View of Steven’s Knoll looking east. The monument to Captain Greenlief T. Stevens’ 5th Maine Battery is on the left, while the equestrian statue to Major General Henry Slocum peeks out from behind the tree to the right.
Stevens’ Knoll is a small hill that lies between Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill southeast of Gettysburg (Steven’s Knoll area tour map). Until the Battle of Gettysburg it was known as McKnight’s Hill. Ever since it has been named after Captain Greenlief T. Stevens, whose 5th Maine Battery occupied the knoll after its retreat from Seminary Hill on July 1st. Acting 1st Corps commander General Abner Doubleday reported that during the Confederate attack on East Cemetery Hill on the evening of July 2nd Stevens’ Battery “poured a terrible fire of double canister” into the left flank of Hays’ and Hoke’s Brigades. The deadly barrage was important in turning back the Confederate attack.
Today the 5th Maine Battery monument shares the knoll with the equestrian statue of Major General Henry Slocum. His Twelfth Corps defended Culp’s Hill with the help of the First Corps survivors on July 2nd and 3rd. (See the monument map of the Stevens Knoll area)
Location of Stevens’ Knoll on the Gettysburg Battkefield
Steven’s Knoll lies between Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill southeast of Gettysburg. It is a short walk from Cemetery Hill but by car can only be reached from Culp’s Hill on one-way Slocum Avenue.