Notes on the Battle Battlefield guides are licensed and operate under supervision of the National Park Serv­ At , 18 States were represented ice. A complete tour of the park requires in the and 12 in the Confeder­ about 2 hours and the guide fee is $4. The ate. Maryland contributed military units to fee for a complete bus tour of the field is $8. both armies. In the battle, 75,000 Confeder­ ates were pitted against 97,000 Union troops. The Cydorama, Philippoteaux's 370-by- Lee lost 28,000 killed, wounded, and cap­ 30-foot painting of the battlefield showing tured as against a Union loss of 23,000. The Pickett's Charge, is displayed on Baltimore bodies of about 7,000 of both armies, given Street near the National Cemetery. Later it temporary burial on the battlefield, were will be placed in a new park visitor center. later removed. Of these, 3,706 Federals The nominal admission fee is waived for were interred in Gettysburg National Ceme­ children under 12 years old and for school tery and 3,320 Confederates were trans­ groups 12 to 18 years of age when accom­ ferred to Southern cemeteries. An unknown panied by adults responsible for their safety additional number—possibly 3,000—were and conduct. reburied in home cemeteries. How To Reach the Park The Park The park and cemetery are accessible by In 1895, the battlefield of Gettysburg was U. S. 30 from the east and west; U. S. 15 made a National Military Park by act of Con­ from the north and south; U. S. 140 from gress. In that year the Baltimore, Md.; State Route 34 from Car­ Memorial Association, which was founded a lisle, Pa.; and State Route 116 from Hagers- few months after the battle, transferred its town, Md., and Hanover, Pa. Greyhound holdings of 600 acres of land, 17 miles of buses operate over U. S. 30 and 140; and avenues, and 320 monuments and markers Trailways buses operate over U. S. 15 from to the Federal Government. Today the park Harrisburg, Pa., and Frederick, Md. extends over more than 5 square miles, has 30 miles of paved avenues, and 2,390 monu­ ments and markers. The area of the National Mission 66 Cemetery is 17 acres. Mission 66 is a program designed to be completed by 1966 which will assure the About Your Visit maximum protection of the scenic, scientific, You may obtain information about this and wilderness, and historic resources of the other areas of the National Park System at National Park System in such ways and by the National Park Service museum in the such means as will make them available for Post Office Building, at the National Ceme­ the use and enjoyment of present and future tery office, at park entrance stations and, dur generations. ing the summer, at , where a ranger historian is stationed. The services Administration of park historians are also available for tours with educational groups. You can obtain Gettysburg National Military Park and a 56-page handbook relating to Gettysburg Cemetery are administered by the National National Military Park at the park or by mail Park Service, U. S. Department of the from the Superintendent of Documents, Interior. A superintendent, whose address Washington 25, D. C, at 25 cents a copy. is Gettysburg, Pa., is in immediate charge.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Cover: Field of Pickett's Charge, with his attack on the Union position at NATIONAL MILITARY PARK • Fred A. Seaton, Secretary , in the foreground. From the Philippoteaux painting in the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Gettysburg Cydorama. Conrad L. Wirth, Director Reprint 1959 U.S.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1959-0-524529 the Confederate cavalry, during a long, cir­ flank of the Union line on McPherson Ridge. on the crest of the ridge. Four hours of des­ Spring, comparative quiet followed, except cuitous tour around the rear of the Union The opportune arrival of Early's Confederate perate struggle had broken for casual skirmishing, the intermittent snip­ Army, had deprived Lee of information con­ division on the Harrisburg Road broke the salient, left the Wheatfield strewn with dead ing of sharpshooters, and a brisk cavalry ac­ cerning the movements of the enemy. The Union line north of Gettysburg, forcing the and wounded, and turned the base of Little tion in the rear of the Union lines. At 1 Union Army, moving due northward from Union troops to retreat southward through Round Top into a shambles. o'clock, 138 Confederate guns in line from Fredericksburg, had thus reached Frederick, the streets of the town. The Union flank on At the same time, Ewell, on the Confed­ the Peach Orchard to the Seminary let loose Md., before Lee, across the mountains at the northwest and west was left exposed. It erate left, was expected to attack the Union a terrific cannonade. Eighty Union guns on Chambersburg, Pa., learned on June 28 of its soon collapsed, and its fragments fell back position on Culp's Hill and . responded in a duel which near presence. through Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. The plan did not work perfectly, however, lasted nearly 2 hours. Gettysburg Lee at once altered his plans. He aban­ The unexpected encounter of July 1 pre­ and the attack came a little late. Seldom, if Then, with Pickett's division as a spear­ doned his proposed movement on Harris­ sented to Lee unforeseen advantages. The ever, surpassed in its dash and desperation, head, more than 15,000 Confederates ad­ burg, and directed a concentration of his greater part of the Confederate Army was at this assault lacked the culminating fury of vanced in magnificent array. On nearing the NATIONAL MILITARY PARK entire force at the eastern base of the South hand. While the Union line was forming in concerted action. Some of the Confederates Union line at the stone wall on Cemetery Mountains, 8 miles from Gettysburg. the shape of a great hook, extending from stopped on the slopes of Culp's Hill, near Ridge, the Confederates charged into the Meade needed information. Buford's cav­ Spangler's Spring to Cemetery Hill and Spangler's Spring. Early's men reached the withering fire of double canister and infan­ Scene of the decisive , marking the turning point of the American alry division, with the infantry corps of southward toward Little Round Top, Lee was crest of , only to be forced try volleys. From the front and flank fire, Civil War, and place where Abraham Lincoln made his celebrated Reynolds and Howard following close at preparing his battleline on back. Rodes' troops did not attack. Darkness the advancing lines crumbled, re-formed, and hand, reached Gettysburg on June 30 to make and eastward through the streets of Gettys­ brought an intermission to the bloody combat. again pressed ahead. Only a hundred men GETTYSBURG is the field of one of the great­ the preceding months, the military spirit of a reconnaissance. On the morning of July 1 burg. Lee, encouraged by partial success, deter­ crossed the stone wall at The Angle on Ceme­ est battles ever fought on American soil. The the Confederacy was at "high noon." By a Buford moved to the ridge west of the town. The forenoon of July 2 wore away. Then mined to attack the Union center. The dawn tery Ridge. The remnants of the division outcome affected the destiny of a nation. We daring thrust into Northern territory and a Here, at 8 o'clock, he encountered Heth's at 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon Longstreet's of July 3, however, broke with the thunder of of Pickett, Heth, and Pender staggered back now know that those who perished there on defeat of the Union Army on its own soil, Confederate division which was approaching batteries on the Confederate right broke the Union guns on the Union right in the area toward Seminary Ridge. The repulse of the field of battle did not die in vain. The Southern leaders felt that the strained bonds Gettysburg from the west. Reynolds directed silence. A Confederate division struck at of Spangler's Spring and Culp's Hill. Seven the attack became known as the High Water­ field of Gettysburg ever will remain a place holding the North to the task of preserving his troops into the struggle and also ordered Little Round Top. Failing there, the attack hours of furious fighting found the Union mark where the tide of the Confederacy had of pilgrimage for Americans. On it their the Union could be severed, the war ended, forward those of General Howard. At this spread to Devil's Den and the Wheatfield. troops again in possession of their earthworks "swept to its crest, paused, and receded." Nation was tested. The Nation has endured. and peace established on the basis of South­ juncture Reynolds was killed. Heth's divi­ In the meantime, other Confederate troops at Spangler's Spring. The spring, whose Lee's final great effort at Gettysburg had The name of Gettysburg is immortalized ern independence. sion, momentarily forced back, received rein­ swept through the Peach Orchard and drove waters had for a time served Confederate spent itself. Late on the afternoon of July 4, not only by the heroic feats of arms which At Gettysburg on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863, forcements, but the Confederates were losing Sickles' Union line from its advance position wounded and thirsty, had again become a he began an orderly retreat southwestwardly were performed there, but by Abraham Lin­ the Confederate Army, commanded by Gen. ground when Rodes' division, hastening back to the foot of Cemetery Ridge. Confed­ Union possession. over the Hagerstown Road, and on the night coln's noble address delivered a few months Robert E. Lee, attempted to destroy the Union southward on Oak Ridge, struck the right erate troops gained a foothold momentarily With the struggle ended at Spangler's of July 13 crossed the Potomac into Virginia. after the battle when he came to Gettysburg Army of the Potomac, commanded by Gen. to dedicate a portion of the field as the burial George G. Meade, on its own soil. This battle Big and Little Round Tops as seen from Confederate battleline Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Memorial Eternal Light Peace Memorial ground of those who fell in the struggle. has become known as the High Watermark Lincoln's words have perpetuated in the of the Confederacy. It marked the turn of the minds and hearts of our people the high pur­ tide in the war. pose of the brave men who died at Gettys­ Using the Shenandoah Valley as an avenue burg. The spot on which the martyr President of approach into Pennsylvania, Lee's army uttered his immortal words is now appropri­ began moving northwestward from Freder­ ately marked by the Soldiers' National Mon­ icksburg on June 3, crossed the Potomac ument in Gettysburg National Cemetery. River at Williamsport and Shepherdstown, and proceeded toward Harrisburg. Unfore­ Battle of Gettysburg seen circumstances between June 25 and 29 deprived Lee of nearly every advantage he In June 1863, as a result of victories at expected to gain by his daring march into the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville during North. The absence of Stuart, commanding

The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people.