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

Attack on Cemetery Hill

2nd Day

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008

1. Attack on Cemetery Hill Marker

Inscription. This hill was occupied by Union forces at noon July 1 and provided a rallying point that afternoon for Union soldiers retreating to it from beyond the town.

On the evening of July 2, coordinated with the attack on Culp's Hill to your right, 2,000 Confederate soldiers advanced against this hill from beyond the school building site in your front. Assailed by artillery fire they pressed forward, struck and broke Union infantry lines at the base of this hill, and, after desperate hand-to-hand fighting, captured cannon here on the crest. But they received no aid and soon Union reinforcements swept them from the hill.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1913.

Location. 39° 49.307′ N, 77° 13.73′ W. Marker is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. Marker is on Baltimore Pike (State Highway 97), on the right when traveling north. Located on East Cemetery Hill in Gettysburg National Military Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Major General Oliver Otis Howard (a few steps from this marker); 11th Corps Headquarters (a few steps from this marker); 7th West Virginia Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Ricketts' Battery

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Battery I, First Regiment New York Light Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery B, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); First Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); 73rd Pennsylvania Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.

More about this marker. On the marker is a relief depicting the hand to hand fighting.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Markers, Tablets and Monuments on East Cemetery Hill.

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008

2. Attack on Cemetery Hill Marker

The marker is at the base of the Howard Memorial.

The Confederate Attack Toward this Position image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008

3. The Confederate Attack Toward this Position

A few yards away, near the Hancock Memorial is a similar marker, with only a caption to a wartime sketch: The cemetery archway ahead is shown behind the guns in this wartime engraving.

Location of Second Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, December 27, 2008

4. Location of Second Marker

East Side of Cemetery Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, April 4, 2009

5. East Side of Cemetery Hill

Looking down the east side of Cemetery Hill. The Confederate attacks pressed up the slopes here. Federal reinforcements shifted from other sectors blunted the threat.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,606 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 15, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on April 17, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.