Gen. George G. Meade, commanding the Union Army, arrived on the field
near midnight, July 1. He used the Leister house as his headquarters.
On the night of July 2, General Meade called a council of his corps
commanders in this house to determine whether they should hold the
positions then established. The commanders advised him to hold the
existing lines. Meade, agreeing with their advice and expecting the next
attack on the center of his line, began the concentration of artillery
and infantry strength in this area.
The Leister house and barn were badly damaged by the artillery fire
which preceded Pickett’s Charge.