The battle of Hunterstown,Pa. July 2nd 1863

Directions to the Hunterstown battlefield;
At the Gettysburg town square... take Rt. 30 east 1 mile until you begin to see the railroad tracks on your left side.
Next you will begin to see a Car Dealership on your right side... Now look for the Hunterstown road on your left and cross over the railroad tracks.
You are now on the Hunterstown road and are travelling Notheast of Gettysburg.
You will pass over Interstate 15 and travel a short distance and will begin to see a large powerplant on your right side.
You will feel as if you are lost for a while not passing anything on the road but a few scattered old buildings and then a huge power plant appears in the distance.
The entranceway to the Powerplant is the location of the GILBERT FARM ( this was the Confederates rallying location During the battle )
Then as you pass the Gilbert Farm you will travel a few hundred yards and on the left is the Felty Barn
The farm is on the left side of the road.
John Felty was the local Magistrate in 1863.
 The remains of the Felty Barn basement is pictured below;

You are now looking North towards Hunterstown and are 4.2 miles north of Gettysburg's town Square.
Custers 6th Michigan Company E, were posted in this barn and delivered a devistating fire from their Spencer Carbines into the Confederate troopers who chased Custer back north... after his charge.

Looking south towards the Confederates that were located in and beyond the distant tree line.
Picture above is 100 yards North of the Felty Farm.
You are now looking South... and back towards Gettysburg.
You are near the center of the Battle of Hunterstown that happened here on the evening of July 2nd 1863
This is the spot Custer placed Pennington's Artillery and they blasted away at the Confederates... as they chased Custer back North... after his Cavalry charge.
The remains of the Felty Barn are back behind the silver Silo in the distance.
The Hunterstown/Gettysburg road is located to the left of the Felty Farm Silo.
Custers 6th Michigan Cavalry were posted between the Felty Farm and the artillery... pictured in front of you...The Union Troopers were dismounted and hidden in the fields from the Confederates.
Custers 5th Michigan Cavalry remained mounted in reserve, and were posted to the north of this picture and behind the artillery placed here.
The location where Custer made his First Charge as a General in the Civil War!
Looking South on the Hunterstown road back towards Gettsyburg.
The John Felty Home is just up ahead on the road.
The remains of the Felty Barn are located to the right of the telephone pole.




Custers Dismounted Skirmishers near the Felty Farm fire at Rebels located at the Gilbert Farm area of the Battlefield.


Looking south towards Gettysburg - Main Street Hunterstown,Pa.

Johnathan Tate Farm...


The battlefield is 500 yards behind this Home on Main Steet. You are looking south towards Gettysburg.
Custer and the Michigan troopers pushed a small detachment of Wade Hampton's rebels past this home from the left to the right of the photo.
Just beyond the Tate farm shown... to the right of the picture... is the intersection of the Gettysburg/Hunterstown road.
Wade Hampton's Confederates turned south on the road towards Gettysburg and massed together south of Town for a battle.
Looking south towards Gettysburg - Main Street Hunterstown,Pa.
The Grass Hotel - Headquarters of General Judson Kilpatrick
This Hotel is located on Main Street also and was a hospital after the battle.
The battlefield is 500 yards behind this Home on Main Steet. You are looking south towards Gettysburg.
Custer and the Michigan troopers pushed a small detachment of Wade Hampton's rebels past this home from the left to the right of the photo.
Main Street Hunterstown,Pa. - Main Intersection of Town


Picture is looking directly south toward the East Cavalry Field 3 miles away.
To the left of the picture is a National Park Service Sign that talks about the Confederates holding this important intersection in June 1863 as they headed for Harrisburg,Pa.
Also to the left of the picture is the road that leads to the Great Conewago Presbyterian Church.
The annual Gettysburg National Park Service walking tour of the battlefield meets at the church and this intersection is the first stop on the tour.
Mike Vallone or Troy Harmon of Gettysburg N.P.S. speak here about the importance of this intersection to both Union and Confederate forces during the Gettysburg Campaign.

Great Conewago Presbyterian Church just North of Town Square

You are looking northward at the church and the town square is behind you a few hundred yards to the south.
George Custer as portrayed by Joseph Topinka of Bedford,Pa. Lectures about the life and times of Custer and the important role he played in the Battle of Hunterstown on July 2nd 1863.

Presenting Major General George Armstrong Custer
Laurie and Roger Harding of the Hunterstown Historical Society
In an all-night march he failed to get any news of General Early, who had gone to join General Lee, and he went on to Carlisle on July 1, only to find General Ewell who was also gone and the town in the hands of Union troops who refused to surrender. Stuart shelled the town briefly, burned the nearby barracks, and then set out for Gettysburg, the head of his column turning back from Carlisle and the rear going by way of Dillsburg.
General Stuart on route toward Gettysburg ran into resistance by troopers belonging to General Custer’s cavalry. Hunterstown is usually known as the oldest town in Adams County, named after the Hunters who settled the land in the 1700’s. In General Custer’s official report he wrote:
“On July 2, at the battle of Hunterstown, one squadron, under command of Captain Duggan, was detailed to hold the road leading into the town from the right front of it. One platoon was deployed as skirmishers on the left of the road leading into town from the rear. This platoon was actively engaged and did good service. The regiment sustained no loss upon this day.”
The General's Tour by George Armstrong Custer

as portrayed by Joseph Topinka of Bedford,Pa.

George Custer