Buford at Meades headquarters.

[W117Monte]

I was recently at the battlefield and took my dog, Buford, over to Meade's headquarters. I was excited to find the headquarters open!
While I was there, I made a comment to a man and a woman standing outside that this was actually the first time Buford visited Meade's headquarters. That sparked a short interesting discussion. The man agreed with me, but his wife did not. She said that Buford must have gone to Meade's headquarters at some point. I replied that perhaps he communicated by courier instead.
What does everyone else think? Considering that Meade arrived well after midnight and Buford departed the following morning, I suppose it's certainly possible they met. However, Buford's post-battle report doesn't mention going to headquarters, which makes me wonder whether they ever actually met in person.

Buford at headquarters 163 years later

 

[W117Monte]

Here is an excerpt from Bufords after battle report as found on https://ironbrigader.com/2015/06/22/general-john-bufords-report-cavalrys-action-gettysburg/2/

Shortly after this, I placed my command on our extreme left, to watch and fight the enemy should he make another attack, and went to Cemetery Hill for observation. While there, General Hancock arrived, and in a few moments he made superb disposition to resist any attack that might be made.
My division bivouacked that night on the left of our position, with pickets extending almost to Fairfield.
The zeal, bravery, and good behavior of the officers and men on the night of June 30, and during July 1, was commendable in the extreme. A heavy task was before us; we were equal to it, and shall all remember with pride that at Gettysburg we did our country much service.
July 2, the division became engaged with the enemy's sharpshooters <ar43_928> on our left, and held its own until relieved by General Sickles' corps, after which it moved to Taneytown, and bivouacked for the night.

 

[121st PA Vols]

I haven't seen it written in studies but would guess Buford did not meet with Meade as busy as both were. The field stay "active" til late into the evening of the 1st.

About Meade's HQ, I'm glad you got inside the place. When I was in HS it was always open. While it was not a hot spot to gather (bored HS guys), we tipped a few beers in the place way before any of us knew anything about the battle. The place was wide open back then. After the military we all gave the place a lot more respect, wondering how so many packed into the tight quarters of the place.
I should do a series on the things we did in HS and as kids throughout the Park. Mostly good stuff driving the rangers crazy, fireworks on LRT, a few cow episodes, motorcycles where they were not supposed to go on bridle paths as they were called then (horse trails) and more.
Buford is looking good W117Monte!

 

[BetterAngels]

Buford reported to General Pleasanton , the cavalry commander.

When Reynolds came up, Buford talked it over with him, and it was Reynolds who sent messages to Meade.

On day 2, Buford said his unit was used up and he requested they be relieved. Pleasanton okayed it, and Buford's command marched very slowly to Westminster, Maryland maybe 25 miles south, to rest and refit and do reconnaissance between Baltimore and Gettysburg. Buford's reserve, under Merritt, saw action in the day 3 cavalry battles, but Buford and his command were well out of the battle.

 

[Grant's Tomb]

The scene in the movie with him telling Hancock about Armistead commanding a brigade in Pickett's division at Meade's headquarters was fictional and in the book where someone told him that General Hancock was in command of the army before Meade arrived but another officer disputed that, saying General Howard was the senior officer on the field.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Someone may be barking up the wrong tree. Here are some Meade sightings that night with approximate times:

July 2, shortly after midnight Meade passed Gibbon just south of Big Round Top and ordered him to move the Second Corps forward at daylight. [John Gibbon, Personal Recollections of the War]

July 2, midnight General Meade and his staff rode by General Gibbon's headquarters on the way to the battlefield and General Meade stopped and conversed with General Gibbon for some little time. [The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, by John Day Smith, p. 64]

July 2, between 1 and 2 a.m. Meade came along our line. BGen Hunt was with him and I explained to him the dispositions I made here. They did not stop long. [A Diary of Battle, The Personal Journals of Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, 1861-1865, ed. by Allen Nevins, 1962), p. 240-242]

July 2, 3 a.m. Meade met with Stannard at Cemetery Hill, Meade having arrived at midnight. [G. G. Benedict, Vermont in the Civil War, II: 445.]

Meade presumably then retired to his new headquarters at the Leister Cottage, for perhaps three hours of uninterrupted rest. I've not seen any source indicating Meade met with Buford, who was likely getting some much needed rest himself after the grueling battle on July 1.

 

[rpkennedy]

Someone may be barking up the wrong tree. Here are some Meade sightings that night with approximate times:

July 2, shortly after midnight Meade passed Gibbon just south of Big Round Top and ordered him to move the Second Corps forward at daylight. [John Gibbon, Personal Recollections of the War]

July 2, midnight General Meade and his staff rode by General Gibbon's headquarters on the way to the battlefield and General Meade stopped and conversed with General Gibbon for some little time. [The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, by John Day Smith, p. 64]

July 2, between 1 and 2 a.m. Meade came along our line. BGen Hunt was with him and I explained to him the dispositions I made here. They did not stop long. [A Diary of Battle, The Personal Journals of Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, 1861-1865, ed. by Allen Nevins, 1962), p. 240-242]

July 2, 3 a.m. Meade met with Stannard at Cemetery Hill, Meade having arrived at midnight. [G. G. Benedict, Vermont in the Civil War, II: 445.]

Meade presumably then retired to his new headquarters at the Leister Cottage, for perhaps three hours of uninterrupted rest. I've not seen any source indicating Meade met with Buford, who was likely getting some much needed rest himself after the grueling battle on July 1.

I was looking through Eric Wittenberg's "The Devil's to Pay": John Buford at Gettysburg last night to see if he has any insight and there is no mention of Buford seeing Meade that night. He seems to have been getting his men sorted out and picketing the roads south and west of the Peach Orchard on the night of the 1st-2nd.

Ryan

 

[BetterAngels]

I was looking through Eric Wittenberg's "The Devil's to Pay": John Buford at Gettysburg last night to see if he has any insight and there is no mention of Buford seeing Meade that night. He seems to have been getting his men sorted out and picketing the roads south and west of the Peach Orchard on the night of the 1st-2nd.

Ryan

hahahaha
No, he's not barking at a tree… look right past his head, he's obviously been barking at those Rebel Pickets

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

I was recently at the battlefield and took my dog, Buford, over to Meade's headquarters. I was excited to find the headquarters open!
While I was there, I made a comment to a man and a woman standing outside that this was actually the first time Buford visited Meade's headquarters. That sparked a short interesting discussion. The man agreed with me, but his wife did not. She said that Buford must have gone to Meade's headquarters at some point. I replied that perhaps he communicated by courier instead.
What does everyone else think? Considering that Meade arrived well after midnight and Buford departed the following morning, I suppose it's certainly possible they met. However, Buford's post-battle report doesn't mention going to headquarters, which makes me wonder whether they ever actually met in person.
View attachment 583908
Buford at headquarters 163 years later

That is awesome. One of our mastiffs is named Buford too.

My fiancé (now wife of 9 years) were going through "redneck sounding" names right before we picked him up.

She picked Buford, but was completely unaware the Civil War connection.

I liked the sound of the name, and was somewhat biased due to the connection with the Civil War and Revolutionary War.

He will be 10 in December and is in very good health, which I think is really due to his small size (140 lbs).

 

[W117Monte]

I haven't seen it written in studies but would guess Buford did not meet with Meade as busy as both were. The field stay "active" til late into the evening of the 1st.

About Meade's HQ, I'm glad you got inside the place. When I was in HS it was always open. While it was not a hot spot to gather (bored HS guys), we tipped a few beers in the place way before any of us knew anything about the battle. The place was wide open back then. After the military we all gave the place a lot more respect, wondering how so many packed into the tight quarters of the place.
I should do a series on the things we did in HS and as kids throughout the Park. Mostly good stuff driving the rangers crazy, fireworks on LRT, a few cow episodes, motorcycles where they were not supposed to go on bridle paths as they were called then (horse trails) and more.
Buford is looking good W117Monte!

That's really cool. Thank you for the reply.

 

[W117Monte]

I'm glad you replied. Your posts are always top-notch. Thank you for the insight!