Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA.

Believe it or not, this is one of the most critical bits of ground in US history. On the morning of July 1, 1863, US General John Buford’s cavalry brigade dismounted and held off Confederate General Health’s division at the top of this ridge just long enough for US General Reynolds’ First Corps to arrive on the scene and they stopped the enemy advance near the place I took this photo. As more and more Confederates arrived on the field, the US I Corps fell back through the town, but they held them off long enough for the rest of the Union Army to occupy the heights on the other side of Gettysburg where over the next two days the two armies would fight the largest battle ever fought in North America resulting in the defeat of General Lee’s Confederate army.

In spite of the close call, Lee’s defeat at Gettysburg would turn the tide of war, and General Lee would never again mount an offensive.