Page 12 - Gettysburg weekend book

Culp’s Hill & Cemetery Ridge-By midafternoon, Robert E Lee
arrives on the field. By now the Union forces are in retreat. Lee,
seeing the strategic advantages of the high ground of Culp’s Hill
and Cemetery Ridge, orders Ewell to occupy those positions be-
fore the Union can set their defense. Lee’s order contains the
words “if practicable” and Ewell believing that his soldiers are
worn out, decides not to attack, . Around 7 P.M., Ewell orders
Johnson’s division to attack Culp’s Hill but the attack does not
happen and Ewell does not realize it until it is too late. These
failures to attack greatly improved the Union’s chance of victory.

The Union soldiers occupy and dig in on Culp’s Hill and Ceme-
tery Ridge with a minimum of opposition. Their defenses form a
pattern resembling a fish hook. The Confederates now control
the town itself and begin to form their lines parallel to the Un-
ion’s. Both armies spend the night collecting their dead and
wounded. Gen. Meade arrives on the Union lines around 12:30
and finalizes the decision to stay and fight at Gettysburg.

Fighting in Town

As the fighting around McPherson’s Ridge intensified, Lee’s su-
perior numbers begin to drive the Federals back toward the
town. About 2:30, the Union forces are ordered to retreat through
the town and take positions on the high ground of Culp’s Hill
and Cemetery Ridge. The retreat is pursued by attacking Confed-
erates resulting in heavy fighting in the town streets.

Many of the civilian residents fled but many others took shelter
in their basements .Others peered out of windows and watched as
soldiers from both sides died in the streets. Some houses soon
became shelter for wounded and dying soldiers from both sides.
Others become perches for sharpshooters.

Stray bullets and artillery shells strike the buildings in and
around the town. Many of the buildings from that period still
show the effects of this firepower.