Decision 2 of 4

Result: Minor Confederate Victory

General Ewell and his division commanders examine Cemetery Hill from afar and determine that Union forces have rallied and thrown up breastworks to defend the hill. While his troops are exhausted and bloodied, Ewell steels his courage and decides that an attack now -- particularly since they have already captured Culp's Hill to the East -- is better than waiting for the Union to establish better defenses.

Personally leading elements of two divisions straight up Cememtery Hill, Ewell's II Corps takes major casualties during the assault. Confederate flanking fire from Culp's Hill, however, inflicts high Union casualties. (Continued below map).

Union forces inflict over 3,000 casualties and fight heroically to hold the ground. After a savage fight among the tombstones, Union forces retire just to the south. Exhausted Confederate forces raise the Stars & Bars atop newly-conquered Cemetery Hill while fresh Union reinforcements begin new entrenchments. Other Union reinforcements fortify their flanks along the Baltimore Pike and Cemetery Ridge.

Confederate forces by this time are completely spent and with night falling rapidly, can no longer press the attack. However, after an intensive day of fighting, Confederate forces hold the key northern high ground and can observe almost all Union positions and movements.

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