Gettysburg July 2
Think brigade-level command is hard to follow? Not anymore. With this interactive quiz, you’ll quickly get familiar with the key commanders and events from July 2, 1863—the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. It’s a fun and effective way to test your knowledge and reinforce what you’ve learned.
Need help before or during the quiz? Refer to following Civil War Cycling resources, or watch the Gettysburg Animated Map by the American Battlefield (16:51 minutes).
- High-Level Gettysburg Campaign Maps by Hal Jespersen, enhanced with Civil War Cycling’s notes. These traditional military maps will help you visualize troop positions and connect names to locations.
- July 2 Study Notes, an illustrated overview of battlefield events packed with maps and photos—everything you need to succeed on this quiz.
- Orders of Battle, a heavily hyperlinked regiment-level roster of the two belligerent armies—a convenient way to keep track of “who’s who”:
- Official Records (OR), links to HathiTrust digital scans of officer reports for the Gettysburg Campaign—your opportunity to bail on this quiz and read primary source material:
- Army of the Potomac, Reports By Officer Name
- Army of Northern Virginia, Reports By Officer Name
Whether you’re studying for a tour, teaching, or simply love Civil War history, this quiz is a great way to sharpen your understanding of Gettysburg’s second day.
1. Confederates Attack the Union Left Flank
The Confederate attack on the Union left flank lasted about four hours. It started at about 4:00 P.M. and ended around 8:00 P.M.
Devil’s Den and Little Round Top (about 2 hours)
At about 4:00 P.M., Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet attacked at Devil’s Den and slammed into Little Round Top within thirty minutes. Longstreet commanded the 1st Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia under Gen. Robert E. Lee.
The Confederates hit Union Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles’ far left. Sickles commanded the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Potomac under Maj. Gen. George G. Meade.
The Wheatfield and Rose Woods (about 1-2 hours)
By 4:30 P.M., the fighting rolled along Sickles’ line from the south — through The Wheatfield and Rose Woods (and Stony Hill, which is in Rose Woods).
The Peach Orchard (about 1.5 hours)
Starting around 6:00 P.M., Longstreet attacked the Union line farther north, moving west toward Sickles’ center — through The Peach Orchard.
The Union Center at Cemetery Ridge (about 1 hour)
By 7:00 PM, Confederate Lt. Gen. Ambrose P. Hill attacked Sickles’ right flank and threatened the Union center. The Confederate division under Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson penetrated Cemetery Ridge briefly, only to be repulsed by Union reinforcements.
Little Round Top, Through the Valley of Death (about 30 minutes)
Shortly before 8:00 P.M., having gained control of The Wheatfield, Confederates from Longstreet’s Corps drove southeast to rush Little Round Top, but they were repulsed by Union reinforcements.
2. Confederates Attack the Union Right Flank
The Confederate attack on the Union right flank lasted about six or seven hours, with breaks. It started at about 4:00 P.M. and ended around 10:00 or 11:00 P.M.
Cemetery Hill
At about 4:00 PM, Confederate artillery on Benner’s Hill open-fired on Cemetery Hill for a short time. At about 8:00 PM, Confederate Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell ordered Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s infantry division to attack from the northeast. The fighting lasted for about 2-3 hours.
Culp’s Hill
At about 8:00 PM, Ewell ordered Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson’s infantry division to attack Culp’s Hill from the east. The fighting lasted for about 2-3 hours.
Sources
These quizzes contain “common knowledge” that I drew from several sources; see Civil War Cycling’s annotated Gettysburg Reading Recommendations. I relied heavily on two books by Bradley M. Gottfried: The Maps of Gettysburg and Brigades of Gettysburg (Amazon paid link, no cost to you).
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