The Battle Begins
The first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg is fired down this
road, the Chambersburg Pike, about a mile and three-quarters in front of us. A
little after 7:30 in the morning on that July 1st, one lone 2nd lieutenant in the
8th Illinois Cavalry-his name was Marcellus Jones-will raise his carbine to his
shoulder and squeeze off a shot at 6,500 Confederates marching down the road-in
column by fours-at him. Jones doesn't hit anyone, but the battle begins from that
one simple shot. Upon hearing that shot, John Buford-realizing that the
Confederates are coming en masse down that road from the west-realizes he needs
help...
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