William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac

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[328] on a line perpendicular with the route of Hill and Longstreet, encamped at Heildersburg, distant nine miles. Of the Union force, Buford's cavalry division alone was at Gettysburg that night; and Reynolds, with the First and Eleventh corps, bivouacked on the right bank of Marsh Creek, distant four miles, under orders to make Gettysburg the next morning. The corps of Sickles (Third) and Slocum (Twelfth) were within call. The remaining corps were further off.

It is easy to see, from the relative situations of the hostile armies, that unless one or the other should fall back, a battle was inevitable in the vicinity of Gettysburg. But these facts were unknown to both the opposing commanders; and I shall in the next chapter relate how, contrary to the expectations of each, the action was precipitated.

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Vi. Gettysburg—first day.

On the morning of Wednesday, the 1st of July, the two Confederate columns continued their march towards Gettysburg; and Buford, holding position on the Chambersburg road, by which Hill and Longstreet were advancing, suddenly found himself engaged, a little past nine in the morning, with Hill's van, about a mile west of the town. As he knew that Reynolds was moving up to join him, he made dispositions to retard the enemy, holding back Hill's column by skilful deployments and the use of his horse-artillery. Reynolds, who (with his own First Corps and the Eleventh Corps, under General Howard) was then en route from his place of bivouac at Marsh Creek, hearing Buford's guns, pressed forward with all haste. At ten o'clock he came upon the field with the leading division of the First Corps, under General Wadsworth. While