July 1, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg Begins

The Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863, when Confederate infantry marched toward the town searching for shoes and supplies. What started as a foraging mission quickly turned into combat after Union cavalry under Brigadier General John Buford intercepted the advance. Fighting erupted along McPherson Ridge in the early morning hours, setting off three days of brutal combat that would claim tens of thousands of casualties. There's far more to this story than you'd expect.

Key Takeaways

• Confederate forces under Henry Heth marched toward Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, initially seeking shoes and supplies rather than initiating a planned major battle.
• Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Buford detected the Confederate advance and used McPherson Ridge to delay enemy movement for approximately five hours.
• Maj. Gen. John Reynolds arrived with I Corps infantry around 10 a.m. but was killed shortly after directing troops into McPherson's Woods.
• Coordinated Confederate attacks from the north and west by Ewell's and Hill's corps overwhelmed Union positions, forcing a disorganized Federal retreat through Gettysburg.
• Confederate forces failed to seize Cemetery Hill after the Union retreat, allowing Federal troops to establish fortified defensive positions there.

What Sparked the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1?

The Battle of Gettysburg didn't start with a grand strategic maneuver — it kicked off almost by accident in the early morning hours of July 1, 1863, when Confederate infantry went looking for shoes.

Two brigades from Henry Heth's division marched toward Gettysburg on what was effectively a supply excursion, not expecting a serious fight. They weren't driven by political motives or battlefield ambition — they needed equipment.

What they found instead was John Buford's Union cavalry, positioned and ready to hold the ground. Buford's dismounted troopers slowed the Confederate advance along the Chambersburg Pike, buying critical time for Union infantry to arrive.

That unexpected resistance transformed a routine foraging mission into one of the Civil War's most consequential battles.

How a Confederate Foraging Mission Started the Fight

What sent Confederate soldiers marching toward Gettysburg on the morning of July 1, 1863, wasn't a battlefield objective — it was a shortage of shoes. General Henry Heth dispatched two brigades on what amounted to a foraging expedition, following reports that the town held useful supplies. His men moved down the Chambersburg Pike expecting little resistance.

They didn't get what they bargained for. Union cavalry under John Buford recognized the Confederate approach and deployed dismounted troopers to slow the advance. What began as a routine supply requisitions mission quickly escalated into a full engagement. Buford's riders bought critical time, holding the Confederates back until Union infantry reinforcements could arrive. A simple search for provisions had unknowingly triggered one of the Civil War's most consequential battles.

Buford's Cavalry Holds the Line at Dawn

As Heth's brigades pressed down the Chambersburg Pike, one man stood between them and an unopposed march into Gettysburg: Brigadier General John Buford. His morning reconnaissance revealed Confederate strength, so he deployed his troopers in a dismounted defense across McPherson Ridge.

Buford's cavalry held their ground from roughly 5 a.m. until 10 a.m., buying precious time for Union infantry reinforcements to arrive.

Key facts about Buford's stand:

• He spread troopers thin across ridgelines to maximize coverage
• Dismounted defense allowed disciplined rifle fire against advancing Confederates
• His delay gave Reynolds' I Corps time to reach the field

Without Buford's tactical discipline, Confederates could've seized Gettysburg's high ground before Union infantry arrived. Similarly, the collapse of a defensive position proved equally decisive at the Battle of Batoche in 1885, where Canadian militia overwhelmed Métis forces after four days of fighting.

Reynolds Arrives and the Fighting Turns Deadly

Around 10 a.m., Major General John F. Reynolds rushed his I Corps infantry forward to relieve Buford's exhausted cavalry. You can imagine the urgency Reynolds felt as he personally directed troops into McPherson's Woods, understanding that holding this ground was critical. His command decisions proved decisive in stabilizing the line, buying precious time for additional Union forces to arrive.

But Reynolds wouldn't live to see the results. A Confederate bullet struck him moments after he entered the fight, killing him instantly. His death sent shockwaves through Union ranks, forcing subordinates to assume command mid-battle.

Oliver Otis Howard's XI Corps arrived by early afternoon, extending Union lines northward. Despite these reinforcements, you'd see Confederate pressure mounting relentlessly from both the west and north, threatening to overwhelm the Federal position entirely.

Confederate Forces Close in From Two Directions

By early afternoon, the Confederate vise was closing in on Union forces from two sides. A.P. Hill's Third Corps pushed hard from the west while Richard Ewell's Second Corps swept down from the north, executing devastating flanking maneuvers that stretched Union lines dangerously thin.

Key Confederate advantages included:

• Oak Hill artillery placements gave Rebel gunners commanding fields of fire over exposed Union positions
• Rodes's division attacked from Oak Hill, hammering Union right flanks
• Early's division crossed open northern fields, overrunning Barlow's Knoll and collapsing the XI Corps salient

You couldn't hold both threats simultaneously. Outnumbered and outflanked, Union troops began cracking under coordinated pressure from west and north, forcing a desperate retreat toward Cemetery Hill.

Barlow's Knoll Falls and the Union Flanks Collapse

The collapse began at Barlow's Knoll. When Jubal Early's Confederate division swept across the open fields north of Gettysburg, they hit Francis Barlow's exposed XI Corps division hard. Barlow's men couldn't hold the salient, and once that position broke, the flank collapse spread rapidly.

Confederate pressure from both the north and west simultaneously shattered Union cohesion, sending Federal troops streaming back through Gettysburg's streets.

You'd have witnessed chaos if you were there — soldiers mixed with terrified civilians scrambling for safety as the retreat turned disorderly. The civilian impact was immediate and brutal; residents found themselves caught between two armies inside their own town.

Why Lee Didn't Order the Attack on Cemetery Hill?

As Union soldiers scrambled onto Cemetery Hill, Lee faced one of the war's most debated decisions: why didn't he order an immediate assault on that high ground before the Federals could fortify it?

Lee's caution stemmed from several compounding factors:

• Exhausted troops: His men had fought hard all day and lacked the energy for another major push.
• Confederate logistics: Ammunition and reinforcements weren't fully positioned for a sustained assault.
• Discretionary orders: Lee suggested Ewell attack "if practicable," leaving the decision to a hesitant commander.

Ewell ultimately chose not to advance, and that window closed quickly. Just as legislative moments can spark national cultural observances, battlefield hesitation can permanently alter the course of history.