Reference Entry
GETTYSBURG, SECOND DAY
On July 2nd, 1863, both armies were now largely concentrated, and the second day at Gettysburg turned into a brutal struggle for the flanks of the Union position. Confederates under James Longstreet pushed against the Union left, targeting places that would become famous: Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Little Round Top. Union units shifted under intense pressure, some arriving just in time to plug gaps and counterattack up rocky slopes.
Dated Historical Context
A RECORDED MOMENT IN HISTORY
Gettysburg, second day
On July 2nd, 1863, both armies were now largely concentrated, and the second day at Gettysburg turned into a brutal struggle for the flanks of the Union position. Confederates under James Longstreet pushed against the Union left, targeting places that would become famous: Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Little Round Top. Union units shifted under intense pressure, some arriving just in time to plug gaps and counterattack up rocky slopes. On the Union right, attacks against Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill threatened vital ground overlooking the main line. The result was a bloody stalemate in which neither side achieved a decisive breakthrough, but the cost fell heavily on regiments that were shattered or nearly destroyed. For the Union, holding the line on July 2nd, 1863 meant that the defensive arc around Cemetery Ridge remained intact, setting the stage for whatever Lee would attempt on the third day.
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