Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell had discretionary orders to seize the heights south of town, and he believed that Culp's Hill was unoccupied and therefore a good target, one that would make the Union position on Cemetery Hill untenable.
Generalløjtnant Richard S. Ewell havde fået ordrer der gav ham mulighed for at tage højderne syd for byen, og han troede at Culp's Hill ikke var besat og derfor et godt mål, som ville have gjort Unionens stilling på Cemetery Hill umulig at holde.