In “Monday, June 29,1863, Chapter 3, Buford, “ how does the setting foreshadow the upcoming battle?

Buford and his men are the first Union soldiers to arrive at Gettysburg. Buford can see the Confederate army coming his way, and he finds himself preparing for a battle by exploring the small town in search of good ground for he and his men to make a stand against the invading South. Buford knows immediately that it is not simply a stray group of rebels, that it is Lee's entire army coming toward them despite the fact that he does not have confirmation of this until late that night.

This chapter not only introduces Buford, who is clearly a good commander for having been able to hold off Longstreet for so long, but who also has a good eye for defendable land as he has already chosen the best place to defend before he has confirmation that it is Lee's entire army headed in his direction. This chapter also presents foreshadowing in several different ways. First, Buford's quick assumptions and planning prepare the reader for a battle that will surely take place very soon. Second, Buford's constant concern that he cannot hold off the Confederate army on his own foreshadows the possibility that he might be faced with exactly this situation. Finally, Buford's constant messages to Reynolds not only emphasize Buford's concerns at being left alone to battle Lee's army, but also foreshadow Reynolds' arrival to the battle. Clearly the reader is aware there will be a battle since this novel is based on true, historic fact, but questions still remain as to who will be there to fight it on the first day, the sum of the foreshadowing presented in this chapter.