Seminary Ridge

The withdrawal of the Union troops from the north and northwest left the Union position on McPherson Ridge untenable.

Early in the afternoon, when Rhodes opened fire from Oak Hill, heath had renewed his thrust along the chambersburg pike his troops were soon relieved and pender's division striking north and south of the road broke the union line the union troops first withdrew to seminary ridge then across the fields to cemetery hill here was advantageous ground which had been selected as a rallying point if the men were forced to relinquish the ground west and north of the town thus by five o'clock the remnants of the union forces some six thousand out of the eighteen thousand engaged in the first day's struggle were on the hills south of gettysburg ewell was now in possession of the town and he extended his line from the streets eastward to Rock Creek.

Studiously observing the hills in his front, he came within range of a Union sharpshooter, for suddenly he heard the thud of a mini-ball.

Calmly riding on, he remarked to General Gordon at his side, You see how much better fixed for a fight I am than you are.

It won't hurt at all to be shot in a wooden leg.

A momentous decision now had to be made.

lee had reached the field by three p m and had witnessed the retreat of the disorganized union troops through the streets of gettysburg through his glasses he had watched their attempt to re-establish their lines on cemetery hill sensing his advantage and a great opportunity he sent orders to ewell by a staff officer to press those people and secure the hill cemetery hill if possible however two of ewell's divisions those of rhodes and early had been heavily engaged throughout the afternoon and were not well in hand johnson's division could not reach the field until late in the evening and the reconnaissance service of stuart's cavalry was not yet available general ewell uninformed of the union's strength in the rear of the hills south of gettysburg decided to await the arrival of johnson's division cemetery hill was not attacked and johnson coming up late in the evening stopped at the base of colp's hill thus passed lee's opportunity of july first when the union troops retreated from the battle-ground north and west of the town on the evening of july one they hastily occupied defense positions on cemetery hill colp's hill and a part of cemetery ridge upon the arrival of slocum by the baltimore pike and sickles by way of the emmitsburg road the union right flank at culp's hill and spangler's ring and the important position at little round top on the left were consolidated thus was developed a strong defensive battle line in the shape of a fish-hook about three miles long with the advantage of high ground and of interior lines opposite in a semicircle about six miles long extending down seminary ridge and into the streets of gettysburg stood the confederates who during the night had closed in from the north and west the greater part of the citizenry of gettysburg despite the prospect of battle in their own yards chose to remain in their homes both army commanders respected non-combatant rights to a marked degree thus in contrast with the fields of carnage all about the village life and property of the civilian population remained unharmed while the doors of churches schools and homes were opened for the care of the wounded general meade at taneytown had learned early in the afternoon of july one that a battle was developing and that reynolds had been killed a large part of his army was within five miles of gettysburg meade then sent general hancock to study and report on the situation hancock reached the field just as the union troops were falling back to cemetery hill He helped to rally the troops and left at 6 o'clock to report to Meade that in his opinion the battle should be fought at Gettysburg.

Meade acted on this recommendation and immediately ordered the concentration of the Union forces at that place.

They'll be coming loose in just a minute, I hope.

The whole Confederate line running along Seminary Ridge, one mile across from me, has opened up.

It's getting very hot here.

I don't know how much longer I can stay on the air.

This is Jackson Beck.

Something is going on.

It's going on over on Seminary Ridge in the woods up there.

Now, through my glasses, I can see the...