General John Reynolds killed in action within two hours of battle commencing at Gettysburg

Within two hours of the opening shots outside Gettysburg, First Corps commander General John Fulton Reynolds became the highest ranking casualty of the great battle. He had hurried forward ahead of his unit to assess the situation, rush reinforcements to the town's outnumbered defenders, and personally supervise their deployment.  Returning from this last task at around eleven a.m., he was hit by rifle fire and died instantly. He was a popular and skilled officer, destined for greater things, and his death was a mental blow to the whole Army.  (By John Osborne)