- Joined
- Dec 30, 2019
Yesterday's weather was too good to spend indoors, so a visit to the Gettysburg Battlefield was inevitable. It was a perfect day for a walk on the seldom visited Powers Hill. In case you are not aware, there is a gravel parking area on the south side of Granite Schoolhouse Lane (hereafter called "GSL"), just a short way from its intersection with Baltimore Pike.
Rather than climbing straight up through the tall grass and over various rocks, the easier path is to follow along the inside of the stone wall along GSL. Just as you come to the edge of the woods, there will be a stone wall extending up the hill. However, before you start to ascend, take a moment to look across the wall. There you will find the left flank marker for the 77th NY Infantry just a little more than a rod or so east of GSL.
Then walk along the wall headed up the hill (stay on the south side of the wall for easier walking) and you will come to the monument of the 77th NY Infantry. The 77th NY was part of Brig. Gen. Thomas Neill's Brigade. When Neill moved the brigade to the right of the Union line to engage skirmishers from the 2d VA Infantry, the 77th remained behind in this area as infantry support for the Union artillery on Powers Hill, and perhaps as added support for Slocum's Headquarters at the western base of the hill.
Continuing up the hill on the hill you will easily find the right flank marker for the 77th NY.
Cross the wall wherever you think it is safe, and climb to the summit of the hill. Here you will find the monument for Rigby's Battery A, Maryland Light Artillery. This battery was part of the Artillery Reserve of the Army of the Potomac. They were assigned here as support for the 12th Corps. They took position here on the morning of July 2.
Although they attempted to engage the Confederate batteries on Benner;s Hill on the afternoon of July 2, it ws quickly determined that the range was too far. On the morning of July 3, they opened fire (along with the 12th Corps batteries) on Confederates who had taken the southern portion of the Union entrenchments during the evening of July 2. Looking to the west, one can see that Confederate position on the other side of Spangler's Meadow. The O.R report indicates that they fired slowly for about 3 hours and expended only 211 shells in all.
Rigby's Battery was armed with six 3" ordinance rifles. The guns placed near the monument appear to have tubes that are authentic Civil War era pieces.
The markings on the muzzle of the left gun were nearly obliterated. Can any of you make it out?
Continuing the walk to the north and downhill, you will come to Atwell's Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery (a/k/a Knap's Battery).
The battery was armed with six 10 lb. Parrott Rifles, 3 of which were employed on Culp's Hill (where another marker can be found) on the afternoon of July 2. This is likely where the 3 casualties were incurred. They were withdrawn and the entire battery placed on Powers Hill when most of the 12th Corps was ordered to the left of the Union line. Their field of fire is shown below. Note that one can pick out the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry monument on lower Culp's Hill. That monument is along the breastworks seized by Confederates when the regiment was ordered to the left of the Union line.
Continuing further north, you will again come to a stone wall. The wall is more easily crossed at a point a little ways into the woods on your left. On the other side of the wall you will find the monument for Winegar's Battery M, 1st New York Light Artillery. Actually, only two of the four 10 lb. Parrott Rifles of this battery were located in this vicinity. (Note that I 'm not sure the this monument is in quite the right spot.) The other two gun section was on the west side of Baltimore Pike.
The guns displayed with both Atwell's and Winegar's Batteries appear to be reproductions.
Retracing my steps on the return trip, I noticed that one could see what I believe is the barn on the George Spangler Farm from a point along GSL.
I enjoyed my walk and hope you enjoyed this effort to bring you along, if only virtually.
Rather than climbing straight up through the tall grass and over various rocks, the easier path is to follow along the inside of the stone wall along GSL. Just as you come to the edge of the woods, there will be a stone wall extending up the hill. However, before you start to ascend, take a moment to look across the wall. There you will find the left flank marker for the 77th NY Infantry just a little more than a rod or so east of GSL.
Then walk along the wall headed up the hill (stay on the south side of the wall for easier walking) and you will come to the monument of the 77th NY Infantry. The 77th NY was part of Brig. Gen. Thomas Neill's Brigade. When Neill moved the brigade to the right of the Union line to engage skirmishers from the 2d VA Infantry, the 77th remained behind in this area as infantry support for the Union artillery on Powers Hill, and perhaps as added support for Slocum's Headquarters at the western base of the hill.
Continuing up the hill on the hill you will easily find the right flank marker for the 77th NY.
Cross the wall wherever you think it is safe, and climb to the summit of the hill. Here you will find the monument for Rigby's Battery A, Maryland Light Artillery. This battery was part of the Artillery Reserve of the Army of the Potomac. They were assigned here as support for the 12th Corps. They took position here on the morning of July 2.
Although they attempted to engage the Confederate batteries on Benner;s Hill on the afternoon of July 2, it ws quickly determined that the range was too far. On the morning of July 3, they opened fire (along with the 12th Corps batteries) on Confederates who had taken the southern portion of the Union entrenchments during the evening of July 2. Looking to the west, one can see that Confederate position on the other side of Spangler's Meadow. The O.R report indicates that they fired slowly for about 3 hours and expended only 211 shells in all.
Rigby's Battery was armed with six 3" ordinance rifles. The guns placed near the monument appear to have tubes that are authentic Civil War era pieces.
The markings on the muzzle of the left gun were nearly obliterated. Can any of you make it out?
Continuing the walk to the north and downhill, you will come to Atwell's Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery (a/k/a Knap's Battery).
The battery was armed with six 10 lb. Parrott Rifles, 3 of which were employed on Culp's Hill (where another marker can be found) on the afternoon of July 2. This is likely where the 3 casualties were incurred. They were withdrawn and the entire battery placed on Powers Hill when most of the 12th Corps was ordered to the left of the Union line. Their field of fire is shown below. Note that one can pick out the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry monument on lower Culp's Hill. That monument is along the breastworks seized by Confederates when the regiment was ordered to the left of the Union line.
Continuing further north, you will again come to a stone wall. The wall is more easily crossed at a point a little ways into the woods on your left. On the other side of the wall you will find the monument for Winegar's Battery M, 1st New York Light Artillery. Actually, only two of the four 10 lb. Parrott Rifles of this battery were located in this vicinity. (Note that I 'm not sure the this monument is in quite the right spot.) The other two gun section was on the west side of Baltimore Pike.
The guns displayed with both Atwell's and Winegar's Batteries appear to be reproductions.
Retracing my steps on the return trip, I noticed that one could see what I believe is the barn on the George Spangler Farm from a point along GSL.
I enjoyed my walk and hope you enjoyed this effort to bring you along, if only virtually.