East Cemetery Hill | Gettysburg (Documentary)

On the Second Day of the Battle of Gettysburg July 2nd, Robert E Lee's Plan was simultaneous flank attacks on the Union left and Union right. Everybody has been Familiar with the Fishhook Formation that the Union had. Well, the Fish Hook ran from Culps Hill down through the Valley into Cemetery Hill and down. At the time at least early on July 2nd down to the end of Cemetery Ridge. Eventually, we would know that it would be anchored around on Little Round Top. So Lee's Attack came in General Longstreet's attack on the Right which would be the Union Left. Where Dan Sickle's Third Corp had moved into an advanced position but a Simultaneous attack on the Union right. Late in the afternoon that the attack was unfolding on Sickles front. A Cannonade began The Artillery on the East Cemetery Hill and the Union at Culp's Hill we're firing down on Yule's Second Corp which held the town. But No Attack Came. The Union Artillery and Confederate Artillery Fired Back and forth. Eventually, the attack did come in the form of two brigades. It was Harry Hayes and his Louisiana's which would come from the woods. And the Brigade of Isaac Avery on the Left of the Woods. The Two Confederates attacked through the woods and turned and swung like a Door. The Union Infantry have spread apart from each other, they were scattered about 5 or 6 feet from each other that's how thin the Union lines were. And they quickly drove off. The Union has a Battery of Lines between East Cemetery Hill and Culps Hill and so they were able to fire at the Confederates when they were attempting to march over the hill. But, they were able to drive off the Union Infantry and began entering hand-to-hand combat which took place at the top. The attack didn't even start until around 8 PM. Which in the days before daylight saving time is equivalent to 9 PM today so even in the middle of the summer in south-central Pennsylvania it's pretty well dark at 9 PM if I'm not wrong or mistaken? (Fact check me) and certainly by the time the fighting ended which may have been late as 9 to 10 PM which would be an hour or two hours later from the attack. It was certainly very dark at that point.

The two Confederate Brigades numbered slightly more than 2,000 men. Facing them at the first base of Cemetery Hill we're a few hundred men from Ohio and Connecticut. At top of the hill was Union Artillery under Colonel Charles Wainright did their best to fend off the approaching Confederate brigades, but the angle made them difficult to him them. The Union soldiers at the base of the hill were driven off, and the Confederates began to attack off the slopes as darkness fell.

As the Confederates marched into East Cemetery Hill, I found an article published on how steep is The Hill. And it says it's more Steeper than Little Roundtop. And the lacking on the hill is the Boulders that will break your ankle. But still marching towards the hill facing the Union Artillery and Union Infantry. They showed a lot of determination while marching on the hill.

When the Confederates reached the top, the fighting became hand to hand. The Artillerymen who had no Rifles and Pistols started using handspikes and started throwing rocks at the Confederates. They fought tooth and nail. One of the Monuments says that they stayed here until every round of canisters had been fired and it was sometime between 9 or 10 PM before reinforcements have arrived and countered attack the Confederates back and take back the hill.

Leading his Brigade on Horseback was Isaac Avery was mortally wounded by a gunshot wound to the neck. Unable to speak and paralyzed on his right side, scribbled out his last word using his left hand on a piece of paper. "Major, tell my father I died with my face to the enemy."

For a while, it seemed like the Union Position was screwed. But every battle comes down to who would get the Reinforcements and when. The Confederates didn't get any Reinforcements and didn't receive support for the attack it was just those two Brigades. And the Union did and it came in a form of none other than Winfield Scott Hancock, Second corp. The same men who were pouring reinforcements like places as Wheat Field over in the Union left. That Reinforcement caused the Confederates to retreat down to the hill and East Cemetery Hill was saved by the Union.

Not as well known as the actions of the 20th Maine or 1st Minnesota on July 2nd, the stand of the boys in blue on East Cemetery Hill is no less important. They prevented the Army of Potomac from splitting in two, thus contributing directly to the Victory of Gettysburg.

  🇵🇭 Philippineball

CSA:im gonna destroy Gettysburg so you will die and lose
USA:will you Shut up go get out of Gettysburg

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