General E. P. Alexander says, (p. 380): "Lee knew approximately the enemy's position, however, and his own three corps were converging by easy marches upon Cashtown, near which village he proposed to select his ground and await an attack." General Hill in his report says that he sent a courier to General Ewell informing him that he intended to advance the next morning and discover what was in his front. General Alexander says: "Hill's movement to Gettysburg was made on his own motion and with the knowledge that he would find the enemy's cavalry in possession. Ewell was informed of it. Lee's orders were to avoid bringing on an action." (p. 381.)[1]
In reference to the matter just mentioned two statements have been made by officers of Lee's army that demand correction. One is the statement by a staff officer that an interview took place at Cashtown between General Lee and General A. P. Hill on the morning of July 1st, before Hill started for Gettysburg. But as, according to Hill's report, Heth's division started for Gettysburg at 5 A. M., and Hill himself accompanied it; and as General Lee's letter to Imboden of July 1st shows that he was at Greenwood at 7:30 A. M., west of the mountain and nine miles from Cashtown, no such interview could have occurred.
The other is a statement made by one of Hill's division commanders, many years after the battle (General Heth, see Mosby, p. 152), viz: "I sought and found General Lee, saying to the General, 'Rodes is heavily engaged, had I not better attack?' General Lee replied, 'No, I am not prepared to bring on a general engagement today.' " It is impossible that this interview could have occurred. General Lee was at least 12 or 15 miles away when that officer became engaged. He did not arrive on the field until 2:30, when the battle was nearly over. General Early, in his report, states that on June 30th he rode to see
- ↑ Gen. Fitzhugh Lee estmates as follows: Federals — First Corps, 10,089; Eleventh, 9,893; Buford's Cavalry, 3,000. Total, 22,982. (Life of Lee, p. 271.). Confederates — Two-thirds of Ewell's Corps and two-thirds of Hill's — four divisions — 26,000. Col. Walter Taylor says the infantry nearly balanced, from 22,000 to 24,000 each. I may add that General Doubleday records the interesting fact that he, with his personal guard of 40 men, fought a whole brigade for twenty minutes, in this battle! Yet General Meade was so unappreciative of his distinguished services that he displaced him from his command at the end of the day.
