A full narrative history section
Work on the fieldstone farmhouse began approximately 1820, starting with the hearth room and was gradually expanded in stages.
As Confederate troops advanced through the town of Gettysburg on the afternoon of July 1st, the Union’s 1st Division of 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac, under General Alpheus Williams, arrived on the Historic Daniel Lady Farm intending to secure nearby Benner’s Hill.
Williams decided to storm the hill. His skirmishers reached the area to the west of the Lady barn where they exchanged some light fire with Virginia skirmishers higher up the hill. Before they could advance further, they were recalled, retraced their steps, and eventually took position on Culp's Hill.
Soon after, Major General Edward Johnson’s Division of Confederate regiments of the Army of Northern Virginia from, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina cautiously arrived on the farm.
The Lady family stayed in the home even as it was at the time occupied by the Confederate 2nd Corps The Lady Farm was visited by
General Robert E. Lee and General Early in order to coordinate the Culps Hill engagements.
Early on July 2, the second day of the battle, the farm became a staging area and headquarters for Johnson’s preparation for the attack on the Union right flank on Culp’s Hill. Confederate artillery moved from the farm to nearby Benner’s Hill. At 4 p.m. the Confederate batteries began to place fire on Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Hill in advance of Johnson’s attack.
Union artillery responded and within a few hours, the Southern batteries were overwhelmed and silenced by the federal guns.
