Chapter 9: Despite Lee’s Admonition the Battle of Gettysburg Begins on July 1

Lee’s mandate quickly falls apart thanks to one of A.P. Hill’s men, Major General Henry Heth. After graduating last in his West Point class of 1847, Heth becomes personally close to Lee after serving as his quartermaster early in the war. He is a cousin of George Pickett and one of the few officers’ Lee calls by his first name, Harry.

Early on July 1. He decides to send a small reconnaissance unit under James Pettigrew along the Chambersburg Pike into Gettysburg, ostensibly in search of shoes and other supplies.

But when they are fired upon around 7:30am by Union dismounted cavalrymen under Generals John Buford and Thomas Devin, one mile northwest of Gettysburg along Marsh Creek, Heth disobeys Lee’s mandate, and the pivotal battle of the Civil War breaks out.