The first Confederate troops to enter the vicinity of Gettysburg were BG James Archer's and BG Joseph Davis' (the nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis) Brigades of MG Heth's Division (General A.P. Hill's Corps). At approximately 8 AM, Heth reached the crest of Herr Ridge and surveyed the approach to Gettysburg. Observing minimal resistance, Heth ordered his two Brigades (Archer and Davis) to march southeast along Chambersburg Pike and occupy Gettysburg. Heth decided to deploy Archer to the south and Davis to the north of the pike.
        But, unknown to Heth, Union BG John Buford's cavalry held the town with two Brigades. Gamble's and Devin's Brigades were deployed just east of Willoughby Run, northwest of town and supported by Lt. John Calef's horse artillery). Gamble's dismounted skirmishers (who were armed with Sharps' breech-loading carbines) were attacked by Archer's Infantry Brigade, but managed to hold off the Confederate advance for over an hour. Eventually, Buford was gradually forced to begin a retreat.
        At the same time of Buford's retreat, BG Meredith's Brigade (known as the "Iron Brigade") and BG Cutler's Brigade arrived to relieve Buford's Brigades and occupy McPherson Ridge. General Reynolds (the Commander of I Corps), the senior officer on the field and seeing the initial Confederate troops, sent word to the other nearest Corps (XI Corps and III Corps), to move towards Gettysburg at once. While personally positioning Cutler and Meredith's Brigades on horseback, Reynolds was shot and killed (see photo to the left). Doubleday (who had arrived just moments previously) was informed that he would replace Reynolds and was now the senior officer on the field.
        Archer's Brigade now continued on the attack down Herr Ridge, across Willoughby Run, and up McPherson's Ridge. But, not knowing that Meredith's Brigade had now taken up the position that Gamble had vacated, Archer marched straight into the fresh infantry Brigade. Meredith's Brigade surprised Archer and forced his Brigade to retreat back across Willoughby Run, but not before the capture of Archer and much of his Brigade. Despite Meredith's success, Cutler's Brigade (which was in the process of positioning along Chambersburg Pike and the railroad cut) was attacked hard by Davis' Brigade and soon found itself outflanked. Wadsworth (the Division commander) seeing that he was being outflanked on the right, ordered Cutler's three Regiments north of the Pike to retreat and reform along Seminary Ridge. Unfortunately, the runner tasked with this message was killed and was not able to deliver the order. Instead, Cutler's Regiments along the railroad sustained heavy casualties and were only then forced to retreat. Davis' Brigade, seeing Cutler's collapsed right flank, broke ranks in pursuit, but quickly lost its fighting integrity. At this time, the 6th Wisconsin Regiment (held up to this point in reserve and later supported by the 84th and 95th NY), was sent by Doubleday against Davis' pursuing Brigade. Davis' Brigade, disorganized and out of ranks, was forced to seek the protection of the unfinished railroad cut. Despite occupying the ideal defensive position, Davis' Brigade was charged by the Wisconsin 6th Regiment and the two New York regiments. Despite heavy casualties, Wisconsin 6th surrounded more than half of Davis' Brigade and took them prisoner. The remainder of Davis' Brigade now retreated to Herr Ridge where the remnants of Archer's Brigade had retreated earlier.
        The retreating Confederates were forced to reevaluate their approach to Gettysburg. 11 AM approached, but Heth was still determined to occupy Gettysburg, especially after receiving word that Pender's Division was moving to support the approaches from the northwest.
        After Heth's failed attack, Rodes' division approached Gettysburg from the northeast along Harrisburg Road. Early's division shortly followed behind Rodes. Upon nearing Gettysburg, Rodes headed southwest towards Oak Ridge where he observed Cutler's brigade preparing for an attack from Heth. Approaching unhindered, Rodes placed 16 guns of Lt C Thomas Carter's artillery battalion upon Oak Hill and commenced to shell Cutler's startled troops. At about 2:30 PM, General Lee arrived from the northwest in time to see Ewell's assault. He immediately gave A.P. Hill permission to join the attack. A.P. Hill sent BG James Johnston Pettigrew's brigade (over 2,550 men) to attack Meredith's brigade who had positioned along McPherson Ridge.
        Because of its size, Pettigrew's brigade was able to flank Meredith on the left and despite heavy casualties on both sides, forced Meredith to retreat towards the Seminary. Biddle's brigade defended an exposed section of McPherson Ridge and was attacked by Archer and also unable to hold its position. Stone's position was particularly vulnerable because it was formed to face northwest against Heth's division and northeast along Chambersburg Pike to face Rodes' approaching division. It too found itself in an untenable position; attacked from two directions, and also retreated toward the Seminary. Heth's division took a heavy beating as it attacked the Union units on McPherson Ridge, but it managed to force a Union retreat from the ridge to the Seminary. Meredith's Iron Brigade suffered an enormous 1,153 casualties (out of 1,829 men) while Heth lost about 1,500 of his 7,000-man division.
        Just as Heth's division ran out of effectiveness, Pender's fresh troops resumed the attack against the rallying remnants of I Corps at the Seminary. The Union barely had time to begin construction of breastworks at the Seminary when Pender's Division attacked up Seminary Ridge. Lt. James Stewart's artillery battery had been placed on the ridge and managed to hold off the Confederate assault for several minutes. But, the Union found itself overwhelmed by the sheer number of Pender's men and once again was in full retreat. I Corps now lost cohesion and was sent retreating towards Gettysburg and Cemetery Ridge. XI Corps was also retreating through town from the north towards Cemetery Hill. The retreat was carried out in somewhat confusion and several units were slowed because of congestion in the town or were captured when their retreat was cut-off. Despite the near rout situation, the Confederates had taken heavy casualties and lacked the strength to pursue vigorously.

        Fortunately, Howard had left Adolph von Steinwehr's division on Cemetery Hill with orders to hold the position at all costs. Von Steinwehr had spent several hours erecting breastworks and created a formidable defensive position. At about 4:30 PM, MG Winfield Hancock arrived at Cemetery Hill and assumed overall command (under orders of Meade, though Howard was senior to Hancock) just as Howard and Doubleday were trying to rally their units. Hancock realized he had an excellent defensive position, but he also knew his forces would be stretched thin to cover the needed area. MG Daniel E. Sickles' III Corps and MG Henry W. Slocum's XII Corps were arriving from the south, but Hancock did not know when. Hancock ordered part of remaining I Corps to occupy Culp's Hill. Doubleday protested, but then sent the remnants of Meredith's Iron Brigade to secure the hill.
        Surveying from Seminary Ridge, Lee requested A.P. Hill to continue the assault. But, Hill's Corps had been heavily battered and was nearly out of ammunition. Lee immediately sent word to Ewell to "secure possession of the heights...if practicable". Also, at this time, LG James Longstreet arrived and conferred with Lee. Longstreet wished to take a more defensive posture and place the army between the Union army and Washington. His rationale was to force the Union army into attacking a strong Confederate position. Lee, on the other hand, believed that he must confront the Union army and bring the fight to the Federals.
        Ewell had always served under General Stonewall Jackson (who died at Chancellorsville) and this was the first time directly under Lee. Ewell, who had taken heavy casualties and could not count on A.P. Hill's support, hesitated. He was further confused by Lee's "if practicable" order. After waiting over an hour for the attack to begin, Lee personally rode towards Ewell's headquarters to find out why there was a delay. By the time Lee arrived at Ewell's headquarters, Slocum and Sickles' Corps were deploying along Cemetery Ridge and the opportunity for attack had all but disappeared.
        Fighting resumed early morning on the 3rd as five Union Batteries opened fire on the Confederate position on Culp's Hill. Shortly after the barrage, Johnson's Division renewed its attack against the Union defenders. Johnson attacked three times, but each attempt failed to penetrate the Union line. The Union position had now been reinforced by units from the I and VI Corps and were virtually impregnable.
        Lee had wanted to finish the battle with a decisive encounter. His plan was to conduct a massive artillery barrage along the Union line followed by an infantry charge into the Union center. His plan called for about 160 cannons and 12,000 men to participate in the attack. The attack would take place under the command of General Longstreet and involve the men of MG George E. Pickett and BG James J. Pettigrew.
        At approximately 13:00, the Confederate artillery opened fire all along the Union line, concentrating on the Union Batteries. The Confederate barrage lasted about 2 hours but did not inflict significant damage as most of the fire overshot their intended targets. The Union counter-barraged but held off near the end in order to conserve against an impending Confederate infantry attack. Event #1.
        Now, about 15:00, the time had come for Longstreet's assault against the Union center. The Confederate line stretched for almost one mile and began the march across 1,400 yards of open ground. The Union Batteries all along the length from Cemetery Hill to Little Round Top opened fire and managed to open holes in the advancing line.
        As Pickett and Pettigrew converged, the line compacted to focused on the Union position called the Angle. As the the Confederates neared, the Union units were able to flank and fire into the approaching line with devastating results. Still the Confederates came and despite heavy losses and under the leadership of BG Lewis Armistead, were able to storm the Angle, capturing several cannons. But, the Confederate position was exposed and reinforcements were not to arrive. Soon those that reached the Angle were forced back across the field in retreat. Event #2. Over 50% (almost 5,600) of the men involved in the charge became casualties. The Union loss is believed to have been around 1,500.
        Earlier in the day, Lee had sent General Stuart with four brigades of cavalry to attempt to swing around the Union's right and exploit any successes by the Confederate infantry. At 15:00, about three miles east of Gettysburg, Stuart ran into two brigades commanded by BG McGregg. The battle that followed was one of the largest cavalry engagements of the war. Both sides attacked and counterattacked but the battle ended in a draw with Gregg's men holding their position.
        Lee hoped to continue the attack early on the morning of the 3rd using Longstreet's Corps. But, Longstreet was not prepared that morning and Lee was forced to change his plan. Lee was encouraged by the near-penetrating attack by Anderson's Division in the Union center the day before.
        Lee's plan first called for an artillery barrage by Confederate artillery along Seminary Ridge and east of town. It was hoped that the barrage would reduce the Union Batteries and inflict heavy damage to the surrounding infantry. After the barrage, nearly 12,000 men, including 3 brigades under the command of MG George E. Pickett, would attack the Union center. Once the assault reached the Union line, reinforcements would arrive to exploit the breakthrough. In support, Lee ordered General Stuart's cavalry to head east and strike southward in hopes of reaching the Union's rear.
        The artillery barrage began at 13:00 and involved about 170 Confederate artillery pieces. The barrage covered the entire Union line but concentrated on its center. The Confederate guns were answered by about 80 Union guns and inflicted large numbers of casualties on the Confederate infantry. The Confederate guns also inflicted much damage on the Union batteries, but frequently tended to aim high and shoot over their targets due to poor visibility.
        BG Henry J. Hunt, the Federal artillery commander, wished to conserve ammunition to counter any Confederate advance and ordered a Union cease-fire. The Confederate barrage continued for nearly two hours and soon became short of ammunition. But, the time had come for the attack...
        Longstreet was reluctant about the attack that Lee had ordered. It called for nearly 12,000 men (nine brigades) to march over 1,000 yards across open ground. The Confederate line would stretch for over a mile. Pettigrew's Division (of A.P. Hill's Corps) would comprise of the northern portion of the attack while Pickett's Division (Longstreet's Corps) would be the southern wing.
        The attack began with over one hundred Confederate guns opening fire along the Union lines. The Confederate shells tended to land over the Union lines and land amidst the rear (near the wagons and hospitals). In fact, Meade was forced to relocate his headquarters to Power's Hill. Colonel Alexander, commander of the Confederate I Corps, noticed that the Union batteries were momentarily withdrawing from their positions (only to be replenished and supported with replacement batteries). If any time had come, this was the time. In effect, Colonel Alexander gave his opinion that the charge should proceed.
        The attack started from Seminary Ridge with Pickett's and Trimble's Divisions and slowly marched eastward. Union batteries from Cemetery Hill to Little Round Top immediately opened fire on the advancing line, opening temporary gaps in the units. The Confederates kept coming and after 15 minutes, reformed their lines after crossing Emmitsburg Road. When the Confederates were within 400 yards, the Union artillery began firing canister and were also within Union rifle distance. The two wings of the Confederate advance converged as Pettigrew moved to the right and Pickett to the left. The line now compacted to about 1/2 mile long.
        BG James L. Kemper's Brigade formed Pickett's lead right-front brigade. To his left was BG Richard B. Garnett's Brigade followed by BG Lewis A. Armistead's Brigade. Pickett ordered his men to turn to the northeast in order to link with Pettigrew's Division. This exposed his right flank to the artillery on Little Round Top and the southern portion of Cemetery Ridge. This allowed the Union artillery to fire along the Confederate line with little chance of missing a target.
        Col. Robert Mayo's Brigade, Pettigrew's left brigade, was attacked by artillery of the XI Corps on Cemetery Hill. The 8th Ohio Regiment (of Carroll's Brigade), under the command of LtC. Franklin Sawyer, had been sent out earlier to form a skirmishing line. Instead of withdrawing (as skirmishers are usually required), Sawyer faced his men southwest to fire on Mayo's Brigade which was passing in front. Though Sawyer's Regiment was largely outnumbered, Mayo's men had sustained enormous losses from the artillery barrage on Cemetery Hill. Sawyer's attack was enough to send Mayo's men running to the rear. This now exposed the remaining Pettigrew Brigades to flanking fire.
        Pettigrew now linked with Pickett and both continued steadily eastward up the slope. Hays' Division (Union) formed behind a stone wall and waited until Col. Birkett D. Fry's Brigade was within 200 yards. Now that Mayo's Brigade had fled the field, Hays was able to overlap Pettigrew's left. Hays ordered his right to overlap Pettigrew's left and face southwest. On the right flank of the Confederate advance (Kemper's Brigade), the exact same maneuver was being initiated by BG George J. Stannard's Brigade (13 VT, 14 VT, and 16 VT). Stannard was able to fire upon Kemper and inflict huge casualties with impunity. This caused Kemper's men to crowd to the north away from Stannard's fire.
        The Confederates began to bunch near the center and became "a mingled mass, from fifteen to thirty deep." Opposite the main assault was the "Angle" - a point in the Union line where it formed a 90-degree angle. Positioned in the Angle, behind a stone wall, was the 71st PA Regiment (250 men). To their left, was the 69^th PA, supported by five guns of Cowan's 1st NY Battery. As the Confederates pushed forward, the men and artillery in the Angle poured devastating fire into the approaching units. Still, the Confederates came, this time reaching the stone wall of the Angle. General Armistead led the Confederate attack with a group of about 200 men and overran most of the 69th and 71st PA before reaching Cowan's Battery. General Webb, who watched the attack, ordered the 72nd PA into battle.
        The 72nd PA halted the Confederate advance and forced many of the enemy to seek cover behind the western side of the stone wall. Hand-to-hand fighting raged in the Angle and Webb ordered a charge by the 72nd. The Regiment refused the order and Webb gave up the attempt. By this time, Col. Devereux's 19th MA Regiment and the 42nd NY Regiment rushed into the Angle to drive the Confederates out.
        The Confederates were now outnumbered and cutoff from any reinforcements. Soon, anyone left in the Angle was either captured or killed. The remaining Confederate units near the Angle slowly retreated and made their way back towards Seminary Ridge after realizing no reinforcements were to come.
       P ickett lost nearly 3,000 men (over half) of his Division. He lost all 15 regimental commanders, including two BG's and six Col's. When Pickett returned to Lee, he was ordered to prepare against a possible Union counterattack. Pickett then replied, "General Lee, I have no division now."
        Despite the Confederate retreat, the Southerners were still a formidable force. Meade, having assumed command only 6 days earlier, was in no mood to face the Confederate guns lining Seminary Ridge. In addition, nightfall was soon approaching. The following day, July 4th, erupted in rainfall and saw the retreat of Lee's army.
        General Stuart, with four brigades (Chambliss, Hampton, Fitz Lee, and Jenkins), had arrived to the Gettysburg area on the afternoon of July 2nd. Lee, charged Stuart with guarding the army's left and flanking the Union right in the event the infantry captured Cemetery Ridge.
        The two cavalry forces met three miles east of Gettysburg near the Rummel farm about noon on July the 3rd. Stuart deployed his brigades (about 6,300 men) in the woods on Cress Ridge to the north. Gregg's Division, along with George Custer's Brigade (totalling about 4,500 men) was situated along Hanover road to the south.
        The fighting began as skirmishers between the two forces from both sides exchanged fire. Stuart then sent the 1st Virginia charging into the Union cavalry. Gregg then ordered a countercharge by the 7th Michigan that halted the Confederates. Stuart then ordered most of Hampton's and Fitz Lee's Brigades into a column to attack
        Gregg's position. The Confederate column - extremely vulnerable enroute, ran headlong into Custer's 1st Michigan. The clash of the two forces was spectacular.
        The cavalry battle continued with fierce hand-to-hand combat with neither side gaining the upper hand. Finally, the 3rd Pennsylvania attacked the Confederate column from the east and the forced the rear portion of the column to retreat from the rest of the body. Eventually, the Confederates, cutoff and attacked from all sides, were forced to retreat back to Cress Ridge. The total Confederate loss numbered about 230 men, while the Union lost about 250. Neither side lost ground and both would claim victory, but Stuart was denied access to the Union rear.
        Many different estimates exist on the number of casualties inflicted during the battle of Gettysburg, but one common estimate is as follows:
Casualties**
Union Confederate
Killed 3,155 2,600-4,500
Wounded 14,530 12,800
Missing 5,365 5,250
Total 23,040 20,650-25,000*
% of Total 27% 30%-34%

* Total Confederate casualties have been estimated to be as great as 28,000. It is usually agreed that total Confederate casualties numbered at least 1/3 of Lee's army.
** Casualties generally included anyone who deserted, was captured, missing, wounded, or killed. In essence, if a soldier was not present during muster, he could likely be counted as a casualty.

The following casualties are based on official losses (Union) and official and estimated losses (Confederate) for the 3-day battle:

Union Casualties by Corps
I Corps 6,060
II Corps 4,370
III Corps 4,210
V Corps 2,190
VI Corps 240
XI Corps 3,800
XII Corps 1,080
Cavalry Corps 850
Artillery Corps 240

Confederate Casualties by Corps
I Corps 7,575
II Corps 5,935
III Corps 6,935
Cavalry Division 240

Back