Culp's Hill (1 Viewer)

Toy Soldier Brigade

Toy Soldier Brigade

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I was in Gettysburg the other day. Only visited Culp's Hill briefly. I would like to concentrate more on this area on my next trip. Any one have any book recommendations ?
 
Toy Soldier Brigade said:
I was in Gettysburg the other day. Only visited Culp's Hill briefly. I would like to concentrate more on this area on my next trip. Any one have any book recommendations ?
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The best one I know of is the classic Harry Pfanz book, "Gettysburg: Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill". -- Al
 
Agree with Al. it is without a doubt the best single volume. Extremely well written and since it is a few years old you can pick it up cheap on Abe Books. Brad


lancer said:
The best one I know of is the classic Harry Pfanz book, "Gettysburg: Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill". -- Al
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lancer said:
The best one I know of is the classic Harry Pfanz book, "Gettysburg: Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill". -- Al
Click to expand...

Read that a few yrs ago, not for the faint of heart. Very detailed. I was at Culps Hill on a Ranger "walk and talk." Asked him if had read the book and he replied that he considered it a "must read." Chris
 
Warrior said:
Great; Amazon.com thanks you..............
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I have never understood why Culp's Hill did not get more definitive treatment by authors. Pfanz's book, along with his others dealing with this campaign, are excellent. There are also two shorter studies: John D. Cox's Culp's Hill, the Attack and Defense of the Union Flank, July 2, 1863, and John M. Archer's Culp's Hill at Gettysburg, neither of which are as detailed and comprehensive as Pfanz's book, but are useful. Archer's book, however, provides a follow-along tour for modern-day trampers.
For many years after the war, Culp's Hill was THE tourist attraction at Gettysburg. Today, not so. There was probably more ammunition consumed in that sector of the battlefield than anywhere else because the fighting there was sustained and protracted by comparison to other sites. Period photographs demonstrate the extent of the sustained firing with all the damaged trees (See Bill Frassanito's photo studies of the battlefield). My feeling has always been that Culp's Hill, rather than Little Round Top, was the key position for the Federals; and had the Confederates pressed on in the evening of July 2, they would have essentially cut-off General Meade's escape route on the Baltimore Pike, if not the Taneytown Road as well.
 
It was not in the movie. Therefore it does not exist and there was no battle. Same with Brandywine Station.
 
Speaking of Brandy Station. It is actually well preserved right off route 15 about an hour south of Gettysburg. Fairly well interpreted too.
 
braddinpa said:
Speaking of Brandy Station. It is actually well preserved right off route 15 about an hour south of Gettysburg. Fairly well interpreted too.
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It is relatively close to Gettysburg, but it is over a 100 miles away via Rt. 15., a bit closer to 2 hours. Anyway, it is worth the drive to Gettysburg Campaign fans. -- Al
 
Don't know if this helps. But I just got a notification on the upcoming walks at Gettysburg. These start in June 7th I believe.

CULP'S HILL (1 hour) - Walk the wooded slopes of Culp's Hill to experience where the most sustained fighting of the entire battle took place. Meet at the Culp's Hill Tower on Slocum Avenue. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
gettysburgbuff said:
I have never understood why Culp's Hill did not get more definitive treatment by authors. Pfanz's book, along with his others dealing with this campaign, are excellent. There are also two shorter studies: John D. Cox's Culp's Hill, the Attack and Defense of the Union Flank, July 2, 1863, and John M. Archer's Culp's Hill at Gettysburg, neither of which are as detailed and comprehensive as Pfanz's book, but are useful. Archer's book, however, provides a follow-along tour for modern-day trampers.
For many years after the war, Culp's Hill was THE tourist attraction at Gettysburg. Today, not so. There was probably more ammunition consumed in that sector of the battlefield than anywhere else because the fighting there was sustained and protracted by comparison to other sites. Period photographs demonstrate the extent of the sustained firing with all the damaged trees (See Bill Frassanito's photo studies of the battlefield). My feeling has always been that Culp's Hill, rather than Little Round Top, was the key position for the Federals; and had the Confederates pressed on in the evening of July 2, they would have essentially cut-off General Meade's escape route on the Baltimore Pike, if not the Taneytown Road as well.
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Not a lot going on the books thread, so I'll give this a bump. I think one reason Culp's Hill is overlooked is the fact the battle for possession started on the evening of 1 July and didn't end until the 3rd. A lot of serious fighting, you mentioned the ammunition expended, but it lacked the definitive climax of the action on Little Round Top and Picket/Pettigrew's attack on Cemetery Ridge. The view from LRT shows it's dominance of the battlefield and Union line. Culp's Hill is not so obvious. Chris
 
I hope the NPS does what they did at Little Round Top, Devil's Den and the Plum Run area; ie, clear out trees to restore the areas appearance back to the time of the battle, there were not a raftload of trees and underbrush on the hill as it stands today.

Clear a lot of that out so as a visitor to the battlefield, you can get more of a feel of what the area looked like in July of 1863...........
 
A year or so before the 150th they cleared out a large tract of trees on the north side of culps hill to bring it closer to the 1863 vista. before it was hard to imagine 2nd Corp attack up Cemetary Hill and getting hit by Steven's battery. But now you can see how they advanced up to cemetery hill. Kind of like what they did to the area around the Trostle farm and just north of little round top.
 
Thanks, I'll be there in November and will be sure to check that section of the battlefield out........
 
This is a view from east cemetery hill when I was there in April. Looks like some trees were removed in this shot.

image.jpg
 
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