Confederate Headquarters Markers


The monument to the 1st Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia and the 1st Corps Headquarters marker are southwest of Gettysburg on West Confederate Avenue.  (West Confederate Avenue – Part 5 tour map)

Monument to Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet's 1st Corps on the Gettysburg battlefield

Monument to Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet’s 1st Corps at Gettysburg.

From the monument

Army of Northern Virginia
First Army Corps
Lieutenant General James Longstreet

McLaws’s Division Major General Lafayette McLaws
Pickett’s Division Major General George E. Pickett
Hood’s Division Major General John B. Hood
Brigadier General E. M. Law
Artillery Reserve Ten Batteries
Colonel J. B. Walton

July 1. McLaws’s Division encamped about four miles from Gettysburg a little after dark. Hood’s Division reached the same distance about 12 P. M. Law’s Brigade on picket at New Guilford. Pickett’s Division guarding trains at Chambersburg.

July 2. Moved that portion of the command which was up to gain the Emmitsburg Road on Union left. Delayed attack until 3.30 P. M. when Law’s Brigade joined from New Guilford. McLaws’s Division in position facing Union left. About 4 P. M. Hood’s Division moved further to the right and took position partially enveloping Union left. The batteries opened about 4 P. M. upon Union troops on Emmitsburg Road Hood’s Division pressing on left and McLaws’s in front the Union troops were dislodged. The engagement lasted until nearly night with heavy losses. The ground gained on the front was held. The left was withdrawn to first Union position at Peach Orchard.

July 3. Pickett’s Division reached the field at 9 A. M. Pickett’s Heth’s and part of Pender’s Divisions were ordered to form column of assault on Union centre on Cemetery Hill. The batteries opened about 1 P. M. About 3 P. M. Pickett advanced in good order under a severe fire and was repulsed at the stone wall losing heavily McLaws’s and Hood’s Divisions were not seriously engaged during the day and night.

July 4. The Corps took up the line of march during the night.

Casualties Killed 910 Wounded 4339 Captured or Missing 2290 Total 7539

Location of the monument to the 1st Corps

The monument to Longstreet’s 1st Corps is on the west side of West Confederate Avenue just south of Millerstown Road, near the observation tower.

Headquarters marker for the 1st Corps

Meadquarters Marker for Longstreet's 1st Corps at Gettysburg

From the Headquarters Marker

Army of Northern Virginia
1st Corps Headquarters
James Longstreet
Divisions
Major Genl. Lafayette McLaws
Major Genl. George E. Pickett
Major Genl. John B. Hood
July 1, 2 ,3 ,4, 5, 1863

These headquarters were located at a
school-house 900 yards westerly

Location of the Headquarters Marker

The marker is on the west side of West Confederate Avenue. It is south of Millerstown Road on the north side of the parking area across from the observation tower.

James Longstreet

Lieutenant General James Longstreet (West Point Class of 1842) commanded the 1st Corps at Gettysburg. He was the next senior Confederate officer at Gettysburg to Robert E. Lee. Longstreet had commanded the First Corps since it was established in the fall of 1862. He was the only experienced Confederate corps commander at Gettysburg, both Ewell and Hill having been promoted just a month before the battle.

Longstreet’s role at Gettysburg has been controversial. He made no secret that he disapproved of Lee’s plans to attack the Federal lines on both July 2nd and 3rd, and his foot-dragging bordered on insubordination.

Nevertheless, the attack launched by his First Corps on July 2nd rocked the Army of the Potomac back on its heels and came close to achieving its goals. The attack on July 3rd, of which only a third of the men (Pickett’s Division) belonged to the First Corps, was not as effective as the previous day but was still a dangerous blow.

Despite disagreements, Lee always viewed Longstreet as “his warhorse” and his right hand man. The 1st Corps would always be the sledgehammer of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet

Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet