This
is a detail of the National Park Service map of Gettysburg National Military
Park.This
is a detail of the National Park Service map of Gettysburg National Military
Park.
Photo
1, Buford Avenue looking west-northwest. Small
changes in the ground could have a big impact on Civil War combat, and
you can miss their significance if you aren't careful. For instance, as
you look west from this position the terrain seems almost level. Note especially
the ground to the left of the road.
Photo
2, Buford Avenue, looking south-southeast. As
you proceed west and look back, however, you can see that, from this perspective,
the terrain in the previous photo actually commands the area where you
now stand. On July 1, 1863, a Union regiment atop what now resembles a
hill briefly held off an entire brigade of Confederates. To get around
this formidable position, the Confederate brigade shifted to the north,
where the ground (see the first photo again) is more level.