Page 9 - Gettysburg weekend book

Day 1, July 1,1863
Around 5 AM on July 1, Confederate Major General Henry
Heth’s Division sets out for Gettysburg from Cashtown. March-
ing down Chambersburg Pike, they arrived at Gettysburg around
7:30 AM and are met by Buford’s dismounted troopers. They
quickly discover that their opponents are not militia but regular
army. The Union skirmish lines hold against Heth’s superior
numbers. Heth, ignoring Lee’s orders not to engage the enemy,
is forced to reorganize his troops into battle lines and cannot
mount an effective attack until around 9:30.

McPherson Ridge-Buford’s 3000 troopers gradually fall back
and take positions along McPherson ridge and Herbst Woods as
the 7600 Confederates push forward. The Union men mounted
determined resistance and delaying tactics from behind fence
posts with rapid fire from their breech-loading carbines.
Around 10:15, General John Reynolds arrived on the field with
the I Corps and deployed them to defend the western approaches
to the town in support of Buford’s defenses. Reynolds is killed
by a bullet to the head and field command passes to Gen. Abner
Doubleday