Where was Isaac Avery mortally wounded?

[cwbuff]

In his assault on East Cemetery Hill, Isaac Avery was mortally wounded. Where on the battlefield did this occur. I recall reading somewhere that it may be under the bleachers by the school.

 

[dgfred]

I have read that they started their attack across Winebrenner's Run (on Culp's Farm) and moved about 1/2 mile when knocked from horse.
He was taken to Culp's Farm so it probably wasn't too far away.

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

While I cannot tell you the exact spot where Avery fell, I am confident that it was not where the football stadium bleachers are today. Hays' Brigade and Avery's Brigade were side by side in the swale created by Winebrenner's Run. Winebrenner's Run travels east from Baltimore Street, probably from about where Mr. G's Ice Cream is today. But the ground to the east today is entirely different. The deep swale that previously existed has been filled in for the construction of the schools and the athletic fields. The two Confederate brigades were lined up in the swale facing generally southward. But their goal is to attack up the east slope of Cemetery Hill. To do this they needed to make a right wheel of about 90 degrees. (I suspect Hays' Brigade turned less than 90 degrees and attacked at the northeast corner of Cemetery Hill. At the start of the attack, Avery's Brigade is to the east of Hays' Brigade (the Confederate left), and so they are on the outside of the arc of the right wheel maneuver. As such they must travel a much longer distance. Bear in mind that the battle front of Hays' Brigade would be at least as long at the football field. In my view the starting point alone would put Avery a bit east of the football field. Then if we can agree that "dgfred" is correct about traveling about a 1/2 mile, my thought would be that Avery was in the field to the west of East Confederate Ave. perhaps not far from where the pull off with the waysides is located today (but there is a lot of windage and speculation in that guess). Given that Avery's own men didn't even realize that he had gone down, it is rather difficult for us to find the spot 157 years later.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Attached map shows my estimation of where Avery was mortally wounded. We know from primary sources that he rode in front of the brigade, mounted on a white horse, and that he gave the order to wheel his brigade to the right. They were guiding on Hays' brigade. Thomas E. Causby of Company D, 6th North Carolina said he fell about half-way between the ravine that they started from and the stone fence held by Federal infantry (Harris/Von Gilsa) at the eastern base of Cemetery Hill. I am presuming that Avery rode near the front of his center regiment when he ordered the right wheel. The encircled dot shown on my map is at the half-way point as Causby described, and therefore my best guess as to where Avery fell. He was struck at the base of his neck on the right side, and I suppose at that range it was more than likely the work of a Federal skirmisher posted considerably out in front of the main line.

 

[dgfred]

Excellent T.E.

 

[cwbuff]

Thanks for the great response. I loved to sit on the base of Slocum's Statue on Stevens Knoll and ponder what transpired from that perspective. During the anniversary, a couple of us were wondering where Avery was wounded. This is great stuff!

 

[dgfred]

I wonder if? Instead of the 'wheel' movement would not following on the heels of the upper regiments have worked better with less flanking fire.

 

[rpkennedy]

I wonder if? Instead of the 'wheel' movement would not following on the heels of the upper regiments have worked better with less flanking fire.

This could cause other issues. At best, having troops directly behind the forward line can lead to confusion as the two lines merge into one another and can cause delays and a collapse in momentum. And at night, these problems could be even worse as vision was very limited and the goal of the attack is unclear or invisible.

Ryan

 

[cwbuff]

Here it is as an overlay on Google Earth. Looks like it would be about halfway between the turnoff on E. Confederate Ave and the woodlot toward East Cemetery Hill.

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

I wonder if? Instead of the 'wheel' movement would not following on the heels of the upper regiments have worked better with less flanking fire.

When you ponder the "what if's", think about what if the Confederate attack from the northwest had not been called off. It may or may not have succeeded, but it certainly would have kept Carroll's Brigade otherwise occupied.

 

[cwbuff]

Some consider this assault to be the real "high water mark."

 

[dgfred]

Or sweep on down/over to Culps Hill??

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

Or sweep on down/over to Culps Hill??

Bear in mind that the north side of Culp's Hill is steeper than the east side of Cemetery Hill. Avery's Brigade would have run into Wadsworth's Division, who although reduced in number by first day casualties, were in an ideal defensive position and doubtless would have been happy for a chance to avenge some of those first day casualties.

 

[dgfred]

Oops... I thought it was the 1st day.

 

[steveprocko]

x

 

[eBrowne]

. Not much "what if's" here. Carroll's Brigade probably was a "mop up" action as the Confederates had too few men attacking from Hoke/Avery's brigades. It was dark at that time and unlikely for Confederate reinforcements to arrive from that sector. With interior lines, one would think that the Union would also have been able to reinforce the NW sector if an attack had occurred there. With the Confederates attacking near the Union center of its line, Union reinforcements would never be too far away.

 

[cwbuff]

Here is the view from the parking turn off on East Confederate Ave. Based on the map by Tom Elmore, the wounding site would be about half way to the woods.

 

[cwbuff]

Here is Avery's grave:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5846976/isaac-erwin-avery

 

[eBrowne]

This Stuart Dempsey's video from the old Gettysburg Daily describes the Confederate attack. The 1880's(?) photo gives a good idea of the original terrain of 1863.
https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/ele...th-licensed-battlefield-guide-stuart-dempsey/
Also:
https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/ele...th-licensed-battlefield-guide-stuart-dempsey/