Brooke Avenue - Gettysburg

Monuments -including one for the 27th Connecticut (left)- line Brooke Avenue at Gettysburg, where Union forces briefly held a slight ridge after sweeping the Wheatfield on the second day of fighting. The gains would be held for a short time only in the back-and-forth struggle for the Wheatfield. Col. John Brooke's brigade was soon hard pressed, with Confederates coming up on both flanks. In fifteen minutes they were pushed from the position before the Wheatfield fell finally into Rebel hands for good. One soldier wrote that the position on the ridge was the "hottest place we came across that day." Low on ammunition and without support, Brooke's exposed men were forced to withdraw. (Click image for larger view).