Cemetery Hill - The Union's Defense

Most historians will agree that Cemetery Hill was the key to the Union defense line. It is named Cemetery Hill because of the Evergreen Cemetery located along Baltimore Pike. It is 503 feet above sea level and the gradual slope on its northern side is about 100 feet. The most famous landmark located on the hill is the Evergreen Cemetery Gate-House.

What made Cemetery Hill so important to the Union's defense was that the elevation provided an excellent platform for artillery. There were stone walls and fences that provided cover for infantry. Also the converging of the Taneytown, Emmitsburg roads and the Baltimore Pike provided easy access to the Union Army.

After arriving at Gettysburg Maj Gen Oliver O. Howard, Commander of the 11th Corps, realized the Cemetery Hill was a very significant area to hold so he placed Col Orland Smith's 2^nd Brigade, consisting of the 33^rd Mass, 136^th NY, 55^th and 73^rd Ohio in line behind a stone wall along the Taneytown Rd. The 55^th Ohio faced west and formed the right of the line, its center being where the Taneytown Rd and Emmitsburg Rd intersect. The 136^th NY and the 73^rd Ohio formed the left flank, with Hay's Division to their right at Ziegler's Grove. The 33^rd Mass was most probable on the 73^rd Ohio's left.

As stated earlier, Cemetery Hill was an excellent artillery position. Capt Michael Wiedrich, I, 1^st NY, 11^th Corps was placed facing so to provide support for the retreating 1^st and 11^th Corps. The retreating batteries were placed on Cemetery Hill with Stewart's, Cooper's, Wiedrich's and Reynold's, a total of seventeen guns on the east side of Baltimore Pike. Stevens with his six guns was ordered to what is call today as "Stevens Knoll", between Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill.

Major Gen Winfield S. Hancock, 2^nd Corps Commander, arrived on Cemetery Hill with orders from Maj Gen George Meade, Commander of the Army of the Potomac to take command and assess the overall situation. Working along with Gen Howard, he soon had the retreating units reformed and placed so as to meet any attack that the confederates might make.

Two brigades of Gen Ames' Division, around 1,200 officers and men and 5 batteries of artillery totaling 23 guns were positioned on or near East Cemetery Hill. Divisions of Brig Gen Adolph von Steinwehr and Maj Gen Carl Schultz consisting of approximately 4,300 men and supported by 30 plus guns from seven batteries were on the western side of the hill.

With the defensive positions set, the tired men of the 1^st and 11^th Corps settled down for a long night of watching and waiting.

The confederate had control of the town. Doles' and some of Ramseur's and O'Neal's Brigades were west of Baltimore Street and Hays's Brigade to the east. They set up a battle line on Middle Street. The Louisiana Tigers of Hay's Brigade formed a line along East Middle Street. Avery's North Carolina Brigade came under fire from Dietrich's battery while they were at the railroad tracks at the edge of town.

What action or lack of action next by the confederate commanders on the field has caused a great debate between historians and civil war buffs. Gen Early wanted to continue the attack on Cemetery Hill, while others did not. Part of this attitude of delayed action was part of Gen Lee's fault. His message to Gen Ewell was "to attack if practicable but that he was to avoid a general engagement until the arrival of the other division of the army".[1]

Could the confederates have taken Cemetery Hill if the movement through the town was made without delay? Probably not. The confederate's also fought all day long and sustain heavy casualties. The men were tired and thirsty, could they have attacked up the steep slope of Cemetery Hill against the union troops that were dug in and had artillery support, I think not.

[1] Take from Gettysburg, The First Day by Harry W. Pfanz