Gettysburg, Day One - The Morning Fight

1st of 4 chapters describing the 1st day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
All of the Gettysburg maps and videos are available on my web page here:
www.clarksoncs....

[@mindbomb9341]

These are INCREDIBLE videos! Thank you for your service sir!

[@Waxer72ndVFW]

That's one of the clearest explications of the early phase of the battle I've yet experienced. Job well done! Looking forward to more in this series!

[@ThatOtherTimGuy]

Excellent work. I’m also studying that first day, and I believe using the same map. The Horse Railway and Katalysine Spring aka Gettysburg Spring Hotel weren’t built until after the battle. I find myself engaged in hours of map cleanup. But back to your excellent work: Thank you!

[@anthonyat2401]

Excellent, especially the clear timing. Couldn't have been done better.

[@hvymettle]

Buford’s division reached Gettysburg on June 30th about 11 a.m. His mission was to screen the advance of the Union Army of the Potomac as it moved north, while also gathering intelligence about the whereabouts of the Army of Northern Virginia. Pleasanton's Special Orders Number 99 instructed Buford’s 1st Cavalry Division to move ahead of Reynolds’ and Howard’s corps through Emmitsburg and on to Gettysburg, ten miles north of the Maryland line, where they would “cover and protect the front and communicate all information of the events rapidly and surely.” Buford’s orders did not include defending Gettysburg, but to his eternal credit he sensed the town’s strategic importance. The road network made it an ideal point for either army to concentrate and Buford did not fail to note the commanding terrain south of the town. Whoever controlled that ground would control the road network. Buford’s division suffered 131 casualties on July 1. Most were sustained during the late-afternoon fighting along Seminary Ridge when part of Gamble’s brigade supported the remnants of the 1st Corps in its last stand before retreating to Cemetery Hill. Less than 10 men were lost in the morning engagement with Heth, whose casualties were just as light. The light casualties means Heth never really pressed the issue. That, however, in no way diminishes the importance of what Buford accomplished. Buford’s skillful management of his division that morning afforded Reynolds the crucial time to decide whether to fight at Gettysburg and kept the road network open for the 1st Corps and 11th Corps to reach the field to fight the delaying action Reynolds chose to make. It is important not to exaggerate Buford’s accomplishments. He did not win the Battle of Gettysburg for the Union, but his intelligent assessment of the general situation, his appreciation of the importance of the Gettysburg position, and masterful management of his division to delay the Confederate advance helped shape the conditions that made a Union victory more likely. What is inexplicable given the light casualties he sustained was Buford's departure from an active battlefield to refit that left the Union left flank unguarded on the 2nd day. Granted, Pleasanton approved the order but Buford made the request.

[@michaelpenney9692]

Excellent

[@dans8927]

I'd have to agree with Waxer72nd ... one of the best, clearest, explanations I've seen of the beginning phase of 'finding' the battle would be in Gettsburg. Especially with the "flow chart" of Military Corp / Divisions / Brigades for those not familiar with the command structure. Very well done.

[@gettysburgminutebyminute8607]

Thank you!

[@johnzajac9849]

Fact 1: During his movement into PA, Lee still had half his cavalry force. One of the most persistent myths about the campaign is that Lee had NO cavalry. This myth is repeated in this video. Fact 2: In his after-battle report, Gen. Buford stated that his cavalry fought rebels in the town. The rebels KNEW that the force in the town was regular U.S. Cavalry.

[@gettysburgminutebyminute8607]

I agree with you on the cavalry. Stuart left three of his six brigades with Lee. What Lee was missing was Stuart, not cavalry. Lee had cavalry. Not sure what your point is regarding Buford. Heth's guys were unclear about what was in their front, and quite surprised to run into regular US infantry: Wadsworth's division.

[@runtoth3abyss]

So the 26th North Carolina reported that the cavalry in Gettysburg was federal and went to Pettigrew with the information but Heth didn't believe the report and I don't think passed up the information to Hill or Lee. That may be what you are talking about thinking the Confederates knew there was cavalry in Gettysburg. But it was also an intelligence failure and no Confederate outside of the 26th was marching to Gettysburg thinking it was federal cavalry

[@Farlomous]

I wonder, had Buford retained Merritt's brigade with his division, if he could have held the line longer up north of the pike. He would have outnumbered Archer's brigade and when Cutler arrived he wouldn't have to split his brigade so would have been able to meet Davis more equally. As the Iron brigade moves into line, the cavalry would be able to make spoiling attacks on Heth's flank further slowing him down. One more hour would have allowed the rest of Reynolds corps to fall in line along Oak Ridge bolstering that part while Howard brings his Corp up.

[@gettysburgminutebyminute8607]

I believe that Merritt's was his best brigade. Were they regulars, rather than volunteers? IIRC...

[@Farlomous]

@@gettysburgminutebyminute8607 I think that they were regulars yes, but I believe they were detached to cover the passes to the south, or maybe something on the Potomac.

[@hvymettle]

Buford had properly detailed Merrit's Reserve Brigade of regulars to protect his supply line and the left flank of the advancing infantry given that he had a brief skirmish with Mississippi infantry of Maj. Gen. Henry Heth’s division at Fairfield on the morning of June 30. Speculating on what if's is fun but pointless. All we can do is try to understand the decisions that were made based on the historical record. Trying to quarterback the action from our vantage point adds nothing to that understanding.

[@Farlomous]

@@hvymettle there is nothing wrong with asking what ifs. That is how you learn from mistakes. And from what I understand, Merritt was further way south than Fairfield not even in Pennsylvania. But that is neither here nor there.

[@westbethkid]

why would you use both red and blue colors in the Union side? Kind of confusing

[@gettysburgminutebyminute8607]

I'm sure a graphic design person would have made a better choice. I used red, green, and black for highlighting units. Blue is the default color for union units, grey is default for rebel units. I could change highlight colors, but I'm not sure that's your issue. ?

[@westbethkid]

@@gettysburgminutebyminute8607 No you did a great job. I'm OCD about those things. I enjoyed your content. Carry on!