Buford
- The Confederates march down through a series of mountain ridges, arriving in Gettysburg. A Union general, John Buford, in command of some cavalry, observes them moving into the town from a Cemetery Hill.
- Buford and a brigade commander both realize they're looking at infantry, not just a raiding party.
- The Confederates move back out of the town, apparently under orders not to fight yet. Buford realizes that they're moving without cavalry in order to scout for Union troops.
- Buford orders the brigade commander, Gamble, to send some brigades into the town itself.
- Buford was born in Kentucky and raised during the wars with Native Americans.
- Buford rides up near the Lutheran Seminary outside of town and can see the Rebel Army arriving. He spies a Confederate officer. He waves, and the officer bows.
- At this point, Buford is sure that the Confederates mean to converge in Gettysburg the next morning. He thinks Reynolds, a Union general, won't arrive in time to prevent the rebels from taking the high ground.
- Buford sends Devin, the other brigade commander, to scout further north and see what Lee's up to. He writes a message alerting Reynolds, who will pass the news on to Meade.
- In the meantime, Buford feels glad to be out riding with the cavalry, feeling no superior officers breathing over his shoulder.
- Devin rides up and asks Buford for orders. Buford can clearly see what Lee will try to do: take the high ground near Gettysburg. Meade will be forced to attack, resulting in mass casualties as the Union charges the hills.
- Buford tells Devin he has no orders yet; Devin should just get some rest.
- Buford debates trying to hold out against Lee's advance troops until Reynolds can arrive. He and his cavalry have time to dig in and make a serious defense.
- As it gets dark, Buford orders Devin and Gamble to both dig in on Seminary Ridge, where the rebels will try to advance tomorrow.
- Buford rides into Gettysburg, where some kids follow him. He sees some of the citizens standing around talking. He doesn't like the East—he thinks it's too fat and satisfied—but he does like the women here.
- Buford rides by a beautiful woman, and one of his sergeants urges him to go back and arrange a date. Buford refuses but gives the sergeant permission to give it a shot himself.
- Buford's staff is hungry, and he agrees to go eat dinner in the cemetery on the hill.
- Buford eats with two young lieutenants. He reflects it would be painful to get to know them too well, since they both might easily die. They evidently admire him for his battle success—and for skirting the rules of classic cavalry tactics.
- Buford wonders how Meade will hold up in fighting and smokes a cigar as he reflects on the battle to come.
- Buford thinks this is pretty country—though not as wide-open as out West. It's good land to fight on.
- Buford reads names on the tombstones and thinks of his own death. He wonders if he'll be able to travel in the South once the war is over. There was good fishing there, and he didn't hate Southerners—though the aristocratic ones seemed like fools. He used to think he might retire there.
- Devin arrives and tells Buford that he was right—the Confederates are all coming this way. Buford senses that Lee will try to swing around and get between the Union Army and Washington.
- Buford writes another urgent letter telling Reynolds to hurry. He thinks Reynolds is honorable, but he's had to deal with a lot of stupidity from the higher-ups. Buford's been stuck holding ground before, with no help arriving. He orders his artillery posted in position.
- Buford remembers delivering mail as a young lieutenant out west, before the sergeant from earlier arrives and says it turns out the woman had a husband… an undertaker.
- Buford watches the troops get ready for sleep and listens to a preacher from the seminary argue with a lieutenant about theology.
- Reynolds sends a reply, saying his troops will be there in the morning. Buford decides that he'll definitely try to hold the Confederates back when they attack at dawn.
- Buford posts the leading pickets—the foremost men—who will alert the rest by shooting when the Confederates get close.
- Buford goes to sleep, remembering the vast landscape out West, as it is during winter in Wyoming.