:00 pm- One of Rich Ewells divisions arrives and attacks the right flank of the Union First Corps.
2:10 pm- General Lee arrives and finds out that Heth is preparing for a new attack.
2:15 pm- Another division of Ewell's division attacks the Eleventh Corps.
3:00 pm- Confederate Major General Robert E. Rhodes launches an attack with five brigades. It was where the Eternal Light Peace Memorial now stands.
4:00 pm- Jubal Early's division of Ewell's corps arrive on Harrisburg Rd and cause the right flank of the Eleventh Corps, two divisions known as trhe Dutch Corps, to buckle. The First and Eleventh Corps retreat to Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill.
5:00 pm- Rebels look to have won the battle, but when General Lee orders Ewell's third division to attack Cemetery Hill, Ewell decides against it.
After midnight- Union General Meade arrives and decides to stay the night and fight the next day.
Wednesday, July 1, the Confederates headed back to Gettysburg. They ran into Union cavalry at Willoughby Run and the attack started. Lee rushed 25,000 men to the battle. The Union had less than 20,000.
After a lot of fighting, the Union soldiers were pushed back through Gettysburg and regrouped south of the town near the cemetery. Lee ordered Confederate General Richard Ewell to take the high ground from the Union. Gen. Ewell hesitated to attack giving the Union troops a chance to dig in along Cemetery Ridge and bring in reinforcements. By the time Lee realized Ewell had not attacked, the opportunitymwas gone.
Meade arrived at the scene and thought it was a good place to battle Lee's Army. Meade estimated reinforcements totaling up to 100,000 men to arrive and strengthen his defensive position. They wanted to move East forcing the Union to attack them instead.
10:30 am- General John Reynolds and two brigades of the Union First Corps infantry arrive and join the other soldiers along the McPherson Ridge. One of the brigades was the PA Bucktail Brigade, and the other was the Iron Brigade. Reynolds dies from a bullet to the head. General Abner Doubleday takes command.
11:00 am- Two divisions of the Union Eleventh Corps arrive and take positions at the noth of the town of Gettysburg.
2:00 pm- One of Rich Ewells divisions arrives and attacks the right flank of the Union First Corps.
2:10 pm- General Lee arrives and finds out that Heth is preparing for a new attack.
2:15 pm- Another division of Ewell's division attacks the Eleventh Corps.
3:00 pm- Confederate Major General Robert E. Rhodes launches an attack with five brigades. It was where the Eternal Light Peace Memorial now stands.
4:00 pm- Jubal Early's division of Ewell's corps arrive on Harrisburg Rd and cause the right flank of the Eleventh Corps, two divisions known as trhe Dutch Corps, to buckle. The First and Eleventh Corps retreat to Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill.
5:00 pm- Rebels look to have won the battle, but when General Lee orders Ewell's third division to attack Cemetery Hill, Ewell decides against it.
After midnight- Union General Meade arrives and decides to stay the night and fight the next day.
Wednesday, July 1, the Confederates headed back to Gettysburg. They ran into Union cavalry at Willoughby Run and the attack started. Lee rushed 25,000 men to the battle. The Union had less than 20,000.
After a lot of fighting, the Union soldiers were pushed back through Gettysburg and regrouped south of the town near the cemetery. Lee ordered Confederate General Richard Ewell to take the high ground from the Union. Gen. Ewell hesitated to attack giving the Union troops a chance to dig in along Cemetery Ridge and bring in reinforcements. By the time Lee realized Ewell had not attacked, the opportunitymwas gone.
Meade arrived at the scene and thought it was a good place to battle Lee's Army. Meade estimated reinforcements totaling up to 100,000 men to arrive and strengthen his defensive position. They wanted to move East forcing the Union to attack them instead.