 Gettysburg National Military Park
Virtual Tour - Day Two
Warfield Ridge
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Warfield Ridge where Hood began his attack.
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"Warfield Ridge" is actually the southern extension of Seminary Ridge south of Pitzer Woods and the Millerstown Road. The gentle ridge veers in a southeasterly direction where it is intersected by the Emmitsburg Road. This ridge was heavily wooded at the time of the battle and provided excellent concealment for Longstreet's Confederate troops who sheltered here prior to the attack on the afternoon of July 2. The trees screened the southern line of march from any Union vantage point, including that of the signalmen on Little Round Top. The last troops into line were also the first to step off toward the Union left flank from this point- Brig. General Evander Law's Alabama brigade of General John Bell Hood's Division marched over 18 miles to get to this point and then began the attack at 4 o'clock without the benefit of water. Thirsty soldiers handed over their empty canteens to several men who were detailed to find a well and fill them, but they had not returned before the attack began. (The canteen detail never did return; all were captured with the filled canteens while attempting to locate their comrades.) The lack of water would play a major role in fatigue and exhaustion during the ensuing fight.
Big Round Top from Warfield Ridge. Hood believed that the heavily wooded hill could conceal his march around and into the Union rear.
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General Hood
Generals in Gray |
Major General John Bell Hood was the division commander for the Confederate soldiers here. Brave and audacious, Hood was uneasy with the assignment given him especially after he surveyed the ground east of Warfield Ridge. Union signalmen on top of Little Round Top could easily see his troops and Yankee batteries at Devil's Den and the Peach Orchard had a clear field of fire on his formations. Supporting Confederate batteries on Warfield Ridge were not enough to suppress the Union artillery and his soldiers had no chance to defend themselves until they closed on the enemy positions. Hood encountered General Longstreet and proposed a change of plans- he would move his division further south around Big Round Top and attack behind the Union line to throw the Union guns off Devil's Den from the rear. Hot and frustrated by a day full of delays, a stubborn Longstreet replied that General Lee's orders to attack up the Emmitsburg Road had to be carried out as ordered. Hood protested. Again Longstreet stated, "We must obey the orders of General Lee." Hood turned to rejoin his troops as Longstreet rode to meet with his other division commander, General McLaws. Moments after this encounter, General Hood was seriously wounded near this location and carried from the field. General Evander Law stepped into his place and directed the division for the remainder of the battle.
The loss of General Hood was keenly felt; Law had no idea of the route of attack General Lee had ordered. "We advanced to the attack," wrote Brig. General Evander Law, "The artillery on both sides had been warmly engaged for about fifteen minutes and continued to fire heavily until we became engaged with the Federal infantry..." Overlooking the assault were Union signal men stationed on Little Round Top. General Law knew the importance of the hill and of the adjacent Big Round Top, which "rose like a huge sentinel guarding the Federal left flank."
Little Round Top from Warfield Ridge. Hood's men had to march across the Bushman Farm (foreground) under fire from Union artillery to reach Devil's Den.
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The opening charge was directed against Union troops occupying Devil's Den. But Law's brigade, now commanded by Colonel William C. Oates of the 15th Alabama Infantry, was forced to move further to the right toward Big Round Top to escape the concentrated fire coming from Union artillery at Devil's Den, the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard. The southerners rushed over farm fields scattered with large boulders and dense thickets, divided by stout rail and stone fences. US Sharpshooters peppered the southern ranks with a deadly fusillade but the Confederates kept moving. Law's brigade split in half, one portion headed to flank the Union guns at Devil's Den and the other to strike Little Round Top. Instead of flanking Devil's Den, Law's left half was met by Union troops rushed into the small valley to stem the attack. Adjacent to Law's brigade, Robertson's Texas Brigade also moved swiftly down the slope of Warfield Ridge through the Bushman Farm and charged the Union battery posted on top of Devil's Den, applying deadly pressure to the New York artillerymen from front and flank. Law's right wing continued northward. His right regiment, the 15th Alabama, marched over the summit of Big Round Top before running straight into a Union brigade posted on the southern slope of Little Round Top, your next stop on the tour.
The Bushman and Slyder Farms that lie between Warfield Ridge and Big Round Top are more heavily wooded today than in 1863. Both farms were small family operations and the farmers had cleared trees from most of the area up to the slopes of Big Round Top for pasture and crops. Every inch of land here was precious as the soil was not of the same good quality as those farms north of Devil's Den. Since that time, the land has been constantly farmed and used for purposes other than remaining as open fields as in 1863. Gettysburg National Military Park's approved 1999 General Management Plan included a proposal to rehabilitate and restore this farmland to its pre-1920's appearance. Tree removal and land reclammation began in the winter of 2002-2003 and has been very successful, returning the area to its historic appearance and field patterns. Visitors can now appreciate the open terrain and distance southern troops had to cross to get into the fighting.
"They held the right wing of Lee's valiant host..."
The Alabama Monument
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On the southern tip of Warfield Ridge stands the Alabama Monument, that state's tribute to the Alabamians who served at Gettysburg. It was from this location that General Law's brigade of Alabama regiments initiated Longstreet's attack against Devil's Den and Little Round Top on the second day of the battle. A central female figure represents the state of Alabama and signifies pride in her native sons kneeling beside her, as she points in the direction they must go. A wounded soldier passes his cartridge box to the figure of "Determination" who will continue into battle despite the odds. Set on a base of Vermont Granite and surrounded by a flagstone terrace and walk, this handsome monument cost the state of Alabama $12,000 to erect. The design and sculpture is the work of artist Joseph W. Urner of Frederick, Maryland. It was dedicated by the Alabama Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy on November 12, 1933.
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Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
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