The Wheatfield

Stop on Gettysburg Battlefield Historic Tour, a free self-guided tour.

This 19-acre field changed hands six times during the afternoon of July 2nd in some of the battle's most confused and bloody fighting. Confederate forces under General James Longstreet attacked through the Wheatfield as part of their assault on the Union left. Wave after wave of attacks and counterattacks swept across the field, with neither side able to maintain control for long. Over 4,000 casualties occurred in this small area in just a few hours. The wheat that gave the field its name was trampled into mud mixed with blood, and survivors described the horror of fighting in a confined space where the dead and wounded from multiple attacks piled up. Artillery fire from both sides added to the carnage. By evening, the tactical situation remained essentially unchanged from the morning, but thousands of men had fallen. Walking through the peaceful field today, with its monuments marking unit positions, helps visitors understand the terrible cost of the seesawing combat. The Wheatfield epitomizes the savage nature of Civil War infantry combat where soldiers fought at close range, often unable to see the broader tactical picture, simply following orders to attack or hold ground at all costs. The monuments here tell stories of incredible bravery and heartbreaking loss.