Summer of 21 - #14 - Gettysburg Battlefield#3 -July 2nd,1863 - Seminary Ridge, Pitzer Woods & Warfield Ridge

May 11th, 2021 - Battlefield Tour Part 3 of 8

July 2nd, 1863 - Day 2-Part 1, of the Battle of Gettysburg.

This map shows the sites #4-#7 covered in this blog.

After driving through McMillan Woods there were more markers, showing movements of troops for all three days. 

Cannons were strategically placed, aimed across the valley to help you visualize the battle.

                       

Stop 4 - North Carolina Memorial

Early in the day, the Confederate army positioned itself on high ground along Seminary Ridge, through town, and north of Cemetery and Culps hills.  Union forces occupied Culps and Cemetery hills, and along Cemetery Ridge south to the Round Tops.  The lines of both armies formed two parallel "fishhooks."

Looking across the battlefield

Tennessee

Stop 5 - Virginia Memorial

The large open field to the east is where the last Confederate assault, known as "Pickett's Charge",occurred July 3rd.

Virginia to her sons at Gettysburg

Stop 6 - Pitzer Woods

In the afternoon of July 2nd, Lt.Gen. James Longstreet placed his Confederate troops along Warfield Ridge, anchoring the left of his line in these woods.

I loved the monument of Longstreet.  I'm not sure why but it really "spoke" to me and put me in the moment. Yep, I'm weird!!!

Stop 7 - Warfield Ridge

Longstreet's assaults began here at 4pm. They were directed against Union troops occupying Devils Den, the Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard, and against Meade's undefended left flank at the Round Tops"

The Louisiana Monument stood out across the field.

Louisiana Monument - "Spirit Triumphant"

Mississippi Monument

The Union Sharpshooters appear to have played a significant role in Gettysburg. This LINK gives a good overview of them and the part they played in the battle.

Georgia

Texas

I'm going to insert an event from July 3rd here on the July 2nd blog, as the signs are here and it originated at this place.

"On July 3rd at 5.00pm-A Ride To Death-The battle of Gettysburg was nearly over.  Two miles north, the Confederate attack known as Picketts Charge had been driven back, but the Southern position here, around the Slyder farm, remained strong.  Union General Jackson Kilpatrick's cavalry, ordered to attack the enemy's right and rear, rode to this location.  He ordered General Elon Farnsworth to lead a charge from the wooded hill behind you, across the fields to your front.  The uneven terrain, with large boulders, fences and woodlands, was unsuitable for a cavalry charge.  Farnsworth objected to this hopeless mission, but Kilpatrick insisted.  Farnsworth, with 300 troopers, charged over rocks and through timber, under deadly fire.  Captain H.C.Parsons, 1st Vermont cavalry said, "...each man felt....that he was summoned to ride to death" Farnsworth's charge was a disaster.  Union Brigadier General Elon Farnsworth aged 25, was killed during this charge.  He had been a General for just 5 days."  

The charge would have been down this hill.

Through woods like these, without the road, ha!!ha!!

Brigadier Major General William Wells was a Union General who received a Medal of Honor for gallantry at Gettysburg.

Brigadier Major General William Wells

 

Day 2 will continue in the next blog with the next stop on our Gettysburg Battle Tour - Little Round Top.