High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument

The High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument is a Gettysburg Battlefield memorial which identifies the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia units of the infantry attack on the Battle of Gettysburg, third day, with a large bronze tablet, as well as the Union Army of the Potomac's "respective troops who met or assisted to repulse Longstreet's Assault." The memorial is named for the line of dead and wounded of Pickett's Charge which marked the deepest penetration into the Union line at The Angle when "4,500 men threw down their arms and came in as prisoners". The line is now generally marked with unit monuments which are also historic district contributing structures. The High Water Mark monument is accessible via Hancock Avenue which has parking spaces alongside, and a path leads to the site from a parking lot at the former Cyclorama Building at Gettysburg.

The monument's designer identified the turning point of Pickett's Charge, as "unquestionably the "high water mark of this battle, and of the war!" " After Bachelder's monument proposal was denied by the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association 2 years in a row, it was approved in the 3rd year. Erected by April 27, 1892, the monument was recast to add 2 missing units and then dedicated with a speech by former Governor Beaver advocating the battlefield become a National Park.[1] The Marine Corps Band provided music, short addresses were by "Gens. Schofield, Slocum, Webb, Veazey, and" others, and Samuel M. Swope presented the monument to John M. Vanderslice of the GBMA.[2]

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