Learn Our History Today: On July 2, 1863, during the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg continued when Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched attacks on each of the Union Flanks. After the fighting the previous day, the Union Army had assumed the shape of a fish hook, starting as Culp’s Hill, running down Cemetery Ridge, and ending at two hills known as Big Round Top and Little Round Top. The Confederates had also assembled, and by midafternoon, they were massing for an attack on the Union left flank near the round tops. The rebels slammed into the Union troops, fighting fiercely in areas whose names would become famous, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Devil’s Den, but in the end the Union men held their lines. The most crucial fighting however occurred on Little Round Top, where the 20th Maine regiment launched a fierce bayonet charge strait down the hill after their ammunition ran out. Later in the day, the rebels launched another attack, this time aimed at the other Union flank at Culp’s Hill. The Confederates suffered severely when they attacked these strong defensive positions. By 10:30 that night the guns had fallen silent, and the Confederates had lost over 6,000 men and the Union had lost 9,000, but this would not be the end of the battle. The terrible climax was still to come.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 21:20:54 +0000
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