what about Culp's Hill?

[Rad2duhbone53]

Ive noticed a lot about the right flank; the center but very little about the left flank........ where it basically started. I saw some remarks about Culp's Hill and spandgler spring elsewhere so I decided to have a thread for it. How important was Culps Hill and what significance was there for spanglers spring or oak ridge or the "railroad cut"?

[larry_cockerham]

I hope this discussion cranks up. I had a gg grandfather there, Pvt. John Calvin Rouse with the 48th VA CSA. He later received an honorable discharge from the US Army. Go figure.

[JerseyBart]

I'd like to discuss Culp's Hill in more detail as well. How intense was the fighting??? How close did or did the hill not come to being taken by the Confederates??? What about that Confederate regiment's dog mascot??? Inquiring minds want to know. I want to know.

Bart

[larry_cockerham]

From the perspective of the 48th VA CSA:

“About 4 p.m. July 2, Jones moved the brigade forward to support Latimer’s artillery battalion, which was firing from Benner’s Hill. The brigade halted about 300 yards to the left and rear of the artillery. About two hours later, as Latimer’s duel with Union artillery ended, the brigade moved forward near the crest of Benner’s Hill. Shortly afterward, it joined Johnson’s division in an assault on enemy positions on Culp’s Hill - ‘a rugged and rocky mountain, heavily timbered and difficult of ascent; a natural fortification, rendered more formidable by deep entrenchments and thick abatis.’”

“Down the slope of Benner’s Hill Jones’ Brigade advanced in good order. The 48th, with about 210 officers and men, was flanked by the 25th Virginia on its left, and the 50th Virginia to its right . Lieutenant Colonel Dungan had returned to command the unit. Union artillery fire from the right harassed the brigade during the advance to Rock Creek. Halting there in the dark to dress its line, the brigade then surged ‘with great vigor and spirit’ across the creek and uphill toward the Union positions.”

“The Brigade gained ground steadily under heavy musketry from the entrenched enemy. The 48th pushed to within 10 paces of the enemy line. No other unit in the brigade reported getting closer. That advance, in the face of savage fire, cost the regiment heavily.” ”Official reports indicate that the 48th lost 15 killed and 43 wounded. Dungan also reported that the regiment had a total of 76 killed, wounded and missing, with no cases of cowardice during the battle.

[gary]

You need two bookends to keep your books from falling on the shelf. Little Round Top was one bookend of the Union line. If it fell, the Confederates could roll up the Union line. Guarding the latter was the 20th Maine under Chamberlain. Chamberlain was adept at writing and thought highly of himself. So, what did he do? He immortalized his defense of Little Round Top and forever tied his name with the battle there. The other bookend of the Union line was Culp's Hill held by Gen. Greene. His contributions in repelling the Confederates were equally worthy but Greene was modest, didn't care to write about himself, and allowed himself to fade from memory. That's why most people don't read as much about the fight there. Honor his memory and visit the statute erected by his men in his honor there at Culp's Hill.

[larry_cockerham]

Gary, give William C. Oates and the 15th Alabama credit for trips to the top of Little Round Top before Chamberlain stumbled down the hill while trying to reload his pistol. Oats and Chamberlain spent most of the remainder of the decade in court trying to validate their respective versions of the story. Two remarkeable men placed in the spotlight on the stage for just one memorable instant.

[ole]

Rad:
Get a copy of Pfanz's Gettysburg: Culps Hill and Cemetary Hill. It's well worth owning and is readily available in the secondary market.

History of the battle has been boiled down to Buford, Chamberlain and Pickett. There are better stories out there, and Pfanz has told them.

Ole

[SpartanGSG]

No doubt, Greene's scrappy sons of ##### did yeoman's work over on that flank and this nasty firefight has never in my view got it's due props.
Regards
Spartan

[JerseyBart]

Ole,

And all through a work of historical fiction. Many other great stories have been "ignored" (I hate to use that word) because of The Killer Angels and Gettysburg. Those new to the Civil War need to use it as a jumping off point, not the be all end all.

Bart

[whitworth]

I was just looking at the first Gettysburg book I ever read, so many decades ago.
If the story of the death of a Confederate by the name of Culp were not included, the accounts of Culp's Hill would have reduced by 20% in that very book.

Army of the Potomac artillery played an important role on that part of the battlefield. But then how many historians ever wrote of Army of the Potomac artillery?