Confederate Attack Seen From Houck's Ridge

[Gettysburg Greg]

Although I am no videographer, nor a qualified tour guide , I do shoot a lot of video along with some descriptive narration which is actually just my verbalization of my thoughts. Originally intended for only my personal use, I thought some of my friends here on this forum might enjoy seeing the battlefield as it appears during the summer. My narration is rather boring as I tend to drone on about my interpretation of the fighting and you may not agree with everything I say, which is fine. Having said that, I will post this video I shot from near the 99th Pa monument on Houck's Ridge in which I attempt to briefly explain the Confederate attack towards this location on July 2nd. The video is about five and a half minutes long. Check it out if you think you might be interested.

 

[pamc153PA]

LOL, Greg, I do the same thing at least once a summer--sometimes the same place you've done here!

 

[Kip124thNY]

Thanks for posting Greg. My wife and I always make a stop on Houck's Ridge when we visit Gettysburg, my maternal GG grandfather fought with the 124th NY.

 

[Bee]

Great overview! Enough information so that I knew both the battle and location i was imagining a bucket brigade of sorts in supplying the artillery men on the hill.

 

[infomanpa]

A I will post this video I shot from near the 99th Pa monument on Houck's Ridge in which I attempt to briefly explain the Confederate attack towards this location on July 2nd. The video is about five and a half minutes long. Check it out if you think you might be interested.

(Greg...I now have taken 152 videos from the battlefield! Thank you for your efforts. )
From the maps that I looked at, I agree that it's likely that the artillery locations that you speak of in the video are not accurately represented. As you said, the guns were probably located where you are standing, near the 99th PA monument. Ironically, I don't think that the 99th PA was even at the location. More likely, they were moving down Plum Valley to reinforce collapsing units that were battling the Confederate charge. Back to the artillery (Smith's guns), I've read that often the placements of the modern day guns reflect the desire to be close and accessible to the park roads. In the video below, I am standing well north of you at another high spot on Houck's Ridge. Smith claimed that he couldn't fit all of his guns on Houck's Ridge, so you can see the placement of his other guns at 25 seconds into the video near the car on the road. Again, would they really be at such a low position or is the marker there because of it's proximity to the road?

 

[rpkennedy]

(Greg...I now have taken 152 videos from the battlefield! Thank you for your efforts. )
From the maps that I looked at, I agree that it's likely that the artillery locations that you speak of in the video are not accurately represented. As you said, the guns were probably located where you are standing, near the 99th PA monument. Ironically, I don't think that the 99th PA was even at the location. More likely, they were moving down Plum Valley to reinforce collapsing units that were battling the Confederate charge. Back to the artillery (Smith's guns), I've read that often the placements of the modern day guns reflect the desire to be close and accessible to the park roads. In the video below, I am standing well north of you at another high spot on Houck's Ridge. Smith claimed that he couldn't fit all of his guns on Houck's Ridge, so you can see the placement of his other guns at 25 seconds into the video near the car on the road. Again, would they really be at such a low position or is the marker there because of it's proximity to the road?

Smith's rear section was positioned near the road that looped around the Wheatfield, connecting the Wheatfield Road and the lane that led to the Rose Farm. They were to protect the rear of the Houck's Ridge and supported the troops up the Plum Run Valley. Smith's 4 guns were stationed directly in front of the eastern point of the Triangular Field. The 99th Pennsylvania arrived from the right of the line just as the line started to collapse, forming about 30 yards south of Smith's guns at the Triangular Field (the 4th Maine formed just to the rear of Smith when the 124th New York retreated after their attack into the Field).

Ryan

 

[bankerpapaw]

Although I am no videographer, nor a qualified tour guide , I do shoot a lot of video along with some descriptive narration which is actually just my verbalization of my thoughts. Originally intended for only my personal use, I thought some of my friends here on this forum might enjoy seeing the battlefield as it appears during the summer. My narration is rather boring as I tend to drone on about my interpretation of the fighting and you may not agree with everything I say, which is fine. Having said that, I will post this video I shot from near the 99th Pa monument on Houck's Ridge in which I attempt to briefly explain the Confederate attack towards this location on July 2nd. The video is about five and a half minutes long. Check it out if you think you might be interested.

If you aren't a tour guide, you SHOULD be!! I love your pictures!!!

 

[PeterT]

Excellent Greg!