June 30, 1863---The Eve of The Battle of Gettysburg

JUNE 30, 1863:           

The eve of the Battle of Gettysburg: 

Brigadier General John Buford U.S.A. and his cavalry division ride into Gettysburg from the south-southwest, screening the advance of the left wing of Major General George Meade's army. Buford sets up his headquarters near the Lutheran Seminary and uses the cupola on the building as an observation post.  Spotting Confederate movement to the west along the Chambersburg Pike, Buford orders his troops to set up a half-ring formation around the surrounding hills of the town, from his position on Seminary Ridge, to the north-northwest on Oak Hill ridge, to the northeast on Barlow Knoll and behind them was Cemetery Hill.  Fearing that he will meet the entire Rebel army with only 2,500 men, he writes a desperate letter to Major General John Reynolds that evening explaining that he expects to engage the enemy in force the next morning and he implores Reynolds to speed his three corps of men to the area as fast as possible. Night falls, and Buford and his men wait to fight the next day.