GDG- BMI report of July 2

[Tom Ryan]

Prior to the commander's meeting at Meade's headquarters on the evening of
July 2, John Babcock, a civilian analyst assigned to Col. George H. Sharpe's
Bureau of Military Information, sent a report to Meade based on the
interrogation of over 1,300 Rebel prisoners captured during the first two
days of battle at Gettysburg.  From these interrogations, the BMI was able
to substantiate and update their previous order of battle analysis of the
size and leadership of the Army of Northern Virginia.  The report read:

"Prisoners have been taken today and last evening from enemy brigades in
Lee's army excepting the four brigades of Pickett's division.  Every
division has been represented except Pickett's from which we have not had a
prisoner.  They are from nearly one hundred different regiments."

This would have been extremely valuable information to Meade and his
commanders as they met to plan for action the next day.  Meade knew that Lee
only had one fresh division left under his command to stage an attack on
July 3.

This information is taken from the BMI files at the National Archives.

Tom