Day 2, Thrusday, July 2
"On the 2d July, Longstreet's corps, with the exception of one division, having arrived, we attempted to dislodge the enemy, and, though we gained some ground, we were unable to get possession of his position."
-General Robert E. Lee
July 4, 1863
Letter to CSA President Jefferson Davis
-General Robert E. Lee
July 4, 1863
Letter to CSA President Jefferson Davis
Timeline
Before Dawn- All of the Rebel Army of Northern Virginia reaches gettysburg except Major General Jeb Stuart's cavalry and, from Longstreet's corps, Major General George Pickett's division and Brigadier General Evander Law's brigade. They arrive during the day after marching all night.
4:00pm- After a long march to avoid observation, Longstreet's troops attack, led by Evander Law's brigade. The army's cheif of engineers, Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren, spots them coming, and Brigadier General Strong Vincent leads his men into position on litle round top. The Twentieth Maine,commanded by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chaimberlain, is positioned on the left side. Over the next three hours, battle rages across the Wheatfield, Trostle farm, and Devil's Den. Major General Daniel E. Sickles has a leg shot off, which he has preserved in formaldehyde.
7:00pm- In a desperate defensive position on Little Round Top, Chaimberlain gives the order, "Bayonet!", and the Union men charge down the hill.
8:00pm- The confederates still hold the Peach Orchard, the Wheatfield, Trostle farm, and Devil's Den. They will control Spangler's Spring overnight. FIghting between Brigadeer General George S. Greene's brigade and Major General Edward Johnson's division with two brigades of Early's division becomes intense across Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill as dusk approaches.
Overnight- There is frequent firing by pickets. On the Confederate side, Pickett's division and Stuart's three cavalry brigades arrive. ON the Union side, MAjor General John Sedgwick's Sixth Corps arrive. In Meade's headquarters, he takes a vote from his generals and they decide to stay and fight.
The next morning, Thursday, July 2, General Longstreet was ordered by Lee to attack. But Longstreet was slow in getting his troops into position and didn't attack until 4 p.m. that afternoon gave the Union Army even more time to strengthen its position. When Longstreet attacked, some of the most vicious fighting of the Civil War erupted such as Little Round Top, Devil's Den, the Wheat Field and the Peach Orchard. Longstreet took the Peach Orchard but was pushed back at Little Round Top.
About 6:30 p.m. General Ewell attacked the Union line from the north and east at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. The attack lasted into darkness but was finally not successful at Cemetery Hill. The Confederates attained some bunkers on Culp's Hill. By about 10:30 p.m., the fighting came to an end. The Union soldiers had lost ground during the Confederate onslaught but still held the strong defensive position along Cemetery Ridge. Both sides regrouped and counted their causalities. Moaning and sobbing of the dying men on the battlefield could be heard all throughout the night.
Union commander Meade decided his army would remain in its place and wait for Lee to attack. On the Confederate side, Longstreet tried to talk Lee out of attacking such a strong position, but Lee thought the Union soldiers were nearly beaten and would collapse under one final push. Lee decided to gamble to win the Battle of Gettysburg and win the Civil War by attacking the next day at the center of the Union line along Cemetery Ridge where it would be least expected. To do this he would send in the fresh troops of General George Pickett. Along with this, General Ewell would renew the assault on Culp's hill.
4:00pm- After a long march to avoid observation, Longstreet's troops attack, led by Evander Law's brigade. The army's cheif of engineers, Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren, spots them coming, and Brigadier General Strong Vincent leads his men into position on litle round top. The Twentieth Maine,commanded by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chaimberlain, is positioned on the left side. Over the next three hours, battle rages across the Wheatfield, Trostle farm, and Devil's Den. Major General Daniel E. Sickles has a leg shot off, which he has preserved in formaldehyde.
7:00pm- In a desperate defensive position on Little Round Top, Chaimberlain gives the order, "Bayonet!", and the Union men charge down the hill.
8:00pm- The confederates still hold the Peach Orchard, the Wheatfield, Trostle farm, and Devil's Den. They will control Spangler's Spring overnight. FIghting between Brigadeer General George S. Greene's brigade and Major General Edward Johnson's division with two brigades of Early's division becomes intense across Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill as dusk approaches.
Overnight- There is frequent firing by pickets. On the Confederate side, Pickett's division and Stuart's three cavalry brigades arrive. ON the Union side, MAjor General John Sedgwick's Sixth Corps arrive. In Meade's headquarters, he takes a vote from his generals and they decide to stay and fight.
The next morning, Thursday, July 2, General Longstreet was ordered by Lee to attack. But Longstreet was slow in getting his troops into position and didn't attack until 4 p.m. that afternoon gave the Union Army even more time to strengthen its position. When Longstreet attacked, some of the most vicious fighting of the Civil War erupted such as Little Round Top, Devil's Den, the Wheat Field and the Peach Orchard. Longstreet took the Peach Orchard but was pushed back at Little Round Top.
About 6:30 p.m. General Ewell attacked the Union line from the north and east at Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. The attack lasted into darkness but was finally not successful at Cemetery Hill. The Confederates attained some bunkers on Culp's Hill. By about 10:30 p.m., the fighting came to an end. The Union soldiers had lost ground during the Confederate onslaught but still held the strong defensive position along Cemetery Ridge. Both sides regrouped and counted their causalities. Moaning and sobbing of the dying men on the battlefield could be heard all throughout the night.
Union commander Meade decided his army would remain in its place and wait for Lee to attack. On the Confederate side, Longstreet tried to talk Lee out of attacking such a strong position, but Lee thought the Union soldiers were nearly beaten and would collapse under one final push. Lee decided to gamble to win the Battle of Gettysburg and win the Civil War by attacking the next day at the center of the Union line along Cemetery Ridge where it would be least expected. To do this he would send in the fresh troops of General George Pickett. Along with this, General Ewell would renew the assault on Culp's hill.