ties of his position, would have taken, and yet they have been made the ground of an accusation that General Meade contemplated a retreat from Gettysburg to the position selected at Pipe Creek. This accusation does great injustice to General Meade, and the fact that he was nct unduly committed to that line, nor unwilling to meet the enemy elsewhere, is proven by General Humphreys, who says that in the instructions issued to the corps commanders relating to the line of Pipe Creek, it was expressly declared that "Developments may cause the commanding general to assume the offensive from his present positions." A very few hours after these instructions were issued, circumstances did cause a change. General Meade himself says: "It was my firm determination, never for an instant deviated from, to give battle wherever and as soon as I could possibly find the enemy."

Simultaneously with the issuing of the instructions to the corps commanders regarding Pipe Creek, General Meade circulated the following timely order:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

June 30th, 1863.

The commanding general requests that previous to the engagement soon expected with the enemy, corps and all other commanding officers will address their troops, explaining to them briefly the immense issues involved in the struggle. The enemy are on our soil; the whole country now looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from the presence of the foe; our failure to do so will leave us no such welcome as the swelling millions of hearts with pride and joy at our success would give to every soldier of this army. Homes, firesides, and domestic altars, are involved. The army has fought well heretofore; it is believed that it will fight more desperately and bravely than ever, if it is addressed in fitting terms. Corps and other commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who fails in his duty this hour. By command of

MAJOR - GENERAL MEADE,
S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

THE TWO ARMIES ON EVE OF BATTLE.

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As we are now upon the eve of battle, the two great armies having been brought almost face to face, it will be well to recapitulate the positions occupied by each.

Positions occupied by the Confederate army on the night of Tuesday, June 30th:

The divisions of Heth and Pender, of Hill's Corps, were at Marsh Creck, four miles west of Gettysburg, on the Chambersburg road, and Anderson's division of the same corps was four miles further west on the same road, at Cashtown. The divisions of McLaws and Hood of Longstreet's Corps were about Fayetteville and Greenwood, sixteen miles from Gettysburg, on the Chambersburg pike, and Pickett's division of the same corps was in the neighborhood of Chambersburg. Early and Rodes of Ewell's Corps were at Heidlersburg, ten miles north of Gettysburg, and Johnson's division of this corps was at Greenwood. Jenkins' cavalry was below Carlisle; the brigades of Jones and Robertson were about Shippensburg; Imboden at Mercersburg, and Stuart somewhere north-west of York.

Positions occupied by the Federal army on the night of Tuesday, June 30th:

The First Corps, under General Reynolds, was at Marsh Creek, between Emmittsburg and Gettysburg, and four miles from the last named place; the Eleventh Corps, General Howard, was at Emmittsburg, ten miles from Gettysburg; the Third Corps, General Sickles, was at Bridgeport, twelve miles from Gettysburg; the Twelfth Corps, General Slocum, was at Littlestown, ten miles; the Second Corps, General Hancock, was at Uniontown, twenty miles; the Fifth Corps, General Sykes, was at Union Mills, six

teen miles; and the Sixth Corps, General Sedgwick, was at Manchester, twenty-seven miles. Gregg's cavalry division was at Manchester; Kilpatrick's at IIanover; and the brigades of Gamble and Devin, of Buford's division, were about one mile and a half west of Gettysburg, on the Chambersburg road. This vast fan was now about to be closed, and as the Confederate army, in its concentration, was swung to the right and closed upon its right support, the Federal army was to be swung to the left, and close upon its left. The point of contact between the two great opposing forces was Gettysburg, and the parts which would first come in contact were, Reynolds upon the Federal left, and Heth upon the Confederate right. The reader will do well to watch in the coming details the times and places where the various parts of these two great hosts came into collision.

CHAPTER VI.

THE FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG WEDNES

DAY, JULY 1st, 1863.

N the morning of Wednesday, July 1st, Heth's division of Hill's Corps advanced from Marsh Creek upon Gettysburg. General Buford, as stated in the previous chapter, held the ridges west of the town with the cavalry brigades of Generals Gamble and Devin. About half-past nine o'clock these men appeared in front of Buford's videttes, and skirmishing commenced on the farm of Hon. Edward McPherson, and thus the series of battles at Gettysburg began.

The object of this advance by General Heth is thus stated by Colonel W. H. Taylor, General Lee's adjutant - general, in Annals of the War, page 307: "Instructions had been sent to General Heth to ascertain what force was at Gettysburg, and, if he found infantry opposed to him, to report the fact immediately, without forcing an engagement." General Buford, however, was aware of the presence of the enemy in his front, and had prepared for them by dismounting a large part of his force and placing them in line. His batteries also had been planted at commanding points.