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Battlefield Landmarks - South and West
July 3, 1863 - Third Day
"...the enemy is advancing. Every eye could see the legions, an overwhelming resistless tide of an ocean of armed men sweeping upon us!"
-- 1st Lt. Frank A. Haskell, U.S.A., Aide to Brig. Gen. John Gibbon
You are standing at the Union position on Cemetery Ridge, looking southwest toward the Confederate position on Seminary Ridge. It was across this ground that Pickett's Confederate infantry attacked on the afternoon of July 3.
The landscape today looks much as it did in 1863.
(1) Copse of Trees
confederate soldiers penetrated the Union line as far as this clump of trees. Just behind the trees along Hancock Avenue stands the High Water Mark Monument.
(2) Emmitsburg Road
This historic, sunken road bisects the fields over which the Confederates attacked on the afternoon of July 3. When Pickett's ranks reached the road, they performed a left oblique (turned left 45°) before charging the stone wall in front of you. Rail fences that bordered the road slowed their progress.
(3) Codori Farm
The two-story brick house and log barn of Nicholas Codori stood in the path of Pickett's attacking Confederates. The 5,000 Virginians passed on either side of the farm buildings as they marched in this direction.
A number of wounded Confederates took refuge in the house and barn. Pickett himself may have observed the progress of the attack from here. After the war the house was enlarged and a new barn was built.
(4) Seminary Ridge
General Lee positioned his Confederate First and Third Corps along the tree line of this gentle ridge on July 2. On the 3rd he launched "Pickett's Charge" from here.
Brig. Gen. Alexander S. Webb who commanded a Pennsylvania brigade positioned near the Copse of Trees. When fear paralyzed some of his soldiers, Webb gallantly took hold of the colors to lead them forward. Preferring death to defeat, he wrote his wife, "When my men fell back, I almost wished to get killed."
Pvt. Marshall Sherman of the 1st Minnesota Infantry earned the Medal of Honor for helping to repulse Pickett's Charge near the Copse of Trees. In that action he captured the Confederate battle flag in the photo. |