Buford's Stand at Gettysburg Battle: Willoughby Run | Gamble and Devin hold McPherson's Ridge | Maps
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Published 2022-03-02
Who was John Buford?
Why is Buford important at the Battle of Gettysburg?
Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania is under way in the summer of 1863. Robert E. Lee is in Chambersburg, PA on June 30th.
Buford's cavalry division will bring Gamble and Devin's brigades to Gettysburg on June 30th.
Pettigrew advances simultaneously from Cashtown toward Gettysburg to get shoes. However, Pettigrew sees Buford at Gettysburg and returns.
But Henry Heth and AP Hill believe that they can drive out Buford. The Confederates will attack the next day.
Buford realizes the importance of the high ground south of town, including Little Round Top, Big Round Top, Cemetery Hill, and Culp's Hill. He decides to make a stand on McPherson's Ridge northwest of Gettysburg. Buford can use the Lutheran Seminary's cupola tower to view the approach of different armies.
Heth moves toward Gettysburg on July 1. Buford's forward troopers report his movements at Marsh Creek. Buford prepares on McPherson's Ridge.
Heth sends Archer and Davis foward, and they attack up the Chambersburg Pike. Buford's skirmishers delay him at Willoughby Run.
Buford's troopers fall back to McPherson's Ridge. But General Reynolds has arrived. The Iron Brigade under Meredith stalls Archer and Davis. Wadsworth's division is now on the field to counter the confederates.
However, Devin's troopers report that Confederates under Ewell are approaching from Heidlersburg, PA. Rodes division comes toward town from the north. Devin's skirmishers hold him until Howard's Corps arrives.
Buford's division successfully held forward elements of AP Hill and Ewell long enough for Reynolds and Howard to arrive.
The high ground south of town is preserved for the Union.
This map history film is by Jeffrey Meyer, historian and librarian
Music Credit:
Autumn Sunset by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: audionautix.com/
All Comments (21)
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Live about 15 minutes east of Gettysburg near Hanover Pa. Familiar with the creeks, roads, towns, and terrain features referenced in the video and its humbling to be driving around and look out the window and imagine lines of men engaged in a deadly fight. Incredibly humbling. May God bless the United States.
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As former Chief of the Cavalry Leaders Course, when it was at Ft Knox, we taught this battle extensively. Classic security operation somewhere between a covering force and a guard. He identified the enemy, held the critical terrain and gained time for the main body to close on the battlefield.
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Few general officers deserve more credit from the historians for initiative, courage and fine soldiering ability than John Buford – and few have received less. In his classic “Army of the Potomac” trilogy, Bruce Catton epitomizes the view taken by most Civil War chroniclers, describing Buford simply as “a solid man who was hard to frighten and who was greatly admired by the men of his division.” He was, in fact, a good deal more, and at Gettysburg, he was responsible for saving the day, the battle and, arguably, the Union. - Buford Hold the High Ground BY RON SOODALTER JUNE 29, 2013
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Gen Buford & his troopers don't get nearly the credit they deserve. He literally saves Gettysburg & the victory for the Union army .
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I am not a military genius, but I do agree with many historians, Buford's decision saved the day. His cavalry ensured that Meade would have the high ground.
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I suspect that no one here missed the intro where it was explained that Buford with two Brigades decided to stand against two Corps. For the possibly not familiar, Divisions are composed of 3 or 2 (sometimes 4) Brigades and Corps are composed of (3 or 2, sometimes 4) Divisions - so nominally nine times the forces.
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What General Buford did was incredible. Awesome video and one of the best descriptions of the battle at Gettysburg I've seen. The topographical maps were a great addition.
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This was the single finest moment in the history of the US Cavalry, and it was actually a dragoon action. Neither Buford nor Meade have ever truly gotten their due for saving the Union that July.
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Absolutely great presentation! In my mind’s eye I can see Sam Elliot (playing Buford) wiping away the tears in his eyes with a dirty, sweaty handkerchief as he sees Reynolds arriving. Saying, “thank God” under his breath. I had to wipe away a tear myself. A powerful scene of a powerful, real moment. Buford was the right man, at the right place, at the right time. It doesn’t get any better than that.
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Lee's super bad luck, he runs into Buford's fine Federal Cavalry and the "Black Hats" also known as the "Iron Brigade", the two best units in the Union Army.
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I have been waiting and searching so long for a video exactly like this, describing the exact movements and actions of the cavalry before and during the opening of the battle. Thank you so much for producing this. You've scratched a big itch I've had for a long time. Scott
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I love this so much! My relative Reuben Martin died on 7/1 on McPherson's Ridge with the Pennsylvania 149th Bucktails, Company A. Died over night as a prisoner on the grounds outside McPherson's Barn, where the injured officers were tended to, if i recall correctly.)
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Kudos to the creator of this wonderful history lesson. Clear, concise, illustrated beautifully. Thank you.
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Very useful. I've wanted to know more about Buford and why he took up a position where he did since I saw the movie Gettysburg as a kid. Almost everything I knew about the battle concentrates on the actions of the 2nd and 3rd of July, so having an understanding of how Buford's mastery of the terrain influenced the battle on the 1st has been enlightening.
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One of the key things you gain by visiting Gettysburg is a perspective. The open fields they had to cross under fire and then when you see the distances at which some of the most pitched battles were fought. It can make you hair stand on end. Nowadays it would be called close quarters. Really frightening to think about the noise, the smoke the ferocity of the battle. This video lays out the way the battle proceeded but being there on those ridges and in those battle grounds, you realize how horribly frightening it would have been.
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Brig. Gen. John Buford is the one who most likely saved the North from losing not just at Gettysburg, Pa. but was the most important General who knew what to do just in time. Made very smart decisions and made common sense orders to his men. These are what saved the North for the rest of the war. The turning part of the war was in Pa. The South was never again able to put up a marching army to invade the North ever again. Little did Buford know this at the time. He was a good leader and strong with backbone. The North was lucky to have him at the time. My wife and I went to Gettysburg, Pa in August 2019. I tell everybody to go visit and see for yourself. It's is a wonderful place to go.
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As a Civil War buff since my early teens, I thought I knew something about Gettysburg until I saw this. I knew about half. Great job with truly insightful comment and facts. You do credit to yourself.
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If you go to north of Gettysburg, the historical markers are all over the place and near impossible to make sense of this part of the battle. This video captures the very fluid but sensible movements of the battle. From this, it's clear that Gamble and Devin were like boxer's arms parrying the punches the Confederates were throwing. Great work!
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Thanks. Been to Gettysburg battlefield twice. I was ble to go up in the Seminary cupola where Buford and Reynolds stood. It was a thrill. Last week I happened to be at Fredericksburg. The Sunken Road forms a border of my daughters college. I really enjoy learning more about the ACW. In CT, at a Civil War reenactment and talks , a lecturer explained that all the land battles were inconsequential, and that the real end of the CSA was the naval blockade.
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Forcing the enemy to take the time to deploy "On Line" is key to the "Delay and Screen" mission. Took Heth three hours to get his troops lined up, "on line". That is HUGE given the odds Buford was up against.
