The XI Corps deployed quickly during the early afternoon of July 1. While Brig. Gen. Francis Barlow’s First Division and Brig. Gen. Alexander Schimmelfennig’s Third Division marched into the fields north of town to confront the Confederate threat looming there, Brig. Gen. Adolph von Steinwehr’s Second Division assumed a reserve position on Cemetery Hill. And there the division remained.
Despite frequent requests for additional support, temporary XI Corps commander Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz (Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard assumed command of the army on the field after Maj. Gen. John Reynolds fell early in the day) stubbornly refused to release any men from von Steinwehr’s reserve division. Finally, with Barlow’s division heavily engaged on Blocher’s Knoll and Krzyzanowski’s brigade of the Third Division moving to its aid, Schurz called for reinforcements. Von Steinwehr ordered Col. Charles Coster’s First Brigade down the slope and through the town. Coster’s men had been supporting Capt. Michael Weidrich’s Battery I, 1st New York on northeast Cemetery Hill.1
Coster’s men marched through the town past hundreds of XI Corps soldiers, many wounded, fleeing toward the safety of Cemetery Hill. Coster detached the 73rd Pennsylvania at the town square near the railroad station and continued north with his three remaining regiments, about 900 men. The brigade halted and deployed in John Kuhn’s brickyard on the edge of town, taking up a position east of Stratton Street just south of its junction with Harrisburg Road. Captain Lewis Heckman’s 1st Ohio Light, Battery K, composed of four Napoleons, unlimbered on the west side of the road on the brigade’s left flank. Heckman’s guns commanded the length of Harrisburg Road, but it was a frustrating time for the gunners because the flood of blue uniforms masked the guns and prevented them from firing at the approaching Confederates.2
After destroying the better part of three Federal XI Corps brigades and a regiment from a fourth, Jubal Early’s Division approached Gettysburg. John Gordon’s Georgia brigade, which had played a major role in the victory north of town, earned a well-deserved rest and did not continue the pursuit. Early sent Harry Hays’ Louisiana brigade and Isaac Avery’s North Carolina brigade toward the town, scooping up scores of prisoners in the process. Coster’s Federal brigade was standing in their way, hoping to slow or stop their advance.
While Hays advanced in line of battle with his right flank astride Harrisburg Road, Avery moved his brigade south on the east side of Rock Creek. The brigade was shy two regiments, which had remained in Virginia to help transport the prisoners captured at Winchester and Stephenson’s Depot. His men could see Coster’s brigade ahead, taking position behind “a strong fence, portions of which were made of stone.” “Our advance was made with great deliberation until we approached a sluggish stream, or slough, about 200 yards in front of the enemy’s lines, when the batteries opened upon us with grape and canister, seconded by a very destructive fire from the infantry,” wrote Col. Archibald Godwin of the 57th North Carolina, who would later command the brigade. Avery immediately yelled for his men to double-quick across the stream to close with the enemy.3
To the right of Avery’s Brigade, a young lieutenant of the 8th Louisiana fighting under Hays recalled, “we crossed about 20 fences & 1 creek and at last came right slap up on the ‘11th corps’ & a battery.” Because of the topography, Avery made better progress toward Coster’s brigade. As a result, when Avery’s right reached Coster’s position in the brickyard, Hays’ left flank lagged some distance behind.4
Hays’ Brigade was deployed from right to left as follows: 5th Louisiana – 6th Louisiana (both west of Harrisburg Road) – 9th Louisiana (astride the road) – 7th Louisiana – 8th Louisiana (both east of the road). After crossing Rock Creek, Avery’s regiments deployed on Hays’ left flank with the 6th North Carolina closest to the Louisianans, followed by the 21st North Carolina and the 57th North Carolina. The latter two regiments advanced east of Stevens Run.5