Long Lane at Gettysburg

[gc45]

Have looked for the uses of, and also battle info around what is called Long Lane and found little. Can I assume this Lane was used for travel by local farmers before and after the battle? How long was the Lane and who were it's primary users? It looks to be in the vicinity where Picketts charge took place and if so, were there fences on either side slowing down the Southerners much like along the Fairfield road? I see the many houses there now with some of the Lane having been preserved in their backyards. Any info is appreciated concerning this area.

 

[Tom Elmore]

If you search "Long Lane" on this forum a considerable number of posts will appear. My current maps series on Bliss Farm Fields July 2 and an earlier Bliss Farm Fields series covering July 3 highlights the southern portion of Long Lane, occupied by Thomas' Georgians. As I recall it was the bed of a defunct antebellum railroad project. It extended southwest from the town for about 4,000 feet and during the battle served as a rather well-protected position for Confederate skirmishers once they had secured it early on July 2. The brigades of Thomas, Perrin, Ramseur and Doles occupied it after dark on July 2 and held it until the night of July 3.

 

[infomanpa]

I walked the length of Long Lane and near the southwest end, my feet began to sink in the marsh!

 

[Miles Krisman]

On July 2nd, the men of the 5th Alabama were ordered to stand down in Long Lane which led southwest out of Gettysburg. The regiment faced southeast toward Cemetery Hill. They lay in line along the street throughout the night. In the morning, the Brigade with the exception of the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment, was sent to the left with Johnson's Division and participated in the fight there.

 

[gc45]

Thanks Tom; I shall do a search. You may have told me all I need already. Thanks to others for their input as well. Who would think the Lane was a railroad grade?

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

There are two modern streets in the Borough of Gettysburg designated as "Long Lane". One extends from Steinwehr Ave. (a/k/a Emmitsburg Road) in the vicinity of the 8th Ohio Regiment Monument in a generally Northwesterly direction. This is clearly NOT the Long Lane from the time of the battle. The other runs from Breckenridge Street in a southwesterly direction along the Gettysburg Recreation Park (Little League Fields and such). I recall being told once that neither of them is exactly where the Long Lane that existed at the time the battle was located, but looking at the Warren Map, there does appear to be a lane extending from the town along what must be very nearly this same route as the second modern Long Lane. It has always been my impression that the old Long Lane also served as the farm road leading to the Bliss Farm.

The Warren Map does show post and rail fences along old Land Lane. If you are not familiar, the Warren Map can be easily accessed at the Library of Congress Website. Here is the web address: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3824g.cw0353500/?r=0.431,0.525,0.204,0.117,0

 

[eBrowne]

Just go to Gettysburg Daily.

Historic Long Lane Partially Restored and Now Partially Covered | Gettysburg Daily

Historic Long Lane, near Colt Park and the McMillan Fields was partially restored by the[...]

www.gettysburgdaily.com

 

[Tom Elmore]

While recently reviewing my sources from Ramseur's brigade, Private John J. McLendon of Company C, 14th North Carolina wrote of his regiment taking position in Long Lane on the night of July 2: "We piled the rails from a fence in front and lay behind these." I take it as firm evidence that they dismantled a fence running along (at least) the east side of the lane.

(John J. McLendon Reminiscences 1862-1863, William Alexander Smith Papers, Special Collections, Duke University Libraries, Durham, North Carolina)

 

[infomanpa]

There are two modern streets in the Borough of Gettysburg designated as "Long Lane". One extends from Steinwehr Ave. (a/k/a Emmitsburg Road) in the vicinity of the 8th Ohio Regiment Monument in a generally Northwesterly direction. This is clearly NOT the Long Lane from the time of the battle. The other runs from Breckenridge Street in a southwesterly direction along the Gettysburg Recreation Park (Little League Fields and such). I recall being told once that neither of them is exactly where the Long Lane that existed at the time the battle was located, but looking at the Warren Map, there does appear to be a lane extending from the town along what must be very nearly this same route as the second modern Long Lane. It has always been my impression that the old Long Lane also served as the farm road leading to the Bliss Farm.

The Warren Map does show post and rail fences along old Land Lane. If you are not familiar, the Warren Map can be easily accessed at the Library of Congress Website. Here is the web address: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3824g.cw0353500/?r=0.431,0.525,0.204,0.117,0

I pulled this from the Gettysburg Daily linked above. Historic Long Lane is highlighted in red.

 

[gc45]

Yes. The red line in this photo is what I think correct and leadsdirectly to the old Bliss farm. I suppose it went much farther to the north at one time, maybe into town itself?

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

Yes. The red line in this photo is what I think correct and leadsdirectly to the old Bliss farm. I suppose it went much farther to the north at one time, maybe into town itself?

If we use the Warren Map, Long Lane ended at High Street, at what was then more or less the southwestern edge of the town.

 

[mwalker6043]

If we use the Warren Map, Long Lane ended at High Street, at what was then more or less the southwestern edge of the town.

Wasn't Long Lane possibly used to access the McMillan farm as well?

 

[gc45]

If we use the Warren Map, Long Lane ended at High Street, at what was then more or less the southwestern edge of the town.

Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense this lane would proceed as you described.

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

Wasn't Long Lane possibly used to access the McMillan farm as well?

Unfortunately, this is one of the "I don't really know" answers. Studying the Warren Map (see link in my earlier post) it appears that there was a farm lane that extending in a generally southward direction from a point on Middle Street (extended) between the edge of the village and the Seminary. The lane passes a property mark "H. McDonald" (with which I have no familiarity) and seems to end at what may be the McMillan orchard. It is my thought that this was more likely the customary access to the McMillan property. This lane appears to me to be in the general vicinity of modern Ridge Avenue, but this is a very rough approximation. Bear in mind that the Warren Map was created several years after the battle, so the detail it shows may or may not be exactly what was there in July of 1863.

The Elliott Burial Map is closer in time to the battle (circa 1864?). However, it has little detail the way of topography, and does not show some roads that we know existed (such as Granite Schoolhouse Lane).

 

[gc45]

Gettysburg guide 154. Thanks for steering me to library of congress map, very informative!

 

[mhands]

@Gettysburg Guide #154, @gc45

Inclined to agree. Recently colorized/tried upscaling Tyson bro photo that shows the entrance to this lane from Millerstown Rd (taken from orange arrow)

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

@Gettysburg Guide #154, @gc45

Inclined to agree. Recently colorized/tried upscaling Tyson bro photo that shows the entrance to this lane from Millerstown Rd (taken from orange arrow)
View attachment 506589

View attachment 506590

Nice job identifying the lane. I had not noticed it before. One note: This is Fairfield Road, an extension of Middle Street. Millerstown Road intersects with Emmitsburg Road near the Peach Orchard.

 

[mhands]

Thanks for the correction, @Gettysburg Guide #154- I did indeed mean from the Fairfield (nee Hagerstown?) Road!

However, pleading a mitigating defense, am I right in thinking that the short road just above it was referred to as the ol' Millerstown Road?

Tim Scott references it in this talk:

. I recollect finding a primary source reference once upon a time but can't recall details... will try to hunt it down after work

 

[121st PA Vols]

Thanks for the correction, @Gettysburg Guide #154- I did indeed mean from the Fairfield (nee Hagerstown?) Road!

However, pleading a mitigating defense, am I right in thinking that the short road just above it was referred to as the ol' Millerstown Road?
View attachment 506677
Tim Scott references it in this talk:

. I recollect finding a primary source reference once upon a time but can't recall details... will try to hunt it down after work

Tim Smith (ACHS) does an excellent job with the many videos he's involved with. This is one of my favorite that has helped me over the years getting details of the battle worked out. You can still see some of the traces and remnants of the old roads to this day.
The farm lanes that were somewhat different from today's routes were also highly important in the role played for Meade's rapid troop movements.

 

[gc45]

Wow, great video! Knowing the roads and how they have changed is noteworthy.