Wainwright Avenue

Wainwright Avenue was named after the commander of the Artillery Reserve of the Union 1st Army Corps, and lies southeast of Gettysburg at the foot of East Cemetery Hill. After the battered Union 1st and 11th Corps fell back and were rallied here by Generals Hancock and Howard at the end of the first day, an infantry line was placed at the foot of the hill to protect the artillery positions on the crest.

General Jubal Early's Confederates attacked as dusk fell on July 2nd. There was hand to hand fighting all the way to the crest of the hill. Union reinforcements saved the artillery and the posititon, and the Confederate attack failed.

Wainwright Avenue is a narrow one-way street which flows north into a part of the Gettysburg street system from which it is awkward to return. Many prefer to make their visit to Wainwright Avenue as part of a walking tour of East Cemetery Hill.