Location: Gettysburg, PA and the surrounding hills  

Campaign: Lee’s Campaign into Pennsylvania  (June 1863)

Date(s): July 1-3, 1863

Principal Commanders: Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]; Gen. George G. Meade [US]

Forces Engaged: Corps (172,000 total)

Estimated Casualties: Over 51,000 casualties (both sides)

Description: In July of 1863, General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia of 75,000 men and the 97,000 man Union Army of the Potomac under General George G. Meade met, by chance, when a Confederate brigade sent forward for supplies observed a forward column of Meade's cavalry.  Of the more than 2,000 land engagements of the Civil War, Gettysburg ranks supreme. Although the Battle of Gettysburg did not end the war, nor did it attain any major war aim for the North or the South, it remains the great battle of the war.  Here at Gettysburg on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863, more men actually fought and more men died than in any other battle before or since on North American soil.

 

Result(s):   Tactical Draw / Union Strategic Victory

 

Battle of Gettysburg (from the 2^nd US Cavalry perspective)

 

 

Events Leading to Gettysburg

 

Lee’s objective was to invade the North from the Shenandoah Valley, protecting his right by holding the mountain passes with Stuart’s cavalry and Longstreet’s infantry corps. By June 15^th, Stuart held Thoroughfare and Aldie Gaps in the Bull Run Mountains.  From June 14-17, Pleasanton’s cavalry corps was covering the movement of the Army of the Potomac northward.  On June 17, Pleasanton was sent to find out what Lee was doing.  His plan was to move on Aldie and with Buford’s and Gregg’s cavalry division and Barne’s infantry division, and to send a regiment under Duffie to Middleburg.  The Second Cavalry belonged to the Reserve Brigade in Buford’s Division.  It was during the march to Aldie that Company C joined the regiment uniting the command for the first time during the war.

 

Reaching Aldie June 18, the regiment remained saddled all day awaiting orders.  During that night it was annoyed by guerrillas firing from stone walls and other cover.  Soon after starting toward Middleburg on the morning of the 19^th, the leading battalion was attacked near Goose Creek and captured several prisoners.  There was desperate fighting all day by Gregg’s division at Middleburg, during which the enemy’s right flank was turned and he fell back one-half mile to a stronger position. It was during the fighting near this town that the Second and some Rebels made a rush for the same stone wall.  The Second reached the wall ahead of the Rebels.  Severe fighting ensued with small arms and finally the enemy was repulsed.

On June 21, Stuart’s five brigades were extended from Middleburg to Union as a screen to Lee’s movements. On this date, Gregg’s division was placed in position against the enemy right, the infantry in the center and Buford’s division on the enemy left. Greg steadily drove the Confederates back to Upperville where Buford’s division cooperated.  At four in the afternoon there was a charge of the whole regular brigade, consisting of the Second, Fifth and Sixth Cavalry in column of squadrons. By a liberal use of the saber, severe damage was inflicted upon the foe and he was soon driven from the field.  After repeated charges on both sides the Confederates were driven to Ashby’s Gap, which was occupied that night by a portion of Longstreet’s corps.  Pleasanton fell back to Aldie June 22, and in  a few days joined the Army of the Potomac.

The cavalry corps during June succeeded in penetrating the enemy screen and at the same time preventing Lee from finding out what the Army of the Potomac was doing.  The Federal Cavalry had proved its ability to cope with the Southern troopers, mounted and dismounted.

Gettysburg Battle

General Stuart (CS) started on June 24^th with three brigades of cavalry, to move around the Union Army in order to cut their line of communication and to threaten the capital.  He soon captured a wagon train eight miles long and committed other depredations.  General Kilpatrick’s cavalry division which had recently been added to the cavalry corps, was sent to intercept.  The First Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac, led by former Second Dragoon, Major General John Buford, was ordered to cover the left of the main army and watch the enemy in the direction of Hagerstown.  Gregg’s cavalry division was located on the Baltimore pike covering the right arm of the army.  After several encounters with Kilpatrick’s division, Stuart finally eluded him and reached Gettysburg after the battle began.

On the afternoon of June 30^th, Buford’s division reached Gettysburg, PA as the enemy entered the town.  Realizing the importance of this place on account of the road net and the commanding ground, he drove the enemy back toward Cashtown.  Through untiring efforts of patrols, he learned that Hill’s corps of the Confederate Army was at that place.  Then he decided to hold the ground until Reynold’s Corps, encamped five miles south, could reach the place.  To Buford must go the credit for selecting Gettysburg as a battlefield.  On the morning of July 1, the First Cavalry Division fought desperately against ever-increasing numbers of Confederates and finally moved the line of battle back about 200 yards.  Upon the arrival of Reynold’s First Corps, they continued to fight dismounted during the day.  That night they bivouacked on the battlefield with pickets extending to Fairfield.  On the morning of July 2, after a brisk fight with Confederate sharpshooters, the cavalry corps was relieved by Third Corps and ordered to Westminster to guard the supply trains.

Buford’s regular brigade commanded by General Wesley Merritt, former Second Dragoon, was detached at this time and picketed toward the left and left front of the army.  In doing this it reached Emmittsburg on July 2.  The next morning it moved to the right of Gettysburg road and formed part of the Union Left near Round Top Mountain.  Soon after entering the line, the Second Cavalry was checked by a heavy fire from the enemy, who was stationed behind a stone wall.  The artillery assisted in displacing the Rebels but they took up a position to the rear, and it was necessary for our regiment to drive them out again and again.  Advancing along the Gettysburg road, the brigade of dismounted skirmishers caused the Confederates under Law to detach part of his line in order to protect his flank and rear.

Actions Immediately Following Gettysburg

On the morning of July 4^th, General Lee’s army was in full retreat, followed by the Union Cavalry in hot pursuit.  The First Cavalry Division was joined by the regular brigade under Merritt at Frederick on July 5.  From here it moved to Hagerstown, where it bivouacked the night. Following the Confederate army it marched to Williamsport, Maryland, and attacked their train, which was crossing the Potomac.  The Confederate defense stiffened after their pickets were driven in.  Gamble’s Brigade of the division punished the enemy severely but was not able to destroy very much of the trains on account of the large force guarding them.

Along with the rest of the First Cavalry Division, Merrit’s brigade, which included the Second Cavalry, now fell back on Boonsborough.  The enemy was found advancing south on Hagerstown road, and the regular brigade was engaged in delaying him in the vicinity of Boonsborough for several days.  Here on the 7^th and 8^th he was driven back toward Haggerstown. On the 9^th, they drove him for about five miles until within three miles of Funkstown. On the 10^th, the division was formed as a line of skirmishers with the Reserve Brigade on the right and they soon drove the enemy into Funkstown.  Because of the shortage of ammunition on this day the division was finally forces to give up the position gained and it was later occupied by the infantry.

On July 14, the division was ordered to advance and it was found the enemy had evacuated their positions.  They soon came in contact with the rear of Lee’s army near Falling Waters, Maryland and Buford decided to move to a flank and get possession of the road bridge.  They soon scattered the Rebels and captured much equipment and about 500 prisoners, but the bridge was cut loose and swung to the Virginia shore.