Tree removal in this area during 2010 and 2011 revealed approximately 300 yards of Confederate earthworks and artillery lunettes on the reverse slope across the avenue from the McMillan house. The McMillan family recorded that many of their personal belongings such as furniture, clothing, and books were used and buried under earthworks near the house. 2 Please do not disturb these historic landmarks. It is interesting to observe that these surviving earthworks were constructed on the reverse (western) slope of the ridge and not along the more heavily visited modern West Confederate Avenue or eastern slope.
Visitors to Gettysburg frequently view Pickett’s Charge from the relatively narrow perspective of the area between the Virginia State Memorial on Seminary Ridge and “The High Water Mark” on Cemetery Ridge. In reality, Lee’s July 3 assault covered a much broader area. Much of Lt. General A. P. Hill’s engaged Third Corps artillery line began near the Fairfield Road in what would prove to be a futile attempt to overwhelm Union batteries on Cemetery Hill and northern Cemetery Ridge. As we will see, the left flank of Hill’s infantry was also positioned near here during the early afternoon of July 3.
GPS: 39°49’32.90”N, 77°14’41.79”W; Elev. 562 ft.
Numerous markers today denote Confederate battery positions that spanned the ground between the Fairfield Road, the David McMillan farm, and the modern Virginia State Memorial. There were all or parts of 19 batteries approximating 63 guns actively engaged in this sector on July 3.
The National Park Service’s tree removal project in 2010 and 2011 helped improve visitor access to several of these battery monuments on the western side of modern West Confederate Avenue. Still, not all of these tablets are easy to locate. Can you find the stone wall on the reverse slope of Seminary Ridge and the nearby tablet to Hurt’s Battery of the Hardaway Alabama Artillery, McIntosh’s Battalion?
The artillery in this vicinity can be confusing to interpret because several of these batteries have duplicate tablets on both sides of the avenue, several other markers commemorate batteries that fought here on July 2 but not July 3, and at least one battery served here on July 3 but is not marked. We will examine these shortly.