Who fired the first shot of the battle?

Who Fired The First Shot?

The first shot of the battle of Gettysburg was fired by Union cavalrymen on picket duty along the Chambersburg Pike at about 5:30 A.M., roughly an hour after sunrise on July 1 against advancing Confederate skirmishers from Brig. James Pettigrew's brigade of Maj. General Heth's division. But who actually fired the first shot is a matter of some dispute. By some accounts the honor belongs to Corporal Alphonse Hodges of Co. F, 9th New York cavalry, an element of Col. Thomas Devin's brigade of Buford's division. According to this account, Hodges was in charge of a picket of three privates on the Chambersburg Pike just east of Wiloughby Run. Sometime after dawn Hodges spotted men about a mile to the west. He dispatched privates to notify the pickets on either flank and Col. William Sackett of his own regiment who was brigade officer of the day. Shortly afterwards, Hodges advanced across the Run by himself in order to better ascertain the situation. He appears to have gone forward about 600 yards, at which point he was sufficiently close to be ale to determine in the early morning light that the troops in front of him were in fact Confederates. He turned back, and at that point was spotted by the rebels, who opened fire on him. Hodges got off a few shots from the bridge and then fell back to report to Col. Sackett, who was already getting his men into a skirmish line.

The alternative version has it that the first shots were fired by Lieut. Marcellus E. Jones of the 8th Illinois cavalry. Jones was in command of a picket posted in roughly the same vicinity, but just south of the Chambersburg Pike. Shortly after dawn, he reported to his company commander that he observed activity in the distance along the Chambersburg Pike. Capt. H. E. Dana dismounted the company to form a thin skirmish line. As the rebels approached cautiously, Lieut. Jones became engaged in a fire-fight. The 8th Illinois cavalry, formerly Col. William Gamble's regiment, and at the time in his brigade, was a politically important unit. A great deal of regimental and state pride may be wrapped up in the latter's claim.

Although the matter is not of great importance, and indeed, it is possible that both versions are correct, Hodges' account would seem to be the more reliable, particularly as Corporal Cyrus W. James, Co. G of the 9th New York cavalry, is generally regarded as the first Union soldier killed in the battle.