| After Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia defeated the Union Army of the Potomac under General Joseph Hooker at Chancellorsville in May 1863, the victorious Confederates decided to invade the North for a second time in two years. This time, they would head for Pennsylvania.  | | Gen. Robert E. Lee, CSA (NARA) | The Invasion of Pennsylvania would hopefully serve several purposes. First, a victory on Northern soil could bring much needed foreign recognition for the Confederate government. Second, it was hoped that a Southern victory in the North would strengthen the anti-war movement and bring about a negotiated settlement. Third, invading the north would allow the Confederate troops to forage off the rich Pennsylvania land and relieve pressure on the Virginia farmers. Finally, Lee believed that invading the North and threatening Washington would lead to a recall of Union troops in the West, thereby relieving the pressure on Vicksburg
. The Army of Northern Virginia began its movement in early June. When General Joseph Hooker learned that the Confederates were on the move, he put his cavalry, under the command of Major General Alfred Pleasonton, into motion to find out what exactly was happening. On June 8, 1863, the Union and Confederate cavalry clashed at Brandy Station in one of the biggest cavalry battles of the war. Other cavalry engagements ensued during the campaign, most notably those at Upperville, Aldie, and Middleburg
. By June 24, 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia was across the Potomac River. Hooker realized that Lee's army could cut off Hooker's Army and take Washington, so he quickly ordered the Army of the Potomac North to position itself between Lee and Washington.  | | Gen. Geoge G. Meade (NARA) | Whenever an army is on the move, it must know exactly where the enemy is. Lee needed to know where the enemy was in Pennsylvania, now more than ever, because he was moving onto unfamiliar ground. But J.E.B. Stuart was nowhere to be found. Instead of screening the Confederate left and informing Lee where the Union forces were, he went on another of his round-the-Union-army trips. He remained out of touch with Lee for several days, effectively blinding the Army of Northern Virginia. But Lee pushed on, and issued orders that the army should consolidate its forces at Cashtown, west of Gettysburg. Unable to stop Lee's push North, Hooker resigned as commander of the Army of the Potomac, and President Lincoln replaced him with George Meade. Meade assumed command of the army on June 28. He quickly realized he could not take offensive against Lee with his army spread out as much as it was, so he decided to take a defensive posture (defending Washington and Baltimore) and fight a decisive battle on the ground of his own choosing. On June 30 the forces from the opposing armies met at Gettysburg. Confederate General Henry Heth had sent Brigadier General James J. Pettigrew's brigade into Gettysburg to secure a supply of shoes and other items for his men. However, Pettigrew ran into Buford's cavalry and beat a hasty retreat. The next morning, July 1, 1863, Heth's Division again advanced on Gettysburg. Waiting for them was Buford's cavalry, now dismounted, who stopped the Confederate column on the Chambersburg Road at Willoughby run. The Confederates greatly out numbered the Union army, but Buford's men held on until relieved by the I Corps under Major General John Reynolds. Heth deployed Archer's Brigade on the right of the Chambersburg Road and Davis's on the left. Behind  | | Woods in which Gen. J.F. Reynolds was killed .(LOC) | Archer on the Herr Ridge were Pettigrew's and Brockenbrough's brigades. Facing Heth was Wadsworth's Division, I Corps. On the left, opposing Archer was Meredith's Brigade (the Iron Brigade ) defending McPherson's Ridge with Cutler's brigade fronting Davis on the north side of the Chambersburg road. The Iron Brigade attacked and flanked the Confederate right, capturing 75 Alabamians, including General Archer himself. But fate was not so kind to General Reynolds. As he was directing men into action along McPherson's Ridge, he was shot in the neck. He died instantly. Abner Doubleday assumed command of the field. North of the Chambersburg road, Davis's brigade flanked Cutler's right and rolled it up, forcing the 76th and 56th Pennsylvania and the 147th New York into retreat. But two of Cutler's regiments, the 95th and 84th New York, along with the 6th Wisconsin from the Iron Brigade, attacked Davis and captured over 200 Confederates. As Doubleday was checking Heth's Division, Rodes' division of Ewell's Corps entered the battle from the north. Rodes deployed on Oak Hill, where he set up an artillery battery that began enfilading the Union right. Not long after Ewell arrived to enter battle, the Union XI Corps (The Flying Dutchmen) under General Howard (who assumed command of the Union army by virtue of seniority) also arrived-and just in time to support the I Corps. Howard threw the XI Corps, now commanded by Carl Schurz, to stop Ewell's advance from the north and link with the I Corps' right flank Viewing the situation, Ewell decided to attack the Union right with Rodes' Division. O'Neal's Brigade would strike against Robinson's Division's right. Iverson's Brigade was to attack from the South, and Daniel's Brigade from the West, flanking Robinson's left and rolling it up toward O'Neal. The attacked failed, with considerable loss to the Confederates in killed, wounded, and missing. But Rodes ordered another attack, this time by Dole's Brigade on the left. Barlow's Division, XI Corps, quickly repulsed the attack, which seriously exposed Rodes left. General Schimmelfennig took advantage and attacked Dole's flank, but Dole reacted quickly, and counterattacked, pushing the Blue Coats back.  | | Bodies of Confederate soldiers, killed on July 1, collected near the McPherson woods (LOC) | As Rodes was holding his own against the Flying Dutchmen, Early's Division arrived on the field from the north and promptly entered the battle on Rodes' left. Gordon's Georgia Brigade attacked Barlow's Division throwing them into temporary confusion. Dole attacked Schimmelfennig and sent them into confusion. Howard ordered Coster's Brigade, in reserve on Cemetery Hill, into the battle against Early. He was quickly defeated, losing over ¾ of his regiment to casualties. The rout was on. The XI Corps retreated in confusion through Gettysburg with the Confederates closely on their heels. In mid afternoon, Heth attacked the Union line again. The attack was strong, and, coupled with Rodes' attacks from the north, pushed the Union troops into retreat to Seminary ridge. Buford's dismounted cavalry stopped the Confederate advance again, for the second time that day. As the attack slowed, General Pender moved his division through Heth's in an attempt to dislodge the Union troops from Seminary Ridge. The Federals' fire was devastating and temporarily halted the Confederate advance. But advance they did, driving the I Corps all the way to Cemetery Hill, losing thousands as prisoners.
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