14 MajGen John Buford
is credited with selecting the field of battle at Gettysburg.
Buford's division was the first to arrive at Gettysburg and they successfully held off Maj. Gen. Henry Heth's Confederate division. This holding action allowed Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds's I Corps to hold the high ground (Little and Big Round Top) west of town in relief of Buford's division.
Buford's actions allowed the Union army to beat the Confederate's to the heights outside of Gettysburg, which put Lee's army at a considerable disadvantage
