The Peach Orchard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Peach Orchard |
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The Peach Orchard in 2015
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| Location | Gettysburg Historic, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Width | 0 km (0 mi) |
| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Elevation | 624.8 ft (190.4 m) |
The Peach Orchard is a famous spot on the Gettysburg Battlefield. It sits at a key crossroads where Emmitsburg Road meets Wheatfield Road. This orchard was the scene of intense fighting during the Battle of Gettysburg. Today, you can find many memorials here. They honor the brave soldiers who fought in the "momentous attacks and counterattacks" on July 2, 1863.
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Exploring the Peach Orchard's Location
The Peach Orchard is on a special type of rock called hornfel. This rock is part of a larger underground rock formation. The orchard is also at the point where two low ridges meet. One ridge comes from Devil's Den, and the other runs along Emmitsburg Road.
Water from the orchard flows south into Rose Run. This stream then goes through Rose Woods and into Plum Run. There's a raised area along Emmitsburg Road on the west side. A small dip in the land separates the orchard from Warfield Ridge.
A Look Back: The Peach Orchard's History
By 1858, a man named Reverend Joseph Sherfy had planted the Peach Orchard. His home was across Emmitsburg Road, to the north.
On the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, the orchard became a vital military position. The Union Army set up a defensive line here. This line stretched north along Emmitsburg Road and east along Wheatfield Road. This area was known as the "Peach Orchard Salient."
Before the main fighting, Union troops were already in the orchard. The 68th Pennsylvania Infantry was on the west side. The 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was on the south side. Cannons from Thompson and Ames were positioned on the north side. Around 3 p.m., Confederate cannons began to set up west and south of the orchard.
Intense Fighting at the Peach Orchard
The battle in the Peach Orchard started with Union cannons firing back at the Confederates. This intense artillery duel used up a lot of Union ammunition. As Confederate troops advanced, Union cannons in the orchard fired special ammunition at them. These cannons and infantry in the orchard were able to hit the Confederate lines hard.
The 2nd New Hampshire Infantry Regiment bravely moved into the Peach Orchard. They helped protect the Union cannons. They formed a line and fired at the Confederate soldiers. The Confederates were forced to fall back.
Around 6 p.m., a major Confederate attack began. Two brigades charged directly into the Peach Orchard. Union troops held their ground for a long time. But by 6:30 p.m., the Confederate attack broke through the Union line at the Peach Orchard. The 21st Mississippi Infantry Regiment moved through the orchard. They threatened to cut off the Union troops, forcing them to retreat.
The 2nd New Hampshire Regiment had 353 soldiers at the start of the battle. In less than three hours, 47 were killed, 136 were wounded, and 36 went missing. Out of 24 officers, only three were not killed or wounded. This shows how fierce the fighting was.
The Peach Orchard After the Battle
After the war, the Peach Orchard became a place of remembrance. An artist named Franklin Dullin Briscoe created a painting of the orchard. This artwork is now kept in the National Archives.
In 1890, the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association bought the orchard. Many memorials were put up during this time. For example, the 68th Pennsylvania Infantry monument was placed in 1886.
Efforts to preserve the battlefield began in 1883. Peach trees were replanted in the orchard that year. In 1896, a cast iron marker was added near the road. The orchard was given to the War Department in 1906 and replanted again in 1909. By 1912, six Union cannons were on display there.
In 1974, young people from the Camp Eisenhower program helped replant the peach trees. The orchard was replanted again in April 2008. Today, the Peach Orchard remains an important historical site. It helps us remember the bravery and sacrifices made during the Battle of Gettysburg.
