Gettysburg Semester: Gettysburg (Day 1)

Although cold and cloudy we departed for the very long drive to our own backyard-Gettysburg!! Our guide, John Archer, met us at the Appleford and we drove out to start our tour on East Cemetery Hill. There John gave us an overview of the events leading up to the battle and oriented us to the terrain. East Cemetery Hill was the “fall-back” position of the Union, so it was important to keep it in mind when we were discussing the fight and retreat of the first day.

After East Cemetery Hill we drove a few miles out of town to where the first shot of the battle was fired. There we learned about Buford’s delaying tactics and Heth’s quest for “shoes”. Then we followed Buford’s planned retreat to Herr Ridge and McPherson Ridge where the infantry battle would be joined. We went to the railroad cut to see where Davis’ brigade had met with the I Corps and into Herbst Woods where Archer’s Brigade clashed with the Iron Brigade. John is a descendant of James J. Archer and so he told us the story of Archer’s capture in that assault. Once we were done there we traveled across the railroad cut to where the XI Corps came into action against Rodes’ Division. After going to Oak Hill and the Gettysburg Plains below, it was time for lunch.

After lunch we went to Barlow’s Knoll to cover the right flank of the XI Corps and begin the retreat through the town. Blocher’s Knoll (as it was then called) was the sight of a crushing defeat for the XI Corps. The I and XI Corps crumbled around the same time, so we headed back to Herbst Woods to cover the retreat of the Iron Brigade. John led us through the woods following the path of the 24^th Michigan and we continued to follow them back to Seminary Ridge. Then we went to the site of Kuhn’s Brickyard where a fierce fight took place to cover the retreat of the XI Corps. The Brickyard is inconspicuous, surrounded by houses, but it stands out for the large mural of the battle painted on the side of the building. It was so commanding that we posed in battle positions in front of it. For some strange reason those on the Confederate side outnumbered those on the Union. I stood on the Union side, but not very bravely since I realistically portrayed how I would be in battle: cowering behind someone else (there has to be one coward in a unit and I guess I’m it).

Our last stop was near (but not on) Cemetery Hill to discuss the decision of Ewell to not continue the attack on the Union position once they had regrouped on Cemetery Hill. Next week we continue the Gettysburg saga with the second day of the battle.

-Katie Logothetis