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JULY 3—PLANS AND PREPARATIONS
Lee had intended to renew the attack of July 2 early on July 3 using
Longstreet's Corps including Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett's division,
which had reached the field on July 2. But when it became apparent that
the Longstreet's Corps could not resume the attack at an early hour and
an assault against the Union left did not promise success, Lee revised
his plan. He shifted the focus of the assault to the Union center, where
brigades of Anderson's division had attacked with near success the
evening before. Instead of using Hood's and McLaws's men again, he
decided that Herb's division, now commanded by General Pettigrew, and
two brigades of Pender's division commanded by Maj. Gen. Isaac Trimble
would join Pickett's three brigades in the effort. General Meade decided
to fight a defensive battle—his forces would await a Confederate
attack. There were no significant changes in Federal deployment at the
Union center on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, but First Corps troops
remained in the sector of the Second Corps, and there were thirty-nine
artillery pieces commanded by Lt. Col. Freeman McGilvery aligned in
front of the remnants of Caldwell's division.
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MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE E. PICKETT (CWL)
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As planned, the assault under the direction of General Longstreet
would be preceded by a cannonade by Confederate batteries posted on the
high ground along the Emmitsburg Road north from the Peach Orchard, on
Seminary Ridge, and east of the town. It was intended that this fire
would destroy the batteries on Cemetery Ridge and batter the infantry
around them. This done, the Confederate infantry would advance, guiding
on a clump of trees near an offset in the wall (the Angle) that marked
the Union line at its center on Cemetery Ridge. Pickett's division on
the right would be formed in two lines, and Trimble's two brigades would
advance behind Pettigrew's right. All told, the assault column would
number about 12,000 men. If it reached the Union center in relatively
good condition, it would outnumber the Union forces posted there and be
able to break the Union line. Other units would then advance to exploit
the charge's success. Lee ordered General Stuart, who had reached the
field on July 2 with his absent troopers, to an area about three miles
east of Gettysburg with four brigades of cavalry. From this position.
Stuart might be able to advance south toward the Union rear and exploit
the success Lee hoped to achieve by the assault against the Union
center.
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BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES J. PETTIGREW (GNMP)
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MAJOR GENERAL ISAAC R. TRIMBLE (GNMP)
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It took the morning for the Confederates to prepare for their
attack—to make tactical decisions, move the assault units into
position, and brief their commanders. In the meantime, Johnson's
division was hemorrhaging on Culp's Hill in a fight it could not win.
Pickett's three brigades aligned themselves in the low ground east of
Spangler's Woods, and the six bloodied brigades of Herb and Pender that
had fought so well on July 1 formed behind the crest of Seminary Ridge
to Pickett's left.
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