It has been long neglected by historians and visitors to the battlefield, but the easternmost reaches of Cemetery Ridge formed the critical apex of the Union battle line. Nestled between Culp's Hill and the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, East Cemetery Hill is a little known and less visited piece of the Gettysburg battlefield.

Within days of the fighting in July 1863, the pivotal role of Gettysburg in the war was already apparent, and efforts were underway to preserve sites considered essential to commemorate and interpret the battle. The first areas to be secured, and those most popular with early visitors, were where the scars of war intruded on the rural landscape. With its sweeping view of the town and battlefield from near the center of the Federal position, East Cemetery Hill was popular with early tourists and veterans' reunions alike. But as the scars faded and the historic significance and visual appeal of other areas became known, sites such as the High Water Mark, the Peach Orchard, and Devil's Den grew in popularity.

It is ironic then, but not surprising, that interest in one of the first areas chosen for preservation has declined dramatically. Today, the demands of development have permanently altered much of the ground around East Cemetery Hill, making it difficult to interpret the site and understand what made the area critical to the development of the battle. In this study, the reader is invited to tour this seldom explored segment of the battle, using first-hand accounts to help understand the area-much of which has changed dramatically in the past 130 years-with a participant's eye.

Copious photos and painstakingly researched maps detail the changing appearance of the ground since the battle, helping to orient those on the field, as well as those unable to visit Gettysburg.
(Softcover, 112 pages. With endnotes & appendix. $10).