Page 13 - Gettysburg weekend book

This map shows an
overview of the
fighting on July 1,
1863. The blue ar-
rows indicate the
Union retreat
through the town as
they formed a defen-
sive position on Cul-
p’s Hill and Ceme-
tery ridge.

Buford’s cavalry had
suffered heavy losses
in the battle and was
recalled to Pipe
Creek. His unit
would not be in-
volved in any addi-
tional action

Additional units arrive through the night for both armies. The
arriving Union forces eventually stretch their line along Ceme-
tery Ridge to the Round Tops. The Confederate units line up
along Seminary Ridge parallel to the Union’s.

After the battle, various Confederate sources reported that Lee
had been out of sorts the entire day of July 1. Some speculated
that he was very angry with the performance of his subordinates.
He did not want to fight here, but Heth had started a general en-
gagement. Ewell had failed to take possession of the heights and
with Stuart’s absence he had no idea of the size of the union
force he was facing. Further, Longstreet was opposed to continu-
ing the battle, encouraging Lee to pull out and seek a better posi-
tion, like the Pipe Creek Line that the Union had abandoned as
they moved their units to Gettysburg.