The colorized photograph is of Culp's Hill, one of the significant locations in the Battle of Gettysburg. This wooded hill was fought over for two days. The battle lasted three days: from July 1-July 3.
Culp's Hill around Gettysburg.
On the first day of the battle, the Confederates had a clear-cut victory, although they failed to capture Cemetery Hill, which was one of the most important pieces of terrain on the battlefield. Two roads intersected on Cemetery Hill: one led to the Union supply depot, and the other led to Washington D.C. Cemetery Hill was in the middle of the battlefield, and to reach it, the Confederates had to cross an open field, which made them easy targets. One of the fights the Union lost on that first day was for Barlow’s Knoll, as Barlow’s division was spread too thin.
The First Day Of The Battle
Culp's Hill around Gettysburg. Source: (CORBIS via Getty).
General Buford arrived in Gettysburg the day prior to the battle and completed a terrain analysis. In the early morning of July 1, he set up his two cavalry brigades in a defensive line west of town. Meanwhile the Confederate General Heath arrived in town and ran into Buford, nearly driving Buford and his men from the field, however, Union reinforcements arrived, augmenting Buford; this began a rush to reinforce both sides. Eventually, the Union was driven through the town; once nightfall came, the Confederates had won the first day, with the exception of Cemetery Hill; eventually, Lincoln would give his Gettysburg Address on Cemetery Hill, and the location became the site of the first federal graveyard. During the night of July 1, the Union army continued to get reinforcements and they began to entrench on Culp's Hill, and they built breastworks.
On The Second Day
Barlow's Knoll, after the first day of battle, July 1, 1863. Source: (Wikipedia).
Early in the morning, on the second day of the battle, the Union soldiers’ battle line formed what was called “The Fishhook” because of its shape, starting at Culps Hill and culminating at the end of Cemetery Ridge. In the afternoon of the that day, the fighting began as the Confederates attacked the Union troops along the Emmittsburg Road. General Sickles, who commanded the troops there, moved his troops forward from Cemetery Ridge to the Emmittsburg Rd., forming a right angle at a peach orchard and exposing his flank. This created gaps in General Meade’s line, which he filled using the troops stationed on Culps Hill, weakening Culps Hill. At about 3 p.m., General Longstreet attacked General Sickles with two divisions; eventually the Confederates captured the peach orchard, the wheatfield, and Devil’s Den, but they failed to capture Little Round Top. Later that day, at 8 p.m., Cemetery Hill and Culps Hill were both assaulted. Cemetery Hill was attacked with two Confederate brigades, and they were driven back. General Johnson’s division attacked Culps Hill, which is pictured in the colorized photograph, with 4,500 Confederate troops. Meanwhile, The Union troops on Culps Hill only numbered 1,400, but the Union had an advantage because they were on a wooded hill and they were entrenched. Because of the late start to the clash on Culps Hill, it extended into the night. Johnson’s troops were able to capture some of the abandoned breastworks on the southern end of the hill. However, by 10 p.m., the fighting had ended because darkness had stopped the fighting. In the end, this was a Union victory.
A Decisive Victory
General Meade's Headquarters. Source: (Wikipedia).
On the third day of the battle, the fighting on Culp's Hill began around 5 a.m., and lasted around six hours, ending in a Union victory. About an hour after the fighting on Culp's Hill ended, Pickett’s Charge, which is one of the most famous charges in history, began. The artillery bombardment began at approximately 1 p.m. and ended at 3; the bombardment was followed by the charge, which was a brisk walk across a field which was about a mile wide. That day, the Union won not only Culps Hill but also Pickett’s Charge. By July 4, the Confederates retreated into Virginia.
The First Time General Lee Lost
General Meade's Headquarters. Source: (Wikipedia).
General Meade, who was a Pennsylvania native, replace General Hooker as the Commander of the Army of the Potomac, shortly before the Battle of Gettysburg began. Lincoln had replaced Hooker because Hooker was incompetent, losing the Battle of Chancellorsville, where the Union forces outnumbered Lee’s forces three-to-one. The Battle of Gettysburg was Meade’s first battle to command, and he was also the first Union general to decisively defeat Robert E. Lee in a battle.
