Orienting Locations in Gettysburg

NORTH & SOUTH & EAST & WEST

 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania became the site of the great battle between Lee and Meade precisely because of its orientation. From Gettysburg, roads led to Baltimore, Emmitsburg, and Taneytown in Maryland and to Carlisle, York, Hanover, and Chambersburg in Pennsylvania. Locals have the benefit of using these roads and thus gaining an understanding of  how the various sites on the battlefield relate to compass locations. For instance, knowing that while Lee's army was advancing on Gettysburg from the west, J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry was engaging in the battle of Hanover(June 30,1863) east of Gettysburg helps to explain why Stuart was delayed in joining the battle.

Although it is really too simplistic to say that Gettysburg looks just like the compass rose, keeping the four cardinal directions in mind can help you to visualize the action in a particular battle, and also all the sites around the town.
I have placed the roads in their approximate locations without the roads themselves to make it easier to see the relationships.
To the southwest is Fairfield, about 8 miles from town; Chambersburg is northwest, while Emmitsburg is south-southwest. The Baltimore Pike starts out due south, but curves to the southeast. To the east is the Hanover Road, leading to Hanover. The Carlisle Road, Route 34 goes to Biglerville to the north.
                                                                   

                                                                                                 Carlisle Rd

                                                                                  .

Chambersburg St.

                                                                                                         York Rd.

                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                  Hanover Rd.

 Fairfield Road

                                                                     Baltimore St.

                                                                                    

           Emmitsburg Rd.

                                          Taneytown   Rd.        

 Once you have these main roads clearly in your mind, the relative locations become easier to figure out

Now, putting previous posts into a locational context becomes easier. The Battle of Hunterstown took place northeast of Gettysburg. The next day, The battle at East Cavalry Field occurred east of town, just north of the Hanover Road. Cemetery Hill, the North's central position is just barely south of the town center.