Big Round Top

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Hill in Pennsylvania, United States

title: "Big Round Top" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["hills-of-pennsylvania", "gettysburg-battlefield", "gettysburg-national-military-park", "landforms-of-adams-county,-pennsylvania"] description: "Hill in Pennsylvania, United States" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Round_Top" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Hill in Pennsylvania, United States ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox landform"]

FieldValue
nameBig Round Top
other_nameRound Top — Sugar Loaf Hillhttps://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=%22sugar+loaf%22+gettysburg&scoring=a&hl=en&ned=us&sa=N&sugg=d&as_ldate=1860&as_hdate=1879&lnav=hist5
typeHill
photoBig Round Top (photo by Timothy H. O'Sullivan, 1863).jpg
photo_caption1863 O'Sullivan image of Big Round Top
beyond Little Round Top breastworks
mapPennsylvania
locationNE slope @ Little Round Top
coordinates
elevation_ft
surface_elevation_ft
geologyPennsylvania Piedmont
physiographic region
websiteGettysburg Scenic Vistas (nps.gov)
::

| water = | name = Big Round Top | other_name = Round Top — Sugar Loaf Hillhttps://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=%22sugar+loaf%22+gettysburg&scoring=a&hl=en&ned=us&sa=N&sugg=d&as_ldate=1860&as_hdate=1879&lnav=hist5 | type = Hill | photo = Big Round Top (photo by Timothy H. O'Sullivan, 1863).jpg | photo_width = | photo_alt = | photo_caption = 1863 O'Sullivan image of Big Round Top beyond Little Round Top breastworks | map = Pennsylvania | relief = | map_image = | map_caption = | location = NE slope @ Little Round Top | coordinates = | coordinates_ref = | range = | part_of = | water_bodies = | elevation_ft = | elevation_ref = | surface_elevation_ft = | surface_elevation_ref = | highest_point = | highest_elevation = | highest_coords = | length = | width = | area = | depth = | drop = | formed_by = | geology = Pennsylvania Piedmont physiographic region | age = | orogeny = | volcanic_arc/belt = | volcanic_arc = | volcanic_belt = | volcanic_field = | eruption = | last_eruption = | topo = | operator = | designation = | free_label_1 = | free_data_1 = | free_label_2 = | free_data_2 = | website = Gettysburg Scenic Vistas (nps.gov) | embed =

Big Round Top is a boulder-strewn hill notable as the topographic high point of the Gettysburg Battlefield and for 1863 American Civil War engagements for which Medals of Honor were awarded. In addition to battle monuments, a historic reconstruction era structure on the uninhabited hill is the Big Round Top Observation Tower Foundation Ruin.

Geography

Big Round Top is the southern peak of the Gettysburg Battlefield and is within the area encompassed by a drainage depression (southeast, south), Plum Run (west, north), and the Crawford Avenue/Wright Avenue roadway (north, northeast). In addition to Little Round Top, adjacent battlefield locations are South Cavalry Field/Slyder Field (west), Devil's Den (northwest) and the Valley of Death/Slaughter Pen (north).

The hill is the highest point of an Adams County dendritic ridge which Plum Run divides at Big Round Top (the drainage divide continues to the east). In addition to Little Round Top (650 ft.), nearby heights are Warfield Ridge (west), hills of 580 ftand 540 ft (northwest), and Houck Ridge (north-northwest); while Carr Hill (876 ft) is the nearest higher hill. Devil's Kitchen is rock formation and small cave on the lower slopes of Big Round Top.

History

The igneous hill was formed 200 million years ago when the outcrop of the Gettysburg sill intruded through the Triassic Gettysburg plain. Subsequent periglacial frost wedging during the Pleistocene formed the hill's extensive boulders. Early human activity included Indigenous people clearing an area LETTERS a. AND b. ARE LEFT FOR INCORPORATING EARLIER Gettysburg Times URLS-- :c. (Depicts "Kilpatrick Ave" and, instead of Blacksmith Shop & Sachs Rds, "Eckenrode Lane" & "White Church Rd.")-- :d. on the slope of Big Round Top and established a burial ground about one mile southwest.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1CQmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=If0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2027,1543429&dq=big-round-top+indian&hl=enhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bYsyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zeYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5731,2021535&dq=big-round-top+indian&hl=en prior to the 1736 British purchase of the region.

Civil War

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/1863_Gettysburg_Battlefield_-_Big_Round_Top,_Days_2_and_3.png" caption="July 3 (left) & July 2, (right), positions & movements:"] ::

•Left: Well's charge (not depicted) crossed Plum Run and turned to pass behind the Confederates (red) on the spur of Big Round Top.

•Right: After the "20th ME" had 'refused the line' (4th & 5th TX were temporarily under Law).http://www.civilwarhome.com/robertsongettysburgor.htm Earlier on July 2 from Big Round Top, 2 of Law 's CSA (red) regiments assaulted the 20th ME.]]

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Big Round Top's slope, timber, and boulders precluded placement of artillery on the summit.

;Battle of Gettysburg, second day: On July 2 -- when "it was growing dark", Big "Round Top was still in [the] possession of the [Confederate] skirmishers, who were firing upon our men. It was important to hold this hill, as…it commanded…our line. I directed Colonel Fisher to occupy it at once. He immediately detached [3 regiments], who advanced promptly, driving the enemy before them" (Crawford's report).

After 10 pm, Chamberlain's 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment occupied a Big Round Top summit position (the monument is on the north slope).https://books.google.com/books?id=OSUtAAAAYAAJ In 1893, Chamberlain was awarded a Medal of Honor for both "carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top" and "holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults" earlier in the day.

;Battle of Gettysburg, third day: The July 3 Wells cavalry charge advanced from the west to beyond the Big Round Top spur and engaged the rear of Law's Alabama regiments to carry the hill and earn Wells' 1891 Medal of Honor.

By September 1863, David McConaughy had begun to acquire a portion of Big Round Top for battlefield preservation. The Elon J. Farnsworth monument was erected before 1896 at the base of Big Round Top, :b. -- and statues of William Wells (1931) and John Michael Tobin are also on the hill.

Reconstruction era

Kilpatrick Avenue when the gravel South Confederate Avenue was constructed across the northwest slope. In 1903, Wright Avenue was constructed along the northeast slope, and in 1937, South Confederate Avenue and the Plum Run stone bridge were rebuilt https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hIklAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ufIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6215,2484659&dq=south-confederate+gettysburg&hl=enhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gYklAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ufIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1615,2571786&dq=south-confederate+gettysburg&hl=en for the 75th battle anniversary and reunion.

In 1940, Seminary Ridge CCC workers rerouted the stone trail to the Big Round Top summit. :a. "a deep, rocky depression separated it [Little Round Top] from the Great Round Top beyond. Into this depression Laws' brigade of Alabamians, supported by Robertson's Texans, had forced themselves and were advancing to the possession of Little Round Top." :b. Harry Truman visited Big Round Top in 1946.https://web.archive.org/web/20110219221553/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,803816,00.html In 1964, the Big Round Top Nature Trail was created around the hill and provided access to the Devil's Kitchen.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3B8mAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8P0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4785,1837654&dq=tower+round-top&hl=en The 1895 Big Round Top Observation Tower was dismantled in 1968 and the foundation was named a historic ruin in 2004.

Observation Tower

Late in the day of July 3, Union brigadier general Judson Kilpatrick ordered the cavalry brigade of Brigadier General Elon Farnsworth to charge Confederate infantry of Major General John Bell Hood’s division who were on and near the slopes of Big Round Top. Hood had been wounded the previous day, and his division was under the command of Brigadier General Evander Law. One after another, three of the four regiments of Farnsworth’s brigade charged over broken ground into Confederate fire and were repulsed. The final regiment, the 1st Vermont, then made the attempt. Farnsworth divided it into three battalions and personally led the second battalion. The tower was built in the late 19th century. Fred Lyons of Baltimore led the construction team that moved the foundation's granite blocks to the Big Round Top summit using block and tackle driven by a 12-horsepower engine. Constructed on the Gettysburg Battlefield's highest hill, the Big Round Top tower was to be replaced for the 1938 anniversary reunion by a stone "Gettysburg Peace Memorial" with a 75-foot-high observation deck above the summit and a flame 30 feet higher. :a. :a. (The memorial was instead erected on Oak Hill.)

Destruction

During 1968 tower maintenance, the Schlesser Demolition Co dismantled the Big Round Top tower :b. :c. :d. :e. as uneconomical due to "its condition and the very limited use [due to an uphill, lengthy, and serpentine trail.] Most who started the climb gave out en route, and upon reaching the tower decided against continuing the climb to the top of the metal observatory" (GNMP Superintendent George F. Emery). The foundation ruin (park structure RU05) of the "national landmark" tower,

| image1 = monuments | image2 = bas-relief of "Farnsworth's Charge" | image3 = view from 300' National Tower

References

References

  1. Norton, Lemuel B. (September 18, 1863). "Report of…Chief Signal Officer…Gettysburg Campaign".
  2. (2009). "Geologic Resources Inventory Report". Natural Resource Program Center (NPS).
  3. [https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/climbing-big-round-top/ Climbing Big Round Top]
  4. (June 2025). "Scenic Vistas". [[National Park Service]].
  5. "Points of interest near…Round Top". MountainPeaks.net.
  6. "Ramparts of Rock: The Natural Fortifications of Gettysburg Geology". Civil War Trust.
  7. Brown, Andrew. (2006). "Geology and the Gettysburg Campaign". Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey.
  8. "Attack on Little Round Top: Union and Confederate Perspective". [[Gettysburg College]].
  9. (July 4, 1938). "Throng at Gettysburg Hears Roosevelt Call For Peace Campaign". Reading Eagle.
  10. Wert, Jeffry D. (2002). "Gettysburg, Day Three". Simon and Schuster.
  11. "1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment". StoneSentinels.com.
  12. (March 2010). "Medal of Honor record of William Wells, Group 94 (W-199-VS-1869)".
  13. Davis, William C.. (1995). "Gettysburg: The Story Behind the Scenery". KC Publications.
  14. "classified structure numbers RD346-WA01". [[National Park Service]].
  15. "The Gettysburg Commission Reports".
  16. (July 1, 1922). "Traffic Rules on Battlefield".
  17. (Jan 20, 1937). "Senator Rice Sponsors Bill for Gettysburg Peace Memorial". Gettysburg Compiler.
  18. (June 19, 1968). "Big Round Top to be Dismantled".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

hills-of-pennsylvaniagettysburg-battlefieldgettysburg-national-military-parklandforms-of-adams-county,-pennsylvania