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

Attack on East Cemetery Hill

July 2, 7:30 pm

— Gettysburg National Military Park —

Attack on East Cemetery Hill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Karl Stelly, February 3, 2024

1. Attack on East Cemetery Hill Marker

Inscription. As darkness fell, 2,500 infantrymen from Louisiana and North Carolina moved across the fields to your right. Their objective was East Cemetery Hill, the rise ahead, fortified with 1,200 Union infantry and 30 cannon. Sergeant Oscar Ladley, 75th Ohio Infantry, recalled, “They came on us at dark, yelling like demons, with fixed bayonets. We open on them, but still they came...” Despite crippling fire, the Southerners charged, punching through the Union line at the base of the hill. Following their flags and encouraged by officers, the Confederates rushed uphill to the Union batteries. Fighting was hand-to-hand as artillerymen fought back with pistols, hand spikes, and rammers. Union reinforcements arrived, successfully driving off the attackers. Cemetery Hill, the base of the Union fishhook, was secure.

Erected 2024 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 2, 1863.

Location. 39° 49.174′ N, 77° 13.49′ W. Marker is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Cumberland Township. Marker is on Slocum Avenue west of Williams Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Located on the Stevens Knoll section of Gettysburg National

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Military Park, at Auto Tour Stop 14. 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. Stevens' Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Major General Henry Warner Slocum, U.S.V. (within shouting distance of this marker); 24th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Thirty Third Massachusetts Infantry (about 400 feet away); 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (about 400 feet away); 18th Miss. Inf. (about 500 feet away); 2nd Wisconsin Regiment (about 600 feet away); 41st New York Infantry (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker at this Location titled "East Cemetery Hill".

Also see . . . Gettysburg National Military Park. National Park Service (Submitted on February 5, 2024.)

Photographed By Karl Stelly, February 3, 2024

2. Attack on East Cemetery Hill Marker

View of East Cemetery Hill from the marker

Photographed By Karl Stelly, February 3, 2024

3. Attack on East Cemetery Hill Marker

This view from the marker looks about 30 degrees farther to the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2024, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 70 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 3, 2024, by Karl Stelly of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.