DAY 1
July 1 - Day 1: The Confederate 1st Corps and General Hill's corps wrestled along McPherson's Ridge for a couple of hours. Early in the struggle, Reynolds was killed by a sniper's bullet to the brain, and Howard, commander of the 11th Corps, assumed command. At the time the 11th Corps arrived, two of Ewell's divisions, Rodes and Early, appeared on the right flank of the Union line and attacked. This forced Howard to form a battle line upright to the fighting front of the 1st Corps. The combined rebel pressure against the hinge connecting the two Union lines resulted in Union resistance collapsing and a general retreat launched, the Union forces running pell-mell through the streets of Gettysburg and up to the steep of Cemetery Hill. The rebel forces under Hill and Ewell pursued, but, tired and disorganized from the battle, and without fresh forces at hand, the pursuit vanished out on the bottom slopes of the hill as night began to fall.
Learning of Reynolds's death late in the afternoon, General Meade had sent Winfield Hancock, a commander of the 2nd Corps, to Gettysburg, to take command from Howard. Early evening, receiving a dispatch from Hancock, reporting the condition of things, General Meade decided to move the entire army upwards. General Meade arrived on the field about midnight, followed by the arrival of the 5th Corps, the 2nd Corps, and on the next day the 6th Corps.
Learning of Reynolds's death late in the afternoon, General Meade had sent Winfield Hancock, a commander of the 2nd Corps, to Gettysburg, to take command from Howard. Early evening, receiving a dispatch from Hancock, reporting the condition of things, General Meade decided to move the entire army upwards. General Meade arrived on the field about midnight, followed by the arrival of the 5th Corps, the 2nd Corps, and on the next day the 6th Corps.