Cemetery Hill was the hinge of the entire Federal position, the joint upon which the defensive line turned from its north-south axis eastward before curving south onto Culp’s Hill to form the well-known “fishhook” position. Although it bristled with guns and good fields of fire, it was defended by elements of Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard’s XI Corps, which had been decimated at Chancellorsville two months earlier and again the previous day (July 1).
Brigadier General Adelbert Ames replaced the wounded Francis Barlow at the head of the First Division. Colonel Andrew Harris of the 75th Ohio took over command of Ames’ First Brigade. Harris’ new command had originally faced the town from the crest of the hill, but much of it was moved down closer to its base and deployed near Brickyard Lane. The 107th Ohio anchored the left of the line, facing generally north, with its left extending toward the top of the hill and its right running down the hill toward the lane. The 25th Ohio formed on its right behind a stone wall, its left flank facing northwest toward the town, and its right to the northeast. The 17th Connecticut was next in line, and the 75th Ohio formed the brigade’s right flank. Behind them was the summit of the hill and battery after battery of Federal cannon. The most important artillery units for Ames’ men were those facing northwest under Capts. Michael Wiedrich’s, Robert Ricketts’, and Gilbert Reynolds’ batteries (the latter now under Lt. George Breck).1
Colonel Leopold von Gilsa’s brigade occupied a low stone wall to the right (southeast) of Harris’ brigade. Von Gilsa’s Germans faced northeast. The 54th New York was on the left, and the 68th New York and the 153rd Pennsylvania extended the line to the right along Brickyard Lane. Von Gilsa’s fourth regiment, the 41st New York, along with the 33rd Massachusetts of Col. Orland Smith’s brigade, occupied Culp’s Meadow to the northeast, probably to guard against an attack on Culp’s Hill by Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson’s Confederate division. Von Gilsa’s position was especially poor. Isolated from the other units, von Gilsa’s men could not be effectively covered by the Union guns on Cemetery Hill, and a knoll 120 yards in their front restricted their line of sight.2
For the defenders of Cemetery Hill, the day was quiet save for enemy sharpshooting from the town. About 4:00 p.m., Maj. Joseph Latimer’s Confederate artillery battalion on Benner’s Hill opened fire. According to a soldier in the 153rd Pennsylvania, the “enemy’s shot and shells which, hitherto had injured us but little, were now doing terrible execution in our ranks. Everywhere men were seen writhing in the agony of death … wounded were shrieking for help which no one could render them.” Some units moved frequently to reduce losses. The Federal artillery on the hill picked up the range of the enemy guns and drove them off, inflicting heavy losses and mortally wounding Major Latimer.3
Just before dark, General Ames noticed a gap between Harris’ right and von Gilsa’s left. He quickly ordered the 17th Connecticut to move to the right of the 75th Ohio. While this effectively sealed the gap between the two brigades, it created a new one between the 25th Ohio and the 75th Ohio, which was only partially filled by Colonel Harris, who ordered a “thinning of the line from the left, moving the regiments farther to the right except the left of the 107th Ohio.” So thin was his line that “all of the men could get to the stone wall used by us as a breastwork, and have all the elbow room he wanted.”4
While the Federals adjusted their lines, Maj. Gen. Jubal Early’s Division (Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell’s Second Corps) rested near the southeast corner of the town, readying its attack. Brigadier General Harry Hays’ Louisiana Tiger brigade occupied the area behind Winebrenner’s Run. Although no one left an account of its disposition, a reasonable guess is that it formed from left to right as follows: 6th Louisiana – 5th Louisiana – 9th Louisiana – 7th Louisiana – 8th Louisiana. Colonel Isaac Avery’s Brigade was on Hays’ left and retained the same alignment as the day before, from left to right as follows: 57th North Carolina – 21st North Carolina – 6th North Carolina. Brigadier General John Gordon’s Brigade formed in reserve.5