Union Preparations for Battle,
2 July by John Dynia M eade arrived on Cemetery Hill in the early morning hours of the Second. He conferred with Slocum, Howard and Hancock. He must have been somewhat heartened at what he heard. Despite heavy casualties, the First and Eleventh Corps were firmly ensconced in defensive positions on the hills and Cemetery Ridge. Heavy reinforcements were either approaching or in the area. These men also assured him that the position was a good one. Meade replaced Doubleday of the First Corps with General Newton, then he left to survey the position, an area of Pennsylvania that he was unfamiliar with. He walked around the immediate area, then, just before dawn, he set out on horseback, riding down to the vicinity of Little Round Top, then returning and riding out to Culp's Hill. Along the way a sketch of the position was made and Corps areas assigned. This would later be copied and distributed to the various commanders. On Culp's Hill, Meade conferred with Slocum who was concerned over a gap between the positions on Culp's Hill and the rest of the XIIth Corps. Three batteries of the XIth Corps were sent over to fill the gap until the XIIth Corps could redeploy. Meade also explored the idea of taking the offensive in this sector with Slocum, when the VIth Corps came up. This idea would be abandoned about mid-morning. At 11:00 AM Meade issued orders for the various Corps to make sketches of their positions, and to familiarize themselves with the surrounding countryside. They were to pay particular attention to the roads both in front and behind their positions. Meade went further. He assigned a staff officer to each of the Corps to report on their dispositions and the location of their headquarters. Meade's Chief of Staff, General Butterfield, arriving from Taneytown did the same for the Army in general. Earlier, around nine or so, Meade sent his son, Captain Meade, to the left flank to check the dispositions of the Third Corps. He had planned for it to extend from the left of Hancock's Second Corps, to the left placing its left flank on Little Round Top. Captain Meade learned, after arriving at Third Corps Headquarters that General Sickles, the commander, was resting in his tent. Sickles sent back word that he was unsure of the dispositions that he was to make. Captain Meade galloped back to his father's headquarters. The General sent his son back to Sickles with instructions that the Third Corps was to connect with the left of the Second corps and was then to extend to the left and occupy "the position that General Geary had held the night before." After hearing this Sickles himself came to headquarters to confer with his commander. This time General Meade repeated his instructions. Sickles replied that it was his understanding that Geary had held no position the night before. Then Sickles asked if he had permission to position his Corps as he saw fit. Meade replied that he did, within the scope of his general instructions. Sickles then asked for an officer to help him place his artillery, Meade sent General Hunt, the commander of the army's artillery reserve. Hunt soon discovered that Sickles wished to take up positions well in advance of the line that Meade had assigned. He rode over the area with the commander of the Third Corps. Sickles sought his approval for the line. Hunt replied that he had no authority to do so. A heavy cannonade broke out on the northern part of the Union line, and Hunt left to see what was happening. On the way he examined the rest of Sickles' new line and reported on it to Meade. He reported that while he thought the new line in and of itself a good position, he felt that the commanding General should look at it himself. Meanwhile Meade was making other dispositions. The Fifth Corps was sent to the left flank as a reserve, while the Sixth Corps went into reserve on the right. Around four in the afternoon, Meade arrived on the left flank. He was shocked by what he saw, as Sickles had advanced his Corps to the Emmitsburg Road, around the Peach Orchard. Meade, who was known for his temper, found Sickles and made it plain that Sickles had upset his plans. Meade felt that the Third Corps had advanced beyond easy support of the rest of the army. Meade then pointed to the position that he had wanted the Third Corps to occupy. Sickles apologized and offered to withdraw, but the Confederate attack opened. |