The key to understanding the fight on the East Cavalry Field is to remember that there were two separate and distinct phases to the battle. First was the dismounted phase that occupied most of the afternoon. The dismounted phase was followed by two distinct mounted actions. If you can keep those straight, you can understand the battle that raged there. Before getting to the details of the combat, some background is necessary.

The concept that John Buford employed in the initial defense of Gettysburg is called a "defense in depth". The theory behind a defense in depth is for the defending force to select a position far from the point that it ultimately wants to defend, so that there is a place to fall back to. A delaying action is fought, with the idea of slowly making a fighting withdrawal. The defending force makes use of the terrain to delay the enemy's advance.

Civil War armies consisted of three major components: infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Cavalry played a major role. It's primary role was to support the infantry and artillery, gathering intelligence, scouting, screening the movements of the army, and serving as the "eyes and ears of the army". As the war dragged on, the Federal cavalry's role changed. Instead of scouting and screening, the primary role became that of an offensive weapon. By the end of the Civil War, the Northern cavalry had become one of the most fearsome offensive forces that the world had ever seen.

It was 11:30 when reinforcements on both sides were approaching the field, but Major General Oliver Otis Howard, commander of the Union XI Corps, arrived on the scene. Taking command of all Federal forces in the area, he immediately set up headquarters on East Cemetery Hill near the Evergreen Cemetery. Howard scribbled an order to Doubleday to continue the fight and hold the heights west of town. He then ordered Carl Schurz, new commander of the XI Corps, to position his units north of town and to the right of Doubleday, leaving two brigades of Adolph von Steinwehr under Charles Coster and Orland Smith on Cemetery Hill to hold it as a rallying point for the eventual retreat.

There is no doubt that General Lee was quite surprised - not to mention angry - when he realized a general engagement was to occur at Gettysburg. It is also safe to say that General Meade, though aware of the possibility of a confrontation there, was not banking on it. General John Buford, however, who commanded the Union cavalry brigades on the outskirts of town, knew full well what was about to happen.

The two commanding generals soon to face one another were similar in demeanor, much different in style. The 47 year-old former commander of the Union V Corps was reliable, deliberate, short-tempered, and well-experienced in direct combat. He had fought on the Peninsula (where he was wounded), Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. Though not thought of as the most brilliant of commanders, Major General George Gordon Meade had established a strong reputation as a hard fighter and a soldier highly dedicated to the Union cause. Replacing Joseph Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac on June 27, 1863, his resolve and military skill would surely be tested by his formidable adversary.