Gettysburg - The First Day Part 3
McPherson Ridge to Seminary Ridge
Withdrawing Union troops made a brief stand in the swale separating McPherson and Seminary Ridges, but were forced back to the protection of Union artillery on Seminary Ridge. Breastworks in front of the Seminary gave them additional protection. Scales' brigade advanced between the Chambersburg Pike on the left and the Seminary on the right but stalled at the bottom of the swale. Perrin's brigade attacked to the right of the Seminary. After reforming at the bottom of the swale, a Confederate regiment penetrated the Union line. Because of this and other Confederate successes, especially the collapse of the XI Corps to the north, the whole Union army withdrew through the town of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill and Culps' Hill.
XI Corps Line
This is the view north to east from the Union XI Corps position near the Carlisle Road, visible on the left. Artillery and a thin skirmish line held the area to the left of the road to Oak Ridge. The Union line continued along the park service road visible on the right and up Barlow's Knoll, the hill on the right studded with monuments. Against orders, the XI Corps had moved forward from the edge of town to occupy this high ground.
Doles' brigade of Rodes' division had wandered off in this direction and attacked across this field toward the camera. The 157th New York advanced through what is shamefully now the car dealership on the far left of the picture in order to flank the attacking Confederates. The Confederates flanked and crushed the 157th in turn and continued along the road to flank the Union position. Because of this, and events over on Barlow's Knoll, the Eleventh Corps fled in panic through Gettysburg.
From Barlow's Knoll
This is the view north to east from Barlow's Knoll near the location of Wilkeson's Battery. The infantry line extended off the picture to the left to the Carlisle Road. Here at the Knoll, the Union line, in the form of von Gilsa's brigade in a skirmish line, was deployed forward at Rock Creek in the woods below the hill. This line extended to the Harrisburg Road near the building and tower on the far right of the picture. Early's division faced this Union line and overlapped it beyond the Harrisburg Road. Not surprisingly, the Confederates easily flanked and broke the Union line, sending them fleeing through town. More than anything else, this decided the first day's fight.
For reasons good or bad, the Confederates did not attack Cemetery Hill that evening. The two armies concentrated that night. Tomorrow would bring a continuation of Confederate attacks.