STOP #3 POWER'S HILL SIGNAL STATION

       This site was the location of Maj. Gen. Slocum's Right Wing headquarters and was probably supported by Lieut. J. E. Holland who was temporarily attached to the Twelfth Army Corps. This location was also an important artillery position which was used effectively against Confederates on Culp's Hill.

       The Power's Hill signal station played a part in Maj. Gen. Meade's decision to move his headquarters to this location during the cannonade which preceded Pickett's Charge. [Edwin B. Coddington, The Gettysburg CamDaign: A Study in Command, Dayton Ohio, Morningside Bookshop, 1979, p- 496.] In an attempt to notify Meade, news of Pickett's initial movement was signaled to this signal station by Capt. David Castle who had remained at Meade's original headquarters. The details of this event will be examined when you visit Meade's headquarters at the Leister House.

       When studying the various signal sites on this battlefield, it becomes apparent that their selection was of the utmost importance. Col. Myer, comments on the selection of signal stations:

       A station should never be located in a camp, or among tents, or where the white canvas of tents can form the background of signals viewed from the other station ... Signal stations should always be chosen elevated from the ground as much as is possible, when there is difficulty about smoke, or haze, or dust. The undulation of the atmosphere, noticeable on a hot summer's day, is always less at a distance from the earth's surface. Thus it is sometimes practicable to read from a tree or a house-top when it is almost impossible to so read from the ground. This undulation is less also over spots well shaded than in the glare of the sun. This should be borne in mind in all telescopic examinations. Permanent stations should never be placed in hollows, or on low land, when high ground is attainable. The greatest elevation should invariably be sought ... By careful selections of high ground, stations can often be worked when signals on the lower fields would be invisible. For these reasons, it is well to have, sometimes, a station for night work on a house-top or in a tree, while during the day the station is worked from the ground.

[Albert J. Myer, A Manual of Signals,
New York, D. Van Nostrand, 1866, pp. 246-247.]

Now return to your automobile and proceed to STOP 4.

       Drive the short distance to BALTIMORE PIKE and turn left. Take the first right at the park sign to SPANGLER'S SPRING and CULP'S HILL. Follow the signs to the top of CULP'S HILL and park by the observation tower.