Summer of 21 - #18 - Gettysburg Battlefield#7 -July 2nd,1863 - Pennsylvania Memorial, Spanglers Spring, East Cemetery Hill

 May 13th, 2021 - Battlefield Tour Part 7 of 8 

July 2nd, 1863 - Day 2-Part 5, of the Battle of Gettysburg.

We left Plum Run, next stop was the State of Pennsylvania Memorial.  Click on this LINK to read more about it.

Here's a picture taken from United States Avenue as we headed to the monument. The flowers made it a perfect photo opportunity.

We had seen this from multiple places along the route and would finally get to stop and explore.

                      

This map shows the sites #12-#14 covered in this blog. Stops 15 & 16 will be in the next blog. 

Stop 12 - Pennsylvania Memorial

Union artillery held the line here on Cemetery Ridge late in the day as Meade called for infantry from Culps Hill and other areas to strengthen and hold the center of the Union position.

Approaching the monument

We parked the car and got out to explore.

The largest monument on the battlefield, the Pennsylvania Memorial is a symbol of respect and tribute to the thousands of Pennsylvanians who fought here, on their native soil. Ornate reliefs depict the different branches of the service: infantry, artillery, cavalry, and the signal corps. The names of citizens turned soldiers who fought on these fields are listed on 90 bronze regimental tablets. Stars signify those killed here. The Goddess of Victory and Peace, sculpted from melted bronze cannon, graces the top of the dome. The sacrifice of women on the home front is commemorated with these words: "To the Loyal Women who through four years of war, endured suffering and bereavement."

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Lincoln

Curtin

Hancock

Meade

We climbed the steps to the top of the monument. 

There's Lincoln, we're about halfway up.

Phew, made it!!

As you walked around the top of the monument there were markers showing where different places were on the battlefield. There were telescopes you could look through as well.  The pictures under each marker were taken in the direction of the arrows.

Zoomed in on Little Round Top

Only 69 miles to Washington DC as the crow flies.

High Water Mark

Meade's Headquarters in the distance

Virginia Monument,Reynolds Woods

The views were well worth the climb and we only saw one other person up there.  We got some good pictures from up here.

Back at ground level, we continued our drive.

Stop 13 - Spanglers Spring

About 7pm, Confederates attacked the right flank of the Union army and occupied the lower slopes of Culps Hill.  The next morning the Confederates were driven off after seven hours of fighting.

Read about the Fight at Spanglers Spring HERE.

We decided this was a perfect place for the lunch we had brought with us.  We sat on the rocks and enjoyed the peace and quiet.   A boy came by taking advantage of the sloping road to ride his skateboard.  He then walked back up the hill and rode down again.  A couple who seemed to be his grandparents arrived.  The boy was obviously going faster than them. They all continued walking/skateboarding along the road.

After our lunch we continued our tour.

This observation tower was at Culps Hill.  We didn't go up it but I'm sure there's a fantastic view.

We thought of John when we saw this statue.  Wonder if he's a relation!! Brevet Major General George Sears Greene was a Union soldier whose troops held out against the Confederates.  Click on this LINK to learn more about him.

Stop 14 - East Cemetery Hill

At dusk, Union forces repelled a Confederate assault that reached the crest of this hill.

The cemetery is in the background.

"By day's end, both flanks of the Union army had been attacked and both had held, despite losing ground.  In a council of war, Meade, anticipating an assault on the center of his line, determined that his army would stay and fight.

Click HERE for an excellent summary of Day 2 of the battle.