The National tribune., 1902-09-11

marched to Wrightsville, and was prepar-
ing to cross the Susquehanna when he re-
ceived orders from Lee to return with all
possible haste by way Of York to Gettys-
burg.
While Lees main army was stretched
along the Cumberland Valley from Cham
bersburg to the Susquehanna River,
scout brought the news to Lee that Hooker
had outgeneraled Stuart, and with his
whole army had crossed the Potomac at
Point of Rocks and Edwards Ferry on
the 25th and 26th days of June, and was
then in hot pursuit.
These tidings from out the South
troubled Lee, for he saw and clearly CON-
pretended the fact that the Army Of the
Potomac must be taken into immediate
attack on Harrisburg, and leaving the
Cumberland Valley, marched eastward
across the mountains into the Valley Of
the Susquehanna, and on the night of
June 30 his army was located about as fol-
lows:
Earlys Division on the York Pike 10
miles northeast of Gettysburg, Rodes' Di-
vision 10 miles north Of Gettysburg, on
the Carlisle Road; Johnson's Division IS
miles northeast, on the Harrisburg Road; ;
Pender's Division 10 miles northwest, on
the Mummasburg Road; Heth's Division
five miles northwest, on the Chambersburg
Pike. and from that point to Chambers
burg in continuous line west for %
miles lay the balance of Lees army, thus
covering the whole country and every high
way for the distance of about 40 miles
east and west, and each and every one OF
these highways converging at Gettysburg
On the other hand, the Union army,
which had crossed the Potomac River one
day later than Lees army, and fully 80
miles south and east, with a mountain
range between, had marched northward,
spreading out like fan to the eastward
between Lees army and our National
Capital.
On June 81 Gen. Hooker, with head
quarters then established at Frederick,
Nd, resigned his command of the Army
of the Potomac, and on June % Gen.
Meade, then commander of the Fifth
Corps, was assigned to the command of
the army. On assuming command, Gen.
Meade continued our line of march to the
northward. and on the night of June 30
BufOrd's Cavalry Division occupied posi-
ton northwest of Gettysburg, with head
quarters at the Lutheran Seminary, on
Seminary Ridge, his troops picketing the
Chambersburg Pike and the Mummasburs
Road, and guarding the crossings of Will
lcughby Run, within an hours march of
The First Corps, commanded by Double
day, was at Marsh Creek, on the En-.
mitsburg Road, six miles from Buford.
Towards Eleventh Corps was at EN-
mitsburg, 13 miles away, and from that
point the Army of the Potomac lay
stretched away to the southeastward along
the Taneytown Road and the Baltimore
Pike for a distance of 30 or 40 miles. Gen.
Meade had established his headquarters
~
survey of position ON Pipe Clay Creek,
two miles south of Taneytown, that
seemed to him a choice position for bat
tie, and he hoped to await Lees advance
and attack at that point. His army was
scattered from Dan to Beersheba, so to
speak, his idea being to concentrate at
some point when Lee found him.
Such was the comparative positions and
dispositions of the opposing armies and
their Commanding Generals on the eve
ming before the great battle, which ex-
plains why the Southern army advanced
from the northward while the Northern
army advanced from the southwark as
they met in death grapple at Gettys-
burg.
GOING INTO BATTLE.
Sometimes contending armies do not
form in battle array and wait for each
other until everything is in readiness, and
then, at an agreed signal, join issue all
along the line.
At Gettysburg, for instance, two armies,
each nearly 100000 strong, confronted
each other; but they were not drawn up
in line, 100000 on either side. When the
battle opened on the morning of July l
between the heads of the leading columns,
the main portions of the armies were from
20 to 30 miles apart.
favor He had his army well in hand
He had seven highways at his service, all
cOnverging at his rendezvous, to facili
tate the movement of his troops. He had
issued his orders of concentration to his
divisions and each was marching by the
shortest route to the point designated.
When the head of his leading division,
under Heth, encountered Buford's little
band on the banks of WillOughby Run,
the rear of his outermOst column was not
to exceed 20 miles away.
For Gen. Meade the situation was most
unfavOrable While Buford occupied the
vantage ground Of camping on the field
and awaiting the advance of Lee upon his
lines, he could not hope for support from
the main army in that position. Gen.
Meade had not ordered the advance of his
army toward this point, but with head
quarters Mt Taneytown, Is miles away,
was waiting for Lee to come and see him.
Nevertheless, Gen. Lee was not master
of the situation. The God of battles, who
overrules all human events. seemed fav-
orable to our cause, especially through
out the first three days of July, 1868.
Gen. Reynolds, who commanded the
Left Wing of the Army of the Potomac,
was the leader for the occasion, the man
with sublime purpose. He saw before
him the awful chess-b0ard of war, with
the champion player of the hour arrang
ing his combinations for winning game,
and forthwith he boldly planned a check
mate. Gen. Reynolds had sent Buford
forward to his advanced position and had
ordered the First Corps at Marsh Creek,
and the Eleventh Corps, at Emmitsburg,
to move in the same direction at an early
hour on the morning of July 1. When Bu
ford was attacked, Reynolds hurried for
ward the First and Eleventh Corps to his
support, and also sent a dispatch to Gen.
Meade telling him that Lees forces were
in front Of him; that he would hold the
key to the situation till the main army ar
was the place to fight the battle.
About 20 minutes before o'clock n. M.
July /, Heth's Division encountered Bu-
ford's and opened the battle. An hour
later the First Corps began to arrive. re-
inforcing Buford. Another hour and Pen
der's Division reinforces Heth, while
Rodes' Division arrives from the north
and extends Heth's lines eastward Still
another hour passes, and Howards
Eleventh Corps arrives, reinforcing
Doubleday and Buford. A little later,
perhaps half an hour, Early's Division
reinforced R0des All this time the hattie