The Gettysburg Campaign—Report of Brigadier-General Harry T. Hays.
Major John W. Daniel,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Early^s Division:
Major—I respectfully submit the following report of the operations of the troops under my command near the city of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday, July 1, 1863, after a march of twelve or fourteen miles returning from the city of York, I arrived with my brigade on the Heidlersburg road, within a mile and a half of Gettysburg.
At this point I discovered that a space in the division line of battle had been left for my command, which had been marching in the rear of the column; Brigadier-General Gordon having deployed to the right; Brigadier-General Hoke's brigade, commanded by Colonel Avery, and Smith's brigade to the left. I formed my line of battle, extending across the road, placing the Fifth, Sixth and right wing of the Ninth regiments on the right of the road, the left wing of the Ninth, the Seventh and Eighth regiments on the left. This arrangement being completed, Brigadier-General Gordon, a little after two o'clock, was ordered to advance. In a short time, Brigadier-General Gordon having encountered the enemy in force, I received an order to advance in support, Hoke's brigade moving forward at the same time on my left. Pressing steadily on I met with no other opposition than that presented by the enemy's skirmishers, and the firing of his artillery, until I came up to the line of Gordon's brigade. Here I found the enemy in considerable strength. I still continued to move, however, succeeding in driving before me all the forces opposed, until I arrived at the railroad, which here runs from east to west, just skirting the edge of the city of Gettysburg. In my progress to this position the fire to which my command was subjected from the enemy's batteries, posted upon well selected rises of the ground, was unusually galling. But so rapid and impetuous was the movement of my troops in this advance, that my skirmishers, keeping well to the front, captured two pieces of artillery. I had barely time to pause at the railroad referred to, when I discovered a heavy column of the enemy's troops, who had been engaged with Gordon's brigade and the division of Major-General Rodes, advancing
