High Water Mark of the Confederacy
Encyclopedia
The high-water mark of the Confederacy refers to a Gettysburg Battlefield
area at The Angle
which was the farthest American Civil War
line of advance of "The Assaulting Column" of the Confederate
"Longstreet
's assault" into the Union Army
defensive line during July 3 of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg
. Similar to a high water mark
of water, the term is a reference to arguably the Confederate Army's best chance of achieving victory in the war. The line of advance was east of The Angle stone wall at various distances, e.g., the Virginians pushed the Union line back.
were being erected. Some historians have argued that the battle was the turning point
of the war and that this was the place that represented the Confederacy's last major offensive operation in the Eastern Theater
.
On the third day of the battle (July 3, 1863), Confederate General Robert E. Lee
ordered an attack on the Union center, located on Cemetery Ridge. This offensive maneuver called for almost 12,500 men to march over 1,000 yards of dangerously open terrain.
Preceded by a massive but mostly ineffective Confederate artillery barrage, the march across open fields towards the Union lines became known as Pickett's Charge
; Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett was one of three division commanders under the command of Lt. Gen.
James Longstreet
, but his name has been popularly associated with the assault. Union guns and infantry on Cemetery Ridge opened fire on the advancing men, decimating the Confederate ranks. One of Pickett's brigade commanders was General Lewis Addison Armistead
. His men were able to breach the Union lines in just one place, a bend in the wall that has become known as "the Angle." This gap in the Union line was quickly closed with any Confederate soldiers who had breached it being quickly captured or killed.
Lee's Army of Northern Virginia
retreated the next day, leaving Gettysburg for Virginia. Even though the war lasted almost another two years, Lee launched few offensive operations during that time, none of them near the scale of the Gettysburg Campaign
.
, the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
, and the Vermont monument with George Stannard statue.
Cushing Marker: The Alonzo Cushing Marker indicates the "spot where Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing was mortally wounded" at the "extreme point reached by the Confederates in this, their supremest effort. … Where Cushing and Armistead lie is where the tide of invasion stops. The confederate cause is buried there."http://books.google.com/books?id=OmZAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA88
Armistead Marker: The 1887 Lewis A. Armistead
Marker marks the spot where the Confederate General placed his hand on a Union cannon before collapsing with mortal wounds. Armistead was 1 of 1500 Confederate Virginians that broke through the Union line at The Angle
.
NY 1st Artillery: The New York 1st Independent Artillery Memorialhttp://dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0007107.htm commemorates the Cowan
Battery which fired on Pickett's Charge
and had a cannon temporarily captured by Armistead's troops.
Gettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
area at The Angle
The Angle
The Angle is a Gettysburg Battlefield area which includes the 1863 Copse of Trees used as the target landmark for Pickett's Charge, the 1892 monument that marks the high-water mark of the Confederacy, and several other Battle of Gettysburg monuments...
which was the farthest American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
line of advance of "The Assaulting Column" of the Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
"Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
's assault" into the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
defensive line during July 3 of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. Similar to a high water mark
High water mark
High water mark may refer to:*Ordinary high water mark, a landscape marking such as floodwater staining left by the highest level of water...
of water, the term is a reference to arguably the Confederate Army's best chance of achieving victory in the war. The line of advance was east of The Angle stone wall at various distances, e.g., the Virginians pushed the Union line back.
History
This designation was introduced after the war when the monuments of the Gettysburg BattlefieldGettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
were being erected. Some historians have argued that the battle was the turning point
Turning point of the American Civil War
There is widespread disagreement over the turning point of the American Civil War. The idea of a turning point is an event after which most observers would agree that the eventual outcome was inevitable. While the Battle of Gettysburg is the most widely cited , there are several other arguable...
of the war and that this was the place that represented the Confederacy's last major offensive operation in the Eastern Theater
Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
The Eastern Theater of the American Civil War included the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and the coastal fortifications and seaports of North Carolina...
.
On the third day of the battle (July 3, 1863), Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
ordered an attack on the Union center, located on Cemetery Ridge. This offensive maneuver called for almost 12,500 men to march over 1,000 yards of dangerously open terrain.
Preceded by a massive but mostly ineffective Confederate artillery barrage, the march across open fields towards the Union lines became known as Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Its futility was predicted by the charge's commander,...
; Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett was one of three division commanders under the command of Lt. Gen.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
, but his name has been popularly associated with the assault. Union guns and infantry on Cemetery Ridge opened fire on the advancing men, decimating the Confederate ranks. One of Pickett's brigade commanders was General Lewis Addison Armistead
Lewis Addison Armistead
Lewis Addison Armistead was a Confederate brigadier general in the American Civil War, who was wounded, captured, and died after Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg.-Early life:...
. His men were able to breach the Union lines in just one place, a bend in the wall that has become known as "the Angle." This gap in the Union line was quickly closed with any Confederate soldiers who had breached it being quickly captured or killed.
Lee's Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
retreated the next day, leaving Gettysburg for Virginia. Even though the war lasted almost another two years, Lee launched few offensive operations during that time, none of them near the scale of the Gettysburg Campaign
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
.
Monuments
Monuments at the high-water mark include the High Water Mark of the Rebellion MonumentHigh Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument
The High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument identifies the Confederate units of Longstreet's assault on a large bronze scroll, as well as the Union's "respective troops who met or assisted to repulse Longstreet's Assault."...
, the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
"72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument" is the name of 2 American Civil War monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield: and a larger 1891 statuary memorial...
, and the Vermont monument with George Stannard statue.
Cushing Marker: The Alonzo Cushing Marker indicates the "spot where Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing was mortally wounded" at the "extreme point reached by the Confederates in this, their supremest effort. … Where Cushing and Armistead lie is where the tide of invasion stops. The confederate cause is buried there."http://books.google.com/books?id=OmZAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA88
Armistead Marker: The 1887 Lewis A. Armistead
Lewis Addison Armistead
Lewis Addison Armistead was a Confederate brigadier general in the American Civil War, who was wounded, captured, and died after Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg.-Early life:...
Marker marks the spot where the Confederate General placed his hand on a Union cannon before collapsing with mortal wounds. Armistead was 1 of 1500 Confederate Virginians that broke through the Union line at The Angle
The Angle
The Angle is a Gettysburg Battlefield area which includes the 1863 Copse of Trees used as the target landmark for Pickett's Charge, the 1892 monument that marks the high-water mark of the Confederacy, and several other Battle of Gettysburg monuments...
.
NY 1st Artillery: The New York 1st Independent Artillery Memorialhttp://dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0007107.htm commemorates the Cowan
Andrew Cowan (artillerist)
Andrew Cowan served as a Union artillerist in the American Civil War. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Sayler's Creek.-Pre-War:...
Battery which fired on Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Its futility was predicted by the charge's commander,...
and had a cannon temporarily captured by Armistead's troops.