Page 11 - Gettysburg weekend book

Day 1, Afternoon

Oak Hill-Around 1:30, Confederate Major General Robert
Rodes deploys his Second Corps divisions just north of town as
they begin attacks from Oak Hill. Soon the Confederates renew
their attacks on McPherson’s Ridge west of town as the Iron
Brigade is sent forward to repulse their attack. I
Barlow’s Knoll. In an effort to seize high ground in the im-
mediate vicinity, Gen. Francis C. Barlow advanced his division
of the 11th Corps to a knoll along the Harrisburg Road. The
Federals, however, were spread too thin and their right flank was
in the air. They were no match for the surging Confeder-
ates. Brigades under John B. Gordon and George Doles con-
verged on Barlow's exposed position and, after a brief fight,
routed the Yankees, seized the knoll and severely damaged the
Federal right. The Yankees made a few vain attempts to counter
the Confederate onslaught but with little success. This action
leaves the Confederates possessing the high ground in the area
and the Union flank exposed.

Union Retreat. Arriving Confederate units eventually begin
to outflank the Union defenses, forcing Gen. Otis Howard, now
the senior commander, to order a retreat. At around 2:30, Gen.
Winfield Hancock of the Union II Corps arrives. He has been
dispatched by Meade to decide whether to continue the fight
here or have the Federal forces withdraw to the Pipe Creek Line.
Seeing the defensive potential of Culp’s Hill and Cemetery
Ridge, he quickly decides to fight here. His presence stabilizes
what was becoming a disorganized retreat and Union forces
begin to move through the town’s streets as they head for the
high ground. Fighting in the town is intense with fighting house
to house through hastily barricaded streets. While most of the
civilian residents seek shelter in basements and barricaded hous-
es, the streets are soon filled with dead and wounded soldiers
from both sides.