Many of the Union's forces arrived as quickly and efficiently as they did because of the roadways in place. Colonel Elisha Hunt Rhodes of Company D, 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers, was able to march his troops 34 miles between 9pm on July 1, 1863, to 2pm on July 2, averaging 2 mph with his men. Had the roadway not been utilized in the way that it was, traveling at an of average of 2 mph would have been completely impossible. Many of the troops would not have arrived in time to make a difference at Gettysburg.
The roads also provided a medium for communication between regiments and commanders. Communication was vital to military operations. During the battle, Meade stationed his headquarters at Taneytown, PA, around 12 miles south of Gettysburg. Around noon on July, 1, Meade had sent Major General Winfield Scott Hancock out to Gettysburg to relieve General Abner Doubleday of his command. When sent, Meade ordered Hancock to send report as soon as he could of what was happening. Hancock did just that, in the form of Captain I.B Parker. At 4pm, Hancock sent Parker with word of the battle, and at 5:25, the message was received by Meade.