Gettysburg Battlefield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gettysburg Battlefield |
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The Battle of Gettysburg took place in the lands surrounding Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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| Type | Battlefield |
| Location | Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Owner | private, federal |
| Website | Park Home (NPS.gov) |
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The Gettysburg Battlefield is the historic area where the Battle of Gettysburg took place. This major battle of the American Civil War happened from July 1 to 3, 1863. The battlefield covers the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the lands around it. It stretches from the first shot fired on Knoxlyn Ridge in the west to East Cavalry Field in the east.
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Exploring the Battlefield's Geography
The Gettysburg battlefield is located about 10 miles (16 km) from the Mason–Dixon line, which separates Maryland and Pennsylvania. It sits in a special low-lying area called the Gettysburg-Newark Basin. This area is part of the Potomac River watershed.
The town of Gettysburg was quite small in 1863, with about 2,400 people. It was a central point because many roads from nearby towns met there. These roads connected Gettysburg to places like Chambersburg, York, and Baltimore.
Key Hills and Ridges of Gettysburg
The battle started on ridges west of Gettysburg, such as Lohr's and Herr's Ridge. Union soldiers on horseback first defended McPherson Ridge. Later, foot soldiers arrived to help defend Seminary Ridge on the west side of town.
Oak Ridge is an extension of Seminary Ridge. It includes Oak Hill, which was a great spot for cannons. Before Pickett's Charge, a huge line of 159 cannons stretched from the Peach Orchard to Oak Hill.
South of Gettysburg is Cemetery Hill. It got its name from the Evergreen Cemetery built there in 1854. This is also where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address in 1863. To the east are Culp's Hill and Steven's Knoll. Confederate forces attacked Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill many times during the battle.
Cemetery Ridge extends south from Cemetery Hill. It's not very high, only about 40 feet (12 meters) above the land around it. This ridge includes the famous stone wall at The Angle and a small group of trees. This spot is known as the High-water mark of the Confederacy because it was the farthest point Confederate soldiers reached during Pickett's Charge.
The two highest points on the battlefield are Big Round Top and Little Round Top. These are rugged hills covered with large rocks. Devil's Den is also a rocky area to the west. Big Round Top is 116 feet (35 meters) taller than Little Round Top. Its steep, wooded slopes made it hard to place cannons there. Little Round Top was not wooded, but its rocky shape also made it difficult to set up many cannons.
However, Cemetery Hill was an excellent place for cannons. It overlooked all the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge. Little Round Top and Devil's Den were very important locations during the second day of the battle. The valley between Houck's Ridge and the Round Tops became known as the Valley of Death due to the intense fighting there.
Fighting Within Gettysburg Town Limits
The fighting at Gettysburg wasn't just in the fields; it also happened within the town itself. On July 1, Union soldiers retreated through the town while being chased by Confederates. Cannon fire reached the town from both sides.
Confederate cannons on Oak Hill fired southeast towards the Union lines on Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. Union cannons on Cemetery Hill fired back, hitting areas like the railway cut. Smaller fights happened when some Union soldiers stayed behind in buildings.
One of the biggest fights inside the current town limits was at Coster Avenue. Here, Confederate soldiers defeated a Union brigade. Confederate soldiers also held parts of the town, using places like brickyards and church towers.
The Battlefield's Legacy and Preservation History
After the battle, about 22,000 wounded soldiers remained on the battlefield. They were treated in hospitals set up in nearby houses, churches, and other buildings. Around 8,900 soldiers died, and contractors were hired to bury them and the many animals that also died.
Just two days after the battle, on July 5, the first train carrying visitors arrived at Gettysburg. People were already coming to see the historic site.
Creating a National Cemetery
On July 10, 1863, Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin visited Gettysburg. He wanted to find a proper burial place for the fallen soldiers. A lawyer named David Wills bought 17 acres (6.9 ha) of land on Cemetery Hill for a cemetery.
Another lawyer, David McConaughy, suggested forming a group to raise money for battlefield preservation. By September 1863, McConaughy had bought about 600 acres (240 ha) of battlefield land, including parts of Cemetery Hill and Little Round Top.
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. This speech dedicated the Soldiers' National Cemetery. By March 1864, 3,512 Union soldiers had been reburied there. Later, from 1870 to 1873, many Confederate soldiers' bodies were moved to cemeteries in Southern cities like Richmond. The cemetery became part of the United States government in May 1872.
Early Efforts to Preserve the Battlefield
After the war, a Union veteran named Emmor Cope created a detailed map of the battlefield. This map showed where troops were positioned. Another important figure, John B. Bachelder, interviewed many Union officers to identify exact battle locations.
In 1864, the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association (GBMA) was formed. This group bought more land and even operated a wooden observation tower on East Cemetery Hill. Bachelder continued his work, surveying the battlefield with federal money. The GBMA also decided which monuments could be placed on the battlefield. The first monument outside the cemetery was a tablet on Little Round Top in 1878.
The federal government became more involved in 1893 when the Gettysburg National Park Commission was created. In 1895, the "Sickles Gettysburg Park Bill" officially made Gettysburg a Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) under the War Department. This marked the end of the memorial association era.
The Commemorative Era and Visitor Experience
After 1895, the War Department took over the battlefield. They acquired 124 land areas, including 320 monuments and about 17 miles (27 km) of roads. They also built new observation towers to replace older ones.
Commercial businesses started to appear near the battlefield. For example, the Hudson Park picnic grove opened in 1902. Trees were also planted to restore the landscape, like peach trees in the Peach Orchard.
Early visitors to Gettysburg usually arrived by train. They would then take horse-drawn carriages to tour the battlefield. Later, in 1913, the town started licensing automobile taxis. The War Department also expanded the battlefield roads for cars.
Many veteran reunions took place at Gettysburg. A huge reunion in 1913 marked the 50th anniversary of the battle, with over 53,000 Civil War veterans attending. In 1922, a Marine Corps reenactment of Pickett's Charge was even observed by President Warren G. Harding.
Modern Development and Preservation
In 1933, the National Park Service (NPS) took over managing the Gettysburg National Military Park. During the Great Depression, groups like the Civilian Conservation Corps helped maintain and build things on the battlefield. They built comfort stations and parking areas.
Many businesses also developed on private land near the battlefield, especially in the 1950s. These included motels, restaurants, and other attractions for visitors.
The Eternal Light Peace Memorial, the battlefield's second-largest monument, was dedicated in 1938. President Franklin D. Roosevelt attended this event, which drew over 300,000 visitors.
The battlefield has also hosted important world leaders. President Roosevelt toured with Winston Churchill in 1943. President Eisenhower escorted Charles de Gaulle in 1960. And President Jimmy Carter hosted Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin in 1978.
In 1962, a new Cyclorama Building at Gettysburg was completed. This building housed a large circular painting depicting the battle. The old observation towers were removed around this time. In 1974, a private company built the Gettysburg National Tower, a tall observation tower. However, the NPS bought it and tore it down in 2000 to restore the battlefield's historic appearance.
Today, the Gettysburg National Military Park is home to 1,320 monuments, 410 cannons, and 148 historic buildings. It has 41 miles (66 km) of roads for visitors to explore. It is considered one of the largest collections of outdoor sculptures in the world.
In 2008, the Gettysburg National Museum was torn down. The famous Gettysburg Cyclorama painting was moved and restored. It was then reinstalled in the new Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center.
The Gettysburg National Military Park welcomes about 3 million visitors each year. Groups like the Civil War Trust have bought and preserved over 1,022 acres (414 ha) of the battlefield since 1997. This includes the stone house that Confederate General Robert E. Lee used as his headquarters during the battle. The Trust bought this land, removed modern buildings, and restored the site to how it looked during the war.
Images for kids
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Gettysburg Battlefield lithograph map showing Union and Confederate positions.
(John B. Bachelder) -
Southwest view of the Sherfy farm (right background) from the Pennsylvania Monument observation deck. This is one of six observation points on the battlefield.
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The Lincoln Address Memorial (top left) in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. The small markers in the foreground show the position of the 3rd NY Artillery.
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The Virginia Monument is the battlefield's largest equestrian monument.
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Statue of General Wells by J. Otto Schweizer.
