The cannon at Gettysburg, as one young officer said, "became things of life - not implements, but comrades."
The artillery battle that took place on the first day of fighting played a decisive role in the battle, granting the Union forces the time they needed to regroup and withstand Gen. Robert E. Lee's most serious challenge on Union soil.
Artillery soldiers were a unique group serving a vital function in the war. This was something they took pride in, with young officers often declining promotions that would separate them from their guns.
Commanders provided their men the finest uniforms and provisions, often at great personal expense. This was important, considering the military maxim of the time: "lack of shoes dictated the battleground."
This bond of artillerymen created a resolute fighting corps, which proved to be a deciding factor for the Union forces that were outnumbered on that first day of fighting.
On July 1, 1863, Confederate forces first approached Gettysburg, an important strategic location because it served as the junction of seven roads leading to cities including Hagerstown, Chambersburg, York, Baltimore and Washington.
Confederate Maj. Gen. Henry Heth reached the crest of Herr's Ridge with his division and believed there would be little resistance to his occupying the town.
'Rapid cannon firing'
But Union Brig. Gen. John Buford held the town, and it became clear that fighting would occur there.
"The sound of rapid cannon firing convinced me that our cavalry was warmly engaged," reported Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday, temporary commander of the Union 1st Corps.
Outnumbered, Buford retreated, and word was sent to the nearest corps to come immediately to Gettysburg. Early skirmishes produced mixed results for both sides.
Each awaiting reinforcements, the opposing forces staked out claims on elevated areas from which they would fire their cannon. At that point, they would attempt to weaken the strength of the other's artillery.
Batteries from almost every Union state were represented on the battlefield.
There were 19 New York batteries, by far the largest group, with Maryland contributing just one because of the state's divided loyalties.
Most of the Confederate batteries were from Virginia, but they would capture a number of Union pieces as the fighting went on.
By the war's third year, the sizes of both armies' artillery forces had diminished significantly.
Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes placed 16 guns from his division on Oak Hill and began shelling Union troops. But the Union's superiority in artillery became evident at this point.
"Union batteries did excellent execution against forces four times their number," said John Heiser, librarian at Gettysburg National Military Park. "[Confederate artillerymen] didn't have the training in target shooting that Union did."
Confederate forces also were at a technological disadvantage, with poorly made ammunition that detonated, on average, only once for every five shells fired.
"Against infantry positions, it was a matter of luck if it would go off," Heiser said.
With troops stationed at McPherson's Ridge and stretching north to Oak Hill, Buford watched as the Army of Northern Virginia approached from Herr's Ridge. From that vantage point he could see Heth's forces; he had the advantage of elevation to Heth's advantage in numbers.
'Wonderful effect'
For two hours that morning, Union shells rained down on Heth's infantry. Battery A of the 2nd U.S. Artillery was commanded by Lt. John Calef, who "held his own gloriously, worked his guns deliberately with great judgment and skill, and with wonderful effect on the enemy," as Buford reported.
Waves of Confederate forces were held back by rifle and artillery fire. But as fresh units continued to join the Confederate line, the Union forces eventually were forced into retreat.
Both forces possessed Oak Ridge and Oak Hill in those first hours of battle.
A brigade of North Carolinians led by Brig. Gen. Alfred Iverson moved southeast, aiming to take what they thought to be a Union line.
Union soldiers commanded by Brig. Gen. Henry Baxter emerged from behind a stone wall, and the surprise attack resulted in heavy losses.
"The smoke was so dense you could not perceive an object 10 feet from you," Capt. Lewis Hicks reported.
A lone victory
But this was a lone victory for the Union artillery on Oak Ridge, which otherwise was being pounded by a Confederate battery to the north, on Oak Hill.
The Union battery stubbornly held on to its position, however, and provided cover fire long enough to allow the infantry units to retreat to Seminary Ridge. By 3:30 p.m., the federal line of McPherson's Ridge had disbanded and retreated to the south.
As Confederates chased Union troops through Gettysburg, it was clear that the Confederates had won a victory that day. The Union 1st Corps had 8,200 men when it entered the battle. That number fell to 2,450 by the end of the first day.
Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill's Confederate 3rd Corps, in contrast, had 35,000 men, with another 30,000 men arriving in Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's 2nd Corps.
But the cover fire provided by the Union batteries gave new life to Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's army and put them in a position to stake out positions and wait for reinforcements for the next day, an example of losing a battle to win the war.
"Infantrymen are supposed to give artillery time to get away, but it was just the opposite at Gettysburg," Heiser said. "They fired canister rounds to the last second, allowing troops to begin their retreat into town."
Even at the time, it was clear that the desperate and defiant fighting by the Union batteries was of great consequence.
"Final success in this war can only be attained by desperate fighting, and the infliction of heavy loss upon the enemy," Doubleday reported.
"This preliminary battle ... had the most important bearing on the results of the next two days, as it enabled the whole army to come up and reinforce the admirable position to which we had retreated."
Michael Memoli is a sophomore majoring in journalism at Loyola College in Baltimore; this article was written as part of a practicum at The Sun.
Re-enactment schedule
Friday, July 5
8 a.m.: Gates and camps open
9 a.m.: "Civilian Ladies" by Gwen Denson, Living History tent
10 a.m.: "General Staff CS" by Ron Hawkins, Living History tent; mounted artillery demonstration in the field
11 a.m.: "1860s Medicine" by Kirk Davis, Living History tent; Victorian Lady Riders (side saddle) demonstration in the field
11:30 a.m.: Live mortar fire competition
Noon: "General A.P. Hill" by Patrick Falci and "General Longstreet" by Ron Hawkins, Living History tent
1 p.m.: "Massive Fire" - re-enactment of artillery counter-battery fire between Herr's Ridge and McPherson Ridge.
2 p.m.: "Clara Barton" by Virginia Tracey; Living History tent
2:30 p.m.: Liberty Rifles bayonet drill
3 p.m.: Civil War wedding
3:20 p.m.: 46th Pennsylvania Band, Civil War brass band, in the field
4 p.m.: "Ladies Clothing" by Carol Ann Schmitt, Living History tent; Confederate signal demonstration in the field
5 p.m.: "Overture to Glory" - re-enactment of first-day action along Chambersburg Pike Saturday July 6
8:30 a.m.: Gates and camps open
9 a.m.: "General Meade" by Andy Waske, Living History tent
10 a.m.: "1860s Medicine" by Kirk Davis, Living History tent; 46th Pennsylvania Band, Civil War brass band, in the field
11 a.m.: "A Gallant Stand" - re-enactment of Brockenbrough and Daniels overcoming the Pennsylvania Bucktails
Noon: "General A.P. Hill" by Patrick Falci and "General Longstreet" by Ron Hawkins, Living History tent; Liberty Rifles bayonet drill in the field
1 p.m.: "Ladies Clothing" by Carol Ann Schmitt, Living History tent; Confederate signal demonstration in the field
1:30 p.m.: Victorian Lady Riders (side saddle) demonstration in the field
2 p.m.: 46th Pennsylvania Band, Civil War brass band, in the field
2:30 p.m.: Explosive artillery presentation
3 p.m.: Civil War wedding
4 p.m.: "Uncommon Valor" - re-enactment of the Fighting Irish attack through the Wheatfield
5 p.m.: "Clara Barton" by Virginia Tracey; Living History tent
6 p.m.: Complimentary dinner for re-enactors
6:45 p.m.: Old-fashioned religious tent revival, Rev. Farley
8 p.m.: Re-enactors dance with the 2nd South Carolina Band Sunday, July 7
8:30 a.m.: Gates and camps open
9 a.m.: Period worship service
10 a.m.: "Civilian Ladies" by Gwen Denson, Living History tent; Victorian Lady Riders (side saddle) demonstration in the field
11 a.m.: "Charge of the Wolverines" - re-enactment of Custer's Cavalry vs. Hampton's Cavalry east of Gettysburg
Noon: "General A.P. Hill" by Patrick Falci and "General Longstreet" by Ron Hawkins, Living History tent; 46th Pennsylvania Band, Civil War brass band, in the field
1 p.m.: "General Staff CS" by Ron Hawkins, Living History tent; live mortar fire competition in the field
2 p.m.: "The High Water Mark - Pickett's Charge." re-enactment of Armistead's attack on Webb's Brigade at the Angle