Wichita eagle., 1888-07-01
The SECOND DAY.

to accident than was that of the first. lust
| described. Reynolds had been instructed TO
march at the head Of the Union army, and
engage the Confederates known to be con-
centrating in the vicinity of Gettysburg; but
Meade was not marching with the intention
Of going so far north as Gettysburg There
is line of defensible ridges running east and
west on Pipe creek, thirteen miles south Of
this town. These ridges protect ali those
roads to Baltimore and Washington that
meet at Gettysburg, and the seven Union
corps had been heol in readiness to form a
line and fight on Pipe creek, in case the Con-
federates should attempt to march south with
view of attacking either Baltimore or
the capital. But the sudden death Of
Reynolds. at the hands of Confederate
sharpshooter, led Meade to send Gen. Han
cock to Gettysburg to assume command, and
the news of Reynolds death and his battle at
Willoughby run reaching Sickles the latter
was induced, though fifteen miles distant. to
movo his Third corps northward to Gettys-
burg by nightfaIl Of the first In the same
way Gen. Siocum, whose Twelfth corps was
at Hanover, five miles east by south of
Gettysburg, was drawn to the battlefield, SO
when the First and Eleventh corps fell back
to the heights Of Cemetery Ridge, they were
soon in communication with Slocum's
Twelfth, Hancocks Second and Sickles
Third corps, all of whom were either
already on the ground, or arriving
by different roads. Thus five Union
corps were at hand, prepared for any battle
that might be offered by the enemy. Han
cock had reached Gettysburg at p. IN. on
the first day, just as the conflicts of the First
and Eleventh corps had ended, and when
these troops were falling back on to Gene
terry Hill, the northern extremity of the
ridge. The presence of Hancock infused
courage and confidence, and, although infe-
rior in rank to Howard, who was in COM
mand, Hancock, by Meade's special order,
took control. Posting the troops of the two
corps by brigades and regiments on the crest
Of the ridge in full view Of the enemy, he, by
this show Of strength, prevented the Confed-
crates from making their customary ''sun-
down attack" and as the troops of the Third
and Twelfth corps arrived they were added
to the line. The more the ground was re-
connoitred by Hancock and his colleagues
the better it appeared as good position for
defense if not for attack. and word was at
once sent to Meade, at his headquarters at
Taneytown, to hurry forward the troops in
order to make the expected fight ct Gettys-
burg. In The meantime some difficulty had
arisen at the ridge, as Howard had de
INJURED to being superseded by Hancock, and
On Sickles' arrival Howard proposed to settle
the matter by yielding to Sickles, the latter
being the superior both Of Hancock and him
self But SickleS declined to interfere with
Meades orders, only retaining discretion as
TO the placing OF his own corps, which he did
by putting them in line along the slopes on
the west of Cemetery Ridge, between that
and the Emmitsburg road. Slocum out
ranked them all, and on his arrival from
Hanover Hancock turned the command over
to him, and, riding back to Meade at fancy
town, advocated the position at Gettysburg
so strongly that Meade came Oh in person,
reaching the ridge after midnight, and then
giving his sanction to what had been done.
The Fifth corps, under Sykes, was ordered
to hurry forward, and hasty summons was
sent to Gen. Sedgwick, who, with his Sixth
corps, was still at Manchester, thirty-flve
miles distant. OF the greater events of til,
battle, this rapid concentration Of troops on
the Gettysburg ridge was really accidental
and wholly apart from the original plan. 1t
was brought about as result of the battle of
Tie ISL, llSJ lS Ing VI tAOIHQ Calls
up the pack.
Tho ridge, where the Union army found
itself at the dawn OF July p was place wei
adapted for the display of war in ali It's
grandeur The form OF the ridge resembles
the letter J inverted E, Wolf Hill, Cu'D's Hill
and Cemetery Hill forming the curve Gene
terry Ridge the long stem, and Round Top
and the Little Round TOP, the lower e1trem-
ity. OF these Cemetery Hill, with its bare
broad summit, rises $50 feet above the plain,
while the long line from this hin to the
Rcurd Tops. three miles distant. show c Sue
cesslon or ground SweiIS, following a general
direction, north and south, but no connected
crest.
The Twelfth corps and part Of tho First,
under Slocum, occupied Cups and Wolf
Hills with ground between. Howard with
the Eleventh corps and part OF the First held
Cemetery Hill, while HancOck's Second corps,
with Doubleday's division, Joined on How
ards left, Hancock having charge Of the
whole line, including Sickles' Third corps.
Sickles had received orders to extend tie
main line 70 Little Round Top, but GIssatlS-
fed with the position assigned him, and see-
ing that there were depressions in this ridge,
where the ground was lower than 1t was
along the Emmitsburg road, he preferred 20
station his corps on the road With this OBJ
Jet in view. he sent forward some batteries,
troops ami skir1nishers, at the same time
asking Meade 70 give his sanction 70 the
formation Of this new line, and requesting
that the chief of artillery might be
empowered to plant some cannon
there for its defense Before Meade
had time 10 visit the ground, or TO de-
termine whether 10 order Slckles back, or 70
send more troops to enable hix TO sustain an
attack. should one be made there, the decision
was made for him TIE boom Of cannon
is heard and each hurries 20 lis place five
hundred yards due west from Little Round
Top IS tie Devils Den, g bod rocky hill,
steep on its eastern face, lying On an ansls
Inads By Plum run, which here makes
bend toward the southwest, joining with
smaller stream frora Seminary Ridge. lis
valley Is strevn with enormous bowldeEs,
while the slopes OF tie Round TOPS are Gov
cred with the SANE 4 cross road connect
ing the Taneytoyrn and Enmits5arg roads
runs along the northern base Of Devils Den,
tae fEss 500 yards OF which, beginning e.
Plum run, is bounded "a the north by
wood, and on ths south By tie now famous
Wheat FisId AZ tie Junction Of this cruss
road and TIE EnuitsbE-g Rad, - the
Peach Orchard, q hiIiock formed By the
intersection Of two ridges, tie highest polni