Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch: East Cemetery Hill Part 4
February 23, 2011
Bobby Housch is the host for our series on East Cemetery Hill. He is standing on top of the hill near a gun marking the position of Wiedrich’s Battery. Notice how you cannot see the bottom of the hill from this position. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, February 18, 2011.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch is a history teacher in a local public school district, and the editor of this website, the Gettysburg Daily. He grew up studying the “western theater” of the American Civil War. He also has more than a few relatives in the American Civil War, most of them from Georgia and Alabama.
In the first East Cemetery Hill post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch introduced himself, showed Cemetery Hill in relation to other pieces of “high ground,” and showed roads and other landmarks on East Cemetery Hill.
In the second East Cemetery Hill post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch discussed the positions of some of the first artillery and infantry units on East Cemetery Hill, and the location of the Cemetery Hill signal stations.
In the third East Cemetery Hill post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch discusses slope, slope, slope and slope. Cemetery Hill has different slopes, some of which are more easily defended than others.
In today’s East Cemetery Hill post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch shows how the artillery at the top of the hill, in some instances cannot see the infantry at the bottom of the hill.
This map shows the location of the videos for the East Cemetery Hill posts. Video #1 was taken on East Cemetery Hill, north of the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse. Video #2 was taken in Evergreen Cemetery on the south slope of Cemetery Hill. Video #3 was taken on East Cemetery Hill covering an area beginning at Rickett’s Battery to the stone wall where the tulip poplar tree was located during the battle. Video #4 was taken near the position of Wiedrich’s Battery. Video #5A was taken near Howard’s Headquarters Marker. Video#5B was taken near the Lincoln Speech Memorial in the National Cemetery. Video #6 was taken near the location of the Hancock Equestrian Statue. Video #7 was taken in the Soldiers National Cemetery on the driveway/avenue separating the Civil War and post-Civil War sections. Video #8 was taken on McKnight’s Hill/Stevens’ Knoll. Video #9 was taken near the Gettysburg High School football field and then walking to the north. Video #10 was taken near Wiedrich’s Battery. Video #11 was taken at the bottom of the hill near Wainwright Avenue. Video #12 was taken down the slope of East Cemetery Hill, near the military crest. This map was created facing north at approximately 3:30 PM on Saturday, February 19, 2011.
In Video #10 Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch explains how many men were in Ames’ division, and he shows how the artillery at the top of the hill in some places cannot see the infantry at the bottom of the hill. This is because of the convex nature of the hill where it is “bowing away” from us. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, February 18, 2011.
The infantry, mostly made up of men from Leopold von Gilsa’s Brigade chose to form behind the stone walls at the bottom of East Cemetery Hill. This position, however, has a higher knoll in front of it, which Bobby is walking up in this picture. An enemy attacking this position will not be seen on the other side of the knoll. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, February 18, 2011.
In Video #11 Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch shows how a knoll east of Wainwright Avenue hides the Union battleline at the bottom of the hill from their skirmishers and the Confederates. He also explains that there was no plan for the Union troops if they were attacked, and no coordination with the artillery at the top of the hill. This video was taken facing northeast and southwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, February 18, 2011.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Bobby Housch is standing on the slope of East Cemetery Hill. More of the bottom of the hill is visible, but we still are higher than Wainwright Avenue. The military crest would have been in an area behind Bobby where all of Wainwright Avenue is visible. The artillery at the top of the hill could also have safely fired over the Union soldiers heads if they had been located in this position. Union soldiers could have used the stones here to construct new stone walls for protection. Culp’s Hill is in the right background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, February 18, 2011.
In Video #12 Bobby Housch shows where the military crest is, and explains how there was material for the soldiers to construct earthworks/stone walls. They do not bother to construct stone walls because they felt that they would not be attacked. This video was facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, February 18, 2011.
To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides,click here.
