GDG- GDG: Signal Corps and Buford / A.B. Jerome

[James Cameron]

<< these seem to hint of Meade reluctantly being drawn to Gettysburg. >>

Well, he certainly had a preference for Pipe Creek as a defensive line,
should it be needed.  And he didn't make a final committment to concentrate
at Gettysburg until late on July 1.  But I think "reluctantly" puts an
unduly prejudicial cast on Meade's actions and thought processes.  He'd just
got done ordering Buford's division and the 1st and 11th Corps to that very
place, and the 12th Corps to within just a few miles.  His communications
with Reynolds at that point show he was quite comfortable not only having
him there, but with the potential for engaging in the Gettysburg area, if it
could be done to advantage.  And he cast aside the Pipe Creek plan
immediately on deciding that it had been overtaken by events.  I might use
"aggressively" instead.  It was by no means a matter of Meade's hand being
forced by an overstepping Reynolds.

Some interesting other hints are to be found.  While the telegraph corps was
repairing the line east from Hanover, the Corps commanders were ordered to
repair the line in their areas between Hanover and Gettysburg.  Why bother
if so reluctant to go there?  Meade was covering the need to be able to
communicate from Gettysburg, in the very real eventuality of the army 
operating in that area.

Also, Norton's report makes an interesting point about the circumstances
under which the army would withdraw to the Pipe Creek line.  He wrote, "In
the evening (of June 30) I was made acquainted by the general commanding
with the line of defense to be occupied by the army in the event the enemy
made an irrestible attack upon our position,..."  In other words, the Pipe
Creek line wasn't going to be taken up as a reflexive reaction to any
contact, even fairly heavy in nature.  It was to be adopted in the event of
"an irrestible attack", beyond the ability of the troops in contact to
contend with.  And as significant as the fighting at Gettysburg was on the
1st, events overtook the PCC, the ultimate decision was to accept battle 
there.

Jim Cameron