Late Afternoon. Following a very brief respite, rebel troops fall upon the Federal positions on Cemetery Hill with great fury. Von Steinwehr's 2nd Division, XI Corps bears the brunt of the assault, engaging in hand-to-hand combat all along the lines near the foot of the hill. Wave after wave of rebels come at the Union men, as the batteries of the XI and I Corps unleash grape and canister into the gray tide.
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As the first line falls back up Cemetery Hill, the second Union line waits with rifles loaded. The 1st and 3rd Divisions of the XI Corps, though battered from a long day's fight, stun the rebels with a volley. But the southerners keep coming.
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On East Cemetery Hill, the 1st Division, I Corps has taken position behind stone walls and supported by three batteries of artillery. Early's rebel division works its way around the hill toward what would be later known as Steven's Knoll. But A.S. Williams' 1st Division, XII Corps has double-quicked its way up Culps Hill, beating the rebels to the summit.
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The rebels are caught in a crossfire between the I and XII Corps.
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The north side of Cemetery Hill is giving way to the relentless attacks from Pender's Division of Hill's Corps, which has taken up the offensive from Heth's Division. The situation for the Federals is looking more dire by the minute.
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The rebels sweep up and over Cemetery Hill as the XI Corps breaks southward. The XII Corps defense of Culp's Hill is now in jeopardy, and forces them back with heavy losses. Early's Division captures the summit.
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To the west, Heth and Pender's divisions push south along the Emmitsburg Road, where Union troops from the XI and I Corps are aided by Buford's dismounted cavalry. The Federals put up a tough fight, but are forced to fall back when the defenses of Cemetery Hill collapse.
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Having shifted the batteries southward ahead of the rebel success, a makeshift defense has been set up near the Leister Farm, north of Power's Hill. But the rebel offensive slows once the two hills are captured. It allows the Union troops to reorganize to some degree. It's a critical mistake by Lee's army.
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Just before nightfall, a weak attack is launched by elements of Rodes' Division, but is beaten off by the XI Corps men that have rallied.
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During the night, the Army of the Potomac falls back to the Powers' Hill line, heavily supported by artillery and behind several creeks. The Army of Northern Virginia has enjoyed wild success on Day One, but it does not appear the Federals will order a general retreat to the Pipe Creek Line.
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Thoughts on Day 1.
I was badly unprepared for the rebel assault in the evening. I had assumed it would not be an all-out, go-for-broke attempt to capture the hills. I had to restart several times to figure out the best way forward. Turns out, there is almost no way for the Union side to defend Cemetery and Culp's hills if the rebel assault happens before the end of the day. There are simply too many rebel troops against too few and too weak Union troops. If I were to attempt to mount a defense of the top of the fish hook, it would have had to been during the initial retreat from the McPherson-Oak Hill-Rock Creek line north of town. Instead of just running back through town as fast as possible to avoid casualties, it's best to conduct a fighting retreat to stall the rebels as far from Cemetery Hill as possible. In fact, it should be every Union commander's objective on Day 1 to keep the rebels completely north of town. Then under cover of night, fall back quickly to Cemetery Hill.
The scenario changes drastically if the hills are lost, as the Union commander must then start planning offensive operations on the right flank in order to recapture at least Culp's Hill. I attempt this on Day 2, which I will post as soon as I can.