Tour the Gettysburg battlefield > North • Central • South • E. Cavalry Field
The East Cavalry Batlefield is about three miles from the east side of Gettysburg via Hanover Road. This was the scene of skirmishing bewteen Union cavalry and the flank of the Confederate Second Corps on July 2 leading to one of the largest cavalry battles of the Civil War on July 3.
Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart’s troopers attempted to force their way south across Hanover Road and along Low Dutch Road to cut off the Union army’s rear two miles away on Baltimore Pike. But a Federal cavalry division under Brigadier General David McM. Gregg reinforced by a brigade under Brigadier General George A. Custer stopped Stuart’s advance and threw it back in vicious and often hand-to-hand fighting.
The uncrowded, wide vistas are a contrast to the main part of the battlefield. Park roads are two-way but very narrow, although the average visitor will probably see little traffic except along fast and busy Hanover Road (Pennsylvania Route 116), where care should be taken in pulling off to view the monuments. The south end of the park along Gregg Avenue and East Cavalry Avenue has exclusively Union monuments, while the north end along Confederate Cavalry Avenue has exclusively Confederate markers.
Select an icon on the map or from the list below to see more
Confederate headquarters
Stuart’s Cavalry Division
Beckham’s Artillery Battalion
Chambliss’ Brigade
Jenkins’ Brigade
Hampton’s Brigade
F. Lee’s Brigade
Confederate artillery markers
Breathed’s Battery
Jackson’s Battery
Louisiana Guard Artillery
McGregor’s Battery