Why was Gettysburg picked for the Battle of Gettysburg?

Answer 1

In the last week of June 1863 the Army of Northern Virginia CSA, General R.E. Lee commanding, crossed the Potomac river, traversed the narrow Maryland corridor and invaded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Immediately upon entering that state the ANV separated into three corps and roamed freely through Pennsylvania, reaching as far as Harrisburg. On 30 June Lee, deprived of cavalry screens, learned through spies that the Union Army of the Potomac was in hot pursuit. Caught with his three corps scattered over 80 miles of central Pennsylvania, he immediately ordered his corps commanders to reunite at either Cashtown, which was excellent defensive ground, or at Gettysburg, where all the roads in south central Pennsylvania converged. It was indeed at Gettysburg where AP Hill's Corp, CSA, ran headlong into the Union cavalry screens. Both sides rushed forces to that place with all speed in order to prevent being defeated piecemeal. For that reason the Battle of Gettysburg is called the classic "Meeting Engagement" where two armies literally run into each other. The battle happened in that place because it was the major crossroad.

Answer 2

It was never meant to be where both armies had planned to fight for Pennsylvania.

The Confederate Army had stretched its supply lines by invading the North, so a few Confederate brigades under General Archer, traveled to the town of Gettysburg where they hoped to forage for some shoes.

Unknown to the Confederate Army (because General Stuart and all the Cavalry were up north thinking they were doing some good) the Union Army under General Meade had raced north after thinking that the Confederate Army was still in Virginia until news got to them that Confederates had crossed the Potomac River. Meade had sent cavalry north to Gettysburg to search for the Confederate Army and ran into the foraging force under Archer west of town. Both sides got quickly into position and began firing on each other while calling for reinforcements. General Reynolds and his 1st Corp as well as General Oliver Howard and his 11th Corp responded to General Buford's reinforcements request. The rest of General A.P. Hill's Corp and General Ewell's Corp responded to the reinforcements request made by Archer.

Finally both Generals Lee and Meade ordered their whole armies to move against Gettysburg. The Union Army was forced south of town and onto the heights and into a Fishhook Position along Cemetery Ridge while the Confederate Army solidified a position on Seminary Ridge and in the town of Gettysburg itself. Thus the battle of Gettysburg first day closes.

Answer 3

During Lee's invasion of the North, his army, many marching barefoot, badly needed shoes. They learned of a shoe warehouse at the railroad junction of Gettysburg and detoured there to commandeer the shoes. There, they stumbled upon a small band of Union soldiers, who sent word to the main body that they had found Lee. A Battle of Encounter ensued that neither side had planned on, with the Union troops delaying Lee's advance until the Federal forces commanded the high ground on the hilltops. Meade sought to halt Lee's invasion.