Savas Beatie Author Conclave, Day Two: Buford vs. Heth

“If blood and guts is your thing, this is not your tour. This is strategy and tactics.”

We started the day with J.D. Petruzzi at the First Shot Market, a mile and a quarter from the park boundary, at the home of Ephraim the blacksmith. 

Dean Schultz was in attendance, the great grandfather of the first Confederate death close to the Confederate Campaign.

JD talked about how the Union cavalry used various ridges to fight and fall back, and slow the Confederate advance as much as possible in case the Union high command decided to fight at Gettysburg.

Early on June 30, Buford stood on the Cumberland Pass and said, “Within the next 48 hours, a great battle will be fought here.” His ESP was dead on.

By the end of the day, Buford knows Ewell is spread out and Longstreet is in the Cashtown area and has all of the Confederate army located.

Rea Andrew Redd has been enjoying the tours, especially “the exciting stories of carbines and cavalry.”

Next up is Eric Wittenberg’s Farnsworth’s charge tour.

Eric is working on a new book on Buford at Gettysburg. It discusses his role as a cavalry division commanding at Gettysburg. It includes new research, photos, and illustrations, and it’s based on many years of research.

Stay tuned as we continue our cavalry day.