Cumberland Township near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

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The High Water Mark

July 3, 1863 - Third Day

Photographed by Craig Swain, December 27, 2008

1. The High Water Mark Marker

Inscription.

The High Water Mark. July 3, 1863 - Third Day. , "Too bad! Too bad! Oh! Too bad!" , General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A. , Commander, Army of Northern Virginia, "Thank God." , Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, U.S.A. , Commander, Army of the Potomac, Speaking of the Confederates who had executed Pickett's Charge, General Lee reflected, "I never saw troops behave more magnificently..." Yet, this last great assault at Gettysburg, among the greatest made by American soldiers, failed to crumble the Union defenses., "Hurrahs" rose from the Union soldiers here as the Confederate tide ebbed. 12,000 Confederates had thrown themselves against the Union line - nearly half of them had been killed, wounded, or captured. General Meade prepared his men for another attack on the 4th, but it never came. That night, Lee's army began its muddy retreat into Virginia., Years after the battle, Pickett's Charge and its failure came to be known as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy." The war would continue for nearly two more years, but Lee's Army of Northern Virginia would not invade the North again. A Union officer who had witnessed Pickett's Charge wrote, "from that time on, the march of the rebellion was toward Appomattox.", After Gettysburg , 1863 , July 3 (1) Gettysburg - Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania repulsed. , July 4 (2) Vicksburg - Confederates surrender to General Grant. North gains control of Mississippi River. , Sept. 20 (3) Chickamauga - Last great Southern victory. , Nov. 23-25 (4) Chattanooga - Bragg's Confederate army retreats into Georgia., 1864 , May-June (5) Grant's Virginia Campaign - Battles of Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor. Lee driven back upon Richmond and Petersburg. , Sept. 2 (6) Atlanta - Sherman occupies Atlanta. Begins famous "March to the Sea" November 15. , Dec 15-16 (7) Nashville - Thomas crushes the Confederate Army of Tennessee. , Dec. 21 (8) Savannah - Sherman occupies Savannah and further divides the Confederacy., 1865 , April 2 (9) Petersburg - After 10-month siege, Grant breaks Lee's line and closes in on Richmond. , April 9 (10) Appomattox - Lee surrenders Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. , April 26 (11) Durham Station - Johnston surrenders Confederate forces in Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.

"Too bad! Too bad! Oh! Too bad!"
General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A.
Commander, Army of Northern Virginia

"Thank God."
Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, U.S.A.
Commander, Army of the Potomac

Speaking of the Confederates who had executed Pickett's Charge, General Lee reflected, "I never saw troops behave more magnificently..." Yet, this last great assault at Gettysburg, among the greatest made by American soldiers, failed to crumble the Union defenses.

"Hurrahs" rose from the Union soldiers here as the Confederate tide ebbed. 12,000 Confederates had thrown themselves against the Union line - nearly half of them had been killed, wounded, or captured. General Meade prepared his men for another attack on the 4th, but it never came. That night, Lee's army began its muddy retreat into Virginia.

Years after the battle, Pickett's Charge and its failure came to be known as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy." The war would continue for nearly two more years, but Lee's Army of Northern Virginia would not invade the North again. A Union officer who had witnessed Pickett's Charge wrote, "from that time on, the march of the rebellion was toward Appomattox."

After Gettysburg
1863
July 3 (1) Gettysburg - Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania repulsed.
July 4 (2) Vicksburg - Confederates

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surrender to General Grant. North gains control of Mississippi River.
Sept. 20 (3) Chickamauga - Last great Southern victory.
Nov. 23-25 (4) Chattanooga - Bragg's Confederate army retreats into Georgia.

1864
May-June (5) Grant's Virginia Campaign - Battles of Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor. Lee driven back upon Richmond and Petersburg.
Sept. 2 (6) Atlanta - Sherman occupies Atlanta. Begins famous "March to the Sea" November 15.
Dec 15-16 (7) Nashville - Thomas crushes the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
Dec. 21 (8) Savannah - Sherman occupies Savannah and further divides the Confederacy.

1865
April 2 (9) Petersburg - After 10-month siege, Grant breaks Lee's line and closes in on Richmond.
April 9 (10) Appomattox - Lee surrenders Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House.
April 26 (11) Durham Station - Johnston surrenders Confederate forces in Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.

Erected by Gettysburg National Military Park.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 3, 1863.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby.

Close Up of Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, December 27, 2008

2. Close Up of Map

It was located near 39° 48.773′ N, 77° 14.135′ W. Marker was near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It was in Cumberland Township. It was on Hancock Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Located near the "Copse of Trees" on Cemetery Ridge in Gettysburg National Military Park. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in South-Central Pennsylvania. It was also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Against All Odds (here, next to this marker); A Thunderous Duel (here, next to this marker); Death at the Wall (here, next to this marker); A Change in Plans (here, next to this marker); 72nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (a few steps from this marker); First Pennsylvania Cavalry (a few steps from this marker); Major General Alexander Webb (a few steps from this marker); Second Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Cushing's Union Battery (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Pickett's Charge (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Battlefield Landmarks—South and West (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. In the

Waysides between the Copse of Trees and the Angle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain

3. Waysides between the Copse of Trees and the Angle

From left to right - Battlefield Landmarks-South and West, Pickett's Charge, The High Water Mark, and Cushing's Union Battery.

center of the marker is a painting captioned, Confederate infantry make their last desperate attempt to break the Union line here. Painting by Mort Kunstler. To the lower left is a map with points indicated from the right side-bar.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location titled "Against All Odds".

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,573 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 14, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.