Gettysburg National Military Park | HIGH WATER MARK

High Water Mark stop on the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour

High Water Mark stop on the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour

GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD TOUR STOP 15

High Water Mark

The High Water Mark stop on the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour is the last stop that has to do with the actual Battle of Gettysburg. Here you can look across a .75-mile wide field towards the Confederate position on Seminary Ridge. Across this field 12,000 Confederate soldiers charged in the late afternoon on July 3, 1863, towards this spot on Cemetery Ridge. Confederate General Robert E. Lee felt that with the Union’s left flank at Little Round Top and its right flank at Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill having been fortified with extra troops that the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge was the weakest point, and thus the place to attack.

Confederate soldiers charged across this field toward Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg

Confederate soldiers charged across this field toward Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg

While soldiers under many commanders participated in the charge, it has gone down in history as Pickett’s Charge. An ultimate failure, it is as close as the Confederates ever got to winning the Civil War, and years later it would be referred to as the High Water Mark of the Confederacy. Lee began his retreat from Gettysburg and the northern states the next day. From this point on, it was all downhill for the Confederacy.

Before launching the infantry charge, Lee first planned to knock out as many Union cannon as possible and perhaps blow a hole in the Union line, so at 1 PM, roughly two hours before the infantry attack commenced, he began an artillery bombardment of Union positions on Cemetery Ridge. Union batteries returned fire, thus commencing the largest artillery duel of the Civil War. An estimated 130 Confederate and 80 Union cannon were used during the bombardment.

Confederate cannon on Seminary Ridge aims east toward the Union troops on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg

Confederate cannon on Seminary Ridge aims east toward the Union troops on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg

Union artillery on Cemetery Ridge aim west towards Confederate troops on Seminary Ridge at Gettysburg

Union artillery on Cemetery Ridge aim west towards Confederate troops on Seminary Ridge at Gettysburg

Once the smoke had cleared from the artillery bombardment, the Confederate infantry attack began. The line of soldiers stretched a mile long. If looking out over the field from Cemetery Ridge, Major General George Pickett’s men would have been the farthest to the left (Confederate right). To his left were soldiers commanded by Brigadier General James Pettigrew, and directly behind him the men of Major General Isaac Trimble. Pickett’s men were the only fresh Confederate troops at Gettysburg, as they had just arrived the evening before.

Map by Hal Jespersen, www.cwmaps.com

Map by Hal Jespersen, www.cwmaps.com

The moment the Confederates were on the open field, Union artillery on Cemetery Hill and Little Round Top began firing on them. When they reached Emmitsburg Road, a quarter mile away and easily seen from the High Water Mark tour stop, the advance paused as the men had to climb over fences that lined the road just as they do today. At this time the Union infantry situated behind the stone walls on Cemetery Ridge opened fire on them. The majority of the 12,000 Confederates never made it past Emmitsburg Road.

Stone fences provided protection for Union troops on Cemetery Ridge during Pickett's Charge

Stone fences provided protection for Union troops on Cemetery Ridge during Pickett’s Charge

Soldiers under the command of Brigadier General Lewis Armistead, part of Pickett’s division, were able to breach the stone wall and reach Cemetery Ridge. However, Union reinforcements soon arrived and drove them back. Armistead was killed during the fighting. Other than this one bright moment, the Confederate charge was an utter failure. The attack only lasted about 45 minutes, but during this time over 6,000 Confederates were killed, wounded, or captured. The next day the Confederates headed back to Virginia with only 45,000 of the 75,000 men they arrived with.

The spot on the battlefield marking the forward-most progress of the Confederates is commemorated with the High Water Mark Memorial. The monument is surrounded by what is known as the Copse of Trees. The trees were the point of reference used by the Confederates to mark their targeted assault location.

High Water Mark Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park

High Water Mark Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park

High Water Mark Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park

High Water Mark Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park

Cannon on the corner of the High Water Mark Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park

Cannon on the corner of the High Water Mark Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park

The structures a little farther north on Hancock Avenue from the tour stop parking area are the Bryan House and barn. These were owned by Abraham Bryan, a free black man. When he got news that the Confederates were on their way to Gettysburg, he and other free black property owners left town. If they were captured by the Confederates, they risked being brought back south and forced into slavery, or perhaps even being shot on the spot. During the Battle of Gettysburg, the house, barn, and stone fences of the farm were used as cover by both Union and Confederate soldiers. While most of his farm was destroyed, Bryan returned to Gettysburg, rebuilt, and lived out his life here, dying in 1879.

Bryan House on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg National Military Park

Bryan House on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg National Military Park

Bryan Barn on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg National Military Park

Bryan Barn on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg National Military Park

If you like the monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park, this is the place to be. There are more monuments here than at any other location in the park. Most of the monuments face west, so if you want to photograph them, visit in the late afternoon or evening.  The following are photographs of some of the more interesting monuments (dedication dates are in parenthesis). These and all photos shown on this page were taken under the same conditions as on July 3, 1863: 90° F temperatures, high humidity, and a blue sky with plenty of white clouds. It was miserable to even step out of my air conditioned vehicle to take these photos, so I can only imagine how miserable it was to charge across a field dressed in a wool uniform while being shot at.

Major General George Meade Memorial (1895), Gettysburg National Military Park

Major General George Meade Memorial (1895), Gettysburg National Military Park

1st Massachusetts Sharp Shooter Monument (1913), Gettysburg National Military Park

1st Massachusetts Sharp Shooter Monument (1913), Gettysburg National Military Park

42nd New York Infantry Monument (1891), Gettysburg National Military Park

42nd New York Infantry Monument (1891), Gettysburg National Military Park

Brigadier General Alexander Stuart Web Memorial (1915), Gettysburg National Military Park

Brigadier General Alexander Stuart Web Memorial (1915), Gettysburg National Military Park


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Last updated on January 20, 2025
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