Culp's Hill - Gettysburg, PA
N 39° 49.200 W 077° 13.228
18S E 309955 N 4410138
During the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1–3, 1863, Culp's Hill was a critical part of the Union army defensive line, the right flank, or "barbed" portion of what is described as the "fish-hook" line.
Waymark Code: WMC8D1
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/08/2011
Views: 9
To the west of Gettysburg is Seminary Ridge, with the curve of South Mountain looming eight miles beyond. To the south is Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge, the latter extending southward in a lines parallel with Seminary Ridge and terminating in a heavily wooded eminence known as Round Top. From Cemetery Hill a low ridge curves sharply southeastward to form Culp's Hill, then southward to Spangler's Spring. --- Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 227.
This is one of the most scenic places at the Park and was a key battlefield on July 2, an event which many historians call a slaughter where many troops were killed. At the top of the hill, where the long and winding road terminates and circles back down, there is a huge observation tower and several monuments. At the top of the observation tower I could see all of Gettysburg including the town center, the PA Memorial and the Lutheran Seminary as well as other key features.
Wiki told me Culp's Hill became a prime tourist attraction after the battle. It was close to the town and, unlike most battles in open fields, it was heavily wooded and the extreme firepower took a very visible toll on the trees, some of which were completely sheared off. Geary's division alone on July 3 reported that they expended 227,000 rounds. It took over twenty years before the scars of battle faded and nature reclaimed the breastworks. Today, Culp's Hill is unoccupied except for numerous monuments and an observation tower, all maintained by the U.S. National Park Service as part of the Gettysburg National Military Park.
The men of the Union 12th Corps, reinforced by regiments from the 1st and 6th Corps, fought back attacks by the Confederate 2nd Corps for two days on these rocky, densely wooded hillsides. This rocky, heavily wooded hill southeast of town anchored the right of the Union line. On July 2nd & 3rd, 1863, it was the focal point of attacks by the Confederate 2nd Corps on Union defenders from the 12th Corps reinforced by regiments from the 6th and 1st Corps. Today the summit of the hill is topped with an observation tower.