First Day

In early June 1863, Lee's forces gathered in a small town called Gettysburg. Calvary chief "Jeb" Stuart was not performing his duties, so they suffered from lack of enemy information. Another Confederate raiding party went to Gettysburg for boots and other supplies. Then Lee's troops ran into general George G. Meade's calvary which triggered the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle began July 1. 1863. The larger Confederate forces pushed the Union troops back through Gettysburg. The Union soldiers regrouped and General Lee ordered General Ewell to attack immediately although Ewell hesitated. General James Longstreet felt the Confederate army should move east and take a strong defensive position themselves and wait for the Union to attack them instead of attacking them. Although General Lee was not convinced, he believed that his troops were invincible. The Confederates camped at seminary Ridge which was parallel to the Union forces.