GDG- 4th PA Cav on July 2

[Tom Ryan]

In reexamining the issue of cavalry commander Pleasonton ordering Buford's
two brigades to Taneytown from the Union left flank on July 2 (thereby
uncovering that flank), it seems that Pleasonton made a rather feeble
attempt to make up for this blunder by directing Gregg to send a regiment
from his cavalry division to cover the left in place of Buford.  The 4th PA
received this assignment.  The messages related to this situation are in OR,
vol. 27, partIII, page 490).

In reading Longacre's account of this episode in "The Cavalry at Gettysburg"
(page 207), it is unclear whether the 4th PA Cav arrived before, during or
after Longstreet's attack on Sickles' salient position in the late afternoon
of July 2.

I rather think that this cav regiment did not arrive prior to the attack
because the 2nd US Sharpshooters of Berdan's brigade had the assignment of
covering Sickles left flank prior to the attack.

Longacre's comments are that the 4th PA Cav "attempted to take the place of
Gamble's and Devin's men on the left of the Union line.  [Col. Doster] and
his men spent the balance of the day supporting batteries above Little Round
Top and giving Sickle's troops a covering fire against Rebels overrunning
their salient."  That is a little vague, and I cannot quite tell from this
whether the 4th PA was on hand at the outset of the fighting.  If they were,
it is reasonable to assume they would have been working in conjunction with
the 2nd USSS in providing cover for that flank.

Does anyone have any info on when the 4th PA Cav arrived on the scene on the
Union left, and what there initial assignment was?

Tom Ryan