The following statement is what John described to me and my wife as to what most likely took place illustrated in my photograph.............The following is MY account of what happened west of Cemetery Ridge on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 1863. I have utilized the OR’S (Official Records of the Battle) and 3 different secondary sources. (named at the end of this piece) It is interesting that this part of the battle is very poorly researched and 3 authors have come up with 3 different narratives. In that case, I may as well throw mine into the mix.

Once upon a time……. Colonel Bill Gamble’s 1st cavalry brigade had been in constant contact with the A.P. Hill’s Corps since the early morning of July 1, 1863. Beginning with skirmishes west of Herr Ridge to a heroic stand waiting for infantry reinforcements on McPherson’s Ridge, Gamble’s brigade conducted itself valiantly. Being relieved by forces under the command of General John Reynold’s, the Union horseman take up defensive positions on the left flank of the Union line. This original position was south of the Fairfield (Hagerstown Road) and west of McMillen’s Woods and Seminary Ridge.

During the climactic attack of A.P. Hill’s Army of Northern Virginia (A.N.V.) 3rd Corps/Pender’s Division (3:45 to 5:00pm) Gamble, under orders of his division commander Brigadier General John Buford, shifted his position and dismounted 3 of his regiments behind a stone wall in Shultz’s Woods (on the western side of today’s Western Confederate Ave.) It is here that the 2nd Brigade protected the left flank of retreating Union infantry after a series of devastating Confederate attacks have forced 1st Corp’s from Seminary Ridge. Gamble’s 3 regiments ( 8th NY, 3rd IND, and 12th Ill) were some of the last Federal forces to retreat covering the withdrawal of Biddle’s brigade/Rowley’s Division 1st Corps to Cemetery Hill.

At that point with Gamble’s move to Cemetery Hill, The 1st Cavalry Division was reunited (Colonel Tom Devin’s 2nd brigade had been covering the flank of O.O. Howard’s XI Corps north and east of Gettysburg) and waited for orders just west of Cemetery Ridge. Now it is somewhere around 6pm…General Winfield Scott Hancock is in command of the field for Union forces,  (having been sent there by Commanding General A.O.P. upon being notified of the death of John Reynolds earlier in the day). Hancock, as usual, in the line of fire, impeccably dressed and cursing like a muleskinner, summons Buford.

As both men meet on the western slope of Cemetery Hill, Confederate forces under the command of General James Lane advance from Seminary Ridge with an eye towards cutting off the retreat of the remnants of the I Corp’s and possibly attacking Federal positions on Cemetery Hill and Ridge. Hancock orders Buford to respond to this very serious threat. Supposedly the cavalryman’s response was a quick salute and “I’ll see what I can do.”

With that, General Buford dismounted Devin’s brigade as skirmishers and formed approximately 1,000 men of the 1st Cavalry brigade for a charge. At a walk with carbine’s and pistol’s blazing, receiving vicious counter fire from Lane’s brigade, Gamble’s horseman continue to advance across Emmitsburg Pike northwest towards McMillan’s Woods. At one point Confederate commanders, in desperation, halted their advance and formed defensive squares to stave off the Union offensive. Lane’s brigade is stopped and forced to withdraw to the safety of Seminary Ridge. Gamble’s force halts wheels and returns to its position west of Cemetery Hill, now teeming with reinforcements.

General Hancock reminisced years later about “the splendid spectacle of that gallant cavalry, as it stood there unshaken and undaunted in the face of the advancing Confederate Infantry.”

Buford’s 1st Cavalry Division encamped on the evening of July 1st in the Peach Orchard sending scouts out throughout the night and was relieved the next day being sent South to be refitted and re-equipped.

And that’s my story and I’m sticking to it….:)

Bibliography:
Longacre, Edward G., The Cavalry at Gettysburg: A Tactical Study of Mounted Operations during the Civil War’s Pivotal Campaign.

Martin, David G. , Gettysburg July 1

Pfanz, Harry W. , Gettysburg-The First Day,

 

 THANKS JOHN

 

I will say the weather was not the greatest this particular weekend, it was chilly and damp, with occasional rain throughout the night. I didn't get to many pictures with Orbs present, my wife seamed to get more than me.  The first group are the ones I took the second group are my wife's.