The Angle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Angle |
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| Bloody Angle | |
This marker shows where Confederate soldiers charged. It says: General Armistead and a few Confederate soldiers charged across this wall, reached the Union cannon behind it and were soon overwhelmed
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| Location | plaque near north end of north-south wall & west end of 80 ft west-east wall |
| Coordinates | 39°48.806′N 77°14.184′W / 39.813433°N 77.236400°W |
The Angle is a very important spot on the Gettysburg Battlefield. It includes a small group of trees called the Copse of Trees. This area was the main target for a huge attack called Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. You can also find a rock wall and many monuments here. People sometimes call it the Bloody Angle because of the intense fighting that happened there.
A Key Spot in the Battle
The Angle was a crucial part of the battle on July 3, 1863. About 1,500 Confederate soldiers from Virginia managed to break through the Union army's line. This happened on Cemetery Ridge, a key defensive position. The fighting here was very fierce.
In 1922, the Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Harding used The Angle. They recreated Pickett's Charge as a training exercise. The name "Bloody Angle" became popular after the battle. It was used often during the time when people started honoring the battlefield.
Reunions and History
The Angle has been a place for remembering the past. In 1894, a large painting called the Gettysburg Cyclorama was shown here. It was displayed in a tent and helped people imagine the battle.
Veterans from the Civil War returned to The Angle for special reunions. They met in 1887, 1913 (for the 50th anniversary), and 1938 (for the 75th anniversary). During these reunions, old soldiers from both sides would shake hands over the famous rock wall. This showed how they could come together after the war.
The land near The Angle, along Emmitsburg Road, was also used for military camps. For example, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later became president, had his 1918 training camp, Camp Colt, Pennsylvania, nearby. In 1938, there was an Army Camp with special quarters for the Secretary of War. During World War II, a camp for prisoners of war (POWs) was also located here.
The Angle's Unique Name
The Angle is special because it's one of the few places at Gettysburg not named after a person. Most other spots are named after generals or soldiers. For example, "The Loop" is another place with a descriptive name.
There were plans for a trolley line, the Gettysburg Electric Railway, to run along the west wall of The Angle in 1893. However, the trolley line was moved to Emmitsburg Road instead. The Gettysburg National Military Park finally bought the land at The Angle in 1917. This happened after the U.S. Congress provided money for it.
