George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army
George Gordon Meade, Ed.

Let us now turn to the Confederate army to see what its actual position was at the close of each of the first two days of its retreat from the field of Gettysburg.

On the night of July 5—that is to say, about the same time that the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac was at Fairfield, and General Sedgwick had reported that he believed the Confederates were going to make a stand—the whole of the Army of Northern Virginia was concentrated in the mountains in the vicinity of Fairfield.¹ Ewell with his corps of infantry occupied the passes at Cashtown and Fairfield. Longstreet with his whole corps was on Ewell's right, and Hill with his three divisions was in the rear in support. The cavalry under Stuart was guarding both flanks of the army.

Meanwhile, it will be remembered the Army of the Potomac had been halted by the suspension of the order to concentrate at Middletown until further information could be gained as to the probability of the enemy making a stand in force in the mountains.

On the 6th Lee again retreated, and by night Longstreet, in the advance, was about to enter Hagerstown followed by Ewell at Waynesboro.² Hill, bringing up the rear, had not yet left the mountains. The cavalry continued guarding the flanks.

The Army of the Potomac in the meantime had received the order to again take up the flank movement, and by the morning of the 7th of July the whole army was in motion.