St. Landry democrat., 1888-10-13

that the prnner Union commander, Meade
reached the front more than twelve hours too
late. Gen. Reynolds was killed on the morn
ing of July l, and Gen. Meade did not reach
the lines Of Reynolds defeated troops until
after midnight. On the other hand, it
proved q circumstance favorable to the
Union cause that chain Of natural fortifl-
cations existed at Gettysburg, consisting OF
high ridge, terminating at either end i'll rock
bound crests, well sheltered by woods. This
ridge guarded two roads leading from tie
south, the Baltimore pike and the Washing
ton road, while it commanded another VI ash
ington road, all three roads being routes OF
march for the Union army ncrthward. This
strong position was secured, the different
corps commanders marching in in obedience
to orders, but by very narrow margin.
TO offset this Union advantage the Conted-
crates found a curtain of woods around every
important position occupied by themselves,
separated from Meade's lire by about one-
half to three-quarters of mile, which com
pletely concealed all their movements from
view, affording them an opportunity OF
massing their columns for attack unobserVed
by the Union forces on the crests and hills.
When Reynolds. with TIE First corps of
Meade's army, led the way to Gettysburg, he
did not halt to secure actual possession Of
these natural Notifications on Cemetery
Ridge, that lay close by his limo of march,
but pushed on to seize TIE passes through the
thin s:rps of surrounding forest, III order to
prevent Lee from getting a lodgsaent in
them and ON the high knobs which they
sheltered His intention was to risk uis own
corps, the First, together with Towards
Eleventh, close at hand, in desperate effort
to hold the Confederates beyond cannon
range OF the high ridge whercon the main
body of the Union army would sool be ex-
posed while forming the infantry and placing
artillery in line for battle. The first days
conflict at Gettysburg was really struggle
for the possession of one of these passes
that across Willoughby run and tie ridge
east of it on the Chambersburg road, two
miles west by northwest Of Cemetery Hill,
the browning point of Cemetery Ridge.
The Union advance, consisting Of Buford's
cavalry, had seized this pass on the night Of
June 30 and had planted cannon there to de-
fend it against the Confederates whom the
scouts announced to be approaching in force
from Chambersburs under A. P. Hill. Lee,
with the corps OF Longstreet and Eli, was
west of tho Blue Ridge ct Chambersburg,
twenty eight miles from Gettysburg, when
the startling news reached him that TIE
Army of the Potomac was in Pennsylvania.
At this time Ewelrs corps tConfecerates)
was at Carlisle and York, thirty miles cast
and north of Gettysburg, and Lees orders to
concentrate the three corns-Longstrcet
Hills and Ewell's-brought the two, Long
street end Hill. east of the mountain and re-
called Ewell from his threstenin" position il
front of Harrisburg. Hill led the advance
of the column coming from tie rro'1ntail
over the Cha,nbersourg road, and fell in
with Buford, when he attempted to cross
Willoughby run on tie morning OF
tho lst. Two roads cross this run about sixty
rods apart, and between the Chambelsbur5
pike and the Fairfield road to Hagerstovn
the forest is heavy. making it a good place
for surprise. Reynolds came to the front
early, relieving Butord and sending him
northward to meet ard hold Ewell at lay
on the Carlisle road, whiit.e Doubleday's di-