Landscape Photos of East Cemetery Hill, Gettysburg

This article offers a sampling of photos of East Cemetery Hill, a small but prominent elevation southeast of downtown Gettysburg. The hill is significant, because here in the late morning of July 1, 1863, the Army of the Potomac established a strong defensive position. Click here to view a battle map by the American Battlefield Trust that illustrates the first fighting on the hill, July 2, 7:30–9:30 P.M.

Howard Equestrian Monument

Two Union equestrian monuments stand on the hill across from privately held Evergreen Cemetery on Baltimore Street. First, there is the monument dedicated in 1932 to Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard, who commanded the 11th Corps. In the following photos of East Cemetery Hill, Howard’s equestrian monument faces Blochers’ (now Stevens’) Knoll. (Click here to view photos of all equestrian monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park).

Hancock Equestrian Monument

Second, we have the equestrian monument dedicated in 1896 to Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, who commanded the 2nd Corps. In the following photos, Hancock’s monument faces west to Baltimore Street. This is the south end of town.

Since Union infantry and artillery both claimed East Cemetery Hill, you will see many guns installed amongs the infantry monuments. In the next photo you see two guns near the 4th Ohio Infantry Monument, for example. The monument depicts its brigade commander, Col. Samuel Sprigg Carroll. As a result of the monument’s 1887 construction using “white bronze” (zinc), it cracks easily.