Cumberland Township near Round Top in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Historic Breastworks
Gettysburg National Military Park
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 17, 2024
1. Historic Breastworks Marker
July 2, Evening
The increased range and accuracy of Civil War weapons made prolonged exposure to enemy fire extremely dangerous. In response to this, both armies made increasing use of rifle-pits, trenches, and breastworks. By 1864, it could be said that a soldier marched with a rifled musket in one hand and a shovel in the other.
When the Union infantry of Col. Strong Vincent's brigade rushed to defend this hill on the afternoon of July 2, they quickly threw up crude shelters using stones laying about. The Confederates were on them so quickly there was little time for construction. That night, in anticipation of renewed fighting, the Federals expanded their breastworks. Confederates across the valley heard the stones dropping into place all night. Through restacked and rehabilitated many times since the battle, remains of these defensive works are still visible here today. Please stay off these historic stonewalls and help us preserve them for future generations.
"We worked nearly the whole night on the 'Stone wall.' I first proposed the plan, and put my men to work at it, and the other regts. of the brigade did the same."
Lt. Col. David Jenkins, USA
116th New York Volunteers
Erected 2024 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics.
this page online
Location. 39° 47.474′ N, 77° 14.225′ W. Marker is near Round Top, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Cumberland Township. It can be reached from Sykes Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located at tour stop 8, on Little Round Top. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds 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 marker: Col. Strong Vincent (here, next to this marker); 12th and 44th New York Infantry (here, next to this marker); From Battlefield to National Shrine (a few steps from this marker); 140th New York Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Gen. Strong Vincent (within shouting distance of this marker); Defense of Little Round Top (within shouting distance of this marker); Sixteenth Michigan Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Third Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Round Top.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Historic Breastworks (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. The background of the marker features a photograph of the area with
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 17, 2024
2. Historic Breastworks Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, October 17, 2024
3. Breastworks on Little Round Top
Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 15, 2025
4. Historic Breastworks Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2024, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 471 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 21, 2024, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on January 26, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.
