tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64759797961906686112024-03-14T04:39:02.130-04:00THEIR STORIESTales of the People and Places in Civil War HistoryBritt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-70975245285075822152020-12-06T15:35:00.000-05:002020-12-06T15:35:14.554-05:00Just Some Old Pictures - 1st Maryland Battalion (2nd Maryland) C.S.A. Monument<p>Crowning lower Culp's Hill is the monument to the 1st Maryland Battalion (a.k.a. 2nd Maryland) Infantry, C.S.A. It was the first Confederate monument placed on the Gettysburg battlefield after some resistance in 1884. The following stereoview was produced by Levi Mumper of Gettysburg and shows the monument probably shortly after it was dedicated. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs4Jhl3528Sv2UNbhXGKXVboQP9oDHLmuzg8U7779Qry307h_bsQhb0P2jOvILvqRg_txiWaG23V6KpRW2qJYr5siNt-BwEm-FhckkImaARNBOOj1cn320vKPj-0EPcXla0zhg_LMUdGM/s2535/1st+MD+Battalion+Monument+Culp%2527s+Hill+-+Mumper+Stereoview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="2535" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs4Jhl3528Sv2UNbhXGKXVboQP9oDHLmuzg8U7779Qry307h_bsQhb0P2jOvILvqRg_txiWaG23V6KpRW2qJYr5siNt-BwEm-FhckkImaARNBOOj1cn320vKPj-0EPcXla0zhg_LMUdGM/w640-h314/1st+MD+Battalion+Monument+Culp%2527s+Hill+-+Mumper+Stereoview.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The view is south of the monument looking north, the camera steadied on the remnants of Federal earthworks, which can be seen extending away from the camera past the monument to the left. Also, there is no road visible where modern Slocum Avenue currently exists, though any smaller trace might be out of view. Noticeably absent are trees across the top of the lower hill, while the wooded upper hill looms in the distance. You can see in the modern image how significantly different the viewshed is:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQtLQ1nWLNSDegsa-1cR8bvXEsqxAchKYJW4ZfEQJYqsYxSUgcoa3NRFEHQ1IvOFYRhdVnNvcTwYkJ1dXEqH1mExrZLxg5jwkJALTge5jwxDklsOSjZrS81O9NdX9MX-fWcYlBh9uGkBm/s6000/DSC_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQtLQ1nWLNSDegsa-1cR8bvXEsqxAchKYJW4ZfEQJYqsYxSUgcoa3NRFEHQ1IvOFYRhdVnNvcTwYkJ1dXEqH1mExrZLxg5jwkJALTge5jwxDklsOSjZrS81O9NdX9MX-fWcYlBh9uGkBm/w640-h426/DSC_0055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Below is a crop of the Warren Map showing the lower hill as it looked shortly after the battle. The red dot represents the approximate position of the 1st Maryland Monument. The map clearly depicts a broken woodlot across the top of the lower hill to some degree. Important only in aiding our understanding of how the battle was fought, it is known through soldier accounts and photographic evidence that the upper hill was not entirely wooded as we see it today, so it might not be a surprise then if the lower hill was less densely wooded also.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPIkEFx6qqIl3j0P9Rby_7YTK7o42S2Ko7eRfV6kgBbx3z23Uja83BRT_MD5-HvXK_cb1ObSuR7X6BWYjin8uF__ODT4TdDJWdn7-4chsPVkOoiDR258jq70kAd2dtFOd7bGVEcKk-DQi/s1890/1st+MD+Mon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1890" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPIkEFx6qqIl3j0P9Rby_7YTK7o42S2Ko7eRfV6kgBbx3z23Uja83BRT_MD5-HvXK_cb1ObSuR7X6BWYjin8uF__ODT4TdDJWdn7-4chsPVkOoiDR258jq70kAd2dtFOd7bGVEcKk-DQi/w640-h364/1st+MD+Mon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Regardless of the trees, Mumper provides us today with an interesting look at the landscape as it once existed on an important part of the battlefield.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELplMVu2z4yV_YW8ifLwoWGuxTqW6XFAUM0g1Lx2mdS9tpNF5BfXMszS6TCAKjyDJctuu8X5jmKHopLPE4LmMmcOAB8ypwBhbiPXLJhpg4pz66YVqvGlc7IiRdMk3_D9y1qQ4ClbPCwCJ/s2048/1st+MD+Battalion+Monument+Culp%2527s+Hill+-+Mumper+Stereoview+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1993" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELplMVu2z4yV_YW8ifLwoWGuxTqW6XFAUM0g1Lx2mdS9tpNF5BfXMszS6TCAKjyDJctuu8X5jmKHopLPE4LmMmcOAB8ypwBhbiPXLJhpg4pz66YVqvGlc7IiRdMk3_D9y1qQ4ClbPCwCJ/w622-h640/1st+MD+Battalion+Monument+Culp%2527s+Hill+-+Mumper+Stereoview+crop.jpg" width="622" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-49041049222058972232020-11-29T13:36:00.004-05:002020-11-29T19:12:53.937-05:00Just Some Old Pictures - 2nd MA Monument at Gettysburg Stereoview<p>I'm back to the old blog again after a nearly three year hiatus! A lot has happened, but I've decided to revamp the blog with a new series of posts titled "Just Some Old Pictures". As the title states, I'll be sharing some old pictures from several different battlefields and offering some stories on the personalities or scenery shown in the image. Please feel free to share these posts wherever you'd like! As always, the photographs used are from my personal collection unless otherwise stated. If you'd like to use them for any purpose, please just ask and in most cases I will grant your request. Thanks and enjoy!</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>"2nd Mass. Monument at Gettysburg Stereoview"</u></span></b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0IB0vYIletGWxtiXuueTWUZ67Kdjo4YSFkO6Jlu8kRLWEUkQJeHhc6fG-_UifdH2JXQ3sMhZp2xfn7ZZvtiWF8MKIcXPvgojUoiCWIov-hV_rMjyjovQssSPIWTzd08VpwrBikd6QGnK/s2048/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0IB0vYIletGWxtiXuueTWUZ67Kdjo4YSFkO6Jlu8kRLWEUkQJeHhc6fG-_UifdH2JXQ3sMhZp2xfn7ZZvtiWF8MKIcXPvgojUoiCWIov-hV_rMjyjovQssSPIWTzd08VpwrBikd6QGnK/w640-h357/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>This stereoview is by the famous William H. Tipton of Gettysburg. It is card number 730 copyrighted in 1880 and titled, "2nd Mass. Vol. Infantry Tablet." At first glance there might not appear to be anything overly interesting about the viewshed. An older man can be seen pointing away from the unimpressive 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry monument at Spangler's Meadow. However, a closer inspection brings out some great details.</p><p>First, Tipton's own description on the back of the card reads:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Second Mass. Vol. Infantry Tablet, Near Spangler's Spring, on the Battle-field of Gettysburg.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Inscription:</b> <i>(Verbatim)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the hill behind this monument on the morning of July third 1863 the Second Massachusetts Infantry made an assault upon the Confederate troops in the works at the base of Culp's Hill opposite. The regiment carried to the charge 22 officers and 294 enlisted men. It lost 4 officers and 41 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and six officers and 84 enlisted men wounded. To perpetuate the honored memories of that hour the survivors of the regiment have raised this stone. 1879.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Photographed by W. H. Tipton,</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, Pa.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This memorial is of Gettysburg granite, cut by Joshua Happold of Gettysburg. Inscription is on bronze plate set in face of stone."</span></p><p><br /></p><p>Of course there's plenty to talk about with regards to the ill-fated 2nd Massachusetts and the fighting that occurred in the vicinity of this photography, but we're not going to discuss any of that here. We'll stick to the image. </p><p>The first thing I noticed about the photograph is the lone man pointing northward from the monument across the meadow. Though Tipton curiously makes no note of the man's identity in his description, the man is none other than William David Holtzworth of Gettysburg. Holtzworth was born in neighboring York County and the family moved to Gettysburg before the Civil War. Holtzworth served through the war as a member of Company F in the 87th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded twice and captured, serving a stint in the notorious Libby Prison. </p><p>After the war he started a livery stable business in Gettysburg to accommodate the growing number of veterans and visitors journeying to the historic battle ground. Soon Holtzworth was offering tours to groups of varying size and his talents as a guide became well known. One newspaper went as far as claiming, "There is but one Holtzworth and one Gettysburg. Without the former the latter would be nothing so far as the battlefield is concerned." </p><p>By the time this photo was taken, Holtzworth was firmly established as an authority on the battle of Gettysburg. You can almost imagine him pontificating about the action across Spangler Meadow on the morning of July 3, even as Tipton probably begged him to hold still (typical guide).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQdCGWAHLL22D9w10UBTNHEmEYe2tlx0h3eIHemWaz7rvjdz0yI8rn_QrasjgdjhrumV1EKmG5z_c-RIwnvE98jQo6Y53yd7rmE8GSyA0XWtKCPEWknjRnyR5trox0i85AGsRSNIZ7nUj/s2048/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview+Tawney+House.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQdCGWAHLL22D9w10UBTNHEmEYe2tlx0h3eIHemWaz7rvjdz0yI8rn_QrasjgdjhrumV1EKmG5z_c-RIwnvE98jQo6Y53yd7rmE8GSyA0XWtKCPEWknjRnyR5trox0i85AGsRSNIZ7nUj/w640-h488/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview+Tawney+House.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Closeup of Holtzworth with the Z. Tawney farm behind him.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The other subtle but interesting detail is just behind Holtzworth's head. A small, white-washed building barely peeks into view beyond the far bank of Rock Creek. It is the Zephaniah Tawney farm, which stood during the battle and was occupied by men of the Stonewall Brigade. Today all that remains are ruins of the home's foundation and a water well, though the property is now within the boundary of the Gettysburg National Military Park. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13tct17il38wpus6MDh2LU8U6BmLfnWYAXXQEwi-w-SghfCV5XCvCcQQwIRw1dWlIYAWUplbafQPrODle0aBzvBjZ9bPMO57u5o3UapyK00lwHNUL97gSBNjUi3KO5Si1oGk9lPf2xedr/s6016/DSC_0306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6016" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13tct17il38wpus6MDh2LU8U6BmLfnWYAXXQEwi-w-SghfCV5XCvCcQQwIRw1dWlIYAWUplbafQPrODle0aBzvBjZ9bPMO57u5o3UapyK00lwHNUL97gSBNjUi3KO5Si1oGk9lPf2xedr/w640-h426/DSC_0306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Legend and guide extraordinaire Dean Shultz with good friend Roy Whitmore at the site of the Z. Tawney farm in 2016.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>A few other brief things to mention: On the left side of the photograph behind a rather large boulder stands a horse, presumably that of Holtzworth, or possibly Tipton (I almost missed this detail!). We can positively date this photo between 1879 and 1880 because the boulder in front of the horse no longer looks as it once did. It is now surmounted by the monument to the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry who also charged across Spangler Meadow on the morning of July 3, not far behind their brothers from the Bay State. Their monument was dedicated in 1885. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjVGF0fHea5DLNU5gQ9uF_Pv8W9wPUfMSdV55m-pKKoJQR8MlPeZSQPaeVEgcwEtx0x-5tqIcn73FABTF0q6JXuESllqqJiJp55Bc69a0UElQ7yN7LxgKRhi9nehsd0nYX-PkNvhfkDvy/s1644/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview++-+Horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1644" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjVGF0fHea5DLNU5gQ9uF_Pv8W9wPUfMSdV55m-pKKoJQR8MlPeZSQPaeVEgcwEtx0x-5tqIcn73FABTF0q6JXuESllqqJiJp55Bc69a0UElQ7yN7LxgKRhi9nehsd0nYX-PkNvhfkDvy/w400-h325/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview++-+Horse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-RZjCTcb0HnpRZ1zfClAgjRXlFxfHhCV_cesW-TmJj3dEnulUalN94wt0B1FW2XxrzK_0ldyImw-VUwNpQV-rtW8Pf7-58suqvgK2ZCHECeUqYPVUFfYaOrZtabNw2ivDjdwtobo29EX/s1583/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="1408" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-RZjCTcb0HnpRZ1zfClAgjRXlFxfHhCV_cesW-TmJj3dEnulUalN94wt0B1FW2XxrzK_0ldyImw-VUwNpQV-rtW8Pf7-58suqvgK2ZCHECeUqYPVUFfYaOrZtabNw2ivDjdwtobo29EX/w356-h400/DSC_0075.JPG" width="356" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Take note, between that boulder and where Holtzworth stands at the 2nd Massachusetts monument is the modern location of Colgrove Avenue. You can see the modern view below. This image truly proves that the devil is in the details!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5aHY8Q1_yxI9WQzfuZ3_m_5X0bTWNO9D4W19Ahfgtfg9WlO78tiY6PUptvHIeofuPuBBTVF1GvKrmvBbjdwDa_BemuYYq_4unKk6YSQkwfZODLYlhxxzC3xAaeqXmI8X5XDs8Q3KN3O9/s2048/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1779" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5aHY8Q1_yxI9WQzfuZ3_m_5X0bTWNO9D4W19Ahfgtfg9WlO78tiY6PUptvHIeofuPuBBTVF1GvKrmvBbjdwDa_BemuYYq_4unKk6YSQkwfZODLYlhxxzC3xAaeqXmI8X5XDs8Q3KN3O9/w556-h640/Holtzworth+at+2nd+MA+Monument+-+Tipton+Stereoview+Cropped.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkchHOuS1FHGa06n99MScT0xHO7WP6Uxm-yWfOImNa6eKOGHz9tdBYBisxoaWY48Jlz4IE7X-bbW1jjf04vX8y2cnDPfWaFs1X-FqTyc4MdcUsjExWpJ8vl4IBglcu6JnqeXpbQc4m83T/s6000/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkchHOuS1FHGa06n99MScT0xHO7WP6Uxm-yWfOImNa6eKOGHz9tdBYBisxoaWY48Jlz4IE7X-bbW1jjf04vX8y2cnDPfWaFs1X-FqTyc4MdcUsjExWpJ8vl4IBglcu6JnqeXpbQc4m83T/w426-h640/DSC_0078.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>For more information on Holtzworth, track down a copy of this great little booklet by Mary Lou Schwartz in collaboration with Cynthia Powell:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Of_Course_We_Went_with_Holtzworth/9q41ygAACAAJ?hl=en" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9eQWMPSQz5dP-ZnEkvypFxWCLk3m2heekXMnt7DftRHHEznmWYY8McPuE4U3LgFzmMn4dM_EdHmQrz0gUeLzGvcfhKg9wEZMYHqnzuLyu48Wz91yH_biBMEZjBsjLAsxNyPQ4ub0V7qw/s320/Of+Course+We+Went+With+Holtzworth.jpg" /></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9ZdMAQta63evCXfHpkISIeepQkYhv6pdkTsKlWtwMJ6L2wwQGaDekIpjzNWO3ZLre5JXjG92UEPti430_DLbQCFWQyk6F6BSG_9thigPKXCqpATZOcDhr6AjwfsTbfumhb_CnlOANi3u/s2048/87th+PA+Co+E+-+Sgt.+William+D.+Holtzworth+-+Gettysburg+Guide+-+Evergreen+Cem.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9ZdMAQta63evCXfHpkISIeepQkYhv6pdkTsKlWtwMJ6L2wwQGaDekIpjzNWO3ZLre5JXjG92UEPti430_DLbQCFWQyk6F6BSG_9thigPKXCqpATZOcDhr6AjwfsTbfumhb_CnlOANi3u/w240-h320/87th+PA+Co+E+-+Sgt.+William+D.+Holtzworth+-+Gettysburg+Guide+-+Evergreen+Cem.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-38138092553502337452018-02-15T08:28:00.000-05:002018-02-15T08:32:45.930-05:00Spring Run Civil War MonumentOne of the most beautiful Civil War Monuments in Franklin County, Pennsylvania (IMHO) is located in the northern tier of the the county above the Blue Ridge, a sometimes forgotten corner because it is ringed by mountains and largely isolated. Spring Run and the surrounding communities certainly provided their fair share of fighting men to the Union cause during the Civil War and also paid a hefty toll. Interestingly, despite the area's large participation, a large portion of the enlistees served in many of the less-notorious fighting units. These regiments have received less attention, not because of their fighting record, but likely because of the theaters in which they served or because they were not full-term (3 year units). The region fielded many men for the nine-month 126th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was engaged heavily at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. It also provided many men to the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, a unit raised during the Gettysburg Campaign for six-months service and then re-enlisted for three years. There are also men from the 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th and 19th Cavalries, as well as the 54th, 158th, 201st infantries and the 2nd Heavy Artillery.<br />
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Located in Spring Run is the Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church which was built in 1856. A monument to the valley's Civil War dead was dedicated just after the war in the churchyard and it lists the names of all those who perished by unit. It is now a part of the church's prayer garden and many of the men who are named on the monument are buried just on the other side of the road in the Spring Run Cemetery. Interestingly the monument has the names of men who were not just killed or died during the war years, but several who died as a result of wounds or disease after their enlistments ended and they returned home. Below are a few pictures from Spring Run, which is a beautiful historic town with many old homes and structures.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZiuXmC1NLv8BZR6UV9DHOZuH2X3f_s0fef_0YD1qQ0eXdxq9Pml3eZ5AF9cU8-ZAEQyuOCatqu9g16RgQajk24i_7crEAiOYoQwVyAjdnSbS_4AD7Om5StDUsukmKm7R7aSdMC8eKBIh/s1600/Upper+Path+Valley+Presbyterian+Church+Spring+Run+PA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZiuXmC1NLv8BZR6UV9DHOZuH2X3f_s0fef_0YD1qQ0eXdxq9Pml3eZ5AF9cU8-ZAEQyuOCatqu9g16RgQajk24i_7crEAiOYoQwVyAjdnSbS_4AD7Om5StDUsukmKm7R7aSdMC8eKBIh/s400/Upper+Path+Valley+Presbyterian+Church+Spring+Run+PA.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church built in 1856</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ObRt7B-QWvJATv5DTraD7cc7gq7BvTOx1okwz-fs97_RSXVuOm4emqONYFD3oZbvF6alAAU-DhGKe6KF6qMvQfpBUOaVP5waxtOvZHZn5MUweQIwmOCSGuGV2toHYqZFmJv_WSL8Q2PM/s1600/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ObRt7B-QWvJATv5DTraD7cc7gq7BvTOx1okwz-fs97_RSXVuOm4emqONYFD3oZbvF6alAAU-DhGKe6KF6qMvQfpBUOaVP5waxtOvZHZn5MUweQIwmOCSGuGV2toHYqZFmJv_WSL8Q2PM/s400/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Civil War Monument in the church yard</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93eF3W7uESQ5m5SfvXj31P9Jfjv2YOm7fIpaZ2ckitfov960FrIXZUDiW8rB8LuK4MzH85f-KlbuAxZW-apvvH5PobXoXwSLxH-p2O5ZIdKCl_PfVKKtihDSay_ujCO_4K4_sdM2Ww_JK/s1600/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93eF3W7uESQ5m5SfvXj31P9Jfjv2YOm7fIpaZ2ckitfov960FrIXZUDiW8rB8LuK4MzH85f-KlbuAxZW-apvvH5PobXoXwSLxH-p2O5ZIdKCl_PfVKKtihDSay_ujCO_4K4_sdM2Ww_JK/s400/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+7.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZd6tE-JRDhHyw6so9qTf13I79YQGwD-_lMfXqpkXkJbG-_6PNRarRMU9UFIdIUX1x0M4ky03rh64-oAo_xl0-y7eC2Kz0adwdzN4VrspPvIOEK2FGy1UUY2vOVAbDIf25FtpyBMG4Lt3B/s1600/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZd6tE-JRDhHyw6so9qTf13I79YQGwD-_lMfXqpkXkJbG-_6PNRarRMU9UFIdIUX1x0M4ky03rh64-oAo_xl0-y7eC2Kz0adwdzN4VrspPvIOEK2FGy1UUY2vOVAbDIf25FtpyBMG4Lt3B/s400/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East face of the monument</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c8bXas6vR2TP6E1KlQunJFOpl79XJwWuRmyO895d7qa-l5sWiiyeCrXd3ZSjFDwTLbF283ITSrZdm8GgPWYhWETbqncKmqZN_jlnKlKhBfhNGbnE-DoV7U0l6fhMDf7I3MeGgzyCluEU/s1600/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c8bXas6vR2TP6E1KlQunJFOpl79XJwWuRmyO895d7qa-l5sWiiyeCrXd3ZSjFDwTLbF283ITSrZdm8GgPWYhWETbqncKmqZN_jlnKlKhBfhNGbnE-DoV7U0l6fhMDf7I3MeGgzyCluEU/s400/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North face of the monument</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnMsR5ZUNgjPP6PWHeNdWFYKli1egB9cvFXkfDshQK8jmQZ4Kg8tVDw5ilri3sTdtw2JfWc-yEEA9Waw7be2-nXeBurlITjLjzJYCrMORRXulDZNtkLvoGNV__KrhLARQI9EFqXBn2nSQ/s1600/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnMsR5ZUNgjPP6PWHeNdWFYKli1egB9cvFXkfDshQK8jmQZ4Kg8tVDw5ilri3sTdtw2JfWc-yEEA9Waw7be2-nXeBurlITjLjzJYCrMORRXulDZNtkLvoGNV__KrhLARQI9EFqXBn2nSQ/s400/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West face of the monument</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHnMD68XR_h-tyE5RzhJ02kxy_iEQ1iEC0cOwl2aQ_p5Z_iaQ3UJEgcGl9avPx2LqCG-IQxnqo-hgvq4dEAOgHx3v-LfP4MCsTRlYCQBqEPk7c0OMppMgJWCco_ARRHpuIyl1nlU1LTqB/s1600/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHnMD68XR_h-tyE5RzhJ02kxy_iEQ1iEC0cOwl2aQ_p5Z_iaQ3UJEgcGl9avPx2LqCG-IQxnqo-hgvq4dEAOgHx3v-LfP4MCsTRlYCQBqEPk7c0OMppMgJWCco_ARRHpuIyl1nlU1LTqB/s400/Spring+Run+Civil+War+Monument+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South face of the monument</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulvh-tltjpaC5l0AwhvKaIYe1eKrUSnDUw1kdKAjQcDl27sz2Y08aRdPYkxb5T_P5oZOKZ-akRPoscCmi54SfOmcky36tna5Mqhuh_SZj6c4cu3MliNiRqzWZT3Oo_LgaY3CojhHyVhVU/s1600/19th+PA+Cav+Unassigned+-+James+M.+Wilson+-+Died+%252764+-+Spring+Run+Cem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulvh-tltjpaC5l0AwhvKaIYe1eKrUSnDUw1kdKAjQcDl27sz2Y08aRdPYkxb5T_P5oZOKZ-akRPoscCmi54SfOmcky36tna5Mqhuh_SZj6c4cu3MliNiRqzWZT3Oo_LgaY3CojhHyVhVU/s400/19th+PA+Cav+Unassigned+-+James+M.+Wilson+-+Died+%252764+-+Spring+Run+Cem.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Private James M. Wilson of the often <br />
forgotten 19th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He died shortly<br />
after enlisting in 1864.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIuT7UKOm2UV_TzowoGyXn6u98hEw5HSd1M9eAKGBDCQlY0O9ab_sdONS6IsHRrz0hh9Kfbktb6p_MRUkj6cQUefdJaRtmsN_blhG9X1iyb_EAuI5yN8gBV9IHodn-tnY5F2NQ8xVh8Ev/s1600/21st+PA+Cav+Co+D+-+126th+PA+-+Job+Kennedy+-+Spring+Run+Cem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIuT7UKOm2UV_TzowoGyXn6u98hEw5HSd1M9eAKGBDCQlY0O9ab_sdONS6IsHRrz0hh9Kfbktb6p_MRUkj6cQUefdJaRtmsN_blhG9X1iyb_EAuI5yN8gBV9IHodn-tnY5F2NQ8xVh8Ev/s400/21st+PA+Cav+Co+D+-+126th+PA+-+Job+Kennedy+-+Spring+Run+Cem.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Private Job Kennedy and his family. Although many of these units<br />
don't receive the due notoriety, Kennedy is a good example as many men from<br />
this region served more than one enlistment, he in the nine-month 126th PA and<br />
then in the 21st PA Cavalry for the war's duration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mHBHcCc9TuMKFPLlDvoaYBQ2QcMeL0b3wB00MBkfHEEuBtM79qWah74KjkdONv_QD5b-Teg_Yzq_bafyHOdtVg_V7_Ai_UNiCqCObLpA85Qpxz9zZahhEdVpzvtJ8wI5WV1f9r_Mxg7Y/s1600/21st+PA+Cav+Co+K+-+Sgt.+Franklin+Gamble+-+Wnd+Petersburg+-+Spring+Run+Cem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mHBHcCc9TuMKFPLlDvoaYBQ2QcMeL0b3wB00MBkfHEEuBtM79qWah74KjkdONv_QD5b-Teg_Yzq_bafyHOdtVg_V7_Ai_UNiCqCObLpA85Qpxz9zZahhEdVpzvtJ8wI5WV1f9r_Mxg7Y/s400/21st+PA+Cav+Co+K+-+Sgt.+Franklin+Gamble+-+Wnd+Petersburg+-+Spring+Run+Cem.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Sergeant Franklin Gamble of Company K, 21st<br />
PA Cavalry who died after returning home as a result of wounds <br />
suffered at Petersburg, Virginia during the initial assaults in<br />
June of 1864.</td></tr>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-82999625303377633122017-03-18T21:26:00.002-04:002017-03-18T21:26:36.379-04:00Among the Last SacrificesJohn D. Gillespie was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, not too far outside of Philadelphia. Little is known about his formative years, but the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself in 1861 when Gillespie was only 17 years old. War had broken out and after Lincoln's call in the summer of that year for 500,000 volunteers, the young man enlisted in August for three years of Federal service, probably with many friends, in Company B of the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry as a corporal.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpG_t7I0__R3IaoPnH4a0t3PZvGoYeIS_d8GyiUXmJx4Z3aw6Cb3p2r3A0N1xdORCDAWW2Id-BDxEurZHJoJAFhrtCNvtQPAYvb99UC2gmNzk1pMTXikJcSIsvgUt5StWXduQBDWrcFkv/s1600/49th+PA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpG_t7I0__R3IaoPnH4a0t3PZvGoYeIS_d8GyiUXmJx4Z3aw6Cb3p2r3A0N1xdORCDAWW2Id-BDxEurZHJoJAFhrtCNvtQPAYvb99UC2gmNzk1pMTXikJcSIsvgUt5StWXduQBDWrcFkv/s320/49th+PA.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to the 49th PA at Gettysburg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The regiment earned a reputation through its list of engagements that continued to mount as the war lurched ahead; Seven Days, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, and Gettysburg. In late 1863 John Gillespie re-enlisted with the regiment. Their worst battles ensued with the commencement of the Overland Campaign in the spring of 1864. From May 4 -14 the regiment suffered 392 casualties. There were only 130 men left for service and one of them was young Corporal John Gillespie, who had passed unharmed through every single battle. Due to a combination of attrition and experience, he was promoted to sergeant.<br />
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The regiment was at Cold Harbor, with Sheridan in the Valley Campaign, and at Petersburg, and Gillespie was still unscathed. He was again promoted, this time to first sergeant of Company E. In April of 1865, Grant finally forced Lee out of his defenses at Petersburg and the Army of the Potomac pursued the wavering Confederates vigorously.<br />
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The 49th Pennsylvania saw their last major action at Sailor's Creek on April 6, 1865. They were pressing the enemy, specifically Ewell's Corps and the fight was nasty, but short-lived as they overwhelmed the tail of Lee's disintegrating army. Seven men in the regiment went down with Rebel lead that day. After three years and eight months of service, the luck of 21-year-old John D. Gillespie finally ran out.<br />
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He was taken to Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. and surely he received news of the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox Court House on April 9. Over the following month though, he continued to decline. John D. Gillespie succumbed to his wound on May 12, 1865, among the last sacrifices of the bloody struggle. His remains were transported home where he was buried in the Saint Agnes Cemetery, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania with other members of his family. Although I have not been able to find any wartime documents that corroborate this information, his tombstone reads "Lieut." He may very well have been acting in that capacity at the time of his wounding, and surely if he had survived he probably would have received a promotion. Rank means little to the sacrifice, but in some way it might be an appropriate epitaph to the bravery of this young man.<br />
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Finally, here is a picture of young John D. Gillespie, so much youth and seemingly plenty of life ahead, but it was not to be.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0FfDknyIUVcUejJKB7ElGn-CdafSSKrhFEid9vBneBg_ZMAWKptFLt1Q6YN7ziLMW5tbcxif4_PiK3AiRzYuJjXwMTBK7uWkLGKv5KikdVPR80_3q0WTs-1vOunOn7dpg8lKun7HAY7X/s1600/John+D.+Gillespie+-+Lt.+49th+PA+-+MW+Sailor%2527s+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0FfDknyIUVcUejJKB7ElGn-CdafSSKrhFEid9vBneBg_ZMAWKptFLt1Q6YN7ziLMW5tbcxif4_PiK3AiRzYuJjXwMTBK7uWkLGKv5KikdVPR80_3q0WTs-1vOunOn7dpg8lKun7HAY7X/s640/John+D.+Gillespie+-+Lt.+49th+PA+-+MW+Sailor%2527s+Creek.jpg" width="389" /></a></div>
<br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-15437423793014278112017-03-10T16:38:00.002-05:002017-03-10T16:39:17.763-05:00Brandy Station Photo TourA strangely warm Saturday in late February is the perfect time to tour Brandy Station, but there's never a bad time when Bud Hall is involved. This post will take you on a photo journey around the Brandy Station battlefield in Culpeper County, Virginia saved for future generations thanks to the Civil War Trust and the efforts of many, but especially Bud Hall...<br />
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A panorama from Buford's Knoll, just west of the Rappahannock River...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQyGeSs8tFhQp7tgaLBBJ6tjJgHBrsoceXN83MRdg58C00qGHOoR1Y3qq9LmhgQp5LKbRbT3JbwP_ijR4ylBeSqzl0K7Gx1S5RXGOTX0sq7InO05YA9Q4VKRZdA9pFkvP4SxOGBtAtx1k/s1600/Pano+1+From+Buford%2527s+Knoll+Labeled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQyGeSs8tFhQp7tgaLBBJ6tjJgHBrsoceXN83MRdg58C00qGHOoR1Y3qq9LmhgQp5LKbRbT3JbwP_ijR4ylBeSqzl0K7Gx1S5RXGOTX0sq7InO05YA9Q4VKRZdA9pFkvP4SxOGBtAtx1k/s640/Pano+1+From+Buford%2527s+Knoll+Labeled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaX8hU_h0WveL-FwnYpt9XMTISn_ADHj_sj1dGilJsWPbacJIadZcy1fUZH-7vW-cnHuPnqgpM2JK19uCFIYQxv5U9DB6NNrD1abAqjltAbq2DloYA2y3x_HEVRlnRDR32MDHXiA36GCad/s1600/Pano+2+From+Buford%2527s+Knoll+Labeled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaX8hU_h0WveL-FwnYpt9XMTISn_ADHj_sj1dGilJsWPbacJIadZcy1fUZH-7vW-cnHuPnqgpM2JK19uCFIYQxv5U9DB6NNrD1abAqjltAbq2DloYA2y3x_HEVRlnRDR32MDHXiA36GCad/s640/Pano+2+From+Buford%2527s+Knoll+Labeled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwprp0V2aKT3hEN9AMCrU6HRcmdXE-QfWizhLB9svoxlVRzv64jHNNxcNb4OamF2PTEXHpBmlCWZ9mKUm5dOQ2XP47nZj8R5IBXLhosjJmATLCE99tnWJxX1vmvxkOX6UKuGUPHZFyFQM/s1600/DSC_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwprp0V2aKT3hEN9AMCrU6HRcmdXE-QfWizhLB9svoxlVRzv64jHNNxcNb4OamF2PTEXHpBmlCWZ9mKUm5dOQ2XP47nZj8R5IBXLhosjJmATLCE99tnWJxX1vmvxkOX6UKuGUPHZFyFQM/s640/DSC_0755.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Cunningham Farm looking towards the easternmost stone wall that figured prominently in the fighting between "Rooney" Lee's Brigade and Ames's Brigade of Buford's command. Yew Ridge is visible in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSaV2a8zB5jiBtj8BErfRohNxAJOjD8XSc9jgpMuVypc2dOLSC80jJNbGPu_s4sgRwovdJUCtVF4OWTOmhpRgR5TNBlzr4-rKOqnvOezGcakA45YacoXWsFPC21UxMR8aWVY0TJHsqtNK/s1600/DSC_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSaV2a8zB5jiBtj8BErfRohNxAJOjD8XSc9jgpMuVypc2dOLSC80jJNbGPu_s4sgRwovdJUCtVF4OWTOmhpRgR5TNBlzr4-rKOqnvOezGcakA45YacoXWsFPC21UxMR8aWVY0TJHsqtNK/s640/DSC_0758.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breastworks constructed by the Sixth Corps along the Hazel River during the winter of '63-'64.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA3wn-sLNgDQjINrZMwsziuiYn4B3Wmd-oAi6QZp3WT2usQTryZnp3fog_KOjMHQOHSmxWUFdWxtHkQISQKUNsKi07n_A3P0tHFy_aG4iW4JHppTHpq9TmSvbBZRIKE07qM-xJdWcRXUe/s1600/DSC_0763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA3wn-sLNgDQjINrZMwsziuiYn4B3Wmd-oAi6QZp3WT2usQTryZnp3fog_KOjMHQOHSmxWUFdWxtHkQISQKUNsKi07n_A3P0tHFy_aG4iW4JHppTHpq9TmSvbBZRIKE07qM-xJdWcRXUe/s640/DSC_0763.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confluence of the Hazel River (left) and Rappahannock River (right) just above Beverly's Ford.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra6Mhy8lIw8Eqr2nPHxN8N9QyxbAy5XrG85yXmylEJqFNkwDzYKo4MaXOM1mXpDJtpHmPCu5SPfmcd15YmMnDI2qoVWJTW4ntjA5D42xh7ZE_STjbx6YoXFH7LdjM6FoCC3kVivKrUFi6/s1600/DSC_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra6Mhy8lIw8Eqr2nPHxN8N9QyxbAy5XrG85yXmylEJqFNkwDzYKo4MaXOM1mXpDJtpHmPCu5SPfmcd15YmMnDI2qoVWJTW4ntjA5D42xh7ZE_STjbx6YoXFH7LdjM6FoCC3kVivKrUFi6/s640/DSC_0767.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beverly's Ford from the west bank... This is where Buford's troopers splashed across the Rappahannock in the fog on the morning of June 9, 1863.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULIexOJTk5xzJXyjz3UrNGNnoVi-AuRrDBsEbYkjxRMJOyrVeC1ZQPH21E1wOK8JdM3Kr0Jb4OSUO6Stt6x54yYzjHdMvXOFp5OkqXPHFGG1ioiOJ13VMhzJJL9bTy2mUdiZQhP04mvam/s1600/DSC_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULIexOJTk5xzJXyjz3UrNGNnoVi-AuRrDBsEbYkjxRMJOyrVeC1ZQPH21E1wOK8JdM3Kr0Jb4OSUO6Stt6x54yYzjHdMvXOFp5OkqXPHFGG1ioiOJ13VMhzJJL9bTy2mUdiZQhP04mvam/s640/DSC_0769.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old Beverly's Ford road as it moves towards Brandy Station.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWV2MYpDZfrEasA3OxUWmzGCjZDbl3HXcs_o1VdsoszZb95hL1vLnZd6iXyTc425dQHUbzDDY6Jq3W0_bMDCD87_oVxrJhR6sX22rJCF2QNGDD76PepJRarbfLKxRxi3D_YrG9YH8Gwhe/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWV2MYpDZfrEasA3OxUWmzGCjZDbl3HXcs_o1VdsoszZb95hL1vLnZd6iXyTc425dQHUbzDDY6Jq3W0_bMDCD87_oVxrJhR6sX22rJCF2QNGDD76PepJRarbfLKxRxi3D_YrG9YH8Gwhe/s640/DSC_0772.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bud Hall at Beverly's Ford</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAOvRgtSngMKTX__YQYCqooyC0dzxAPlev-PaiSu2smRvz-juN-YGAigNAsQG216EMMBUFxEvsgevNDC8635lw7sJG9MFW22sTwb6YL8QHZU4s3cRnXlj-MuxUo1K0D09pt2VnGlFAB5S/s1600/Beverly%2527s+Ford+-+Forbes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAOvRgtSngMKTX__YQYCqooyC0dzxAPlev-PaiSu2smRvz-juN-YGAigNAsQG216EMMBUFxEvsgevNDC8635lw7sJG9MFW22sTwb6YL8QHZU4s3cRnXlj-MuxUo1K0D09pt2VnGlFAB5S/s640/Beverly%2527s+Ford+-+Forbes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beverly's Ford from the east in August of 1863... by Edwin Forbes</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFyjcvEcCL7ivYO4JdGNkb11h4wwIeTkvsKT9q5SjINnvNONva65v1ebhVC0eodC5ABFnEWIbVrXVtzHncYzi9YnB9q9a5vvejJ5XqDbk8WsQVJf2CO1bPw6Tchhb9gN7g9pL9IxcFwlQ/s1600/DSC_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFyjcvEcCL7ivYO4JdGNkb11h4wwIeTkvsKT9q5SjINnvNONva65v1ebhVC0eodC5ABFnEWIbVrXVtzHncYzi9YnB9q9a5vvejJ5XqDbk8WsQVJf2CO1bPw6Tchhb9gN7g9pL9IxcFwlQ/s640/DSC_0784.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where the Beverly's Ford Road crests the ridge, now at the end of the runway at Culpeper Regional Airport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nXFmeP4f9tHKZjfprhg34Lfv2ITUa806KthENEkO8BVVYbaIo84mNRf-RaidOr_L_ls8F3SyEvILRx-5Qnr_YPMPAgoxo24_ObAEWbFdYEVqouOnO-eqHCRFflCmWAUQI4Gzz6c9gJvo/s1600/DSC_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nXFmeP4f9tHKZjfprhg34Lfv2ITUa806KthENEkO8BVVYbaIo84mNRf-RaidOr_L_ls8F3SyEvILRx-5Qnr_YPMPAgoxo24_ObAEWbFdYEVqouOnO-eqHCRFflCmWAUQI4Gzz6c9gJvo/s640/DSC_0797.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bud holding up a wartime sketch of St. James Church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfPu24vlIjA5xtmYJ8YHiXdp8Fe3GYXDZhgenGazkyNK7wJw7a0Q7mBrfHVG-nLW3d-y5A_O_cFs0vNxkAuWT8AUqj2399UW6ojYeaCB-vw2RtQhivdNxAt-fLRUb_Co_JEKXdilfItwn/s1600/DSC_0798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfPu24vlIjA5xtmYJ8YHiXdp8Fe3GYXDZhgenGazkyNK7wJw7a0Q7mBrfHVG-nLW3d-y5A_O_cFs0vNxkAuWT8AUqj2399UW6ojYeaCB-vw2RtQhivdNxAt-fLRUb_Co_JEKXdilfItwn/s640/DSC_0798.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meade's Headquarters during the winter of '63-'64 were located where you see the buildings in the distance. Fleetwood Hill is behind and to the left of this view looking north.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy4aa1egjjyXjjKdqcqNGRaPPwCdvCyXlaPe3FlJJMj_QiJaTlbZOopaSM6ui5m5QT6RcDwK3RKx2a1Ju01HULBqyOvw_MhWawYRYN09t8xq3HmwW0Hc0YZSKsTsThjOMfZRx32gKSIul/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy4aa1egjjyXjjKdqcqNGRaPPwCdvCyXlaPe3FlJJMj_QiJaTlbZOopaSM6ui5m5QT6RcDwK3RKx2a1Ju01HULBqyOvw_MhWawYRYN09t8xq3HmwW0Hc0YZSKsTsThjOMfZRx32gKSIul/s640/DSC_0806.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Brandy Rock looking towards the northwest and the Cobbler's Knob just visible through the storm clouds.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY2IptJE0VYOHg5MbfvOKiv012BA5zf9yR4FkIJiEu0bNr6cewmzfHsqB3PbueNzMSmVYmIGuvLnjO61mfEN_gg1dXlLl9gVqDpNHBfotVRoqN7_tp1ZoVE4MkWk0TmMcwGfakM01ny_2/s1600/DSC_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY2IptJE0VYOHg5MbfvOKiv012BA5zf9yR4FkIJiEu0bNr6cewmzfHsqB3PbueNzMSmVYmIGuvLnjO61mfEN_gg1dXlLl9gVqDpNHBfotVRoqN7_tp1ZoVE4MkWk0TmMcwGfakM01ny_2/s640/DSC_0815.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bud interpreting the battle of Brandy Station at Brandy Rock, the home of WWII Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvps3a5iLdjBnyE27lazGwUHltT3MDPzlAUEtP9zsuikc0_dW-vamR-vGWxXFDofP_H84YkrYZHq1jWiTKYnns_zWPNhMGi_51mc-HK2-H23Lxc4IyF8Nq4xELYB2lWlNkhQFv2SR18d-/s1600/DSC_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvps3a5iLdjBnyE27lazGwUHltT3MDPzlAUEtP9zsuikc0_dW-vamR-vGWxXFDofP_H84YkrYZHq1jWiTKYnns_zWPNhMGi_51mc-HK2-H23Lxc4IyF8Nq4xELYB2lWlNkhQFv2SR18d-/s640/DSC_0822.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farley (or Welford) Plantation... this is privately owned today but was the headquarters of "Uncle John" Sedgwick during the winter of '63-'64 at Brandy Station. See the following picture taken during the war... Sedgwick is in the group.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO4siAwwrK8adgp9WaTOoyX4AMqFqouQjZnRO3UxiX5hoJCJD0YnYfmgx7QmYQGj4MchxoZYE8DW8KOtKQ_ttDDTM7LaR7Ay0n2xuI_YUNOIXd51cZYplSjsI5tBiyi5o6pUe42RMfbzA/s1600/Farley+-+Sedgwick+and+Staff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVO4siAwwrK8adgp9WaTOoyX4AMqFqouQjZnRO3UxiX5hoJCJD0YnYfmgx7QmYQGj4MchxoZYE8DW8KOtKQ_ttDDTM7LaR7Ay0n2xuI_YUNOIXd51cZYplSjsI5tBiyi5o6pUe42RMfbzA/s640/Farley+-+Sedgwick+and+Staff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD3Nq_goBRecQdnEjeM3AWjVjgUnRXlW13A2fc509WRWGINHZukozvot9psKJo0m4W8yLqvdBk1NO9cBy7SW0i97Gy4ixPxi9eM0dfWPQbcD_82xRbKsSYm9nEQOPEel19kFnRATWU_sF/s1600/DSC_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD3Nq_goBRecQdnEjeM3AWjVjgUnRXlW13A2fc509WRWGINHZukozvot9psKJo0m4W8yLqvdBk1NO9cBy7SW0i97Gy4ixPxi9eM0dfWPQbcD_82xRbKsSYm9nEQOPEel19kFnRATWU_sF/s640/DSC_0823.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "front" of Farley</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueX7EZriQuJL72Z4NgdtaBaaOKWeXYhjamHKSDzHWIzBPu5ibsofwYQGc1XfmQs0j-4Bzi1nJq_9XR5CtvQlCbFi93vn2JGR6FEXm9TD4XyztAXEPjAOGAYAM1w_dl67yvtwozfXlMuPL/s1600/DSC_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueX7EZriQuJL72Z4NgdtaBaaOKWeXYhjamHKSDzHWIzBPu5ibsofwYQGc1XfmQs0j-4Bzi1nJq_9XR5CtvQlCbFi93vn2JGR6FEXm9TD4XyztAXEPjAOGAYAM1w_dl67yvtwozfXlMuPL/s640/DSC_0850.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Fleetwood Hill looking towards the Rappahannock River... J.E.B. Stuart's Headquarters were located just north (left) of here on June 9, 1863.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3fv8Ka0d3KSYIBfPnVcUaDQuIvgfwF21BVDfCq5FV4SiNUJOgWilNe50B7jJz-CtIwRh41HRrTdwTozRoBKTrR5O54UzuxzPNS6Af-U4iTwUSTqtkg02t25KB-XDfhlhwNp4BsNaUhLf/s1600/HQs+Third+Army+Corps+on+Fleetwood+Hill+-+March+%252764.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3fv8Ka0d3KSYIBfPnVcUaDQuIvgfwF21BVDfCq5FV4SiNUJOgWilNe50B7jJz-CtIwRh41HRrTdwTozRoBKTrR5O54UzuxzPNS6Af-U4iTwUSTqtkg02t25KB-XDfhlhwNp4BsNaUhLf/s640/HQs+Third+Army+Corps+on+Fleetwood+Hill+-+March+%252764.tif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third Corps Headquarters atop Fleetwood Hill in March of '64</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIjtQ3MB0gC6QkFZAdY9IzhOt3O6fEgu6QgXtlymOWkCYEZqPrlfq31HU2z5qVrCjrcki0YPt18QwezFUrKxPb_81BdqXZbQIFoH_9sw9Xj-MJmOlv1s65c26FoQGIFGEvP9lJ6kcJQZq/s1600/DSC_0860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIjtQ3MB0gC6QkFZAdY9IzhOt3O6fEgu6QgXtlymOWkCYEZqPrlfq31HU2z5qVrCjrcki0YPt18QwezFUrKxPb_81BdqXZbQIFoH_9sw9Xj-MJmOlv1s65c26FoQGIFGEvP9lJ6kcJQZq/s640/DSC_0860.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbour House, now known as Beauregard Farms... This is where Lee arrived on June 9, 1863 before noon as the crisis was unfolding from where this photo was taken around Fleetwood Hill.</td></tr>
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<br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-34341862591325038622017-02-23T21:05:00.001-05:002017-02-23T21:05:10.672-05:00The Story of Ferdinand Fobes<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Some regiments from the Civil War
need no introductory eulogy. The mere name is testament enough to the
sacrifices made and the record of battle. One such unit is the 105th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. Another is the 22nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. From Belmont
to Perryville, Stones River to Chickamauga, Chattanooga to Atlanta... combined
these two regiments not only bore witness to, but played a part in most of the
major engagements in the western theater of the war. Initially in two separate
armies, they never served side by side in any of these battles. For a short
time in early 1863 they were both attached to the 14th Army Corps, but that's
the extent of their ties. The men that served in these two units would find
themselves intertwined in other ways though.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Ferdinand Francis Fobes enlisted in
Company I of the 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 21, 1862 at the age of
20. He hailed from the town of Wayne, in Ashtabula County, Ohio and was in
the middle of six other siblings. His ancestry came from Connecticut and he was
the grandson of a Revolutionary War patriot known as “Captain” Simon Fobes.
Clearly the stories of family lineage and the young country’s history were
instilled in Ferdinand early on and he carried them with when he joined the
Union war effort. It was also the opportunity for the adventure of a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGP2IqvUT4jTCu0xMbtLHsvFezonE13JmiEjZxtql1B-LlH5rF0dS4lDjC8rVaUTr_zt0MNryXuu7Emep-SclOUn_rPWpz_XZvwfFbwVKdzA7cSUdpudvlHGi5dyw3YbuKkOsGU3DXEqN/s1600/Federal+Artillery+Line+on+Malvern+Hill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGP2IqvUT4jTCu0xMbtLHsvFezonE13JmiEjZxtql1B-LlH5rF0dS4lDjC8rVaUTr_zt0MNryXuu7Emep-SclOUn_rPWpz_XZvwfFbwVKdzA7cSUdpudvlHGi5dyw3YbuKkOsGU3DXEqN/s400/Federal+Artillery+Line+on+Malvern+Hill.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ferdinand
was one of so many soldiers who also enlisted with one of his best friends from Wayne, 21-year-old Roderick M. Jones. The two had grown up together and
probably imagined they could conquer anything together. Quickly the reality of
the crisis at hand set in for these two greenhorn soldiers. Company I was
mustered into Federal service at Camp Taylor in Cleveland officially on August
21, 1862. Within hours the regiment was ordered to Covington, Kentucky and
arrived there the following day. They spent a significant amount of time at
Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky where the 105</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
By late
September, Braxton Bragg’s Confederate army had invaded the state and the 105<sup>th</sup>
as part of the Army of the Ohio was sent to stop any farther advance. Ferdinand
and Roderick saw their first action at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky on
October 8, 1862. The regiment went into action 800 strong, one of the larger
regiments on the battlefield. By the end of the day 265 men were missing from
the ranks, but Ferdinand and Roderick were unscathed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In late
November the regiment was dispatched toward Carthage, Tennessee to chase down
John Hunt Morgan and his contingent of cavalry. Luck was smiling upon the two
boys from Wayne, Ohio. This detachment kept the regiment out of the next big
fight at Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The regiment arrived there
just days after the battle ended during the second week of January 1862 to
witness the suffering of the wounded and the battlefield cleanup. Murfreesboro
would become their home for much of the next year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Major
General William Starke Rosecrans ordered his army to construct a massive fortress
to provide the Union army with a supply base for potential thrusts into the
heart of the south. When it was finally finished five months later, Fortress
Rosecrans encompassed approximately 200 acres and was the largest earthen fort
constructed during the war. The thousands of hours of back-breaking labor
proved invaluable to the coming Federal efforts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The 105<sup>th</sup>
Ohio next embarked upon the Tullahoma Campaign and General Rosecrans was able
to maneuver his army in such a way that Braxton Bragg’s Confederate Army of the
Tennessee retreated to the south side of the Tennessee River and eventually
into the defenses of Chattanooga. At the successful culmination of the
campaign, luck finally ran out for the two boys from Wayne, Ohio. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ferdinand
had taken sick and was moved to General Hospital Number 1 in Murfreesboro. His
best friend Roderick was by his side. It is unclear what ailment if any, or
wound, Roderick was suffering from since in most cases the only way he could
have joined Ferdinand is if he himself was afflicted. It was here that the two
were also introduced to Captain William Gregory of the 22<sup>nd</sup>
Illinois. Gregory had served with his regiment since 1861 and at the age of 36,
he must have been respected by his superiors to some extent. He was given command
of Lunette Rouseau at Fortress Rosecrans to which the general hospital was
attached, on the northeastern side of the massive fortification.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On
September 3, 1863, Ferdinand passed away from his affliction with Roderick
attending his death. Unfortunately, it was not until nearly two months later
that Captain Gregory was able to parlay the details homeward to Ferdinand’s
parents. The campaign that led to the battle of Chickamauga and the siege at
Chattanooga kept the army busy with more pressing concerns. None the less, on
December 1, Captain Gregory wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Fobes saying, “I did all in
my power to make your on comfortable while with me + I had him decently buried.
The whole company turned out + placed in his grave + paid him all the military
honors… I have marked your sons grave so that any time you wish to visit it,
you can knowes.” Even though Ferdinand was from a different regiment, he was a
comrade all the same and in another situation Captain Gregory probably only
hoped that someone might do the same for him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Even
before Captain Gregory’s letter, Roderick had already communicated with his
friend’s family. Of course Mr. and Mrs. Fobes wanted any personal effects that
could be provided. This included a small sum of money that the captain sent,
but because of delays in the mail system it created concern about the honesty
of Captain Gregory. Not only did Roderick serve his late friend well through
regular communications with his family, but he also made sure nothing was lost
for Ferdinand’s distraught parents. He visited Captain Gregory in person and
wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Fobes that the captain may simply be “negligent rather
than dishonest.” Regardless, even Roderick could not get his friends personal effects
back to the family in a timely manner because “the Railroad is so busy with
Government business…” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Both
Captain Gregory and Private Roderick Jones had much fighting in the year ahead,
but together they had successfully reassured parents of another dead soldier
that their son was properly cared for and had the support system he needed in
his final moments. Even though bullets could not kill Ferdinand Francis Fobes,
the miserable living conditions so far from home did. His death was not the
glorious kind reported in newspapers across the country after a big battle.
Instead his sacrifice went unnoticed, except to his family and maybe most
importantly, to his friend Roderick. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ferdinand’s
body was later exhumed and reinterred at the Stones River National Cemetery. At
home in Wayne, Ohio, the Fobes family erected a simple shaft in the town
cemetery with Ferdinand’s dates of life and his unit affiliation. Most
appropriately of all, to this day there is a G.A.R. star, which cradles the shaft
of a small American flag, the very flag he fought, suffered and died for.
Roderick M. Jones returned to Wayne and married Charlotte R. “Lottie” Wilcox.
He outlived his wife and was deeply involved in veteran’s affairs, attending
many of the reunions of the 105<sup>th</sup> Ohio. Surely his friend Ferdinand
was in his mind through all these commemorations. His longevity took him well
into the next century, finally passing away in the same year the U.S. entered
World War II. He was 99 years old.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-16787707497903366362016-07-30T21:50:00.002-04:002016-07-30T21:50:22.714-04:00That Dreaded LetterOn May 11, 1863, Private Daniel C. Holloway of Company D, 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry sent this letter to his mother and a family friend in Aaronsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania from the general hospital at Brook Station, Virginia. His unnamed friend and brother Samuel had been killed on May 2 at the battle of Chancellorsville. It appears that Daniel had been wounded himself, but the nature of his problems are not listed in his service record.<br />
<br />
Of course many thousands of letters like this must have been sent to families all across the North and South after every battle. Both families and soldiers were always anxious to receive letters, but in some sad irony, this was not the letter that anybody ever expected to find at their doorstep.<br />
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</xml><![endif]-->"General Hospidel Brook Station May 11 1863
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Friend Mary</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought it my duty to drop you a few lines for your incouragement
if I can tri as it is you have lost your all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have lost that one that was near and dear unto you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one that your comfert restet upon and
often made you glad with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now he
has been taken from you and has gon to the spirit world and hope he can exclame
as the Samas did safe at home … there is no war but wheir all is love and picee
and harmoney and he has left a bright testomony behind that he was prepaird to
die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last words I spoke with him was
about about his eternal wellfair and I told him that if he was not yet fuly
prepaird to die that I would erge him to be earnestly earge him to to pray much
and look to god in faith and he would make him hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was getting on my beadside when I talket
to him and the tears were flowing down his cheaks and when I gave him goodby I
told him to pray for me and he said that I should pray for him that god should
bless him and I promised him I would and so I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But god has seen fit to call him from hour
side never to see him in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
Mary let us try and prepare ourselves to meat him in another world when parting
shall come no more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us live right and
we shall die right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have I hope you
have not forgoten what you had begon that is serving the lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say to you be faithful and you shall
again meat your Dear husbent wheir you shall never part with him any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now he is gon shall we wish him back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I no but we will go to meat him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard it is to give him up but the will of the
lord bee done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I can know how
you feal to five your only true one up never to see him again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how you feal for I cant hardly rest
day nor night since he was killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
came to my heart like as if a spear had been stabed through me and it made me
that sick that I could not sleep nor get up out of my bead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose I cand give you more knews then of
him then what I can for I did not see him but I spoke with hour Chaplain and he
and Do Fisher beried him and he said that they dug a grave and laid him in and
cover him with his blanket so that he is beried better than most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most are piled on heaps in large holes
but it matters not where the body is so the sole is safe in heaven and I trust
he has gon safe over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary put your
trust in god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May he chear and give you
aid is my prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must now close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must say a word to my Dear Mother in
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This littel book give to
Derbin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write to me and tell me how you
ar geting along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
D.C. Holloway</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Mother,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hand of god has again been laid heavyly been laid on
your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No don’t but I hope he will
help you to bear the cross tho it feals very heavy to part with such a Dear
Brother but the lord only knows weather I ever shall see my Family any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my face is still … werd that if I shall
never<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>shall meat my Friends and Family
on earth I hope to meat them hapy by and by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mother we often have greaved your heart but in your old days we have bee
the cause of many a tear fall from your cheaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But may the lord help you to bear this cross is my prayer fo we are in
the trap now and we must take what comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have some little hope of being discharge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weather I will I don’t know but I will
try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good by Dear Friend,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DC"</div>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-49941958405972941042016-04-07T15:51:00.001-04:002016-04-07T15:51:29.922-04:00INSIDE GETTYSBURG - Christ Lutheran ChurchIn today's post, Dr. Mock shares with us some of the stories associated with Christ Lutheran Church on Chambersburg Street...<br />
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<br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-50833745376360873272016-04-06T20:13:00.001-04:002016-04-06T20:29:56.268-04:00INSIDE GETTYSBURG - The Catherine Foster HouseFor today's post I would like to introduce you to, not only one of my best friends, but one of the most knowledgeable historians on the town of Gettysburg during the 1863 Pennsylvania Campaign, Dr. Steve Mock. He is also one of the best story-tellers I have ever met and his depth of research and passion for telling the story of the Gettysburg civilians is simply contagious. Only a select few people have the gift of almost transporting us back in time as if we were actually witnessing the dramatic events unfold around us. Dr. Mock is one of them.<br />
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In today's video clip, he talks to us about the story of Corporal Leander W. Wilcox of the 151st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry ("Schoolteacher Regiment") at the Catherine Foster house on the northwest corner of West High Street and South Washington Street.<br />
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Catherine Foster wrote of her experience on July 1 from her home, "We remained on our balcony watching the forming of the left wing, notwithstanding the unseen shells whizzing over our heads. It being our first experience, we neither realized danger nor obeyed orders of passing officers until 1 P.M., the Eleventh Corps coming rushing in Washington Street, urged on to support the right wing, our attention was called to their pleading for water. They dare not stop to drink, but we carried it to our front door and poured into their tins as they passed. The officers frequently said to us, 'Stop giving water, they have not time to drink.' Many of them got their last drink from our hands, as they were hurried along, saying as they went, 'We'll fight the enemy from your doors, we'll drive them or we'll die.' A few minutes after we left the balcony, a twelve pound shell struck it, demolishing the roof and ceiling. For two hours we carried water to the front door and poured into their tin cups..."<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">TO BE CONTINUED... THANK YOU DR. MOCK!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. David A. Murdoch, ed. Catherine Mary White Foster's Eyewitness Account of the Battle of Gettysburg, with Background on the Foster Family Union Soldiers. Adams County History, Volume 1, Article 5, 1995. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnc5FQE62kK02CUOiGBeR5pEU-gbH142Rd-hQknovzcu4mQq80sw7u82TKZMrc1H11kwMa5da4uouVDhLyLJHcm1c2HKOq3-06dy4FZq5vh4-I0gxeFl8MkCkPSHilsOFDQ-Lb2E9zg6q/s1600/DSC_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnc5FQE62kK02CUOiGBeR5pEU-gbH142Rd-hQknovzcu4mQq80sw7u82TKZMrc1H11kwMa5da4uouVDhLyLJHcm1c2HKOq3-06dy4FZq5vh4-I0gxeFl8MkCkPSHilsOFDQ-Lb2E9zg6q/s640/DSC_0127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span>Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-9457480373598149212016-04-05T13:28:00.000-04:002016-04-05T13:28:28.897-04:00History in Artifacts - The Cost of War<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV5phX8kDaQzymMd3P1TOTuMpCSBuJoQguxxDCjAVi_h-G9YVQgz17Xmt5UiYsiSEpsClNXR14DjA8VM3sNRVj0_Wy5cMZdPHVpzYW3NgLcWjw-lkmUx3oQ-l2VWdV5L-dlI_QVy9c98m/s1600/63rd+NY+-+Lt.+Michael+Grogan+1862+pay+voucher+-+wounded+Antieta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIV5phX8kDaQzymMd3P1TOTuMpCSBuJoQguxxDCjAVi_h-G9YVQgz17Xmt5UiYsiSEpsClNXR14DjA8VM3sNRVj0_Wy5cMZdPHVpzYW3NgLcWjw-lkmUx3oQ-l2VWdV5L-dlI_QVy9c98m/s400/63rd+NY+-+Lt.+Michael+Grogan+1862+pay+voucher+-+wounded+Antieta.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This simple pay receipt may not seem like much, but it proves just
how efficient the Army of the Potomac had become by December of 1862 and
how much the sacrifice of one soldier cost in terms United States
dollars. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This pay receipt was issued to First Sergeant Michael
Grogan of Company K, 63rd New York Volunteer Infantry, better known as
part of the famed Irish Brigade on December 15, 1862. He had enlisted
with the regiment in October of 1862 and slowly rose through the ranks
from corporal. Of course the story of the Irish Brigade has been
trumpeted since the guns fell silent. They participated in almost every
major engagement in the eastern theater of the war. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On
September 17, 1862 at the battle of Antietam, the Irish Brigade
(including Grogan and the 63rd NY) attacked a sunken farm lane lined
with Confederates. What was previously just a practical wagon track
connecting local farms, was transformed into a fortress stubbornly
defended by soldiers from Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia. The
Irish Brigade was just as stubborn. Lt. Colonel Henry Fowler,
commanding the regiment that day, said of his men, "It is now a solace
to my mind, while suffering from my wound, to testify how gallantly and
promptly each officer in his place and each company moved forward and
delivered their fire in the face of the most destructive storm of leaden
hail, that in an instant killed or wounded every officer but one and
more than one-half the rank and file of the right wing. For a moment
they staggered, but the scattered few quickly rallied upon the left,
closing on the colors, where they nobly fought, bled, and died,
protecting their own loved banner and their country's flag, until the
brigade was relieved." The regiment lost 202 men, more than any other
regiment in the Irish Brigade. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydAA_4F-RBhrrNIZJdH0jUmjiwNgBkqg9MBP6XotJREizpEqTSL8VGimpDRUKTYr4akZln6GwT94VxETWxBngNc9hOJAo6CrPzfGXVTaR5LQUc-qQqQiBZbWqh58uor79zuZtdxYLerRt/s1600/DSC_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydAA_4F-RBhrrNIZJdH0jUmjiwNgBkqg9MBP6XotJREizpEqTSL8VGimpDRUKTYr4akZln6GwT94VxETWxBngNc9hOJAo6CrPzfGXVTaR5LQUc-qQqQiBZbWqh58uor79zuZtdxYLerRt/s640/DSC_0711.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south towards the Sunken Road, or Bloody Lane. The 63rd New York and other regiments of the Irish Brigade advanced across these fields towards the top of the hill. Somewhere in these fields Sergeant Grogan was severely wounded.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Somewhere in that storm of
"leaden hail," Sergeant Grogan went down with a bullet through the
thigh. The Irish Brigade eventually did take the lane, which was forever after named appropriately, Bloody Lane. He was taken to a field hospital in the rear and attended to.
After a number of days he was sufficiently recovered to be transported
to Washington, D.C. The wound was still bad enough that he received a
furlough to go home. Grogan was transported to Albany, New York to
convalesce with some members of his family for eighteen days. While
there he received his commission as the Second Lieutenant of Company K
for his gallantry at Antietam. He returned to the army just in time for
their famed attack against the stone wall at Marye's Heights at
Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, where the regiment again suffered
severely. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUt-eKww4DJecmxIg0L0XQb9ae0keslbIDIp1skqpEfUvmx3FHz_QYyBUL_wcngwTXqU7IAlnQ75hq_k26Tofot8PQDrq8uoX97LDHhdT96P10Ye1MuzWTEyRjIapd_GkWEmzu30rIyAf/s1600/DSC_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUt-eKww4DJecmxIg0L0XQb9ae0keslbIDIp1skqpEfUvmx3FHz_QYyBUL_wcngwTXqU7IAlnQ75hq_k26Tofot8PQDrq8uoX97LDHhdT96P10Ye1MuzWTEyRjIapd_GkWEmzu30rIyAf/s320/DSC_0735.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west along Bloody Lane.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On December 15, two days after the battle, Grogan
finally received payment to reimburse the expenditures that resulted
from his wounding at Antietam. He received his due pay from July 1,
1862 to September of 1862 in the sum of $51.33. He was also reimbursed
for travel expenses from Washington to Albany, NY on account of his
wound in the sum of $12.00. Finally, he received $0.50 per day while on
convalescence for subsistence or rations, totaling $9.00. Grogan was
payed out in the lump sum of $72.33 by Paymaster Pomeroy.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Even
if we look at Grogan's payout for convalescence and consider it at the
top of the average payout, at least 9,549 Union soldiers were wounded in
the battle of Antietam. Surely many of these men died in the weeks and
months following the battle, but costs were also incurred with this
alternative. By multiplying an average payout of $15.00 per soldier for
convalescent purposes times the number of wounded at Antietam, the
Federal government would have paid out (or owed) $143,235 (in modern
terms, $3,282,561.27) to wounded. If we include two months pay for a
private soldier and a $13.00 convalescent payout (a total of $43.00 per
soldier), the price tag goes up to $410,607. Today that would be
$9,410,008.98 (inflation has hiked an average of 2.05%/year). The point
I'm trying to make is simply that the expense, not just in human cost,
but also for the United States government was astronomical. This is
only one battle and only includes wounded soldiers. Those thousands
still in the ranks also needed paid. We could continue into the cost of
logistical support, or destruction as well, but now my head is spinning
too much!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Grogan eventually left the service for a short while
in August of 1863 after attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He then
re-enlisted at consolidation and served at that rank in Company "F"
until being wounded again at Petersburg. He was discharged on account
of his wounds on August 8, 1864.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn6XCTB-G0H16hsGjk7fJF-9hbMEKYLkwJwNjHOjfBCX8rIiBtE-GaKFI7jGe9ITMWUiuBnp7rhDl5tKvp9PyqlVxS9b10dJqRgbqNJtymZ38TKcfZAflYVUt3fRrRMkcX0kX9JtWoKss/s1600/Irish+Brigade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn6XCTB-G0H16hsGjk7fJF-9hbMEKYLkwJwNjHOjfBCX8rIiBtE-GaKFI7jGe9ITMWUiuBnp7rhDl5tKvp9PyqlVxS9b10dJqRgbqNJtymZ38TKcfZAflYVUt3fRrRMkcX0kX9JtWoKss/s640/Irish+Brigade.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-45747834850877473272016-01-14T11:13:00.002-05:002016-02-05T11:03:03.356-05:00THE BOYS FOUGHT LIKE DEMONSMy new book about the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry is now available online at the link below. It is called "The Boys Fought Like Demons" in reference to Colonel Calvin Augustus Craig's remarks in a letter home about the regiment's performance at Gettysburg. The narrative follows the regiment from its formation, through all its most difficult battles, to muster out, and even through the commemorative post-war era. The book is 6x9, black and white with 246 pages and has 14 maps along with many other photos of the men that fought and the ground they fought on. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, the book is available through the link below. Just click on the book cover! Price: $19.99 + shipping and handling. It is also available on Amazon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.createspace.com/6029568" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.createspace.com/5243548" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOuhpSTQTYC5_chUSDo5Od5y1qmoH7XhnjHLhbXG6vkX_nVOs_nO9DU258TUXfapp2EM0p8lBDpTyeCtQIpUEqTz3GxoD3qWcKBOCixm8afqBsv7CAfRpK0R9jkREOlgHOVjOefHufRsJ/s640/The+Boys+Fought+Like+Demons+Cover+Final.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-52825635267705768392015-12-16T09:00:00.005-05:002015-12-16T09:00:40.330-05:00Just One Family (In Photos)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5FoKw5qkYuITnWhFse_ylzgiGqnhXctZlVSC-pm4ii8tSqju3JBNDYAkQZk8ETOLMQeF57aWqBmrW_u9kgIxUtIRGH0qBCCmJMDRbj6c-sp5J7soCe4n9Z-nJMtvyIBPjE8p3G-cxpRI/s1600/Michael+Miller+%2528Moeller%2529+-+30th+Wisconsin+Co.+B+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5FoKw5qkYuITnWhFse_ylzgiGqnhXctZlVSC-pm4ii8tSqju3JBNDYAkQZk8ETOLMQeF57aWqBmrW_u9kgIxUtIRGH0qBCCmJMDRbj6c-sp5J7soCe4n9Z-nJMtvyIBPjE8p3G-cxpRI/s320/Michael+Miller+%2528Moeller%2529+-+30th+Wisconsin+Co.+B+2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Miller - Company B, 30th WI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since the holiday season is upon us, I thought in the spirit of family I would
share a group of family portraits. They belong to just one family that
went through the American Civil War. Based purely on visual senses, it is
estimated that these photos were taken around the outbreak of the war,
or even into 1862.<br />
<br />
Michael Miller (also spelled Moeller) was born
in 1813 and
emigrated to the United States with his wife Mary Ann (1812-1886) before
1850 from
Hessen, Germany in search of a new life. They settled in Mineral Point,
Iowa County, Wisconsin, an area that at that time was filling with many
German immigrants. Not only was the landscape perfect for
agriculture, but it probably reminded many of these people of home as
well. Michael was a farmer and
according to the 1850 census owned property at a value of $300.00. He
and his wife had four children; John (1842- ), Casper (1847-1931), Mary
(1851-1914) and Nicholas (1853- ).<br />
<br />
As the Civil War broke out in 1861, Michael kept
to working the family farm at Mineral Point, Wisconsin (property valued
by that time up to $1,000 - Personal Property Value $200), but finally
in <br />
1862, he could no longer hold out. After President Lincoln's call for
100,000 men he enlisted in Company B, 30th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
on August 15, 1862 at the age of 49. Yes, he certainly was among the
older soldiers in the 30th, and for that matter in almost any regiment.
The 30th Wisconsin did not see the glory that other units experienced
on famous battlefields across the south, but spent most of its time
assisting expeditions into Indian territory in northwest Minnesota and
even into the Dakota Territory. This is largely a forgotten front of
the American Civil War and it was dirty and inhospitable business from
so many perspectives. Similarly to today's situation in parts of the
world, these men on the frontier had great difficulty distinguishing
between friend and foe. Their job was to keep that balance from tipping
on the periphery while the country tore itself apart. Although names
like Shiloh or Gettysburg did not adorn their banners, the job was
equally as important. The 30th Wisconsin also guarded prisoner of war
camps and eventually moved to Kentucky later in the war for garrison
duty. Michael Miller was one of the regiment's wagoners during his
service. He served nearly his entire enlistment until being mustered out
of Federal service after the cessation of hostilities on August 14,
1865 due to disability.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKBAa7uwfR6PmxBrVpBW4S8oYueN0SoBFfalzK7u2hkwCzOYSQ0kNJpu4r8hIJcUE7E2F1JVxhVdObjNvtQBuvavaw_YCdcV8mD4Fplr1JUujJBVnXX4MB4jqwwa4AOcSYSrcnRS4B1nR/s1600/Mary+Ann+Miller+%25281812-1886%2529+-+Michael%2527s+Wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKBAa7uwfR6PmxBrVpBW4S8oYueN0SoBFfalzK7u2hkwCzOYSQ0kNJpu4r8hIJcUE7E2F1JVxhVdObjNvtQBuvavaw_YCdcV8mD4Fplr1JUujJBVnXX4MB4jqwwa4AOcSYSrcnRS4B1nR/s320/Mary+Ann+Miller+%25281812-1886%2529+-+Michael%2527s+Wife.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael's wife, Mary Ann </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the war, Michael returned to his
farm where he lived with his family, the sun starting to set on his
life's journey. He died on January 27, 1876 at the age of 63. It
is also believed that his son, John, served during the later stages of
the war (1864-65) in the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry. Unfortunately he must
have died fairly young as well because the records are very foggy. The
rest of the family eventually moved with the only daughter (Mary
Miller Prideaux) and her husband to Saint Paul, Minnesota where they
lived out their lives and expanded the family. They must have remained
somewhat close because Mary Ann Miller (mother), Mary Miller Prideaux
and Casper Miller (and his wife) are all buried together at Oakland
Cemetery in St. Paul.<br />
<br />
This brief
story of course barely scratches the surface of the life these folks
lived, but they were just like so many families today when
the cruel winds of war severed the family bond. Even those family's
that survived unscathed, moved on from the war years greatly changed.
These changes along with a pervading perseverance allowed the country to start living again, healing, and moving forward in
an effort to build something better out of the ashes of that terrible
conflict. The reconstruction was even more complicated than the
fighting of course, but the hope of that "new birth of freedom" to which
Lincoln ingrained in the minds of Americans at least had an opportunity
to expand... <br /> Of course 150 years later, the difficulties of that
postwar era were just beginning, but during this holiday season we have a
lot to be thankful for.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT14z-5xet6pXAF13VCCvBvWwgrdV2LCiP0ZRuTVi5Q8IBLjyRuMc12Rs8b-ACDuMPOXWfs0wbArQo_xNTw57XziP63_ic8zbzhFmLcK0ZHTDLdHncsuvj1zauNShL9rGiVmA2nCwrCCt/s1600/John+Miller+%25281842+-%2529+First+child+Mary+and+Michael+Miller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT14z-5xet6pXAF13VCCvBvWwgrdV2LCiP0ZRuTVi5Q8IBLjyRuMc12Rs8b-ACDuMPOXWfs0wbArQo_xNTw57XziP63_ic8zbzhFmLcK0ZHTDLdHncsuvj1zauNShL9rGiVmA2nCwrCCt/s320/John+Miller+%25281842+-%2529+First+child+Mary+and+Michael+Miller.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Miller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFYg0vGRHJcMQhDshxppEJCVwGLfNGHzpr93WFwKYLQoYmFKS-gTw_l6zW-ibXyqib0kipbsZdxe6DYJcdu9N9yW5Sz1qcBK7pgrOV033Q9gqsEOeLUo3INvCp7B0Yf4dBaqNPQWZKudZ/s1600/Nicholas+Miller+%25281853-%2529+4th+child+of+Mary+and+Michael+Mill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFYg0vGRHJcMQhDshxppEJCVwGLfNGHzpr93WFwKYLQoYmFKS-gTw_l6zW-ibXyqib0kipbsZdxe6DYJcdu9N9yW5Sz1qcBK7pgrOV033Q9gqsEOeLUo3INvCp7B0Yf4dBaqNPQWZKudZ/s320/Nicholas+Miller+%25281853-%2529+4th+child+of+Mary+and+Michael+Mill.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicholas Miller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQoX5fkEq3QQDFPAkM4yjUYMlG7hSIERidQemJQZkEuQXXF_LPft07q_bUz7g5SDkwpPoktP-wNTaYDAVPQUIi2j-3Xjk18TXM4-8_esijf326b4CpnJYybleseUcvGMdSAbM07nRek65/s1600/Mary+Miller+Prideaux+%25281851-1914%2529+-+3rd+child+of+Mary+and+Michael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQoX5fkEq3QQDFPAkM4yjUYMlG7hSIERidQemJQZkEuQXXF_LPft07q_bUz7g5SDkwpPoktP-wNTaYDAVPQUIi2j-3Xjk18TXM4-8_esijf326b4CpnJYybleseUcvGMdSAbM07nRek65/s320/Mary+Miller+Prideaux+%25281851-1914%2529+-+3rd+child+of+Mary+and+Michael.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Miller Prideaux</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmNj-dnDCZpF4jM-COgwrffdnzfA71caS57Czy2pGd6cMDXGKDaZ8qJkvvRfVUcSREjoJETUbq1Q8H7d3K8DXxDHvqG15L3mEGczj_tsF-73qhxk0ccDXkIF42v4wyxpp7pl0H-X0JjM1/s1600/Casper+J.+Miller+%25281847-1931%2529+2nd+child+of+Mary+and+Michael+Mill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmNj-dnDCZpF4jM-COgwrffdnzfA71caS57Czy2pGd6cMDXGKDaZ8qJkvvRfVUcSREjoJETUbq1Q8H7d3K8DXxDHvqG15L3mEGczj_tsF-73qhxk0ccDXkIF42v4wyxpp7pl0H-X0JjM1/s320/Casper+J.+Miller+%25281847-1931%2529+2nd+child+of+Mary+and+Michael+Mill.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casper J. Miller</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT2X_oHLGPENbO9jmM6SzPYEqysOOU30k4nVzrzyKr5u2QTsjhXjInyfzRLxjRYJB_DweKJwAUKCc5wJPhflOosZEN49ZKkCJfY2NrHThDShzNxndtIynKgOskVNC-OJ27ZJUIL_ysaDg/s1600/Michael+Miller+%2528Moeller%2529+-+30th+WI+%25281813-1876%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT2X_oHLGPENbO9jmM6SzPYEqysOOU30k4nVzrzyKr5u2QTsjhXjInyfzRLxjRYJB_DweKJwAUKCc5wJPhflOosZEN49ZKkCJfY2NrHThDShzNxndtIynKgOskVNC-OJ27ZJUIL_ysaDg/s320/Michael+Miller+%2528Moeller%2529+-+30th+WI+%25281813-1876%2529.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Miller in civilian attire</td></tr>
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<br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-52932537864206174712015-09-07T20:46:00.001-04:002015-09-07T20:46:54.891-04:00Harper's Ferry Then and Now (Part 1)One of the most detailed series of photographs to come out of the Civil War was created at one of the war's most volatile border towns in 1862. The 22nd New York State Militia was stationed at Harper's Ferry during its three months service from May 28, 1862 to September 5, 1862. While the unit saw no major fighting during their time at Harper's Ferry, their service certainly did leave us with a great view of garrison life at this most important of Civil War towns. Many of the photos are fairly easy to recreate because of the great state of preservation in the historic town today. Of course a number of locations have changed with development and destruction during the war, but a number of the sites are easily found. Using the great images taken of the 22nd New York State Militia during their stay, we'll visit the modern sites and examine the changing scenery more than 150 years later. We'll also take a look at some other famous views from Harper's Ferry, Then and Now.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Photo 1:</b></u></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTdNo932le2u8wFrfWT4NBtaPMU8t60zVkq5ChYPCTa7PZGH9Qa-oWiEr-g40l9e0RfptHR6-rXOBro5SYinyRgby7vYqmk19O-R2JRG4MxpbnF4iF4oNilBJfbzK18iXekMlCji6HFc3/s1600/22nd+NY+Militia+at+Harpers+Ferry+near+Lodge+No.+1+-+Co.+A+and+St.+John%2527s+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTdNo932le2u8wFrfWT4NBtaPMU8t60zVkq5ChYPCTa7PZGH9Qa-oWiEr-g40l9e0RfptHR6-rXOBro5SYinyRgby7vYqmk19O-R2JRG4MxpbnF4iF4oNilBJfbzK18iXekMlCji6HFc3/s640/22nd+NY+Militia+at+Harpers+Ferry+near+Lodge+No.+1+-+Co.+A+and+St.+John%2527s+Church.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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This photo shows Company A, 22nd NY State Militia in formation along Filmore Street on the western slope of Camp Hill. From above Harper's Ferry, this view looks to the northwest with St. John's Lutheran Church in the left background. St. John's is located along the north side of modern day Washington Street, or Business 340, just west of the intersection with Zachary Taylor Street. The home in the back right is also still standing along Washington Street with a few alterations made since 1862. In the background you can see the steep ridges above the Potomac River on the Maryland side of the river. Below is the present view of the area where this photo was taken.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt8uDj8VuPaBkfsTWnU0syZNl25qM1mcikQVMGk6O34QNsqXShB_9L-D6lI8U9Em2tTbdVFEhBr3ppSGvF9KIDbVYVIhQ2DX_t1qkUV5EXhwLkk_AmzxZlB3NPKpEgG4YMmdWNivKZom3/s1600/DSC_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt8uDj8VuPaBkfsTWnU0syZNl25qM1mcikQVMGk6O34QNsqXShB_9L-D6lI8U9Em2tTbdVFEhBr3ppSGvF9KIDbVYVIhQ2DX_t1qkUV5EXhwLkk_AmzxZlB3NPKpEgG4YMmdWNivKZom3/s640/DSC_0589.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below is a modern view of St. John's Church. An artillery shell did major damage to the right window and the patch work is still clearly visible with a closer look.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz6G27PMMa7GwbYCJsnuq0AiiyOM233f1S4MLY7VLC5hqx6uWawncrq7Bst2gg-87vkDL6vUahEgbx5zthtcSIlHVCfRdkIIfTuw4db-qzL7HbBDdcHjHgSpQwUL70Ibdd7vk2PZ6vfnq/s1600/St.+John%2527s+Lutheran+Church+-+Harper%2527s+Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz6G27PMMa7GwbYCJsnuq0AiiyOM233f1S4MLY7VLC5hqx6uWawncrq7Bst2gg-87vkDL6vUahEgbx5zthtcSIlHVCfRdkIIfTuw4db-qzL7HbBDdcHjHgSpQwUL70Ibdd7vk2PZ6vfnq/s640/St.+John%2527s+Lutheran+Church+-+Harper%2527s+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Below is a modern view of the home seen in the back right of the Company A photo from along Washington Street.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasFHmS_WHIACpVGvhUGJ-3lbb7aPpxSS89tog57-SD8RKx6D8QY5w_Awh5mnksJlP80bObUsAxjWPhwhJVrZT9IF5NAY5tBrijdd88romY_xBLJWNMu_LVgIxnLuL7soHY2kCIO0AiqZJ/s1600/22nd+NY+Militia+Background+House+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasFHmS_WHIACpVGvhUGJ-3lbb7aPpxSS89tog57-SD8RKx6D8QY5w_Awh5mnksJlP80bObUsAxjWPhwhJVrZT9IF5NAY5tBrijdd88romY_xBLJWNMu_LVgIxnLuL7soHY2kCIO0AiqZJ/s640/22nd+NY+Militia+Background+House+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>PHOTO 2: </b></u></span></div>
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The photo below is another from the series taken of the 22nd New York State Militia. This one was also taken near Filmore Street near Anthony Hall from old Storer College campus. The building in the back left is still standing today, known as Virginia Lodge Number 1, former Odd Fellows lodge. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBbc0BL_h3_aUhVXDE-LaQaB9Gm0pSJgP9Ihfrjaxdd24Eta6KI5-6qyvH-jIgb1yEtrodQvgbkLUuXRxBKXdDb5b9WcnaLULjjw5qXa9a3cRk_BIf5u5GSjERlwpUt0zCjCtEqsMRYSz/s1600/22nd+NY+Militia+at+Harpers+Ferry+near+Lodge+No.+1+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBbc0BL_h3_aUhVXDE-LaQaB9Gm0pSJgP9Ihfrjaxdd24Eta6KI5-6qyvH-jIgb1yEtrodQvgbkLUuXRxBKXdDb5b9WcnaLULjjw5qXa9a3cRk_BIf5u5GSjERlwpUt0zCjCtEqsMRYSz/s640/22nd+NY+Militia+at+Harpers+Ferry+near+Lodge+No.+1+-+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below is the modern day view of the same area. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX2sxS6EKzl92eU_LZiqYS6V9w0peyjx1G7Ojct3FjC5ngT6Tk9D4rpc3ecUXF_UWfUSnqjeojYSFKd9JJmM58YDB-bNmgIfEq_26_l2mxjvYnm4GMduIWjJ6DAhnD-pkgehfY0SU3_d4/s1600/DSC_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX2sxS6EKzl92eU_LZiqYS6V9w0peyjx1G7Ojct3FjC5ngT6Tk9D4rpc3ecUXF_UWfUSnqjeojYSFKd9JJmM58YDB-bNmgIfEq_26_l2mxjvYnm4GMduIWjJ6DAhnD-pkgehfY0SU3_d4/s640/DSC_0584.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is Lodge Number 1 from a different angle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvG8Pt40ktlf25yBW3ilO8mUQyt9incCdA8Bb8bZdJooiqXQnpW4C0kBMIbK0_P_H2LbdzsNW1pr1UmqJYrzTyBvW7eE5dLAXp8nO5kJRmKITHFREfj0EDLZoBjomLfeZ4MVn9QV4td0i/s1600/Virginia+Lodge+No.+1+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvG8Pt40ktlf25yBW3ilO8mUQyt9incCdA8Bb8bZdJooiqXQnpW4C0kBMIbK0_P_H2LbdzsNW1pr1UmqJYrzTyBvW7eE5dLAXp8nO5kJRmKITHFREfj0EDLZoBjomLfeZ4MVn9QV4td0i/s640/Virginia+Lodge+No.+1+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>PHOTO 3:</b></u></span></div>
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Another of the group shots taken of the 22nd New York State Militia was taken at Lodge Number 1 as well. This one with the men gathered around the artillery positioned just to the south of the building.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorAb4XT8QtjA6lqbJOdvoOm9oURQf5U5CF22YZ8zmQ3sBRV_NT0wDO9tdazjc4we1it96yzAb5YtjV8R-3PigesRJrVKpb9ATOAUaa0Daqdt7owRkFWAg_CPHELxY1zHE7uJ5OhHVRsAM/s1600/22nd+NY+Militia+at+Harpers+Ferry+near+Lodge+No.+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorAb4XT8QtjA6lqbJOdvoOm9oURQf5U5CF22YZ8zmQ3sBRV_NT0wDO9tdazjc4we1it96yzAb5YtjV8R-3PigesRJrVKpb9ATOAUaa0Daqdt7owRkFWAg_CPHELxY1zHE7uJ5OhHVRsAM/s640/22nd+NY+Militia+at+Harpers+Ferry+near+Lodge+No.+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Below is the modern view. This perspective is a little bit closer, but the tree on the left edge of the photo might possibly be the same one that the soldier is sitting in to the left side in the original photo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCek7QMKI8_pGyJKgXbkqA0naQoqW6MtlEexiXwn0z8h8rktO_u_haO9XNJ6e-rWLjUxOusCX8wyEL1uHNHZlIg5OFXQRa38MleClC7VIvFEtxC2FbdIo78rsMqjy972NGC6Aoc2EaasM/s1600/DSC_0580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCek7QMKI8_pGyJKgXbkqA0naQoqW6MtlEexiXwn0z8h8rktO_u_haO9XNJ6e-rWLjUxOusCX8wyEL1uHNHZlIg5OFXQRa38MleClC7VIvFEtxC2FbdIo78rsMqjy972NGC6Aoc2EaasM/s640/DSC_0580.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>PHOTO 4:</b></u></span></div>
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The following is another of the 22nd New York State Militia photos taken at Lodge Number 1. The soldier is holding an Enfield Rifle Musket with the early style saber bayonet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0AYluqpqBdZ3PHcYZG46Cb2OTBEXXGGXJhyrON-kgp0NPb-E0HraCGMKcWr3z19nrIpGsZEK1w4-fOy-aqfIVeOy8W0rvu0eKoQW7HBgW1q-uxuqwwOVpLri65nfBY_QJ9GhWAOaCkHS/s1600/34425v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0AYluqpqBdZ3PHcYZG46Cb2OTBEXXGGXJhyrON-kgp0NPb-E0HraCGMKcWr3z19nrIpGsZEK1w4-fOy-aqfIVeOy8W0rvu0eKoQW7HBgW1q-uxuqwwOVpLri65nfBY_QJ9GhWAOaCkHS/s640/34425v.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Modern View:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyOY6kllMKVRXqcvZscTYgrTgcChqP94IxlzEeBSVym4gEXsDBBU9VqrMnfpB72lEuSqyvpys4OcMtgSI3LbUQKeU4jgSO1JYeE0L4jgbR8A7E739f5oQB4F5gEoWvxSHwj4Pn6lkdo4T/s1600/DSC_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyOY6kllMKVRXqcvZscTYgrTgcChqP94IxlzEeBSVym4gEXsDBBU9VqrMnfpB72lEuSqyvpys4OcMtgSI3LbUQKeU4jgSO1JYeE0L4jgbR8A7E739f5oQB4F5gEoWvxSHwj4Pn6lkdo4T/s640/DSC_0592.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Photo 5:</b></u></span></div>
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The following photo shows Colonel Dixon S. Miles in front of Anthony Hall. Miles was a career military man and born in 1804. He graduated from West Point in the class of 1824. Like many Civil War officers, he served in Mexico and was brevetted for gallantry. He then served on the frontier and by the time the war broke out, he was a colonel. At First Bull Run he commanded a division, which did not get into the fight, being held in reserve. It was probably for the best because Miles was accused of being drunk. He was then placed in command of a brigade with orders to defend the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. His headquarters were at Harper's Ferry. As "Stonewall" Jackson's men hemmed in Harper's Ferry during the Maryland Campaign in September of 1862, Miles ordered the withdraw of troops from Maryland Heights which isolated all of his units in the environs of the town, surrounded by a ring of mountaintop artillery positions which Jackson utilized to full potential. After holding a council of war, Miles decided that the best course was surrender, but an incoming shell mortally wounded him on the evening of September 15. He died the following day in the hands of Jackson's men. His force of nearly 12,000 soldiers were surrendered as the largest capitulation of U.S. forces until World War II. </div>
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Anthony Hall on the former Storer College grounds has changed a great deal over the years. The original building was finished in 1848, but it burned in the early part of the 20th Century, but was rebuilt with some additions on the original foundation. Some of the other original features, like the front stairs are still the same as well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlbfbmDKRXFAcpohxW_1NkUxfyacNCoKVQ6ziqDrefi7ogsYJobEOJoSZi9YyUMzg4Ouy7IQ64zf_xO_FDA9HOvVE9Fd43_ktYG89GwylsUM6Fq0y4LlGRcVd0sr8wdF9dgeNPMD7Xdcg/s1600/35231v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlbfbmDKRXFAcpohxW_1NkUxfyacNCoKVQ6ziqDrefi7ogsYJobEOJoSZi9YyUMzg4Ouy7IQ64zf_xO_FDA9HOvVE9Fd43_ktYG89GwylsUM6Fq0y4LlGRcVd0sr8wdF9dgeNPMD7Xdcg/s640/35231v.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Modern view:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVcyJN5kzxUnUM17L8c5LmRxe10LmvGDaWZ7IuZo1BvZ2EoB1rekuqV-yw7_EigKHZVPxBPKCa3AtyfTRroCxky3eh1EGBfVjm_xHffVYLVrI8JRP_cRV8a0RJJm6nNBHwqr-PwMDWDmO/s1600/DSC_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVcyJN5kzxUnUM17L8c5LmRxe10LmvGDaWZ7IuZo1BvZ2EoB1rekuqV-yw7_EigKHZVPxBPKCa3AtyfTRroCxky3eh1EGBfVjm_xHffVYLVrI8JRP_cRV8a0RJJm6nNBHwqr-PwMDWDmO/s640/DSC_0585.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A full view of modern Anthony Hall can be seen below. Today the building is the Mather Training Center operated by the National Park Service.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqsT7rCkPEXIARjfnv4iGTldeicpefvWCxQlFTFtzCIjz7A8Pa84IjJZ8j_-qX4TpagOSVVmn314URHjQBLk2wwSKoXglFbTsNqJ_PHMtYho9Gc_YXv5RXUNv6pIpiBCV7AwT_ZEsU4ZQ/s1600/Anthony+Hall+-+1848+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqsT7rCkPEXIARjfnv4iGTldeicpefvWCxQlFTFtzCIjz7A8Pa84IjJZ8j_-qX4TpagOSVVmn314URHjQBLk2wwSKoXglFbTsNqJ_PHMtYho9Gc_YXv5RXUNv6pIpiBCV7AwT_ZEsU4ZQ/s640/Anthony+Hall+-+1848+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This view is looking down on Harper's Ferry and the Potomac River at its confluence with the Shenandoah River from Harper's Cemetery. The roof of the church in the right foreground is the St. John's Episcopal Church built in 1852. Today all that remains are the church's ruins. St. Peter's Catholic Church today would be just out of view to the right. The armory (or what remains of it) are visible along the Potomac shore in the lower left part of the photograph, directly over the top of the large tombstone in the left corner of the image. </div>
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Maryland Heights is across the river to the left, Loudon Heights is across the river on the right side of the photo. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bridge is visible across the Potomac River with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal along the far shore as well, with Lock 33. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHOkv2eDhkqkGlSRF0BPvueJEFmRufUv4U8wSxLCWtAcaN_NwXNTnd4GMl-DcxSJ4hFVIRq2x0mIX9ZLcuBwPTghv0PxXvkbvrwizM2uYpADMaVYf3Px9L_WDiSzSQy96VoPsFMLK3jbM/s1600/03871v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHOkv2eDhkqkGlSRF0BPvueJEFmRufUv4U8wSxLCWtAcaN_NwXNTnd4GMl-DcxSJ4hFVIRq2x0mIX9ZLcuBwPTghv0PxXvkbvrwizM2uYpADMaVYf3Px9L_WDiSzSQy96VoPsFMLK3jbM/s640/03871v.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Modern view:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojNTnz2l2Fies3ytwWvZF2ewzyXZL1Dh5L_M0haHn2SDG3PFlWdw8h9l-3GUywWJ8I4wRAD8pLTboTZa0d_Vin52mJSI6dCacKdKbHwzvzTeAcSRFdo_lCWY6owpOaTYLqyQ9-cOz21KD/s1600/DSC_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojNTnz2l2Fies3ytwWvZF2ewzyXZL1Dh5L_M0haHn2SDG3PFlWdw8h9l-3GUywWJ8I4wRAD8pLTboTZa0d_Vin52mJSI6dCacKdKbHwzvzTeAcSRFdo_lCWY6owpOaTYLqyQ9-cOz21KD/s640/DSC_0611.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ruins of St. John's Episcopal Church today. The roof of this church was visible in the original photo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-jLBIjCHBjEp89_CXnr744dcp8Cv6Z3wrSS-xztA1UGXVN_xQoz32kACNi9glYpWvFhSF-h9FUYy8pY7VOz1qeL5PS7oNrcISJMjJbM4X0nDNbN-q3uGL3pCymejS7RmyK8cOEERGQTN/s1600/St.+John%2527s+Episcopal+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-jLBIjCHBjEp89_CXnr744dcp8Cv6Z3wrSS-xztA1UGXVN_xQoz32kACNi9glYpWvFhSF-h9FUYy8pY7VOz1qeL5PS7oNrcISJMjJbM4X0nDNbN-q3uGL3pCymejS7RmyK8cOEERGQTN/s640/St.+John%2527s+Episcopal+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The following image is a view towards Loudon Heights from Harper's Cemetery.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPjsCMpfJq8kpFf5Fz4WNPSkan8oevZ3pHVG4fM5dVrfxtqNLTuqeZ2M0dBm-sC_8ETBcaD9I6I4HYLtcFC5KZ3qeUHUMG0gSv-zHacV-uqizfBCrW5Gh3xbFZHMji4qNcqozlQiQfpMG/s1600/03685v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPjsCMpfJq8kpFf5Fz4WNPSkan8oevZ3pHVG4fM5dVrfxtqNLTuqeZ2M0dBm-sC_8ETBcaD9I6I4HYLtcFC5KZ3qeUHUMG0gSv-zHacV-uqizfBCrW5Gh3xbFZHMji4qNcqozlQiQfpMG/s640/03685v.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Modern view from near the same location today:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSHUUpfi-1pWGEe47-2x8xtS1nqHUU8zjz_NXS1VequL74RudQAExpQG_5Wub3ps-u38fhk0o2i0Du48SqD2YVSt2pSOTLE74G3yvrHVrVlKAb6zsbNQrO4nL6_D5tj8qdhcPHYhP22Vp/s1600/DSC_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSHUUpfi-1pWGEe47-2x8xtS1nqHUU8zjz_NXS1VequL74RudQAExpQG_5Wub3ps-u38fhk0o2i0Du48SqD2YVSt2pSOTLE74G3yvrHVrVlKAb6zsbNQrO4nL6_D5tj8qdhcPHYhP22Vp/s640/DSC_0620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>MILITARY BUILDINGS IN UPPER HARPER'S FERRY:</b></u></span></div>
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The Brackett House was built in 1858 as the U.S. Armory Superintendent's Clerk's residence. The structure is named after Dr. Nathan Brackett, who helped to found Storer College for freedmen in 1867. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cug1oMnqGOf9__weHBLxGm4xJ5oxEjXLxlbu_nkAshBVtrQHR1dTrUrCqHIsbX5dtNE_gZhKi-ojhoBoVbLnA60We3z-j8lxJcqHGJwmIsHUAGEiPCIvMHyKCwi0Q2XciRDxmezSv89f/s1600/Brackett+House+-+1858+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cug1oMnqGOf9__weHBLxGm4xJ5oxEjXLxlbu_nkAshBVtrQHR1dTrUrCqHIsbX5dtNE_gZhKi-ojhoBoVbLnA60We3z-j8lxJcqHGJwmIsHUAGEiPCIvMHyKCwi0Q2XciRDxmezSv89f/s640/Brackett+House+-+1858+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The following two photos are of the west (directly below) facade and east (next photo) facade of Lockwood House. It was built in 1847 as the U.S. Army Paymaster's house. During the Civil War it was the headquarters for both Brigadier General Henry Lockwood, commander of an independent brigade, and also, Major General Philip Sheridan for his 1864 Valley Campaign. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPofYB3oZAAasV1ytbQWLCIisOgm6dYGY6vmJfskSmY98jC6hwygXNvBMWV9xCHjOmH2EN3b2FPz44C5-bvkYh3rpQEHH3kFpIC5EUDtOOvB2-5-HEmihygXpQLjLHmPkaiv0U73PFYDF/s1600/Lockwood+House+-+1847+-+Harpers+Ferry+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPofYB3oZAAasV1ytbQWLCIisOgm6dYGY6vmJfskSmY98jC6hwygXNvBMWV9xCHjOmH2EN3b2FPz44C5-bvkYh3rpQEHH3kFpIC5EUDtOOvB2-5-HEmihygXpQLjLHmPkaiv0U73PFYDF/s640/Lockwood+House+-+1847+-+Harpers+Ferry+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GIh_UOgxz8Es9k9FQjGoRPdehEJnGq4sX6_srw6d5_RPdLu4-_hL79j-t2vR4Y7cqKuKzUfOVXbI5uTlQFrwfZVfHR_L65Q5ByCKBawHQoVo2IYgU-N6f0PASDoC__vrJQC95fbkSzKS/s1600/Lockwood+House+-+1847+-+Harpers+Ferry+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GIh_UOgxz8Es9k9FQjGoRPdehEJnGq4sX6_srw6d5_RPdLu4-_hL79j-t2vR4Y7cqKuKzUfOVXbI5uTlQFrwfZVfHR_L65Q5ByCKBawHQoVo2IYgU-N6f0PASDoC__vrJQC95fbkSzKS/s640/Lockwood+House+-+1847+-+Harpers+Ferry+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Morrell House (below) was built in 1858 as the U.S. Paymaster Clerk's family residence. Reverend Alexander Morrell of Maine lived here for a short time with his family. Morrell was responsible for bringing the Freewill Baptist beliefs to the Shenandoah Valley. The church's goal was to educate formerly enslaved people and Morrell was instrumental in the area, preaching and teaching for nearly twenty years. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBTG06WmjxCQy6fcExAijOZJZyGvtvyM15XaFgjgFU4Z7cYj52P8IrO_jvw_7Px6xEXQOQSP5omSLoj3o6pBggrgZ0d4bVV-gtWynGCmsO-1XWN9cFHdyjDNU1_rbM3yUy_HmxFHVhZYH/s1600/Morrell+House+-+1858+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBTG06WmjxCQy6fcExAijOZJZyGvtvyM15XaFgjgFU4Z7cYj52P8IrO_jvw_7Px6xEXQOQSP5omSLoj3o6pBggrgZ0d4bVV-gtWynGCmsO-1XWN9cFHdyjDNU1_rbM3yUy_HmxFHVhZYH/s640/Morrell+House+-+1858+-+Harpers+Ferry.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-90390000944294231062015-02-28T21:52:00.003-05:002015-02-28T21:52:46.588-05:00Fort Stedman Heroes - A Photo Tour<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMMQN_AEBeUgh-rieoSHZtXEvOcsljRIaNJQEIcyJAS86JgWcZvduzZd-wI5JCAOkJ1rPuyXOus1hFpk_Wfm4hh5VfttWTPART5hX3i774mOG6_v6gg2YBXHua1sofokx1olosSSkE2GD/s1600/DSC_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMMQN_AEBeUgh-rieoSHZtXEvOcsljRIaNJQEIcyJAS86JgWcZvduzZd-wI5JCAOkJ1rPuyXOus1hFpk_Wfm4hh5VfttWTPART5hX3i774mOG6_v6gg2YBXHua1sofokx1olosSSkE2GD/s1600/DSC_0919.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Stedman at Petersburg National Battlefield.</td></tr>
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One of the last major efforts by Lee's Army of Northern Virginia to break the siege at Petersburg took <br />
place in March of 1865. After a terribly harsh winter of '64-'65, the Confederate forces strapped down around the 'Cockade City' were struggling to remain viable as a fighting force. Quite simply, Grant's line was stretching the smaller Army of Northern Virginia perilously thin. In desperation, Lee believed that the only possibility of success remained with breaking out of Petersburg and joining forces with General Joseph Johnston's army to the south.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxkH1DhoAI4jd9k56RcWsFQSNTgis-AyMmdPQ4xWMClnwsiVWVjKC0bjLBEfo22-0vm9HHaakn1_ZRRazkIe7Gf-GAYKbGIXqY2gG74xaqBp7Cat0_VsRZ1DgwIBzYpXCAJalRcYnZOo3/s1600/DSC_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxkH1DhoAI4jd9k56RcWsFQSNTgis-AyMmdPQ4xWMClnwsiVWVjKC0bjLBEfo22-0vm9HHaakn1_ZRRazkIe7Gf-GAYKbGIXqY2gG74xaqBp7Cat0_VsRZ1DgwIBzYpXCAJalRcYnZOo3/s1600/DSC_0937.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">Marker at Colquitt's Salient</td></tr>
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The line around Fort Stedman was an area of promise to Robert E. Lee. The two opposing lines there were extremely close (only 150 yards apart in places), making a possible attack more manageable. Behind the Federal line at this point and also relatively close, ran the U.S. military railroad, a vital supply line that, with a successful attack, was within easy striking distance. Lee set his sights on the area around Fort Stedman and tasked Major General John Brown Gordon with reconnoitering the Federal defenses along this part of the line. Gordon wrote in his official report,"If there was a weak point in those defences, I was expected to find it. If such a point could be found, I was expected to submit to General Lee some plan by which it would be feasible, or at least possible, for his depleted army to assail it successfully." <br />
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Gordon, after a week of searching for weakness in the line, reported back to General Lee that he had "learned the name of every officer of rank in my front." Gordon proposed infiltrating the Federal lines with different hand-picked squads. He would use the information obtained during his reconnoitering to cause panic in the Federal rear. These advance parties were to be supported by large attacking columns that would overpower the forces in their front and shatter the Federal line. On the night of March 24, the Confederate attacking force prepared for the assault under the cover of darkness. The jump-off point for the attack was a point called Colquitt's Salient, only a couple hundred yards from Fort Stedman.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpn4IZSiVd2GtUYfPVf8K4dlpHTEtBImnqj6c_D0peLDHKv5ae29i8cXitXfOVFenbAFcEnUIDWbon1oNEUFVPBwDVbvvY8adXXucSYH1ZVjIxpvxhRQFr33VTBihVI0tB-bM4dcXEJyG/s1600/DSC_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpn4IZSiVd2GtUYfPVf8K4dlpHTEtBImnqj6c_D0peLDHKv5ae29i8cXitXfOVFenbAFcEnUIDWbon1oNEUFVPBwDVbvvY8adXXucSYH1ZVjIxpvxhRQFr33VTBihVI0tB-bM4dcXEJyG/s1600/DSC_0929.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Colquitt's Salient towards Fort Stedman, visible at the top of the hill. It is from here that General Gordon's men launched their assault on the morning of March 25, 1865.</td></tr>
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The next morning, before dawn on March 25, a "solitary signal shot rang out in the stillness..." The attackers crept out across the no-mans land at about 4:30 AM and in a few short moments were on the breastworks of Fort Stedman. The Federal defenders of the IX Corps hardly knew what hit them. Within seconds Gordon claimed the Confederates captured "nine heavy cannon, eleven mortars, nearly 1,000 prisoners...with the loss of less than half a dozen men." A significant portion of works were captured on either side of the fort as well.<br />
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Fairly quickly, Federal commanders recognized the dire situation befalling them as the first rays of sunlight shown on the horizon. General John Parke, commanding the IX Corps, quickly ordered the divisions of Orlando Willcox and John Hartranft towards the breach. Hartranft's troops had the farthest to move, but they were very soon approaching Confederate skirmishers southeast of Fort Stedman. At about this time, Confederates had also turned south towards Fort Haskell, but met with little success. To the north of Fort Stedman, the Confederates drove hard through a number of veteran regiments that were far too weak to meet the initial weight of the attack. A few of them rallied though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevIQBsyS4WUlJn2o-1yso4ETCL5qK8jtSgmkoU7HBM5fAZZTiHlai2H6ntN-UOowUfC_aODwDx7ayOyMH-pFtFhS4tRkqCtJHFpt-2Kdg8KxmBFtqI2Iyym4FjnZMb01x21cVG_tcyawQ/s1600/Fort+Stedman+May+'65%2Bby%2BTimothy%2BO'Sullivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevIQBsyS4WUlJn2o-1yso4ETCL5qK8jtSgmkoU7HBM5fAZZTiHlai2H6ntN-UOowUfC_aODwDx7ayOyMH-pFtFhS4tRkqCtJHFpt-2Kdg8KxmBFtqI2Iyym4FjnZMb01x21cVG_tcyawQ/s1600/Fort+Stedman+May+'65%2Bby%2BTimothy%2BO'Sullivan.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Stedman in May 1865 as photographed by Timothy<br />O'Sullivan. <i>Library of Congress</i>.</td></tr>
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Around 7:30 AM, General Hartranft received orders from General Parke to retake Stedman. His Pennsylvanians were already sealing off the break, but within fifteen minutes of the reception of Parke's order, he had his entire division moving to retake the fort with support from the surrounding batteries. Hartranft reported afterwards that, "This ruse was a complete success. The enemy, seeing the advance of this regiment [211th Pennsylvania], numbering about 600 muskets, in such handsome manner, commenced to waver, when the balance of the division charged with a will, in the most gallant style, and in a moment Stedman, Batteries 11 and 12, and the entire line which had been lost, was recaptured with a large number of prisoners, battle-flags, and small-arms." As it turned out, Hartranft was not supposed to make this counterattack until a division of the VI Corps arrived, but he saw that success was sure and commenced regardless. <br />
<br />
General John Gordon dejectedly wrote afterwards that "daylight was coming. Through the failure of the three guides we had failed to occupy the three forts in the rear, and they were now filled with Federals. Our wretched railroad trains had broken down, and the troops who were coming to my aid did not reach me. The full light of the morning revealed the gathering forces of Grant and the great preponderance of his numbers. It was impossible for me to make further headway with my isolated corps, and General Lee directed me to withdraw." Not until the final week of the war would another last gasp effort be made to escape the stranglehold at Petersburg by the Army of Northern Virginia. They had lost many more irreplaceable veteran troops to no avail. For Grant and those Union troops involved in the repulse of the attack at Fort Stedman, it seemed as if maybe the last few cards were falling into place. They had lost many more very good soldiers as well, but seemingly the reward was not far up the road. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6MMFo_e5rl7msOvrWn-35WNQBBbV_tVqYvlDvmcn19hyphenhyphen0atInnblvkJPklzHDhw_mZUTmfXgNjwcr-m8WfOrIReSzC4kI9TGfgDdu8FjkoNmewTxqewMb-s-YNc3hb6MEhN25JOOuVwd/s1600/DSC_0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6MMFo_e5rl7msOvrWn-35WNQBBbV_tVqYvlDvmcn19hyphenhyphen0atInnblvkJPklzHDhw_mZUTmfXgNjwcr-m8WfOrIReSzC4kI9TGfgDdu8FjkoNmewTxqewMb-s-YNc3hb6MEhN25JOOuVwd/s1600/DSC_0941.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union artillery north of Fort Stedman towards the site of the Hare House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxTpH_COYLYQLyeFoW2c1RNbl5PDbardNavtDkBdd7j7N_3tllw4CPaj2B6toioKHJ2cVS1b7StjW7jHmTSX4DK-J8H8y-IM9raP70kIWXkMS0hrv0qaprFKJNKVjV0Nm7K16a7yjU6Ev/s1600/DSC_0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxTpH_COYLYQLyeFoW2c1RNbl5PDbardNavtDkBdd7j7N_3tllw4CPaj2B6toioKHJ2cVS1b7StjW7jHmTSX4DK-J8H8y-IM9raP70kIWXkMS0hrv0qaprFKJNKVjV0Nm7K16a7yjU6Ev/s1600/DSC_0943.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument at Fort Stedman to Hartranft's Division of the Ninth Corps, the men that turned back the breakthrough.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nLiTxpuSH1h6OxuxytcGVr5tGhnqrQcb9y2C3rvcbWwTrF35owG2YY6RHtikkWI8WEzHh9-n8sQ3_pEja9se_bIDCqg-tDFpwWqpQ5nZE0FaogqxXtWccPChuO8kWNDGj6tLJ24edZ0A/s1600/DSC_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nLiTxpuSH1h6OxuxytcGVr5tGhnqrQcb9y2C3rvcbWwTrF35owG2YY6RHtikkWI8WEzHh9-n8sQ3_pEja9se_bIDCqg-tDFpwWqpQ5nZE0FaogqxXtWccPChuO8kWNDGj6tLJ24edZ0A/s1600/DSC_0947.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View north from inside Fort Stedman.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg79dbBoXQSd8PgEflp1WlnP0FmutU9YV-X6Cme_jI6idOUPMRSOVJSfyUjiNeCTJTRthGq5cGmEs7JNdQ-LqVL4JjrKiIvvF83GaPm757u3wtBIY8J8VjfRG_HQluJopGFGOn-AR54-2/s1600/DSC_0945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg79dbBoXQSd8PgEflp1WlnP0FmutU9YV-X6Cme_jI6idOUPMRSOVJSfyUjiNeCTJTRthGq5cGmEs7JNdQ-LqVL4JjrKiIvvF83GaPm757u3wtBIY8J8VjfRG_HQluJopGFGOn-AR54-2/s1600/DSC_0945.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federal guns inside Fort Stedman looking south towards Fort Haskell.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GtUnhmPqezqh_mqJCWvIYyJV8OGejhixPW1dzvyS-SyGAV55eRLfeBTk3uNeid4RBdATQlk5dHbdSszaIFxlDXdB3bFZ9FTJJaRw7UlUT1-NtbVPT9bTmrSd8RcHmiqe_p9WoeElYHt8/s1600/DSC_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GtUnhmPqezqh_mqJCWvIYyJV8OGejhixPW1dzvyS-SyGAV55eRLfeBTk3uNeid4RBdATQlk5dHbdSszaIFxlDXdB3bFZ9FTJJaRw7UlUT1-NtbVPT9bTmrSd8RcHmiqe_p9WoeElYHt8/s1600/DSC_0951.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View towards Colquitt's Salient from inside Fort Stedman. This shows the entire track of advance by Gordon's Confederates on the morning of March 25, 1865.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2LJhYNyjEALptN3hkcXrgj85qkorWsHKZmLor_7oX7ak0PxcTyuZmYCbr8SR_2lyXiIPeJ0Zf-iE0xIVlDSfTvjjAF20cLvO4q_ePJ1z-5ZeGb7C3byjQVEwudBahbXRetOnkuW6eu-T/s1600/DSC_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2LJhYNyjEALptN3hkcXrgj85qkorWsHKZmLor_7oX7ak0PxcTyuZmYCbr8SR_2lyXiIPeJ0Zf-iE0xIVlDSfTvjjAF20cLvO4q_ePJ1z-5ZeGb7C3byjQVEwudBahbXRetOnkuW6eu-T/s1600/DSC_0954.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View inside Fort Stedman.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUkGtv_nHVNfbxBnkWPTcc0GTSbWb-Cic-SlTg3A6szqa7N8Bj6rDd8h3SZHxSk3H1i-eYIHYHnYZMAExVsPoNmA-SBuIpX1BiXFZ1VnkQNvGvqGvuVMi8yoQxbRan_qCL4RqarKfvLAh/s1600/DSC_0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUkGtv_nHVNfbxBnkWPTcc0GTSbWb-Cic-SlTg3A6szqa7N8Bj6rDd8h3SZHxSk3H1i-eYIHYHnYZMAExVsPoNmA-SBuIpX1BiXFZ1VnkQNvGvqGvuVMi8yoQxbRan_qCL4RqarKfvLAh/s1600/DSC_0957.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north from Fort Haskell to Fort Stedman. After initially capturing Fort Stedman, parts of the Confederate attacking force turned south towards this position through the ravine in the mid part of the photo and were stymied by Union defenders in and around Fort Haskell. Also, Hartranft's Division came charging in from the right. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSe0ojqlEeGt6co7rGz5Irw1RWruh74ou6NAKXWM9pBBLUbR6o9pShyphenhyphenBkVNfl1-s4nCo8HM2WTw3k1tnMOin_58iqUJeFrPD66-DjiJGIuqFvXuy9JZq42tSFKaZ0q4RfrQ76_hHmkW0nd/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSe0ojqlEeGt6co7rGz5Irw1RWruh74ou6NAKXWM9pBBLUbR6o9pShyphenhyphenBkVNfl1-s4nCo8HM2WTw3k1tnMOin_58iqUJeFrPD66-DjiJGIuqFvXuy9JZq42tSFKaZ0q4RfrQ76_hHmkW0nd/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burial marker for unknown Confederate soldiers buried at Blandford Cemetery at Petersburg.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGtMioF9NDCxaRoGUgsA6avpdyIddfWIh57LlIYS_1TX7RpE2rLjliN-y25n8DMrpIa-xi5k_T-EwB0x3RNtS7yINJq3EJF5pfb0EUnRYiSWkPQJ9wOCxW3zYwpeAV1lA4xixG8tRBmz3/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGtMioF9NDCxaRoGUgsA6avpdyIddfWIh57LlIYS_1TX7RpE2rLjliN-y25n8DMrpIa-xi5k_T-EwB0x3RNtS7yINJq3EJF5pfb0EUnRYiSWkPQJ9wOCxW3zYwpeAV1lA4xixG8tRBmz3/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Stedman plot for those Confederates that fell in the March 25 assault, buried at Blandford Cemetery at Petersburg.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ETpY0DkBcatY4eYKGYB_Srs9L9iLnnL-UswMu6BrJznvQLurbpDavreDOCKK8iwPato66So18ZI0UroKf-YKO_grXEesBo4yunCp24LSyPd0AljpS47PQuedm5NdmgKND7sQMzsGluBo/s1600/DSC_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ETpY0DkBcatY4eYKGYB_Srs9L9iLnnL-UswMu6BrJznvQLurbpDavreDOCKK8iwPato66So18ZI0UroKf-YKO_grXEesBo4yunCp24LSyPd0AljpS47PQuedm5NdmgKND7sQMzsGluBo/s1600/DSC_1005.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to Hartranft's Division near Fort Mahone at Petersburg... these are the men that shut down the Confederate assault at Fort Stedman.</td></tr>
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<br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-69810932496555267522014-12-30T22:21:00.002-05:002014-12-31T07:09:03.327-05:00The Soldier's Grave<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"When then we'll hear St. Peter tell us loudly with a yell, </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Take a front seat you soldier men, </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">For you've done your hitch in Hell!"</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBpvRI_VSl-zmoKCityUgcHgQqu1McfPXt1YqWGRWmoyepL5VB3oUJLwgO1K1VOI7B0l8X1DcEnMEdtzM9q5XeM8cgZRkZ-Y50fbpZ2t8Cs61xKY3MBCv9oYcC7Irr7j7bMEXo8Ji9UTC/s1600/Antietam+National+Cemetery+-+150th+Anniversary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBpvRI_VSl-zmoKCityUgcHgQqu1McfPXt1YqWGRWmoyepL5VB3oUJLwgO1K1VOI7B0l8X1DcEnMEdtzM9q5XeM8cgZRkZ-Y50fbpZ2t8Cs61xKY3MBCv9oYcC7Irr7j7bMEXo8Ji9UTC/s1600/Antietam+National+Cemetery+-+150th+Anniversary.JPG" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THE IMPENDING STORM</b></div>
It was just past 3 o'clock in the afternoon and the sounds of battle to the north came rolling in the direction of the men of the 50th Pennsylvania. Their brothers of the Ninth Corps had worked much of the morning and early afternoon attempting to cross Antietam Creek against pesky Georgians that held the western bank. With shear determination under a withering fire, the last attempt to land on the Confederate side of the creek was successful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTYurjiVdO0ws_iqaxpLLJqstn4rqFbI4ON3co5Abg1zj-XPEfGQL7ewN7h2-HFvbItjhdYLh5OmdNZSBjHzOiIhgNXMCK9qT7JPXEq9HH0j20qddjE8eFidwkffrzY2uo2DXUCidHapl/s1600/Burnside's%2BAssault%2B-%2BAntietam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTYurjiVdO0ws_iqaxpLLJqstn4rqFbI4ON3co5Abg1zj-XPEfGQL7ewN7h2-HFvbItjhdYLh5OmdNZSBjHzOiIhgNXMCK9qT7JPXEq9HH0j20qddjE8eFidwkffrzY2uo2DXUCidHapl/s1600/Burnside's%2BAssault%2B-%2BAntietam.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advance of the Ninth Corps at Antietam. Author.</td></tr>
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<div>
Unfortunately for the men of the Ninth Corps the western side of the Antietam was only the first step in their assignment that day, and even that proved to be in some ways, quite a disaster. The men of the 50th PA crossed newly christened 'Burnside's Bridge' with the rest of Willcox's Division and deployed in line of battle in the low marshy ground adjacent to the creek. </div>
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The regiment had just seen action a few days ago in Fox's Gap on South Mountain. Luckily in their support of a battery along the wooded crest of the mountain they suffered very little from Confederate fire, although they helped to repel at least one charge in the Union victory. Now, as the men looked up through the trees of the Sherrick Farm, clearly they were about to face an entirely contrasting situation that might prove quite volatile.</div>
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In the ranks of the 50th PA on that day were the veterans of Company A, hailing from the borderlands of northeastern Dauphin County and western Schuylkill County, known today as the Hegins Valley. These men had already done a lot of travelling so far in the war. They began their service and saw their first action in South Carolina on the coast. They then came north to join up with Pope's Army for the Second Manassas Campaign where they participated in the charge on Jackson's men in the railroad cut, losing heavily. Only a few days later they were in the thick of the thunderstorm and lead at Chantilly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLc4D6IHS13LbAlvZnymctmVyKQ_oOU0pWBv0VeU0mTNGjFuMM0n_-xv-mO6sUn3IOFpru3GLTJHcNB0mvPRohIe7A9_668FvREkREjr2mk6s14w_HpszUu6kdTwAz010hhItJxf3KG_2/s1600/50th+PA+Sunset+-+Antietam+150th.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLc4D6IHS13LbAlvZnymctmVyKQ_oOU0pWBv0VeU0mTNGjFuMM0n_-xv-mO6sUn3IOFpru3GLTJHcNB0mvPRohIe7A9_668FvREkREjr2mk6s14w_HpszUu6kdTwAz010hhItJxf3KG_2/s1600/50th+PA+Sunset+-+Antietam+150th.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50th PA Monument and crest of the hill at Antietam. Author.</td></tr>
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<div>
Finally around 3:30 pm the order to advance arrived. The 50th PA in the center, Christ's Brigade lurched forward towards the high ground beyond around Sharpsburg. As the crested the rise near the creek bottom they stepped out of the trees and once more entered into that man-made hailstorm. Confederate artillery positioned around the town cemetery just over one thousand yards away, started plowing holes all through the battle line. Men started falling like grass before the scythe, but forward the brigade went, all the while driving before them some crack South Carolina sharpshooters that wouldn't go easily. </div>
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Pressing on to the north of the Sherrick Farm buildings, the regiment crested the highest ground to the east of Cemetery Hill and the town of Sharpsburg beyond only to realize that the units to their left were lagging behind because of the difference in navigable terrain. And so, under a storm of shot and shell, they halted in the open fields on the crest of the hill, more men falling by the minute.</div>
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Finally as Welsh's Brigade came up on the left of Christ, the advance resumed and the drive towards town was on. Some Federal units reached the outskirts of Sharpsburg and it looked as if once more, Lee's Confederates might be swallowed. After a brilliant march from Harper's Ferry though, A.P. Hill's Division was just arriving on the Federal left. Without waiting for direction, these worn out Confederate soldiers came smashing down on the Ninth Corps' flank like a sledge hammer. Word passed along the line and before long, Christ's Brigade and the 50th PA were ordered to abandon their attempt to capture the visible spires of the town beyond. They retreated back to the creek bottom on the western side of the Antietam and spent the night on their arms, worn out and disappointed. </div>
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The 50th PA had paid dearly for their rocky advance, losing 8 men killed, 46 wounded and 3 missing. Among the wounded was my Great Grandfather Sergeant Samuel Schwalm. He wrote poignantly of his Antietam experience and had clearly been changed by what happened like so many men that were there.<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Camp 3 miles south of Sharpsburg, Maryland September 21, 1862</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Dear wife, children, brothers, sister and all my friends,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I take once more the pleasure to write you a few lines and I will let
you know that we were in hard fighting since I wrote you the last letter. The first day our Regt. Was in was on the 14<sup>th</sup>. William Bliles got wounded on his thumb and
on the 17<sup>th</sup> Edward Harner got killed by a cannon ball and a bullet
went in my cap and cut the skin a little on my head and one ball hit my
rifle. O God the dead and wounded lay by
hundreds and thousands on the field the next day. Our company is very much crippled and many
are sick. Since the 13<sup>th</sup> of
August we have marched and fought nearly every day <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-J1nB1lhXxC8GyRGfYfGObKSTbAKpO7f92xnTwiOTW9rh1PR6x0tcfkFEAWTGiaARU_LvFB_waVdd517GDiMr2yJ_bccQsmEy2ZVPikuuVPnJxsuJp0kzctU_DXp014MScwGY4WPoBPi/s1600/Sgt+Samuel+Schwalm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-J1nB1lhXxC8GyRGfYfGObKSTbAKpO7f92xnTwiOTW9rh1PR6x0tcfkFEAWTGiaARU_LvFB_waVdd517GDiMr2yJ_bccQsmEy2ZVPikuuVPnJxsuJp0kzctU_DXp014MScwGY4WPoBPi/s1600/Sgt+Samuel+Schwalm.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private Samuel Schwalm. Author's Collection.</td></tr>
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and many nights we have
sometimes 4 days rations in our haversacks to carry and no tents to sleep. O that the almighty God in heaven would make
an end of this war. We drove the Rebels
out of Maryland. They are on the other
shore of the Potomac on the Virginia side.
I received a letter since I wrote last.
It was dated August 17<sup>th</sup>.
This is the first day we had time to write. I did see in the letter that you would like
to have the strut hores...I do believe it is too late in the fall for this
summer, but you might ask J. Folk if it is not too cold, then you might get him
cut and about the money, you might do just what you think would make a little
interest and about...Shadle. I see in the
letter how you fixed it. That is right
enough. I can't tell you how you should
do it, just do how you think and further I let you know that I am well. I was able to go with the Regt. The whole
time, but I must say our boys look very hard worn down...we had in our company
are sick. Dear wife, how do you think
the citizens in Maryland feel that the Rebels destroyed everything, burn the
buildings down and steal what they can get.
Corn & buckwheat and everything's tramped down on the ground. The line of battle was twice as broad as our
valley at home. The wives and children
hardly knew where to go so they wouldn't get shot. The name where the battle was on the 14<sup>th</sup>
was near Middletown, on the Blue Ridge & on the 17<sup>th</sup> near
Sharpsburg. You might think how I did
feel when I saw so many boys fall out of our Regt. All I have to say is to take good care of our
children. O my dear children, whatever
you do don't curse nor sear so if I can't see you any more in this world, that
we can meet in heaven where no war and no fighting can be anymore. I nearly forgot to write you that I see E.W.
Klinger about a week ago...Ossman...Bull Run fight and Philip Wiest since we
left Culpepper. I will come to a
close. I hope that these few lines find
you all in good health. May the Lord
bless you all. Excuse me for not writing more and all the mistakes. I will send my love to you Elizabeth Schwalm.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>From your husband,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Samuel Schwalm"<span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A PERSONAL MISSION OF REMEMBRANCE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Since I was a kid, I remember hearing stories of my ancestor at Antietam and other battlefields. In a large part, this connection is what spurred my passion for Civil War history and so, early on I began researching the 50th Pennsylvania in great detail. There are a number of great books out there and a regimental history, but as many of you may know, in some ways we are only scratching the surface of the vast ocean of stories and perspectives. No resources have moved me more however, than the letters written by my ancestor. His words are so tangible to me as I'm sure other descendants experience. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LznJpMMBMXypnt_5KRXrg1d7ZuHiWxwpg8t8RlyLFjoI-wealAseBK7O-KWVByYAiJ7_ZBu149ZtiXztkOpsY5t6sQfylftPYLNndXETO7o3SQBVzUfmesD-43qELhnyPM6u-tgLBpq1/s1600/50th+PA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LznJpMMBMXypnt_5KRXrg1d7ZuHiWxwpg8t8RlyLFjoI-wealAseBK7O-KWVByYAiJ7_ZBu149ZtiXztkOpsY5t6sQfylftPYLNndXETO7o3SQBVzUfmesD-43qELhnyPM6u-tgLBpq1/s1600/50th+PA.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50th PA Monument at Antietam. Author.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my early missions was to find the burial locations of all the 50th Pennsylvania's Antietam dead. I found five of the eight fairly quickly and in some ways lost the trail for the remaining three men. My thoughts have often gone back to my ancestor's letter and the man that he saw fall, Private Edward Warner, "killed by a cannon ball." The regimental history also reports him as killed and not being able to find any more information in my research, I assumed like so many others that he was buried among the hundreds of unknown soldiers at Antietam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On Saturday December 27, 2014, I was out perusing some of the cemeteries near my hometown with my wife for some known Civil War graves. We made our way up the Hegins Valley and stopped at a number of cemeteries and found quite a few of the men from Company A of the 50th PA. Finally after looking through the Union Cemetery at Gratz and getting late in the afternoon, it was either turn right and head home, or turn left and continue another few miles to one more cemetery. After getting approval from the boss (the beautiful weather helped!) we drove a few more miles to St. Paul's United Church of Christ Cemetery in the small Hegins Valley village of Sacramento. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a list with me of a few men from the 107th Pennsylvania and we found them fairly quickly. Then my wife called my name and said, "there are three stars in a row over here!" She was referring to the GAR stars and of course I quickly made my way up the hill. Interestingly as I came around to the front of the headstones I noticed that they were nearly identical, with the names and dates as the only differing feature. The stones were also in German. The first one was for a man named Johannes R. Updegrof who died in 1863. Further research has revealed that he was a member of Company F of the 173rd Pennsylvania. The stars had aligned because my mother and my grandparents both speak German and so it was easy to transcribe the gravestone. Updegrof had just been discharged from his service and tragically died on his trip home at Harrisburg, only twenty-three years old.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78VGYqqqTb_PKaEc7mi5G7Mt-qqa9V4tIVe9DtQs3qxCrc0ljJg6Q-kKs8UzuDSQ6cwk0Ur591I7-qulmiowYmtuFKneIZBA_EMd_TdIbu29n-Ud7yt40HlZGdUSDt5RjBnt6AHOQM5QD/s1600/50th+PA+Co+A+-+Edward+Herner+-+KIA+Antietam+-+St.+Paul's%2BUCC%2BSacramento.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78VGYqqqTb_PKaEc7mi5G7Mt-qqa9V4tIVe9DtQs3qxCrc0ljJg6Q-kKs8UzuDSQ6cwk0Ur591I7-qulmiowYmtuFKneIZBA_EMd_TdIbu29n-Ud7yt40HlZGdUSDt5RjBnt6AHOQM5QD/s1600/50th+PA+Co+A+-+Edward+Herner+-+KIA+Antietam+-+St.+Paul's%2BUCC%2BSacramento.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Private Edward Herner, killed on September 17, 1862 at Antietam -<br />
St. Paul's United Church of Christ Cemetery, Sacramento, PA. Author.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I then moved onto the next gravestone which was identical in format. The name was 'Edward Herner' and although I could not read the German, I saw at the bottom the date 17 September 1862. Immediately the wheels started turning and we got our pictures and hopped in the car excited about what we may have discovered. After getting a translation to verify, the man whose grave we had found was Private Edward Herner (also spelled Harner) of Company A, 50th Pennsylvania, the same man that my ancestor wrote about more than 150 years ago after the horrible experience at Antietam. Among the first to enlist with the 50th PA in 1861, Edward Herner was only twenty-four years of age when he was killed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To some this may seem to be a bit of a dour and anticlimactic discovery, but for me, it is a bit easier to rest at night and I now have plenty of motivation to find the remaining two men from the 50th PA that gave their lives for their country at the battle of Antietam. Thank you grandfather Samuel, Their stories are not forgotten. </span></div>
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Endnotes</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Camp, Frank. </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px;">Our Hitch In Hell</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">. 1917.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">2. </span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.003999710083px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume IXX, Part 1 (Serial Number 27), page 196. Interestingly the 50th PA Regimental History by Lewis Crater and Pennsylvania at Antietam list the regiment with nine men killed. There are a number of possibilities with this discrepancy, however, the regimental monument tabulations show 8 killed, 46 wounded and 3 missing; total: 57</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">3. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Schwalm, Samuel, John David Hoptak, and David Schwalm. </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px;">The Civil War Letters and Experiences of Samuel Schwalm of the 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">. 1st ed. Scotland, PA: Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, 2011. 27.</span></span></div>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-4327753051936070022014-12-04T20:49:00.000-05:002014-12-04T20:49:49.827-05:00History on Paper: The Ambush at Cedar Run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaLJrhYsXg7Ez6QNeKD6ZbrpofThlp_Z9qmHyTVhKtN7-REXzwPuSjxkE5kRtu_WnVsG_2zS58Ldbv_xfqEQ6QnbdQ-6vQ3RMAakl3EbkxsibHH1fXL-TUAJ6QZeK8jqpPNfpQtGSeSSE/s1600/34th+PA+(5th%2BRes)%2B-%2BCapt%2BLarrimer%2B%26%2BCol%2BFisher%2B4th%2BQr.%2B'62%2BClothing%2BRequisit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaLJrhYsXg7Ez6QNeKD6ZbrpofThlp_Z9qmHyTVhKtN7-REXzwPuSjxkE5kRtu_WnVsG_2zS58Ldbv_xfqEQ6QnbdQ-6vQ3RMAakl3EbkxsibHH1fXL-TUAJ6QZeK8jqpPNfpQtGSeSSE/s1600/34th+PA+(5th%2BRes)%2B-%2BCapt%2BLarrimer%2B%26%2BCol%2BFisher%2B4th%2BQr.%2B'62%2BClothing%2BRequisit.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a clothing requisition from late 1862 written by, at the time, Captain James Harvey Larrimer of the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves (34th PA). It is also endorsed for approval by Colonel Joseph Fisher of the 5th Reserves, later brigade commander and Brevet Brigadier General.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Larrimer was a lawyer from Clearfield County and has quite an interesting story. He enlisted on May 15, 1861 as a 1st Lieutenant in Company C of the 5th Reserves. Showing much<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> promise he was promoted to Captain of Company E on July 12, 1861. His star continued to rise and on May 1, 1863 he was promoted to Major and appointed to the staff of General Samuel Crawford, in which capacity he served through the Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station and Mine Run Campaigns.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In February of 1864 he accompanied a scouting party across Cedar Run south of Brentsville (just a few miles west of the Bristoe Station Battlefield) under orders from General Crawford to scout the south side of the stream to feel out the enemy. Upon crossing the run, the group was ambushed.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wkjd2QUh9qyQkJHPBlfvJajV4xl2uW0Nl9N8FRfX2TqKewE7AuiGnChMgmPpYcHhlB6Shd9zwmqCnX7f20465nuVddbyHrBOcOzQGoHiZR_idxxB7hWBJAml608LQgLlbejTmV9RvHHc/s1600/Major+James+Harvey+Larrimer+-+5th+PA+Res..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wkjd2QUh9qyQkJHPBlfvJajV4xl2uW0Nl9N8FRfX2TqKewE7AuiGnChMgmPpYcHhlB6Shd9zwmqCnX7f20465nuVddbyHrBOcOzQGoHiZR_idxxB7hWBJAml608LQgLlbejTmV9RvHHc/s1600/Major+James+Harvey+Larrimer+-+5th+PA+Res..jpg" height="320" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Major Larrimer</td></tr>
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Captain James Carle of the 6th Reserves reported afterwards on the action. </div>
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"<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When the head of the column had reached the
opposite side several shots were fired from a thicket of pines a few rods in
advance to the right of the road, and being in an exposed position which afforded
no chance to oppose the adversary, the head of the column (about eight persons)
who had crossed with the officer in charge dashed rapidly forward to a point
opposite the thicket, about fifteen rods beyond, where it terminates to a point
extending toward the bridge , when Major Larrimer, who accompanied the
expedition, and two men fell killed and four were wounded by a volley (apparently
from carbines) proceeding from the thicket. This brought the party to a halt,
except two officers (the one in command) and one man, who had gone so far and
were under such headway as to make it prudent to go ahead, which they did,
passing the enemy masked close to the road on their right. Being thus separated
from the officer in command, I assumed command of the party (consisting then of
thirteen men) and went back to the terminus of this neck of timber, intending
to advance along on its right to endeavor to get a view of the rebels and if
possible to cut off and attack them, but the men evinced much reluctance and hesitancy
in following, and it was only by force that a party would go dismounted through
the thicket to where the major was lying, upon which being done, however, he
was found to have been stripped of his boots, and the enemy had gone
(apparently retired) to a more elevated position a little farther on, as
vedettes could be seen at various points and in different directions. At first
I thought to pursue and attack them, but the other officers, Captain Restieaux
and Lieutenants Scudder, Schutt, and Quail, denouncing the policy of doing so with
so small a party, and considering the diffidence evinced by the men from the beginning,
I deemed it expedient to return to Brentsville, where I posted the men and came
into camp to report to General Crawford, who ordered out two companies of
infantry and all the available cavalry force attached to his headquarters to
pursue the enemy. We went this time about five miles beyond Brentsville, encountering
no obstacle, when it became dark and we returned to camp, having seen no traces
of the enemy beyond where the skirmish had ensued except fresh tracks of horses
upon different by-roads, indicating their departure in groups of from three to
five each. It is impossible to judge what force they may have had concealed,
but I doubt whether those engaged exceeded our own number. Our casualties were
1 officer and 2 men killed and 4 men wounded. The enemy’s could not be determined,
there being one dead body on the ground and traces (by pools of blood) of some two
others having lain and being carried off.</span><span style="line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">"</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gcd-oDH7JclakqUc6NqQ9dZF9i8aj2W_MRW1JQKh6Rseww7EJJF7axxd-cn7ZgLjODdGAXQkl1L6sVBXQa-2rqjO7SyEIO84jpxHLT94J3cKCeD1uImWRuObEqnK7gnW93K6loeaLIOm/s1600/107078537_136399928693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gcd-oDH7JclakqUc6NqQ9dZF9i8aj2W_MRW1JQKh6Rseww7EJJF7axxd-cn7ZgLjODdGAXQkl1L6sVBXQa-2rqjO7SyEIO84jpxHLT94J3cKCeD1uImWRuObEqnK7gnW93K6loeaLIOm/s1600/107078537_136399928693.jpg" height="200" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larrimer's Grave in Clearfield. <br />
From <a href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=107078537">findagrave.com</a>.</td></tr>
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Larrimer, dead at 36, was taken home to Clearfield and buried at Hillcrest Cemetery. It may seem a bit insignificant at the price of a life, but fittingly after the war, the Clearfield, PA G.A.R. Post No. 179 was named in his honor.</div>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-23846141371566620642014-10-07T20:55:00.000-04:002014-10-07T20:55:00.984-04:00Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, NY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For this post, a trip through Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, NY and a number of famous Civil War soldiers who are interred there.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bID53zAf0r6pkFV8aDTuoYzbxrVkui9yhP9ybPpF44x0zVfVCtN_Zw5q7ulTuwEPuUULWoXVfHjQHUdQncBRt4-gBxzpGh9F1eQkzQPpOGrzXb7Tx1Lj7QIff1ftO7-3QCiBO0kQBFDe/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bID53zAf0r6pkFV8aDTuoYzbxrVkui9yhP9ybPpF44x0zVfVCtN_Zw5q7ulTuwEPuUULWoXVfHjQHUdQncBRt4-gBxzpGh9F1eQkzQPpOGrzXb7Tx1Lj7QIff1ftO7-3QCiBO0kQBFDe/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Major General George H. Thomas, "The Rock of Chickamauga." One of the most well known officers of the Civil War, Thomas actually hailed from Virginia. At the outbreak of the war his family was shattered with his allegiance to the Union. The fractures were never repaired with his siblings, even after the war ended. Thomas died in April of 1870 and was laid to rest here. In attendance of his funeral were approximately 10,000 people, including Generals Meade, Hooker, Sheridan, Rosecrans, Schofield and Sherman. President Grant and his cabinet were also in attendance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xvIxWfJERwmaeEBhMkQaK_MoEAY_Iroy_h46zVV4ag9lTS1JnpuvMrwhGXqm7OOH0oiCDgvTZgvmaKwTMJumllAQrbT074htBXx_JLHTePCWXJXjIm2ZDoDnRjcpwloQVDvqFD-kTfn1/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xvIxWfJERwmaeEBhMkQaK_MoEAY_Iroy_h46zVV4ag9lTS1JnpuvMrwhGXqm7OOH0oiCDgvTZgvmaKwTMJumllAQrbT074htBXx_JLHTePCWXJXjIm2ZDoDnRjcpwloQVDvqFD-kTfn1/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Private William Henry Freeman, 169th New York Infantry. As you can see by his plaque, he is a winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor. He won the award because of his actions in 1865 during the attack on Fort Fisher, North Carolina. The brigade color bearer went down and he picked up the flag, continuing forward through a hail of shot and shell.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtKdLOdEmvmCH4pc7B9ik2pi7K_0h6MQ0SkFEc5SDHiujl1h67Pl5pG1PUEHMcOiD3pBARkvmLu5ySw6iCTiMxvqA9LVftCVzPUppF7IDatcjUwR461osdIr9h1m-Kzlbqy1qYFIkJ1SG/s1600/DSC_0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtKdLOdEmvmCH4pc7B9ik2pi7K_0h6MQ0SkFEc5SDHiujl1h67Pl5pG1PUEHMcOiD3pBARkvmLu5ySw6iCTiMxvqA9LVftCVzPUppF7IDatcjUwR461osdIr9h1m-Kzlbqy1qYFIkJ1SG/s1600/DSC_0070.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here lies Colonel George Lamb Willard. Willard was born in New York City and served in the Mexican War and antebellum army. He became Colonel of the 125th New York Infantry and shared its fate through the debacle at Harpers Ferry in September of 1862. After being paroled, the unit finally rejoined the Army of the Potomac in time for the Gettysburg Campaign. Willard, being the senior officer, commanded the Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps. On the evening of July 2, Willard's Brigade filled the gap in the Union line on Cemetery Ridge and careened head long into Barksdale's Mississippians in the Plum Run Valley. After driving back the Confederates, Willard ordered his men back towards the top of the ridge when a shell came screaming in and hit the Colonel, killing him instantly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cQOMA607jHF0TFt0KO2WVOC7YvSor7jXn8IAdxMlI3v0GJEbv2ND6T4JvUGpUIHO__SwN8Gv9X4RMzinAp1ZtSEUXNtHsjBXt4TNyqhMHH7z7IKDANtB3L_AGFQcaXnVOch1RCWrHFWm/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cQOMA607jHF0TFt0KO2WVOC7YvSor7jXn8IAdxMlI3v0GJEbv2ND6T4JvUGpUIHO__SwN8Gv9X4RMzinAp1ZtSEUXNtHsjBXt4TNyqhMHH7z7IKDANtB3L_AGFQcaXnVOch1RCWrHFWm/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corporal Edwin Moss Jr., Company H 104th New York Infantry - Moss was wounded at Antietam and captured at Weldon RR in 1864. He died at the young age of 32 and one can only ponder if it related to his war wounds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiu2F3uS1YSCYMJwcu6pTLiojKkpzz9Il4jhGH3jImA_a2BHQxBogO6uE_yM47l-7CBGWKQbgTZz0eh21RGEwGNXlNF4LFXTkoejfJDhIyK3g4zVx0IR1XqSH2E4xziBWj77Yjxm77t94/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiu2F3uS1YSCYMJwcu6pTLiojKkpzz9Il4jhGH3jImA_a2BHQxBogO6uE_yM47l-7CBGWKQbgTZz0eh21RGEwGNXlNF4LFXTkoejfJDhIyK3g4zVx0IR1XqSH2E4xziBWj77Yjxm77t94/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" height="640" width="414" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brevet Major General Joseph Bradford Carr - Carr worked in the Tobacco industry before the war in Troy, NY. At the war's outbreak he recruited the 2nd New York Infantry, of which he became the Colonel. He served through many of the Eastern Theater's greatest battles and eventually commanded a Brigade in the Third Corps, which he led at Gettysburg and was wounded. Eventually Carr led a division but because of appointment issues with rank he was moved by Grant to the 18th Corps under Butler where he served the rest of the war, commanding a division of African-American soldiers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_Ic8SwLL_j8y8KScH_ZNHy9ObArqI8Su_86__G4_oEKTGabmlUfjg-nC1G1HEarWEwgjVn0lilc48z991lwSHVUGlyKfswIrfft8oG3bJxbCB86bzvTP-AJV_bBLX1nByUUWvjaYDTja/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_Ic8SwLL_j8y8KScH_ZNHy9ObArqI8Su_86__G4_oEKTGabmlUfjg-nC1G1HEarWEwgjVn0lilc48z991lwSHVUGlyKfswIrfft8oG3bJxbCB86bzvTP-AJV_bBLX1nByUUWvjaYDTja/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Oakwood Cemetery across Troy, NY and the Hudson River Valley. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9anuVabKCQDQwf7LxfpaoY52p1dU6CjF2ZnF1wLlQUwSiUIwgGs-m3FydzmO50zpxleSzgG8_H0o-UzGLrxJT3cjfNXu_SPR6JUHMl6iWAIlLwF0ibgHUbSEjZSrgVsWRvIp_Csnzw-rI/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9anuVabKCQDQwf7LxfpaoY52p1dU6CjF2ZnF1wLlQUwSiUIwgGs-m3FydzmO50zpxleSzgG8_H0o-UzGLrxJT3cjfNXu_SPR6JUHMl6iWAIlLwF0ibgHUbSEjZSrgVsWRvIp_Csnzw-rI/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brigadier General William Badger Tibbits - His father was the mayor of Troy, NY. Before the war he attended law school and when the war broke out he helped to recruit a company of Carr's 2nd New York Infantry, for which he became its Captain. He served at Big Bethel, on the Peninsula, at Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, by which time he was the regiment's Major. In 1864 he re-enlisted as the Colonel of the 21st New York Cavalry and he commanded a Brigade at the battle of New Market in The Valley. He then commanded a division as Colonel and was finally promoted to Brigadier General at the close of the war. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qD1kqqxQ7pJYAWIRTGy8tSMzqJCagBhEtfdZgg-RcidnAWEXNasxFajbgTUm9HzEbncXFUntamwWlZNBV7jq5ui-JTX56jbrFrowEns6grnHrWIVIVNnS2osa8Am3R4WIWtRvRaDngl1/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qD1kqqxQ7pJYAWIRTGy8tSMzqJCagBhEtfdZgg-RcidnAWEXNasxFajbgTUm9HzEbncXFUntamwWlZNBV7jq5ui-JTX56jbrFrowEns6grnHrWIVIVNnS2osa8Am3R4WIWtRvRaDngl1/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reuben Richards mustered into the 12th New York Independent Battery in September of 1862. The battery was part of the Army of the Potomac's Artillery Reserve and saw action on numerous battlefields. He was captured at Petersburg in June of 1864 and mustered out in June of '65.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt_pMb2-3GVlnGaaIqxxXf3QwPX1Wb7Z4niaixOtVSCGiYnIyqfm44MZarZGkPBQPQ7KnBvAvxL6aSCaZjVGZjXkYXxveESXGEXFkl1bJzAQvK9qk8ilZgjaf8APz5TLEt_-rPS5pFqr-/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt_pMb2-3GVlnGaaIqxxXf3QwPX1Wb7Z4niaixOtVSCGiYnIyqfm44MZarZGkPBQPQ7KnBvAvxL6aSCaZjVGZjXkYXxveESXGEXFkl1bJzAQvK9qk8ilZgjaf8APz5TLEt_-rPS5pFqr-/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Thomas F. Sheldon, 125th New York Infantry - Commanded Company A and was captured at Harpers Ferry in September of '62. He served with the regiment through the war and was discharged for disability in September of 1864.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLojeeNcH7Mw9MCAtCZgq0BSex-EvBY1ih8UvSK7wbNvJ7VBDbV5i84H6AwPx9b_oja9HswtLF6ma9xQL4Tx9kUoo61wqhDq5AYTKFcoT77XS4IBOmA3kh9-esdJjZdwTibru75V3gl2s_/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLojeeNcH7Mw9MCAtCZgq0BSex-EvBY1ih8UvSK7wbNvJ7VBDbV5i84H6AwPx9b_oja9HswtLF6ma9xQL4Tx9kUoo61wqhDq5AYTKFcoT77XS4IBOmA3kh9-esdJjZdwTibru75V3gl2s_/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd Lt. Charles Sheldon, 12th New Hampshire - He enlisted in 1862 with Company G of the 12th New Hampshire Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant and was wounded on July 2, 1863 along the Emmitsburg Road at Gettysburg. In June of 1863 he was acting as the company's 2nd Lieutenant and he was mortally wounded in the leg at Cold Harbor (his leg was amputated). He died of complications from the amputation, receiving his 2nd Lt.'s commission, too little, too late, on July 16, 1864. He lays side by side with his brother.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7b8nrgexFIDX9pz600EORnBGkmXnVRns8qDz_lv2WD7jHoNSyGeQXRnhzPaOHwD6v56A6sJS00DFau9a4eSjz-vQN_fCh9j_7BdbuL22072sZi1FmCKxyA0CTXivHYBkQQDj62eb-waM/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7b8nrgexFIDX9pz600EORnBGkmXnVRns8qDz_lv2WD7jHoNSyGeQXRnhzPaOHwD6v56A6sJS00DFau9a4eSjz-vQN_fCh9j_7BdbuL22072sZi1FmCKxyA0CTXivHYBkQQDj62eb-waM/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonel Daniel D. Tompkins - He was a West Point Graduate and commissioned Colonel in 1856 in the Quartermaster Department. He was serving as the Assistant Quartermaster General in Brooklyn, NY when he died of disease in February of 1863 at the age of 63.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8djw07bBv1cbBIKGBFK6x04Dr5u6TwnfX3lpA7m-NYqCl2GaT6myL5ol9Fd6SbtAOyHyx3ITX75rdoSoz2MrGWTkpbCGsUrfyqVJuEOnbRxvgTnjrZ90Vd4sw_1kqOd06H6d-yavvb3hY/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8djw07bBv1cbBIKGBFK6x04Dr5u6TwnfX3lpA7m-NYqCl2GaT6myL5ol9Fd6SbtAOyHyx3ITX75rdoSoz2MrGWTkpbCGsUrfyqVJuEOnbRxvgTnjrZ90Vd4sw_1kqOd06H6d-yavvb3hY/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Major General John Ellis Wool - Wool was born in 1784 and served as a Major (and was wounded) in the War of 1812. He became a Brigadier General in 1841 and participated in the Mexican War, choosing the battlefield at Buena Vista, for which he was Brevetted Major General. He commanded the Department of the East and Pacific on different occasions before the Civil War. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was commanding Fortress Monroe. He was given command of the Department of Virginia until May of 1862. He was then commissioned Major General and sent to Baltimore to command the Middle Military Department. He was then moved to New York City, where in July of 1863 he commanded the troops who quashed the Draft Riots. Finally in August, after a storied military career, he retired and died in 1869.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg1EYwkStdNxuN_hWa5lxduzg7DcBxXLTuBNa2rY2oN3Y7JEpUux77w_-XSWgwp2ZA4nAwpj-eYvjAeQoe8HfyyNRqwv4O2eoJflc8bi0WzZmzPJuKqxgFZRAWbfnt31KI4Qg35mAL39S/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg1EYwkStdNxuN_hWa5lxduzg7DcBxXLTuBNa2rY2oN3Y7JEpUux77w_-XSWgwp2ZA4nAwpj-eYvjAeQoe8HfyyNRqwv4O2eoJflc8bi0WzZmzPJuKqxgFZRAWbfnt31KI4Qg35mAL39S/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soldier's Plot at Oakwood Cemetery - There are men from the 54th, 66th, 77th, 125th, and 132nd New York buried here as well as men from the 57th PA, 4th MN and numerous other veterans from all our wars.</td></tr>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-44359555485887878792014-08-28T21:09:00.002-04:002014-08-28T21:09:38.992-04:00Blandford Church Cemetery Photo TourMany folks visiting the Richmond/Petersburg, Virginia area to see the numerous Civil War battlefields will probably at some point eventually make their way to one of the area's National Cemeteries...Poplar Grove, Seven Pines, City Point, Glendale. A followup question to one of these visits might reasonably be, where are the Confederate soldiers buried? <br />
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Well the quick answer is, all over the place. That said, more than 30,000 Confederate soldiers are buried in the Petersburg city cemetery, or Blandford Church Cemetery, not far away from the earthworks they defended for nearly nine months during the Siege of Petersburg. For this post, we'll take a photo tour through this truly remarkable cemetery. If you ever get the chance to explore this place, don't hesitate!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWlRTCX9MuP64x79ys90OF51kfo_qy3I78JjHQ-cNtB1rF8LRLjPMG-Nq-mOCpW7jAxO0hD0rZDdKgs9hjDjVm1kHPrteD53IWF-QR5QC-fNYB1uQCFUTtEhyphenhyphenGAmdVv2CTjbDt3EP7iwM/s1600/Blandford+Church+-+Fort+Steadman+Heroes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWlRTCX9MuP64x79ys90OF51kfo_qy3I78JjHQ-cNtB1rF8LRLjPMG-Nq-mOCpW7jAxO0hD0rZDdKgs9hjDjVm1kHPrteD53IWF-QR5QC-fNYB1uQCFUTtEhyphenhyphenGAmdVv2CTjbDt3EP7iwM/s1600/Blandford+Church+-+Fort+Steadman+Heroes.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blandford Church and the marker to "Fort Steadman Heroes"...an unknown plot of those who were killed at Fort Stedman in 1865.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FoLmBiIEYetmnVN9uSylsxysBoVl90yz4Rm4ps8Mn-v40uy4yo-BOo_KH0EXOVaxnUnDHJRgmaN7r2SOc3_M0QGInL3U6MDp3WxkByrsjnTEolb5hMlukdumEjDN_WUJMlBVwXD5JBQB/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FoLmBiIEYetmnVN9uSylsxysBoVl90yz4Rm4ps8Mn-v40uy4yo-BOo_KH0EXOVaxnUnDHJRgmaN7r2SOc3_M0QGInL3U6MDp3WxkByrsjnTEolb5hMlukdumEjDN_WUJMlBVwXD5JBQB/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Confederate Cemetery at Blandford.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGYjWnGArPEn_g58DPmiFBF1LSfkogLfaaMcX_B06xwFal8_9L2PG_iNB12FGnpg9BtTvgO1dseLhWVxjOZvN990Db_Gv1rgXlAH0NOnP_7KnFvpwX6UkFdBx2Q1a-QLF7NsAWMsTsl-o/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGYjWnGArPEn_g58DPmiFBF1LSfkogLfaaMcX_B06xwFal8_9L2PG_iNB12FGnpg9BtTvgO1dseLhWVxjOZvN990Db_Gv1rgXlAH0NOnP_7KnFvpwX6UkFdBx2Q1a-QLF7NsAWMsTsl-o/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to the fallen Confederate Soldiers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NlcL1QGhfndJOI6r3-4HAikp2HnU6nq2F704N6IXgcybN6oDVNk25zzxt1Bli0KzZQGWTvZGnDEKMCxRi8uGOLzbwxD4H9xM61HKmV9vDrrY4HsyqVfO-9tZVgMN7Wpwq2y6_8Wxgg2Y/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NlcL1QGhfndJOI6r3-4HAikp2HnU6nq2F704N6IXgcybN6oDVNk25zzxt1Bli0KzZQGWTvZGnDEKMCxRi8uGOLzbwxD4H9xM61HKmV9vDrrY4HsyqVfO-9tZVgMN7Wpwq2y6_8Wxgg2Y/s1600/DSC_0176.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Major George E. Hayes of the 3rd Georgia...KIA at Weldon Railroad in '64. The back of the monument reads..."Erected by his family Sept 13, 1869." Hundreds of other unknown Georgia soldiers lay around him.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xvz0-esFLH4XL9aLgMhOH29zwwPTBsJbVx_AIFWk048tHDf1kHdClwFMg9X7YSUxicGFg3-v8lMTVaVVBsu9cAeAMnRYbH5njWz3IUlG4LEgqhuRJeffmci3EJEztcJ6otc_o8mA_PI_/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xvz0-esFLH4XL9aLgMhOH29zwwPTBsJbVx_AIFWk048tHDf1kHdClwFMg9X7YSUxicGFg3-v8lMTVaVVBsu9cAeAMnRYbH5njWz3IUlG4LEgqhuRJeffmci3EJEztcJ6otc_o8mA_PI_/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Clement S. Fayssoux of the 23rd South Carolina Infantry, killed in action during the Petersburg Campaign only a few miles distant.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgho-ldVxjM5DN5LoLQZqlqO0zYkVtrQLY5jmrc2_BbXSDoCnqiDGNGp9SJMeAR99E2JdPjA1V4sGMzUDEo8Nn6YF7aJIs5qldHcKrq23Vq6i2ECuXHs80hP7T1GnzD5QSClV7XuuQzjRKb/s1600/DSC_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgho-ldVxjM5DN5LoLQZqlqO0zYkVtrQLY5jmrc2_BbXSDoCnqiDGNGp9SJMeAR99E2JdPjA1V4sGMzUDEo8Nn6YF7aJIs5qldHcKrq23Vq6i2ECuXHs80hP7T1GnzD5QSClV7XuuQzjRKb/s1600/DSC_0182.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonel Powhatan Robertson Page of the 26th Virginia, killed in action during the Union Army's initial attacks against Petersburg.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9ojwzbcQwr1RzmfZxN71O5wJGWcwtL5qmPdnal_Rzxjl-YI0IADJUbEZU5RmxtSH-6o5j50TMt0y16S9KWGI9RwuHHJMyaGxwC7QHlOt_uBc4TfHPC2yvAqnhpW695MCF2b68JITyNAF/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9ojwzbcQwr1RzmfZxN71O5wJGWcwtL5qmPdnal_Rzxjl-YI0IADJUbEZU5RmxtSH-6o5j50TMt0y16S9KWGI9RwuHHJMyaGxwC7QHlOt_uBc4TfHPC2yvAqnhpW695MCF2b68JITyNAF/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument marking unknown Confederate dead.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAxDz3TJNugnVtvz9cBiKAglFENwNyzGxB4u5NmQ89omWrd48mfoEqvGRPbRdzR-sbTboifZzUye1dErwsyEJWVu3aWi6KmermPhlmyK9_4xQhT__qGdiAX4HIolN8cIPBfAQI26N29i5/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAxDz3TJNugnVtvz9cBiKAglFENwNyzGxB4u5NmQ89omWrd48mfoEqvGRPbRdzR-sbTboifZzUye1dErwsyEJWVu3aWi6KmermPhlmyK9_4xQhT__qGdiAX4HIolN8cIPBfAQI26N29i5/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private John T. Griffin of the 41st Virginia, killed in action at Spotsylvania.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96SmIsFjRuEL4uJKEuJ8TPj1tDpz0P5tpBVN6WtibH_4vVpcrgo2brbGUrieUE79a5w3PNO_8Xp-P6xdcXUcrDouwrRXxzQ7wIGK8gKgGPiVfNUJ-oOZ66vwxeRFgQZC0XTSxlglfyGhU/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96SmIsFjRuEL4uJKEuJ8TPj1tDpz0P5tpBVN6WtibH_4vVpcrgo2brbGUrieUE79a5w3PNO_8Xp-P6xdcXUcrDouwrRXxzQ7wIGK8gKgGPiVfNUJ-oOZ66vwxeRFgQZC0XTSxlglfyGhU/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b_7o8s2Rs3MV_lS3hvfliIh0YCAynQdcYl1U6ca5Sq3SJeCJxVhC4svRRsNwxFS-Owc6yzrBbbdce_pztKbeBjUkM_YqH2FDYAgo5ldqgn9HyZi959ki-Jr_Ur6fDosY-PP4PHEhtQW6/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3b_7o8s2Rs3MV_lS3hvfliIh0YCAynQdcYl1U6ca5Sq3SJeCJxVhC4svRRsNwxFS-Owc6yzrBbbdce_pztKbeBjUkM_YqH2FDYAgo5ldqgn9HyZi959ki-Jr_Ur6fDosY-PP4PHEhtQW6/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Samuel Venable of the 13th Virginia Cavalry</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOqeu3UUZ54Cl5ShqNZDLTp3Vw4OvrFyH2vQ5G__u2uOmPhHKJgqTFwxqNYU4WDh8w1ju4T8CvG3EaM97PwNlSyTdxoq6Yb8RxnGJDTMrJKLqA5WUIxEnBw9JArvZL3WQiIxNq_rQdh_r/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOqeu3UUZ54Cl5ShqNZDLTp3Vw4OvrFyH2vQ5G__u2uOmPhHKJgqTFwxqNYU4WDh8w1ju4T8CvG3EaM97PwNlSyTdxoq6Yb8RxnGJDTMrJKLqA5WUIxEnBw9JArvZL3WQiIxNq_rQdh_r/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of 1st Sergeant Benjamin White in the family plot at Blandford. He grew up on Adams Street in Petersburg and was mortally wounded at the Wilderness.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbziTlff2BHNGN0BG5bhmL8Aqu0NmFmIGgtI4nIJVamNVlFknjg82W9d3nYLIaOx_3NAAbKnPHUHjXFWShVEEz-HX6UOUPgAhPRjg1ShLfvOUL-oo-9PJJHfWdPjJEylcIGD-UuCvd7TC/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbziTlff2BHNGN0BG5bhmL8Aqu0NmFmIGgtI4nIJVamNVlFknjg82W9d3nYLIaOx_3NAAbKnPHUHjXFWShVEEz-HX6UOUPgAhPRjg1ShLfvOUL-oo-9PJJHfWdPjJEylcIGD-UuCvd7TC/s1600/DSC_0202.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihV0ffjl9qNfGvmVg2HlB3mHiAxxBZ5E-G1yrP7WZ4AP6GZ89kMgbzznWbfcF04DyVCBFEtX2QqqRj5A_-pm80zhnyQjda4Ts7dZsr7E82FzzU-05bJuWVZxs3WKonY_h5uVvZSM9XSccR/s1600/DSC_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihV0ffjl9qNfGvmVg2HlB3mHiAxxBZ5E-G1yrP7WZ4AP6GZ89kMgbzznWbfcF04DyVCBFEtX2QqqRj5A_-pm80zhnyQjda4Ts7dZsr7E82FzzU-05bJuWVZxs3WKonY_h5uVvZSM9XSccR/s1600/DSC_0205.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blandford Church - 1735</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY3hDa62CEYatUr-K1EDf7-iTTHwLj8ZaJAakTdfJGsvKwr79BQU5y8t_lHboeBzSfVa7Qsr2zhfWIHZQMF6NbNM2eRKJ8j4y2ROCQ0YmVplN3rDyh1QSkapS3Yju-JEsMIxZc7iVDYMW/s1600/DSC_0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyY3hDa62CEYatUr-K1EDf7-iTTHwLj8ZaJAakTdfJGsvKwr79BQU5y8t_lHboeBzSfVa7Qsr2zhfWIHZQMF6NbNM2eRKJ8j4y2ROCQ0YmVplN3rDyh1QSkapS3Yju-JEsMIxZc7iVDYMW/s1600/DSC_0206.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private John E. Friend in the family plot, killed at Rives Farm.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghViD1wfVQsUYoSWLE_1CWUpg7H4QxUlo0RW0uTc3fxW7UWAmiLo_va-glhoTkDI-45uDyxdqEQwqA4Rf4bMUk2cg7UuAtPgrvFDCnoSuFLNmyJpr3BCkQhXX8CP6bhv4PxZZ0K0UdHRgy/s1600/DSC_0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghViD1wfVQsUYoSWLE_1CWUpg7H4QxUlo0RW0uTc3fxW7UWAmiLo_va-glhoTkDI-45uDyxdqEQwqA4Rf4bMUk2cg7UuAtPgrvFDCnoSuFLNmyJpr3BCkQhXX8CP6bhv4PxZZ0K0UdHRgy/s1600/DSC_0208.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private Charles William Pollard of the Albermarle Light Artillery, killed in action at Cold Harbor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjETl1efjKLD_vouCmi7w6V6NVIyYmKoMmbKKBZ4rYUzjYe3-LsLs45YCiV_LXvA6pj2Ftcv1rj6dhvn_AaWn7GzbVWkJlYCDwxj0CeVvXNUTDd6oKTzor-4oEYMWnkPQ_0h63Jzf9wseg/s1600/DSC_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjETl1efjKLD_vouCmi7w6V6NVIyYmKoMmbKKBZ4rYUzjYe3-LsLs45YCiV_LXvA6pj2Ftcv1rj6dhvn_AaWn7GzbVWkJlYCDwxj0CeVvXNUTDd6oKTzor-4oEYMWnkPQ_0h63Jzf9wseg/s1600/DSC_0210.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17 year old Lt. Wayles Hurt of the 3rd Virginia Reserves..."Fell in defence of his native city."</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzaqPEZI6iBZBKv-y5gKCHePPWR0j1HMs0exb-VhKRKha3hRBcx16S2nGnLW8VoaKb6a8rwePVSlFnBw0HdsgvN8VtMLzSTXGdk7wcqqVqU7rxbqBg0o1W8deqfOfkpTEPutLLR4M5dtq/s1600/DSC_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzaqPEZI6iBZBKv-y5gKCHePPWR0j1HMs0exb-VhKRKha3hRBcx16S2nGnLW8VoaKb6a8rwePVSlFnBw0HdsgvN8VtMLzSTXGdk7wcqqVqU7rxbqBg0o1W8deqfOfkpTEPutLLR4M5dtq/s1600/DSC_0212.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grave of Nora Fontaine Maury from whom General Logan got the idea for Memorial Day, or in the South, Decoration Day. She was also a Civil War nurse.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpE-XyeXFlfuUSh6LK69Xz7XZmzCauscQdQvFqx88IRd_vSn345TOqsOoTCGc0pKZ7Ek6FC3viFbJ8sWRVr-i4fhGGmQ4e5N0pLRmLZHJuBImExQZLqCa5n-FZ25MJbH-JzH6w7iQDAwF1/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpE-XyeXFlfuUSh6LK69Xz7XZmzCauscQdQvFqx88IRd_vSn345TOqsOoTCGc0pKZ7Ek6FC3viFbJ8sWRVr-i4fhGGmQ4e5N0pLRmLZHJuBImExQZLqCa5n-FZ25MJbH-JzH6w7iQDAwF1/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnoQLKtByXx0jd4xlMyz9q6YHULJwFyDFGQYIRflULc9D1eNWp_dY_smJvIBLbKeo8icXVn5rA793i8WoKDkWZcEbdJ6xO3tDl78UXO2l-0rsLckGj1-xH_MpCVIQEvHRGWvPwevVjcUV/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnoQLKtByXx0jd4xlMyz9q6YHULJwFyDFGQYIRflULc9D1eNWp_dY_smJvIBLbKeo8icXVn5rA793i8WoKDkWZcEbdJ6xO3tDl78UXO2l-0rsLckGj1-xH_MpCVIQEvHRGWvPwevVjcUV/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial to Major General William Phillips, British General in the American War of Independence who died of disease and is buried in the churchyard.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzRwUot-dWPJkCjLcumUvxL6YhA0WXgQU4JdZND2bZYMdPP_Bz_y9dALM5hKDlLjGaLNRnEGq68_qBFPo6Q0OKzwVEoI0pN2LB0rHSpQwQBJtZbnrs_0oD1PAoN6aOc2-q6Zb0xyxi1z4/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzRwUot-dWPJkCjLcumUvxL6YhA0WXgQU4JdZND2bZYMdPP_Bz_y9dALM5hKDlLjGaLNRnEGq68_qBFPo6Q0OKzwVEoI0pN2LB0rHSpQwQBJtZbnrs_0oD1PAoN6aOc2-q6Zb0xyxi1z4/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the oldest known burial at Blandford, that of Richard Yarbrough who died in 1702.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d3ilDZBEpWTg-AdXE4Wp1nwAEnZBWZooHWx373Hi_6THBd0mS4CRQuFtAJCmE1Zd_SfqQnqZW5WvsDlzOv6dPdFzYCQ5Xwdt51fu2erBITFWc2b2Dod4qk7D2Z2mITrHLhkjCLct2lJw/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d3ilDZBEpWTg-AdXE4Wp1nwAEnZBWZooHWx373Hi_6THBd0mS4CRQuFtAJCmE1Zd_SfqQnqZW5WvsDlzOv6dPdFzYCQ5Xwdt51fu2erBITFWc2b2Dod4qk7D2Z2mITrHLhkjCLct2lJw/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mausoleum of Confederate Major General William "Little Billy" Mahone.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brigadier General Cullen A. Battle from Alabama.</td></tr>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-74883342221132969652014-08-25T22:44:00.000-04:002014-08-25T22:44:05.687-04:00Croatia at Gettysburg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dusk has settled upon the undulating landscape along a little stream near a far off town with a very foreign sounding name. As Corporal George Petrovich surveys the landscape around him, he knows that the order to move forward will inevitably pass along the line. His comfort lies in the fact that his friends are beside him as they have been on every previous field of battle. They are lined up shoulder-to-shoulder in two ranks and brimming with confidence in the fact that this formation, this group of men, has survived previous travails with a stern brow and an invincible passion. The ranks on this night are also a radiant reminder of those friends who have been left behind at places like Williamsburg, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In fact many of the men ready to move forward, including Corporal Petrovich, carry with them the scars of these previous encounters with the enemy, but there is no time for these thoughts now. The only cogitations racing through the minds of these veteran warriors involves what might lurk through those dark menacing woods. Finally the order came down the line from Major Powell., "Forward!" The 10th Louisiana lurched ahead with the rest of Colonel Jesse Williams' Louisiana Brigade. Their target was a twin-peaked eminence known locally as Culps Hill.<br />
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<br />
George Petrovich came to the United States from Croatia well before the bells of war tolled across the North and South. When he came to the United States he joined thousands of other Croatian-Americans who had already settled in large numbers in the Mississippi Valley. Petrovich set his roots in the South's largest city, New Orleans, and started up his own business as a merchant on Chartres Street. Some sources list him as a fruit merchant. George's newly adopted nation provided the young lad with a great deal of opportunity and social prosperity in quick fashion. The vibrant and fairly prosperous lifestyle in the 'Crecent City' was unfortunately on short order, not just for George Petrovich, but for all Americans. The smoldering storm clouds of war crowded across the land. With the firing on Fort Sumter in April of 1861, localized units started popping up all over the South and New Orleans certainly provided its fair share. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><br />
<br />
One of those units was the 10th Louisiana Infantry, raised in July of 1861 by C<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">olonel</span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Antoine-Jaques-Phillipe de Mandeville de Marigny</span>at, a graduate of France's Saumur Military Academy and former French Cavalry officer. The regiment was mustered into Confederate service at Camp Moore in Louisiana to serve for the duration of the newly hashed "war of Northern aggression." At muster, the regiment boasted 953 officers and men. Among that fully complemented regiment was George Petrovich, one representative of numerous nationalities within the unit. In fact within the diversified ranks were men from <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Austria, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Canada, Corsica, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Gibralter, Greece, Ireland, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Italy, Martinique, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sardinia, Scotland, </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sicily, Spain and Switzerland. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv38sLrbtd9hGjL7Xl4yvCj5htdlCRTik7tUVqHWBKVrSFC6D8CvCBT1Zm5Im7r4kwlx5d-dL3z3AsoPC_AKKeRZXxtxKFSXeDlxTIAq78zJmE057wgO9wqf3w8vS1XPHtkmXXgfFT6Tb/s1600/DSC_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv38sLrbtd9hGjL7Xl4yvCj5htdlCRTik7tUVqHWBKVrSFC6D8CvCBT1Zm5Im7r4kwlx5d-dL3z3AsoPC_AKKeRZXxtxKFSXeDlxTIAq78zJmE057wgO9wqf3w8vS1XPHtkmXXgfFT6Tb/s1600/DSC_0346.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As the war progressed to an alarmingly volatile head, the 10th Louisiana found itself as an active member in the midst of what would eventually become Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The 10th would eventually become christened, "Lee's Foreign Legion." In contrast to other immigrant population participating in the war, this nickname was no chastisement. These soldiers representing the state of Louisiana were one of Lee's most reliable units and their participation in some of the war's early engagements lends evidence to the extent by which the Confederate high command was willing to lean on them. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
In May of 1862 the 10th Louisiana was involved in their first major fighting of the war on the Virginia Peninsula at Williamsburg. In this comparatively minor scrape, the 10th Louisiana was in the middle of the melee and suffered a number of casualties. George Petrovich was one of those soldiers that went down with a wound in the first fight. Eventually he would recover from this initial roughing up and rejoin the unit for the eventual renewal of the bloody struggle. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">4</span><br />
<br />
By the time the Gettysburg Campaign began, Corporal George Petrovich and his comrades of the 10th Louisiana were some of General Lee's staunchest veteran soldiers, albeit at a great cost. As the 'Crescent City' soldiers marched north their ranks were thinned down to the tune of a total mustering strength of 226 officers and men. The regiment had seen four commanders come and go, all but one lost as a result of the battlefield, and most recently, their beloved Lieutenant Colonel John M. Leggett who was killed in action at Chancellorsville. For those men that still comprised the 10th Louisiana, these losses only stiffened their resolve and vengeful convictions for the coming fight. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">5</span><br />
<br />
After a overwhelming Confederate victory on July 1, 1863 on the fields north and west of the town of Gettysburg, Robert E. Lee was looking to keep the initiative on the second day at Gettysburg. He came up with a two-pronged plan of attack that involved a prize-fighter mentality. His main attack of the hammer and anvil approach was to be led by Lieutenant General James Longstreet. The goal was to envelope the Union left along Cemetery Ridge, driving the Yankees all the way back across Cemetery Hill. As for the other end of the line, Lieutenant General Richard Ewell was to make a demonstration against the Union right at Culps Hill, and if practicable, to turn the demonstration into a full scale assault. The success of this plan completely depended upon the ability of General Lee's army to coordinate their efforts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Culps Hill Observation Tower - Johnson's Division's Attack</td></tr>
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The 10th Louisiana and the rest of Jesse Williams' (Nicholls') Brigade had barely been engaged to any great extent on the first day and they would figure prominently in the planning by General Ewell to assail the Union citadel at Culps Hill on July 2. As Longstreet was running into difficulties on the south end of the battlefield after a 4:00 pm advance, Ewell's artillery became engaged in a duel with the Federal guns on Cemetery and East Cemetery Hill that ended disastrously for the Confederate gunners in position on Benner's Hill. Finally after some more delay, Ewell got the wheels moving on his "demonstration" just before sunset.<br />
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Colonel Jesse Williams wrote in his official report that it was about 7:00 pm when Nicholls' Brigade finally got moving towards their objective. They were positioned to the left of John Marshall Jones' Virginia Brigade to the northeast of the Hanover Road and behind Benner's Hill. The 10th Louisiana was in the center of the brigade line. As the order to move forward rang along the line, the Louisiana Brigade was ordered to guide on the left of Jones' Brigade. Very little could be discerned about what kind of enemy force resided in the concealed terrain ahead. On top of that disadvantage, the sun was about to go down and there was still heavy firing on the other end of the line just a few miles distant with no indication of how Longstreet's battle was going. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">6</span><br />
<br />
Corporal George Petrovich and his comrades followed Major Thomas Powell steadily forward, first to the south side of Benner's Hill to get behind Jones' Brigade, and then wheeling right as they descended the slope towards the visible high ground beyond. Culps Hill must have been perfectly silhouetted against the setting sun. Finally as they neared the base of the hill, sporadic firing started to break out on their right. Jones' Virginia Brigade had finally made contact. Unknown to the advancing Louisianans, their first substantial obstacle lay directly ahead, a little meandering stream called Rock Creek.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Upper Culps Hill looking into the <br />ravine between the two summits</td></tr>
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The brigade line continued forward facing little resistance, their initial advance having already covered three quarters of a mile. What few remaining rays of sunlight still bathed the treetops very quickly vanished as the Confederates entered the woods east of Culps Hill and then, the shadow of the eminence itself erased those last filtered beams. The unit stumbled around a bit as they tried to contain their formation in the dark and unfamiliar terrain. Eventually they splashed into Rock Creek and the firing started to pick up as they stepped ashore on the western bank. The 78th New York of Brigadier General George Greene's Brigade was out on the skirmish line at the base of Culps Hill and ready to meet the Louisianans as they neared the ascending grade. A Union captain on the hill above recalled that "the blaze of fire which lighted up the darkness of the valley below us; the desperate charging yell and halloo of the rebel troops, convinced us of an immediate engagement...The Seventy-Eighth fell back in good order before the heavy columns of the foe..." <span style="font-size: xx-small;">7</span><br />
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Somewhere in that crowd of hallooing rebels was Corporal George Petrovich among his noisy comrades. Very quickly the darkness became a cauldron of shooting flames as the 10th Louisiana and the rest of the brigade continued up the slope. The smoke started to make a murky situation even more inky until the only guiding light was the flash of the muzzles ahead. Men were now dropping like flies with every step forward. Colonel Williams, commanding the brigade, wrote in his official report that "the brigade engaged the enemy near the base of these heights [Culps Hill], and, having quickly driven his front line into the entrenchments on their crest, continued forward until it reached a line about 100 yards from the enemy's works, when it again engaged him with an almost incessant fire..." As the attack of the Louisiana Brigade started to bog down within one hundred yards of the Federal works on the upper hill, the men continued to drop all along the line. Lee's 'Foreign Legion' was clinging for dear life on the steep slopes and ledges of a formerly indifferent Pennsylvania hillside that meant little to even the farmer that owned it before the battle. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">8</span> <br />
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The most bitter of the odds against 'Lee's Foreign Legion' that night was a mere accident of geography. The position taken by the brigade on Jones' left brought them against Culps Hill perfectly centered between both the upper and lower summits of the hill. The steep valley that separates the two summits virtually left the Louisianans at the bottom of a soup bowl with Federal troops surrounding them along the peripheral high ground, nearly on three sides, that is, until Steuart's Brigade came sweeping in on their left. Up until this point, the mixed North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia brigade of George Steuart was playing catch up. Being at the southeastern most point of the division's line, when Jones and Williams moved forward, Steuart's men had to cover much more ground as the large right-wheel was made towards Culps Hill. Eventually, with no small loss, Steuart's Brigade would push the right flank of George Green's New York Brigade off the lower summit of Culps Hill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhret-HgZDulq8umeb_xA_ZTkwnt0k0_mWcJUUpaBx7bZboR_YFfmCn1GrE8C_ztKJFB_AUCqYcZ-2O276gyLmBkIQJZS9KrdgpK4wdfYoAr67fEfCirfJvNJ-OKDoqmbqF2qyE8Thz2oky/s1600/CulpsHillBulletsintree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhret-HgZDulq8umeb_xA_ZTkwnt0k0_mWcJUUpaBx7bZboR_YFfmCn1GrE8C_ztKJFB_AUCqYcZ-2O276gyLmBkIQJZS9KrdgpK4wdfYoAr67fEfCirfJvNJ-OKDoqmbqF2qyE8Thz2oky/s1600/CulpsHillBulletsintree.jpg" height="393" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle-scarred trees on Culps Hill after the fight. <i>Library of Congress.</i></td></tr>
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All of this gain for the Confederates attacking Culps Hill provided little relief to the men of the 10th <br />
Louisiana who were trapped in the valley below the upper summit of Culps Hill. The Union soldiers above them continued to pour in a devastating fire down the darkened rock strewn slopes. Men continued to fall all around and several efforts were made to push even farther up the hill. To the right of the 10th Louisiana, the 1st Louisiana's color bearer ended up too close to the Federal works, and he knew it. Instead of allowing the regiment's colors to be taken by Yankees, he took the flag of its staff and wrapped it around his person, concealing it all through his imprisonment until the following winter when he was exchanged. Colonel Williams wrote after Gettysburg that his brigade fought under an incessant fire for four hours that night, "pending which several attempts to carry the works by assault, being entirely unsupported on the right (Jones' brigade having failed to hold its line on the right), were attended with more loss than success." <span style="font-size: xx-small;">9</span><br />
<br />
Somewhere in the pitch black, as the fight carried on, a Yankee bullet was targeted for Corporal George Petrovich and down he went like so many of his comrades on that horrific evening. As the deadly bullet hit the young Croatian soldier in butternut, along with him went a sort of American dream that he had so recently been vividly realized. His newly adopted home had, in the end, cost him his life. As the volcano roared on the following day all along the slopes of Culps Hill for nearly seven hours on Friday, July 3, many many more men would fall into the silent ranks with George Petrovich. By the time the unsuccessful bid to wrest Culps Hill from Federal control had ended, the 10th Louisiana Infantry, which entered the fight as an apparition of its former glory, could now count only 116 men left in the skeleton ranks. Corporal George Petrovich was one of twenty-two men in the 10th who were killed in action during the futile attempts to take Culps Hill at Gettysburg. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">10</span><br />
<br />
As General Lee and his army, including the tattered remnants of the once viable 10th Louisiana, withdrew towards Virginia, they left a swath of death and destruction on the eastern slopes of Culps Hill. Whether the work was done very hastily before the retreat by his Confederate comrades, or whether it was done with only slightly more care by Union soldiers, Corporal Petrovich was at some point interred near where he fell on the slopes of Culps Hill shortly after the battle. Wherever that resting place may have been, it was only temporary. Most of the Union dead at Gettysburg were very quickly re-interred into a new 'National Cemetery' later that same year. For George Petrovich and thousands of other Confederate soldiers who lost their lives at Gettysburg, they would remain in the Pennsylvania soil until efforts were made by citizens of the south to have them removed and brought home. From 1871 to 1873, 3,320 Confederate remains were disinterred and taken south. Among them was Private George Petrovich who was finally laid to rest, once and for all, at Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery. The young Croatian's story of adventure and sacrifice now rests outside the former Confederate capitol among the thousands of other Confederate dead scattered across the hillside. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">11</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corporal George Petrovich's grave at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
END NOTES</div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Reid, Graham, Tom Brooks, and Mike Jones. "10th La. Vol. Infantry "Lee's Foreign Legion"" Usgwararchives. Accessed August 26, 2014. http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/state/military/wbts/units/lavol10.txt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">4. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">"Croatian Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865." September 14, 2011. http://www.slavorum.com/forum/index.php?topic=741.0.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Floyd, Steven. </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px;">Commanders and Casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">. Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Publishing, 2014. 59.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">6. <em style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies </em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">(Hereafter O.R.)</span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">,</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"> 1880-1901, Washington, D.C., Ser. 1, Vol. xxvii, Pt. 2, p. 513.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">7. O.R., Pt. 1, p. 864-865.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">8. O.R., Pt. 2, p. 513.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">9. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Pfanz, Harry. "Johnson Attacks!" In </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px;">Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">, 216. Chapel Hill, London: Chapel Hill.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">10. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Floyd, Steven. </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px;">Commanders and Casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">. Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Publishing, 2014. 59.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">11. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Coco, Gregory. "A Charnel House of Death." In </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px;">Wasted Valor: The Confederate Dead at Gettysburg</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">, 39-42. Gettysburg, PA: Thomas Publications, 1990.</span></span><br />
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-91599573346412668162014-07-03T20:53:00.001-04:002014-07-12T20:40:57.752-04:00The Grand Assault, Confederate Perspectives on 'Pickett's Charge'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"About midnight, I received orders from Colonel Alexander, commanding reserve artillery, to take position on the field before daylight, and with his assistance I placed my battalion, consisting of eight Napoleon guns and two 12-pounder howitzers...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As soon as day broke and the enemy's lines became visible, it was apparent that to provide against an enfilade fire, the left of my line had better be thrown a little to the rear. Colonel Alexander having approved the proposed change, Captain Norcom's battery was retired about 30 yards, and Captain Richardson's moved about 200 yards to the left and to the rear of Norcom, forming en echelon by batteries. Major Dearing afterward took position with his battalion on my left, and five guns of Colonel Cabell's battalion were placed in position between Captains Norcom and Richardson.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">During the morning, the enemy threw forward heavy lines of skirmishers, endeavoring to gain the ravine and cover the woods in my front. My guns, with those of Captain Taylor, opened upon them moderately with evident effect. The enemy's batteries replied, but I paid little attention to them, seldom answering their fire at their batteries, in order to save my ammunition for the grand attack.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
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Early in the day my attention was called by Captain Richardson to a 3-inch rifled gun (that had been abandoned by the enemy the previous day) standing between the lines, about 300 yards in advance of our line of skirmishers. The horses had all been killed, and lay harnessed to the piece. William Forrest and Jim Brown (drivers), of Captain Richardson's company, immediately volunteered and earnestly requested permission to bring it off. Having given them directions how to proceed, I allowed them to do so, and the piece was drawn off under a heavy fire from the enemy's sharpshooters. Several shots struck the carriages, but the men and horses were unharmed. The limber contained about 50 rounds of ammunition, and the gun was immediately placed in position by Captain Richardson.<br />
<br />
I was deprived of the services of Capt. Joe Norcom early in the day, who, being struck by a piece of shell, had to retire from the field after turning over the command to Lieut. H. A. Battles.<br />
<br />
Between 1 and 2 p.m. you ordered me to give the signal for opening along the entire line. Two guns in quick succession were fired from Captain Miller's battery, and were immediately followed by all the battalions along the line opening simultaneously upon the enemy behind his works. The enemy answered vigorously, and a most terrific artillery duel ensued. Notwithstanding a most galling fire from the enemy's artillery from behind his works, and an enfilade fire from the mountain on my right, my men stood bravely to their work, and by their steady and judicious firing caused immense slaughter to the enemy.<br />
<br />
About thirty minutes after the signal guns had been fired, our infantry moved forward over the plateau in our front. It having been understood by a previous arrangement that the artillery should advance with the infantry, I immediately directed Captain Miller to advance his and Lieutenant Battles' batteries. Captain Miller having suffered severely from the loss of men and horses, could move forward only three pieces of his own battery and one of Lieutenant Battles' section. Then, with one piece of Major Henry's battalion, under the direction of Major [J. C.] Haskell, he took position 400 or 500 yards to the front, and opened with deadly effect upon the enemy. With the exception of these five guns, no others advanced.<br />
<br />
Captain Taylor, on my right, and Major Dearing, on my left, at this juncture ran out of ammunition and<br />
withdrew, leaving my battalion alone to bear the brunt of this portion of the field. The battery of Colonel Cabell's command, on Captain Richardson's right, had also ceased firing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82lDWfmdN97he0n4EjAhZr1E2XC_1h07auWG6l8P2kBg-2WRbXuCAlLbeeXGze42Tp2aiqNBVRkY5cYUvTEFzs6Mpnml4JvpPyAo_f-MMb_3BsIGlXOYI6t2SGlIO-LLhqZsr-zv9zeiE/s1600/DSC_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82lDWfmdN97he0n4EjAhZr1E2XC_1h07auWG6l8P2kBg-2WRbXuCAlLbeeXGze42Tp2aiqNBVRkY5cYUvTEFzs6Mpnml4JvpPyAo_f-MMb_3BsIGlXOYI6t2SGlIO-LLhqZsr-zv9zeiE/s1600/DSC_0492.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a>The advanced position of Captain Miller and Lieutenant Battles made them, as soon as the batteries on their flanks had ceased firing, the center of a concentrated fire from several of the enemy's batteries. Our artillery fire seemed to have slackened upon the whole line, and our infantry, unable to hold the works they had so gallantly taken, were falling back, and being pressed by the enemy, who had advanced from behind his breastworks.<br />
<br />
At this juncture, General Longstreet ordered that all the artillery that could be spared from the right should be sent to the position just evacuated by Major Dearing. Finding my advanced guns were suffering severely, I determined to change their position to that indicated by General Longstreet. Captain Miller, Lieutenant Battles, and Captain Richardson were immediately withdrawn, and placed with the section of howitzers, under Lieutenant Apps (till now held in reserve), in this position.<br />
<br />
This change, however, could not be made, I regret to say, under such a galling fire, without the loss of several of my gallant men, who fell, killed and wounded; among whom was Lieutenant Brown, commanding the First Company piece, severely wounded in the abdomen by a Minie ball. Lieutenant Battles had both of his pieces disabled-one struck on the face and so badly indurated as to prevent loading, and the other by having the axle broken. Captain Miller's loss in horses was so great that he could maneuver but one piece. Three pieces of the Third Company and the section of the Fourth Company were, therefore, sent to the rear. The captured rifle (Captain Richardson's), after having fired away all its ammunition, was struck on the axle by a solid shot and disabled, and was also withdrawn.<br />
<br />
Our infantry having fallen back about 200 yards to the rear of my guns, I was left, with the assistance of Captain Moody's section of howitzers, Captain Parker's battery, and one section of Colonel Cabell's, under Lieutenant ------- -------, and a few skirmishers, to hold the enemy in check.<br />
<br />
After having once been driven back, he made no farther advance in force, but threw out a heavy line of sharpshooters, which we held in check till dark, when, by order of Colonel Alexander, I withdrew, and by your direction went into park near the old school-house, and bivouacked for the night."<br />
- <b>Major B. F. Eshleman</b>, commanding Washington Artillery, Artillery Reserve <span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“About
2 o'clock we were ordered to advance. It
was an open field in front, about three-quarters of a mile in width. In moving off, there was some confusion in
the line, owing to the fact that it had been ordered to close in on the right
on Pickett's division, while that command gave way to the left. This was soon corrected, and the advance was
made in perfect order. When about half
across the intervening space, the enemy opened on us a most destructive fire of
grape and canister. When within about 250
or 300 yards of the stone wall behind which the enemy was posted, we were met
with a perfect hail-storm of lead from their small arms. The brigade dashed on, and many had reached
the wall, when we received a deadly volley from the left. The whole line on the left had given way, and
we were being rapidly flanked. With our
thinned ranks and in such a position, it would have been folly to stand, and
against such odds. We therefore fell
back to our original position in rear of the batteries. After this day's fight, but one field officer
was left in the brigade. Regiments that
went in with colonels came out commanded by lieutenants.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">Major John Thomas Jones</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, 26th North Carolina</span><span style="font-size: small;">, Commanding Pettigrew's Brigade </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Within 180 or 200 yards of his works, we came to a lane inclosed by
two stout post and plank fences. This
was a very great obstruction to us, but the men rushed over as rapidly as they
could, and advanced directly upon the enemy's works, the first line of which
was composed of rough stones. The enemy
abandoned this, but just in rear was massed a heavy force. By the time we had reached this work, our lines
all along, as far as I could see, had become very much weakened; indeed, the
line both right and left, as far as I could observe, seemed to melt away until
there was but little of it left. Those
who remained at the works saw that it was a hopeless case, and fell back. Archer's brigade remained at the works
fighting as long as any other troops either on their right or left, so far as I
could observe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Every flag in the brigade excepting one was captured at
or within the works of the enemy.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
First Tennessee had 3 color-bearers shot down, the last of whom was at the
works, and the flag captured.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
Thirteenth Alabama lost 3 in the same way, the last of whom was shot down at
the works.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Fourteenth Tennessee had
4 shot down, the last of whom was at the enemy's works.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Seventh Tennessee lost 3 color-bearers,
the last of whom was at the enemy's works, and the flag was only saved by
Captain [A.D.] Norris tearing it away from the staff and bringing it out
beneath his coat.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Fifth Alabama
Battalion also lost their flag at the enemy's works.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">- <b>Colonel Samuel G. Shepard</b>, 7th Tennessee, Archer's Brigade </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4METphOK9fSAmUwGWndzJfAh9ok3KU5KljDH4taa9p5D75dQ6y3nEIcwQPquic8JU1xoRp5Pl8QhZoUGtBs8f5nQLjYhwrMgTOrWA365L0OKhTEu7J2DPF4dUBRrwpWHRgFjfLywtdM4/s1600/To+The+Wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4METphOK9fSAmUwGWndzJfAh9ok3KU5KljDH4taa9p5D75dQ6y3nEIcwQPquic8JU1xoRp5Pl8QhZoUGtBs8f5nQLjYhwrMgTOrWA365L0OKhTEu7J2DPF4dUBRrwpWHRgFjfLywtdM4/s1600/To+The+Wall.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Our
line, much shattered, still kept up the advance until within about 20 paces of
the wall, when, for a moment, it recoiled under the terrific fore that poured
into our ranks both from their batteries and from their sheltered
infantry. At this moment, General Kemper
came up on the right and General Armistead in rear, when the three lines,
joining in concert, rushed forward with unyieding determination and an apparent
spirit of laudable rivalry to plant the Southern banner on the walls of the
enemy. His strongest and last line was
instantly gained; the Confederate battle-flag waved over his defenses, and the
fighting over the wall became hand to hand, and of the most desperate
character; but more than half having already fallen, our line was found too
weak to rout the enemy. We hoped for
support on the left (which had started simultaneously with ourselves), but
hoped in vain.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">Major Charles S. Peyton</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, 19th Virginia</span><span style="font-size: small;">, Commanding Garnett's Brigade </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4</span></span></div>
<br />
"Bunker Hill, Virginia, July 19, 1863<br />
<br />
On the 3d, General Longstreet bringing sixty pieces of artillery up, and General Hill having fifty more in position, about 3 p.m. they opened a most terrific fire upon the enemy's stronghold, with the intention of shelling them out. The enemy soon replied, and for nearly three hours the most terrific cannonading I ever witnessed was kept up from both sides; until our ammunition was almost exhausted, when the fire slackened, Pickett's Division renewed the assault made by us the previous evening. They advanced in beautiful order in three lines; but before they had gone far, the wounded and the frightened came running back in large numbers, and it was impossible to tell when the main body came back. During this, Wilcox's and our Brigade had been lying under cover, supporting the batteries which were shelling the enemy's works. I had orders to connect with Wilcox's left, and move with him. As soon as Pickett's Division had retired, we were thrown forward (as a forlorn hope, I suppose), notwithstanding the repulse of the day before, and the repulse of Pickett's whole Division, not twenty minutes before. Our two Brigades of about 1,400 men, advanced to the charge nobly. As we neared the point from which we had been repulsed the day before, heavy columns advanced upon both flanks, and our artillery, having exhausted their ammunition, did not fire a shot at them. Being unsupported by an advance upon any other part of the line, and having but one line, the enemy paid his undivided attention to us; and our only saftey from utter annihilation was in retreat. The Second Florida being on the left, and their Color-bearer wounded, they lost their colors and the greater part of their men.<br />
<br />
In the retreat the day before, the Color-bearer and the entire Color-guard of the Eighth were killed or wounded, and their colors were left on the field. Owing to the fact that several colors of other Brigades fell back with us, the Eighth did not miss their colors until after it was too late to secure them.<br />
<br />
In the last charge, and when almost off the field, Captain McCaslan was killed. He was a noble and gallant man, and rendered me invaluable assistance in the battles.<br />
<br />
Since the battles I have had no staff at all, except David Wilson. The Adjutant of the Eighth has been acting Adjutant-General for me. There are now but twenty-two line officers, and two hundred and thirty-three enlisted men for duty in the Brigade. Our loss has been four hundred and fifty-five, aggregate, killed, wounded and missing. I think a large number of the missing are men who have been captured unhurt, as there was a large number of men exhausted by the rapidity with which the first charge was made, who were unable to keep up on the retreat."<br />
- <b>Colonel David Lang</b>, commander of Perry's Florida Brigade at Gettysburg <span style="font-size: xx-small;">5</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Endnotes</div>
<br />
1. <em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">(Hereafter O.R.)</span><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">,</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"> 1880-1901, Washington, D.C., Ser. 1, Vol. xxvii, Pt. 2, p. 434-436.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">2. O.R. p. 643-644</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">3. O.R. p. 647</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">4. O.R. p. 386-387</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">5. </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Fleming, Francis P.. </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Memoir of Capt. C. Seton Fleming of the Second Florida Infantry, C.S.A.: illustrative of the history of the Florida troops in Virginia during the war between the states, with appendix of the casualties</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">. Alexandria, Va. (P.O. Box 19076, Alexandria 22320): Stonewall House. p. 81-83</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">.</span>Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-32277318335528445442014-06-22T21:06:00.000-04:002014-06-22T21:17:59.440-04:00PLENTY OF FIREWORKS TO GO AROUND...<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Lieutenant John D. Hill, Co. “F”, 107th N.Y. Inf. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Letter home after the battle of Gettysburg <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</div>
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<b>(written in camp near Gettysburg, July 5, 1863.)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr0XzWifEqxqYrw2Aux5KNLMSiNcKR3yHjs07RNEJ7lSnnx_bq45D2siRpqHlCsthlPW7ibyfCuAKFZQfWrccl2owzkYaJTMvMNvKj1Sr1ezhMr8xniubBap-9ZIMA-B3Y6fGf96UJr4-/s1600/John+D.+Hill+-+2nd+Lt.+107th+NY+KIA+New+Hope+Church,+GA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZr0XzWifEqxqYrw2Aux5KNLMSiNcKR3yHjs07RNEJ7lSnnx_bq45D2siRpqHlCsthlPW7ibyfCuAKFZQfWrccl2owzkYaJTMvMNvKj1Sr1ezhMr8xniubBap-9ZIMA-B3Y6fGf96UJr4-/s1600/John+D.+Hill+-+2nd+Lt.+107th+NY+KIA+New+Hope+Church,+GA.jpg" height="320" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lt. Hill on December 1, 1863 at Wartrace, Tennessee<br />
...he was dead in less than six months.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>
It is with deep gratitude to the all wise being who has spared me that I
seat myself to let you know that I am alive and well after again passing
through one of the bloodiest battles of the war. When I last wrote you we were
at Littlestown there we first heard of the rebels near approach. The next
morning we started in the direction of Gettysburg and heavy cannonading was
soon heard to the front and shortly afterwards the news came back that the
first and eleventh corps has encountered a heavy force of the enemy near
Gettysburg. We pressed on and were soon so near that we formed in line of
battle in the woods, and marched some distance and then fell back more to the
left and the regiment laid on their arms all night, supporting a battery. Our
company was sent on picket. We were aroused early Thursday morning and again
pushed on within a short distance of the rebel lines. The line of battle was
then formed and we commenced throwing up breastworks. This was done along the
whole line. At twenty minutes past four p.m. Thursday the ball opened with
artillery and in less than half an hour it was one continual roar. The musketry
soon commenced and it was almost a continual crash. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The rebel general, as usual, threw his whole force on one
point, which was our left wing and seemed determined to break through which
could have been a great disaster to us had he done so. Our corps occupied the
right of the center which we held until nearly dark, but as all the fighting
was on our left it was feared that the rebels would break and our corps was
ordered up to their support. We filed out of the breastworks and marched up.
The rebels got range of us as we marched out and poured and poured in the shell
at a terrible rate. We reached the extreme left at dark and the rebels began to
quiet down and we were ordered back to our place on the breastworks on the
right of the center and what do you suppose happened? Nothing less than the
rebels, who had quietly taken possession of the breastworks in our absence. We were
fairly outwitted this time and we felt very much chagrined at the idea. Of
course, we did not think it prudent to drive the rascals out in the night, so
we fell back in a field and waited till morning. Our skirmishers raised a
rumpus several times during the night so that we did not get much sleep. At
daylight we fell back a little farther and our artillery opened on the
breastworks and at every discharge seemed to say “Come out of those
breastworks, you rebs.” It must have been a hot time for them for it was a
perfect storm of shell, almost continually. Soon the infantry was sent in and
regiment after regiment sent in their volleys, which made terrible havoc in the
rebel ranks. The rebels held their position with bulldog tenacity for nearly
eight hours, but finally had to give way to Yankee pluck and numbers, and at
11:30 we held our old positions in the breastworks. Our regiment was very lucky
in the whole engagement, as we were left to support a battery, which was out of
musket range. The 27th Indiana and the 2nd Massachusetts of our brigade
suffered severely, losing nearly half of their men. We remained in support of
the batteries until noon Friday and then took our place in the breastworks,
where we played with the rebel sharpshooters at a distance, about three hours.
The rebels shelled us a long time, but did not exactly get the range and most
of the shells went over. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhxmbwAMniYy06_bUSfFargWEckP6ddtSTOAok4b5RSKX3JkeRMW9mJDmbOcuXHpTzOfs88vCorIl1PFfdvx1hLFATyMwvRpaPyfXA-eS6lgpwBTMRUIbL94Q-Gz_wuoej8EWW71-SUHE/s1600/107th+NY.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhxmbwAMniYy06_bUSfFargWEckP6ddtSTOAok4b5RSKX3JkeRMW9mJDmbOcuXHpTzOfs88vCorIl1PFfdvx1hLFATyMwvRpaPyfXA-eS6lgpwBTMRUIbL94Q-Gz_wuoej8EWW71-SUHE/s1600/107th+NY.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">107th New York Monument at Gettysburg</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The ground in front of our breastworks is completely strewn
with rebel dead. In many places they would charge on a place by column closed
in mass and seemed determined to carry it, but they met such a leaden storm
that it proved an impossibility. There is no doubt but what we have whipped
them in every sense of the word. Our corps was relieved at six on Friday night
and went farther up to the right to the support of the cavalry, who had had a
desperate engagement during the day with Stuart’s cavalry. The 4th of July
dawned upon us and we expected a fight with the cavalry, but after scouring
around the country a while we came back to our first position and passed the
remainder of the day very quietly, not carrying for any particular celebration
and were willing to dispense with fireworks in the evening, as we have had
plenty such as it is during the last three days.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We were in the
fight at Chancellorsville the 1,2, and 3d days of May, and at Gettysburg the
1,2, and 3d of July, being just two months between dates. Our regiment lost at
Chancellorsville about 80 killed and wounded and missing, and only two wounded
in this fight, so you can see we were very fortunate this time. This will
doubtless prove to be as great a battle as has ever been fought during the war,
and it seems as if we ought to whip them bad enough this time to make this the
last one. We expect to follow the rebels, but as of yet are lying in line on
the battlefield.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Love to all,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<pre><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">John D. Hill</span> </i></span>
</pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>
</i></span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">2nd Lieutenant John D. Hill</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">, 107th New York Infantry was born in 1843. He enlisted in Company F of the 107th New York Infantry in August 1862 as a Sergeant at the age of nineteen. He was with the regiment at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and through Burnside's Mud March. Just before Chancellorsville he was promoted to First Sergeant. The unit suffered heavy losses at Chancellorsville, but Sergeant Hill continued to prove his skills in leadership on the battlefield. In June of 1863 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of Company F, just in time for Gettysburg. The unit supported a battery near the Baltimore Pike during much of the fight for Culps Hill on July 2 and 3. The casualties at Gettysburg were light for the 107th New York, but they witnessed the carnage in detail as can be ascertained from Hill's letter above.</span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
</span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
</span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">Lieutenant Hill and the 107th New York moved south with the rest of the Twelfth Corps to join General Sherman's army and the move on Atlanta, Georgia. By May of 1864 the campaign was well under way on on the 25th of that month, the 107th met Confederates at New Hope Church. The regiment was decimated and Lieutenant Hill was shot in the head and killed instantly, only twenty-one years old. His men could not immediately remove him from the field and when they finally found him, he had been stripped of all his garments and belongings. Finally on May 27, 1864, the young lieutenant was laid to rest. </span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">
</span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; white-space: normal;">Captain Arthur Fitch of the 107th Remembered this of Lieutenant Hill when giving a dedicatory speech about his unit's action at New Hope Church..."The same tidal wave of death swept away his (Captain John Knox) second lieutenant, John Hill, quiet, modest, young, beloved of all. How well I remember his coming with a picket relief that first night at Gettysburg, and finding me overcome with fatigue and sound asleep (a dreadful dereliction of duty at such time), quietly awakened me and sent me with my picket guard to camp, without chiding or report to his superiors. I loved him from that hour." Eventually, young Hill was disinterred and finally laid to rest in Marietta National Cemetery. </span></pre>
Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-42971184309159554512014-05-08T21:05:00.000-04:002014-05-08T21:05:26.111-04:00OVERLAND CAMPAIGN 150TH: A Photo Tour<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>THE WILDERNESS</b></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbYklcDPxGhUKB23g1j9b4_d7ZUjDv8B1B1moEyRx9H0VuQKQ28kmPBhUoIF0DimSOwiCiNNJ2d08npQatx0V5EOZgBQq0vjPzECKCmAhXlMA_TQhEu-aaxZggM1vvkpbWZXc4KbBsHnP/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbYklcDPxGhUKB23g1j9b4_d7ZUjDv8B1B1moEyRx9H0VuQKQ28kmPBhUoIF0DimSOwiCiNNJ2d08npQatx0V5EOZgBQq0vjPzECKCmAhXlMA_TQhEu-aaxZggM1vvkpbWZXc4KbBsHnP/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This mortuary cannon marks the location of Brigadier General Alexander Hays' death along the Brock Road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSqFw8uVGr0CmxN7WY8ZyTq57HYSXPLN-tlMkLpIB2-ozz8PS_eviDmhVH8sbzOhsJj7BNOLgjfWwjfMqE2W98PPKBp52LQJaiI0jqm2HGoy8LNMEQzu2p34LtzRvV1cX1jFu1SOmxrFU/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSqFw8uVGr0CmxN7WY8ZyTq57HYSXPLN-tlMkLpIB2-ozz8PS_eviDmhVH8sbzOhsJj7BNOLgjfWwjfMqE2W98PPKBp52LQJaiI0jqm2HGoy8LNMEQzu2p34LtzRvV1cX1jFu1SOmxrFU/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lee to the rear!" marker in Widow Tapp's Field where on the morning of May 6, 1864, General Lee was ushered to<br />
the rear by his oncoming Texas soldiers, a major turning point in the fighting along the Orange Plank Road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMy37f5TAtV8nksg7hXoGNOWC2P40YuBglB4DpdmDo1DPOYez35UfKRnOjXxoff-dK5k22BTvQTATk85ip6_MKEj4QdRtzutWoqkgxnppmZy-msfwI1RYfIJtUShJPRNQuJ1V9kSRyyLPt/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMy37f5TAtV8nksg7hXoGNOWC2P40YuBglB4DpdmDo1DPOYez35UfKRnOjXxoff-dK5k22BTvQTATk85ip6_MKEj4QdRtzutWoqkgxnppmZy-msfwI1RYfIJtUShJPRNQuJ1V9kSRyyLPt/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederate artillery on the west end of Tapp Field.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnXdCZuEXUFcvJgA8GAyF_2muyXjpwlm53YvTNFd_-UBlCbddIc27dEO4ZetONOZTrY_vvmgCzACZWoqLKMCemEGSqiUBgPHrGyTc4csUR2SeTPiR1MX6fre1Ntae7ErN8ECSHwMRAl7s/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnXdCZuEXUFcvJgA8GAyF_2muyXjpwlm53YvTNFd_-UBlCbddIc27dEO4ZetONOZTrY_vvmgCzACZWoqLKMCemEGSqiUBgPHrGyTc4csUR2SeTPiR1MX6fre1Ntae7ErN8ECSHwMRAl7s/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederate entrenchments bisecting Tapp Field...the Orange Plank Road is along the far treeline.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s_TxQ60PX68ag5Uv8KrwOdtb6NWJixJwSFKq-jo29JeLPsxnalYfhRlvg0ttnWhL8mFBAgOSZ3l-ye0A9bhuFrk7Mm0_3kzLRnlkjKMq-21pGgK9Cywci6Pp2ucJe8CHPAn9TqhQzmO3/s1600/DSC_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s_TxQ60PX68ag5Uv8KrwOdtb6NWJixJwSFKq-jo29JeLPsxnalYfhRlvg0ttnWhL8mFBAgOSZ3l-ye0A9bhuFrk7Mm0_3kzLRnlkjKMq-21pGgK9Cywci6Pp2ucJe8CHPAn9TqhQzmO3/s1600/DSC_0258.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederate earthworks north of the Orange Plank Road...Hancock's May 6 AM attack passed through these works<br />
before his troops were eventually pushed back through here towards the Brock Road.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4jW5FTstCYVkLiXf6zduBACJeIpBs2uhGQOnjOy0zRStLlk_tUVCByBrQmP5XnDkinz8e0g8Hdg0l_McH3iPMvHL2GagmggZe1dJ8o9-szdfx_5oLmgnvVq-pLUZHPwMMMsIiWm9PUBJ/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4jW5FTstCYVkLiXf6zduBACJeIpBs2uhGQOnjOy0zRStLlk_tUVCByBrQmP5XnDkinz8e0g8Hdg0l_McH3iPMvHL2GagmggZe1dJ8o9-szdfx_5oLmgnvVq-pLUZHPwMMMsIiWm9PUBJ/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This monument marks the location of Brigadier General James Wadsworth's mortal wounding on May 6, 1864.</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
SPOTSYLVANIA</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxlOPluUID-jASY_rs5P6YMPnX8h6jFdl9vcxvuDNL-eWIUPir9lEx7-8M0LinV1ZR7unvtzhfF4LuUSHZhpphbbgur0AFAtp61XyuPCIjWIow1kxjE_-rIjOcMfJPOrvCj2T8-q5UHQW/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxlOPluUID-jASY_rs5P6YMPnX8h6jFdl9vcxvuDNL-eWIUPir9lEx7-8M0LinV1ZR7unvtzhfF4LuUSHZhpphbbgur0AFAtp61XyuPCIjWIow1kxjE_-rIjOcMfJPOrvCj2T8-q5UHQW/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurel Hill...this is where major fighting at Spotsylvania began on May 8, 1864.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RNzEorF57b3GQN6W_PQNZpE5kaGjehaq1Py6fd4VTHajkcx56L1BktwMXc59IZ8wLoEQ_jg14vjvp57EQR_M62j7dUOOJJCnkdgx1u15QgbZGlnKIj644x1I8cAcN84DdPfjP1SHCpi4/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RNzEorF57b3GQN6W_PQNZpE5kaGjehaq1Py6fd4VTHajkcx56L1BktwMXc59IZ8wLoEQ_jg14vjvp57EQR_M62j7dUOOJJCnkdgx1u15QgbZGlnKIj644x1I8cAcN84DdPfjP1SHCpi4/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the steep northern slopes of Laurel Hill...the Brock Road runs along the crest. On May 8, Samuel Crawford's Division made attacks against well positioned Confederates here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeODCFkUDJUTiyva7e4GvvljeE9PqHMa04OUdr5ktvnzWSBy9MeTmSiNcroEFoKukhWFY6R-t_Q1aQZeVndPEDq2ka7rIvY1qEfaAt-kbKRn_XoM2WzeQNUv6AcnjUu0y5wPV73EZd7KYG/s1600/DSC_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeODCFkUDJUTiyva7e4GvvljeE9PqHMa04OUdr5ktvnzWSBy9MeTmSiNcroEFoKukhWFY6R-t_Q1aQZeVndPEDq2ka7rIvY1qEfaAt-kbKRn_XoM2WzeQNUv6AcnjUu0y5wPV73EZd7KYG/s1600/DSC_0164.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lee's Final Line"....after the major fighting at the Bloody Angle and elsewhere on the Mule Shoe line, Lee consolidated his lines across directly across the rear of the bulge that formed the Mule Shoe salient.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3rfzusESvlfBL14TsYkh2r8XL2kubwL1_FMC5U4xaAC8P9O1EdGguR2787TdouUL0X_Dvab2u5omGmqlGueIQW9bUC6RQg4ku7Ow0dAPTsOYbsjzAcXFUx_oL1JpG04GOst9Mg1ppkHb/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3rfzusESvlfBL14TsYkh2r8XL2kubwL1_FMC5U4xaAC8P9O1EdGguR2787TdouUL0X_Dvab2u5omGmqlGueIQW9bUC6RQg4ku7Ow0dAPTsOYbsjzAcXFUx_oL1JpG04GOst9Mg1ppkHb/s1600/DSC_0174.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the western works of the Mule Shoe towards the ruins of the Harrison House, which are located <br />
amid the clump of trees on the hill in the left center of the photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXfUoyoF3x-xQz-1LWIwiwVpNtsKqeDyh4CJetP0fV7pvMY1FvORBhP2BROLi21Fy8YkxpJQv6BQewZEpQMEb9cR7zGOVSRcfnrkKybKKmtC5x6Udd82PikLptAtdUn9BDcNMNCbbggYy/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXfUoyoF3x-xQz-1LWIwiwVpNtsKqeDyh4CJetP0fV7pvMY1FvORBhP2BROLi21Fy8YkxpJQv6BQewZEpQMEb9cR7zGOVSRcfnrkKybKKmtC5x6Udd82PikLptAtdUn9BDcNMNCbbggYy/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to General Stephen Dodson Ramseur's Brigade on the western face of the Mule Shoe...<br />
it was here on May 12 that Ramseur re-stabilized a Confederate line that had been <br />
shattered by heavy assaults from Hancock's Federal 2nd Corps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmUgmBhccL6HQKAq60fM-WHySV4jDtMxLDKm1Lnl8lP2ZA7geORfJGlawddxHoFujhOhGq8MKuR_JysjqMeVDRFqHDFnosIDfuMiXVB8gEPXW00w4WVzqudQsIjDjBmWWmKvmhVBcEt6t/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmUgmBhccL6HQKAq60fM-WHySV4jDtMxLDKm1Lnl8lP2ZA7geORfJGlawddxHoFujhOhGq8MKuR_JysjqMeVDRFqHDFnosIDfuMiXVB8gEPXW00w4WVzqudQsIjDjBmWWmKvmhVBcEt6t/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederate entrenchments along the eastern part of the Mule Shoe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BeKeCa69IOKciQPlSHBvepry45DEFi_Kj0pIBMOB1S1vjRdjlcGR47CFWqktks5oyInW2xzfd4dJM8Qr3d683sH9cPYgDDtOXeoG5_Gj8_PF_8X0_6BiUKrg-HH6cwJScUAScg-awmmR/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BeKeCa69IOKciQPlSHBvepry45DEFi_Kj0pIBMOB1S1vjRdjlcGR47CFWqktks5oyInW2xzfd4dJM8Qr3d683sH9cPYgDDtOXeoG5_Gj8_PF_8X0_6BiUKrg-HH6cwJScUAScg-awmmR/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederate entrenchments on the eastern edge of the Mule Shoe, just below the Bloody Angle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OwTRKBB7XpsCfuXT5P9OlIHqOBGVbJSfSvOE0q3xodq8StShj8PD8gwFK24a-Esx3mXaF0D3aAn-oHRWzt7ZDzbfuoEbHervMdbqAWgTxKxgSlpi4Yswy9HTE2O9IhrzrjFnRPekwXI9/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OwTRKBB7XpsCfuXT5P9OlIHqOBGVbJSfSvOE0q3xodq8StShj8PD8gwFK24a-Esx3mXaF0D3aAn-oHRWzt7ZDzbfuoEbHervMdbqAWgTxKxgSlpi4Yswy9HTE2O9IhrzrjFnRPekwXI9/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking from the Bloody Angle in the direction from which Hancock's 2nd Corps made their massive<br />
assault in the early hours of May 12, 1864. They overwhelmed this part of the Confederate defenses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq574eZnbtbvCCnly_-S7H8vy_TuG338D3pm316OSBu5AsMXHewDElG7HgW_JZsfbHY8pkMilyLIF2h9_4ZXIXCroLiR5cGXQskMNpxrAbvg9DKzajDhq5KVDYk8f9TY4SaGdh64I-nut6/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq574eZnbtbvCCnly_-S7H8vy_TuG338D3pm316OSBu5AsMXHewDElG7HgW_JZsfbHY8pkMilyLIF2h9_4ZXIXCroLiR5cGXQskMNpxrAbvg9DKzajDhq5KVDYk8f9TY4SaGdh64I-nut6/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union monuments along the Bloody Angle, giving an idea of the close nature of the fighting across the earthworks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EmcxIz9uV2gnVJB13v6u5Yxogiw-s5vjRv_jT7U-CKHLYfjAjHHDoNR6cPvwJEAewUtwPoAEeZxP7mjZW3UyYNAr6_Q1Ulcr4Jfp0UO8kU3zrVaH0AaWD-JPSZDZEwgZVJocva4oux7y/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EmcxIz9uV2gnVJB13v6u5Yxogiw-s5vjRv_jT7U-CKHLYfjAjHHDoNR6cPvwJEAewUtwPoAEeZxP7mjZW3UyYNAr6_Q1Ulcr4Jfp0UO8kU3zrVaH0AaWD-JPSZDZEwgZVJocva4oux7y/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to the regiments of Upton's Charge on May 10</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIKtqHfiAxfbaXuWAjWLv2OO9X038uYoiZCu3lA7pBytC4wyolXRFWIkDRA4PyTFTStLitMJQwMiKs-Y0i2T4nhSO_8vDhr8qXD67pGW0xAw3tw6L7y8wxu-7wyFVhUqR7GXN0Qboz9hy/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIKtqHfiAxfbaXuWAjWLv2OO9X038uYoiZCu3lA7pBytC4wyolXRFWIkDRA4PyTFTStLitMJQwMiKs-Y0i2T4nhSO_8vDhr8qXD67pGW0xAw3tw6L7y8wxu-7wyFVhUqR7GXN0Qboz9hy/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this area on May 10, Emory Upton's men formed for their groundbreaking charge that helped to reformulate<br />
battlefield tactics of the time. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFY3v6GRj7OVAY4FaaK38VuV5C35lNLa9aBk9xkEBJSzYyp0P3MYnJbdts_NE2jQ4d-bqMDDZbchH5_RUD3iMcF3y_ByhjDychz97VxSrYrv40Czsq1T13S55hgsTmHsI9fOff0aClEMz/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFY3v6GRj7OVAY4FaaK38VuV5C35lNLa9aBk9xkEBJSzYyp0P3MYnJbdts_NE2jQ4d-bqMDDZbchH5_RUD3iMcF3y_ByhjDychz97VxSrYrv40Czsq1T13S55hgsTmHsI9fOff0aClEMz/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dense woods of Spotsylvania County</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgTQgsyDL7Wa8JdezOygX4bhRQPedpLvCoNOIJWkYAmdyyegdokObkuTDVXQo34TPrlQN_ZkarH_YUrQAVWFFTL6l9pNgEC-G2yduTee-wi_J2DhsIFXxZr-2_PhzsYrGmB5kZoiiYP2j/s1600/DSC_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgTQgsyDL7Wa8JdezOygX4bhRQPedpLvCoNOIJWkYAmdyyegdokObkuTDVXQo34TPrlQN_ZkarH_YUrQAVWFFTL6l9pNgEC-G2yduTee-wi_J2DhsIFXxZr-2_PhzsYrGmB5kZoiiYP2j/s1600/DSC_0230.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confederate Cemetery at Spotsylvania</td></tr>
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<br />Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-63865730471177907492014-04-27T21:19:00.003-04:002014-04-27T21:23:04.789-04:00Harper's Ferry's Mountaintop Fortress (MARYLAND HEIGHTS)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For starters, if you have never been to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm" target="_blank">Harper's Ferry, West Virginia</a>...go! For those that have gone, one of the more popular hikes at this outdoor playground takes trampers up to the famous <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/hikes.htm" target="_blank">overlook</a> on Maryland Heights, looking down on the scenic old town itself and the very wedding of the 'laughing' Shenandoah River and the 'mighty' Potomac River. The view is breathtaking and the area has its share of humbling vistas. Thomas Jefferson, on a visit to Harper's Ferry in 1783, wrote that "This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic." <br />
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It is very much because of these commanding views that Maryland Heights had such importance during the Civil War. Few people travel beyond the lower vista towards the top of the mountain to discover what truly amounts to a treasure chest of Civil War history. IT IS A DEMANDING HIKE for those who do not have much hiking experience, but very much worth the effort. This blog episode will focus on a photo trip across the rugged slopes of Maryland Heights, exploring visually, the well preserved Civil War landscape that awaits those willing to give a little more effort for a little more adventure. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7nDSoTzmmvib8rLChEkjr-c7Uwxwne4xQmGjZmmciAKbBVHf0edQkwT5nSTBtC1Om5iStAamZ0W9bBOWB69DIVPzT_sGbMS1gPz2BorBmvvwzp3ds4VqJ7lCMipDF3ma4dH0A-TKIv9F/s1600/DSC_0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7nDSoTzmmvib8rLChEkjr-c7Uwxwne4xQmGjZmmciAKbBVHf0edQkwT5nSTBtC1Om5iStAamZ0W9bBOWB69DIVPzT_sGbMS1gPz2BorBmvvwzp3ds4VqJ7lCMipDF3ma4dH0A-TKIv9F/s1600/DSC_0827.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking up towards Maryland Heights from the railroad bridge, the famous overlook which is most often visited, rises directly above you. Much higher on the mountain and out of view to the left is a fortress built by Union troops in 1863 called Stone Fort. It is at the highest point of Maryland Heights at 1,448 feet above sea level (you start at about 350' asl). From the Information Center along Shenandoah Street in the historic Lower Town, the round trip distance to Stone Fort and back, is 4.4 miles. For a map of the route, click on <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/upload/Md-Hts2011-2.pdf" target="_blank">this link</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP0v7f067ZdmZ9xjHvpb3yZyaM5Z37CNqtfxHTXJRNJl-g5rpXWtkCSIcQ1ZcZAFMwvd8lfbPLN9cAcwa36ObRbdVbQ9APsa3r8rvV4FIlBDCsXsQvscJu9OWLW7HyW8HDSbjST8KWM3l/s1600/DSC_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP0v7f067ZdmZ9xjHvpb3yZyaM5Z37CNqtfxHTXJRNJl-g5rpXWtkCSIcQ1ZcZAFMwvd8lfbPLN9cAcwa36ObRbdVbQ9APsa3r8rvV4FIlBDCsXsQvscJu9OWLW7HyW8HDSbjST8KWM3l/s1600/DSC_0834.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the duration of your hike up to the Stone Fort, the trail is marked with interpretive signs such as the one above, filling you in on how these impressive fortifications came to be, and their role in the different Confederate invasions northward. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLIGBG6sfym8R8CIEPQARsEze6Bxw3E2nAiQ0ZztehKGkhOSyePtM3Y8c9a8dFkQEiVTDrMAeCUzH5WE6D1mBBM1hkoIg64fijzPlhk9gngwGfKAeZmbRgaBzwuQ597OYLuO0XcCdIpPc/s1600/DSC_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLIGBG6sfym8R8CIEPQARsEze6Bxw3E2nAiQ0ZztehKGkhOSyePtM3Y8c9a8dFkQEiVTDrMAeCUzH5WE6D1mBBM1hkoIg64fijzPlhk9gngwGfKAeZmbRgaBzwuQ597OYLuO0XcCdIpPc/s1600/DSC_0836.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Most of your hike will be on the actual "Military Roads" built by Union troops to connect Harper's Ferry with the stronghold on Maryland Heights. Imagine as you hike upwards trying to pull a 1,200 pound cannon up these slopes, or even worse, a 10,000 pound cannon! Major Frank Rolfe of the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery recalled of the mountain fortress, "The batteries were situated from 250 to 2,065 feet above the river and the roads leading to them very rocky, steep and crooked and barley wide enough for a wagon. Over these roads the guns, ammunition and supplies of all kinds were hauled." Lieutenant Charles Morse of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry recorded that, "We began our labor at the bottom of the ravine and worked up a steep hill. Sometimes there would be as many as twenty or thirty fine trees falling at once: they reminded me of men falling in battle, that same dead, helpless fall." If you've made it this far up the mountain, don't give up! You're probably already farther than President Lincoln who attempted to tour the fortifications in October of 1862, but turned back because it was too steep. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZow8tJ0CIygLhyphenhyphenIQ0DdvesSuxp64jP5Oc8WI6YaSegsZh1Z1zUMsqs7ZZ-THtucOB_jl0anyTfbqlQlDV7Y2LSBA6IL8dNvgALJmGDH-playuEJueJcUqe639gc38IMDx__-zcpAdt44w/s1600/DSC_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZow8tJ0CIygLhyphenhyphenIQ0DdvesSuxp64jP5Oc8WI6YaSegsZh1Z1zUMsqs7ZZ-THtucOB_jl0anyTfbqlQlDV7Y2LSBA6IL8dNvgALJmGDH-playuEJueJcUqe639gc38IMDx__-zcpAdt44w/s1600/DSC_0838.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Depending on the time of year, as you climb higher and higher you will be treated with some pretty spectacular views of the Potomac River valley.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE45es3lSY1teZRNpR0mDQS3XtLx5Dg7gMZP6U-kR2iaBETSW2bnNWKAY0ARIp88pMUYlSzgC86tfprSLJhRS5P5y_i51eGpw09e3EOKeeiYAvMZFMkAjVpvOqhHTQABlx-LqwG_G0N8T/s1600/DSC_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE45es3lSY1teZRNpR0mDQS3XtLx5Dg7gMZP6U-kR2iaBETSW2bnNWKAY0ARIp88pMUYlSzgC86tfprSLJhRS5P5y_i51eGpw09e3EOKeeiYAvMZFMkAjVpvOqhHTQABlx-LqwG_G0N8T/s1600/DSC_0841.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Heading higher you will pass the remains of a "Charcoal Hearth," one of the many that helped to feed the local iron works. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiArDnONcPLbhYBjPnzFvLnY-kIt90M8BXHAcnIN7ngB5JDEtnzVe0MyxgjzBBBNoD9SeZ5OVXfwpbEDb_AY_f6R3URkldH0yW8x7lWDS-l2JuLwxPpHxd95sORYNE4baGMLsrYksOT-W2/s1600/DSC_0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiArDnONcPLbhYBjPnzFvLnY-kIt90M8BXHAcnIN7ngB5JDEtnzVe0MyxgjzBBBNoD9SeZ5OVXfwpbEDb_AY_f6R3URkldH0yW8x7lWDS-l2JuLwxPpHxd95sORYNE4baGMLsrYksOT-W2/s1600/DSC_0843.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you reach the top of the ridge, the Military Road becomes nice and level. Congratulations!!! You've completed the hardest part of the hike. What remains is either level or downhill and you will be rewarded with fine views the rest of the way. The area above is where Union soldiers who helped to man the fortifications made their camps, sleeping atop the wind swept ridge. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsaqCyyb-rbxrzWualLrvoqIGP8xVlA0m8b430lZ7n775mtAw8WbdCbD3appsOBkQD8RRxMC-xzjW0aH4wsDYk893-Z_EdQJQD1kJvYCBE-BV3VsQk5tLY6k84LkDxtiz4jjnlHN3eFZq/s1600/DSC_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsaqCyyb-rbxrzWualLrvoqIGP8xVlA0m8b430lZ7n775mtAw8WbdCbD3appsOBkQD8RRxMC-xzjW0aH4wsDYk893-Z_EdQJQD1kJvYCBE-BV3VsQk5tLY6k84LkDxtiz4jjnlHN3eFZq/s1600/DSC_0845.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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After a short walk on the ridge, you finally reach the outer fortifications of your destination, Stone Fort. The exterior of the fort was composed of two long breastworks extending down the west slope of the ridge from the fort for more than five hundred feet. They are on an approximate east to west axis and there is a northern wall and a southern wall. In the photo above you can see the southern wall and if your eyes are really good, you might be able to pick out the northern wall through the woods.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT11v1WKcNbtppxPlhZPKHOe_fyVl_2O_DUCFmtjHIQkYfpMYG5QsR3G5gEUztKpHtcQf4eFeKKmkhq5THLgMkNRUzTQb6106c7SsYlESQnKTK28vAHTqPog910KJ6xqxcrkYYyW5nGQyy/s1600/DSC_0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT11v1WKcNbtppxPlhZPKHOe_fyVl_2O_DUCFmtjHIQkYfpMYG5QsR3G5gEUztKpHtcQf4eFeKKmkhq5THLgMkNRUzTQb6106c7SsYlESQnKTK28vAHTqPog910KJ6xqxcrkYYyW5nGQyy/s1600/DSC_0846.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking west/northwest along the southern breastworks. They may not look like much now, but in 1863 these would have been quite an obstacle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqTIB94gSN1HQxR3z98b9SCdYXhhpYHS2_3cUZ2nUv3VKeXXg3ThkPLocvT11HlHuBkfnvA1_dAo-TitYcN0ClnKqgGflN0WbPA2KErOALXAMr_2o33N8peFX_vRlOaBxEJsdoQsICvlQ/s1600/DSC_0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqTIB94gSN1HQxR3z98b9SCdYXhhpYHS2_3cUZ2nUv3VKeXXg3ThkPLocvT11HlHuBkfnvA1_dAo-TitYcN0ClnKqgGflN0WbPA2KErOALXAMr_2o33N8peFX_vRlOaBxEJsdoQsICvlQ/s1600/DSC_0847.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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This view is looking northeast towards the interior of Stone Fort on top of the ridge. Make your way up the slope along the southern breastworks to the top of the ridge and you will finally get to the interior of Stone Fort. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjQUTTLNNowBY2nAeYgfhX8eFVHGpN6hL9aIzDEJRn1DgWP1SxfnRitayFeFtaokVhUQurE14wU_GbKyDd2nsJ-gwrepeJUxEZCiEq8jWWxnnqo0K_AHT5IOK3BM7fRSCloOaRaEHCjB7/s1600/DSC_0853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjQUTTLNNowBY2nAeYgfhX8eFVHGpN6hL9aIzDEJRn1DgWP1SxfnRitayFeFtaokVhUQurE14wU_GbKyDd2nsJ-gwrepeJUxEZCiEq8jWWxnnqo0K_AHT5IOK3BM7fRSCloOaRaEHCjB7/s1600/DSC_0853.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once you reach the interior you'll start to see some pretty neat things. The large crater-like ditch in the center of the photo was one of the fort's powder magazines. Turn around and look in the opposite direction and you'll see the fort's main northern parapet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9rpvGqz5RiBf3fd9api2dzOl_5sxjy7xqu12TruXB1WUtsMUapMCtYdPoRTtrA8gCMwomaSwZ8jK7New-LP5gChM7GfZygcc6AQEdNeb95tYjOswW1pZDD54vsrpLB1UWk0DEWdr6UO5/s1600/DSC_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9rpvGqz5RiBf3fd9api2dzOl_5sxjy7xqu12TruXB1WUtsMUapMCtYdPoRTtrA8gCMwomaSwZ8jK7New-LP5gChM7GfZygcc6AQEdNeb95tYjOswW1pZDD54vsrpLB1UWk0DEWdr6UO5/s1600/DSC_0855.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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These are the remnants of the northern parapet to Stone Fort, again from the inside of the fort. To get a look at the outside, you can retrace your steps and take a side trail from where you reached the top of the ridge.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Algxq4awldS62n354Kl1pyKeJwnRMxsmqr0ENNbHQ5a63UXeCllsPeN7jWkYbnGTtv-VaQz0pBrokmHZeHB8mKD6tRClCJI2KQC3fSpftLcS7G7wY5QcDKL8Lt_d74adYHC8IoK9Vk5q/s1600/DSC_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Algxq4awldS62n354Kl1pyKeJwnRMxsmqr0ENNbHQ5a63UXeCllsPeN7jWkYbnGTtv-VaQz0pBrokmHZeHB8mKD6tRClCJI2KQC3fSpftLcS7G7wY5QcDKL8Lt_d74adYHC8IoK9Vk5q/s1600/DSC_0858.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the view towards the northern parapet of Stone Fort from the outside. Again, maybe it doesn't look like much now, but imagine hundreds of soldiers and heavy artillery. These fortifications, again built in 1863, deterred Confederate invaders from even making another attempt on them through their later ventures. During the Gettysburg Campaign, Lee moved farther west and took on Winchester instead of Harper's Ferry. In 1864 Confederate General Jubal Early was again invading the north and he also bypassed Harper's Ferry because of the nature of these fortifications. </div>
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As you continue along the trail, it wraps around 180 degrees and leads you back in the direction you came, traversing back through the interior of Stone Fort. And it this point, you get to see why it was given the name Stone Fort. Enter the stone foundation that was built in the winter of 1862-1863 as a blockhouse for Union soldiers that was intended to have a major superstructure over top. The superstructure was never built and the Stone Fort ended up serving mostly as a commissary storage area with rations for about 5,000 men. </div>
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Looking around the interior of the blockhouse. The eastern slope is extremely steep, unfitting for any enemy's attempt to take the fortress. The western slope is guarded by the 500 foot long exterior fortifications both north and south. </div>
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Looking east/southeast towards Washington D.C. along the Potomac River from Stone Fort.</div>
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The views continue and that is because the ridge-top was home to one of the largest guns used in the Civil War, the 100-pounder Parrott, weighing in at just under 10,000 pounds. It took 200-500 men to haul the gun from the base of the mountain to near its summit, at this location.</div>
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This was the platform for the 100-pounder Parrott, which commanded the Potomac River valley to the east and south for two miles in each direction.</div>
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Powder Magazines at the rear of the 100-pounder Parrot platform.</div>
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As you continue down the mountain from Stone Fort, the next big stop is this impressive parapet that was once part of a 30-pounder battery, the first battery built on the mountainside in the Fall of 1862. The 30-pounder siege guns here could fire just over a mile and commanded the surrounding Loudon Heights (Virginia side) and Bolivar Heights (beyond Harper's Ferry).</div>
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Just below the parapet, another wayside marker gives some great information on the fortifications around you.</div>
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Another view of the western end of the parapet for the 30-pounder battery at the end of the ridge.</div>
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From the battery, continue down the mountainside on another Military Road. Eventually you will merge with the Overlook Trail that leads you down to the more famous part of Maryland Heights. You can also turn right to continue down the mountain along the Military Road.</div>
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At about 300 feet above the river, you'll reach the last of the battery installations on Maryland Heights. This was another naval battery installation with three 9-inch Dahlgren Guns, capable of firing about two miles. In the clearing at the left, if you look at the far horizon you can just barely make out a mountain in the distance. That is Signal Knob at the northern end of Massanhutten Mountain in the Shendandoah Valley.</div>
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As you reach the trailhead you can either return directly along the C&O Canal back to Harper's Ferry, or continue exploring along the Potomac for more adventure. Either way, at this point you've seen some pretty neat Civil War history.</div>
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Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-88736391813512335592014-04-03T21:34:00.001-04:002014-07-03T20:55:09.156-04:00"Your regiment is worth its weight in gold sir!"<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>THE 11TH PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES AT GETTYSBURG</b></div>
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The sinking sun was nearly touching the western horizon behind South Mountain on that long afternoon. It was July 2, 1863 and at that late moment in the day, a brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves were about to leave the northern slopes of Little Round Top in their wake. Momentum was carrying the blue wave of veterans forward in a free-fall aimed at thwarting the steaming heap of butternut attackers bent on shattering the Union left. The attacked were transforming into the attacker. What happened next probably lasted less than fifteen minutes, but in post-war years it would become the proudest lifetime achievement for the Pennsylvania veterans who could count themselves as participants.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to the 11th PA Reserves at Gettysburg</td></tr>
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At the center of this epic action was the 11th Regiment of Pennsylvania Reserves, also known as the 40th Pennsylvania Infantry. The 11th was a veteran unit of "first defenders" who had participated in many of the war's bloodiest battles leading up to Gettysburg. Mustered into Federal service in June of 1861, the regiment was one of fifteen units completely provisioned and tailored by the State of Pennsylvania. This was because the state had exceeded its quota of men to fill President Lincoln's initial call for volunteers after the firing on Fort Sumter. Pennsylvania's Governor Andrew Curtin did not want to loose these volunteers so full of patriotic fervor and so the Pennsylvania Reserves were born. The regiment was trained at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg and quickly got into the major fighting. It participated in the battles at Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill and Glendale on the Peninsula, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. In each of these battles the unit suffered tremendous battle casualties.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>1</b></span><br />
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Even with extensive losses on the battlefield and by disease, by mid-1863, the 11th Reserves were a tough and experienced group of veteran soldiers. Just prior to the Gettysburg Campaign the unit was in Washington D.C. recruiting and recuperating from their losses. Once the Army of the Potomac began creeping northward from their Rappahannock Line to follow the Army of Northern Virginia, the Reserves were called back to the front line.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>2</b></span><br />
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The regiment broke camp at Vienna, Virginia on June 25 and started north to join the Army of the Potomac as part of the Third Division of the Fifth Corps. They had a new division commander as well, Brigadier General Samuel Crawford, a veteran who was present for the war's first shots at Fort Sumter and at many of the war's early battles. At Antietam he was severely wounded, necessitating a lengthy recovery, but now he was ready to lead some of the best troops in the army towards battle on northern soil. On June 28, the Army of the Potomac received a new commander, one whom the Pennsylvania Reserves were quite familiar with and happy to follow, their old division commander, George Gordon Meade.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>3</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brevet Brigadier General Samuel M. Jackson,<br />
Grandfather of actor Jimmy Stewart</td></tr>
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The 11th PA Reserves were under the leadership of a new regimental commander as well. Colonel Samuel McCartney Jackson hailed from Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Jackson grew up on a farm and learned the qualities of hard-work and leadership early on. At the age of twelve he had enrolled in the state militia as a drummer boy and he proved to be quite adept at the job of soldiering, rising to the rank of captain. He was a teacher when the war broke out and he recruited Company G, or the "Apollo Independent Blues," for the 11th PA Reserves. Many of the men he recruited were the same ones he had drilled with in the state militia. His skillful leadership was quickly recognized and he was promoted to the rank of Major by July of 1861. And so a deeply rooted bond between Jackson and his men sprouted and matured through all the harrowing trials of two years of warfare.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>4</b></span><br />
<br />
Rising through the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Jackson was finally commissioned Colonel on April 10, 1863. Although he had not yet led his men into battle with his new rank, he had proven his leadership and faithfulness to them on numerous bloody battlefields which now seemed a distant memory.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>5</b></span> <br />
<br />
On July 1, with 25 officers and 367 men, the 11th PA Reserves started marching at 5:00 am and reached the vicinity of Hanover, PA around 5:00 pm. They sluggishly continued forward through the darkness to the west of McSherrystown where they finally halted well past midnight. Colonel Jackson remembered about that wearisome evening, "Poor fellows, they had hardly touched the ground till they were fast asleep, the last sleep on earth for many of them." Captain Hannibal Sloan of Company B said that they found they were "laying in a swamp. The course swamp grass had served us for a bed, a softer bed I do not believe was ever given human beings - being composed largely of water."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>6</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Provision return written by Colonel Jackson in April of 1863,<br />
The regiment's numbers are only slightly higher than a few<br />
months later at Gettysburg. - Author's Collection</td></tr>
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The next morning Colonel Jackson had the men up at daylight, around 5:00 am, and on the road again. It was shortly after continuing forward that he was approached by General Crawford and informed of the death of Major General Reynolds during the previous day's fighting at Gettysburg. Reynolds was one of their beloved leaders who had commanded the Reserves on the Peninsula and because of this, Crawford asked Jackson not to share the information with the men and depress the morale. Pressing ahead, the hours rolled by as the miles ticked away for the steady marching soldiers in blue. Eventually the regiment "filed off the pike and marched along a country road for a distance of about one mile, when we were marched into a field on the right-hand side of the road looking towards Gettysburg." Everything seemed to be eerily calm as the men rested from their tedious march. At the dedication of the regiment's monument, Colonel Jackson recalled the events that followed.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>7</b></span><br />
<br />
"About 4 o'clock in the afternoon a single gun was fired in the direction of and beyond Big Round Top: this was followed by the sharp rattle of musketry and the heavy booming of artillery. Very soon aides and orderlies began to gallop in all directions. One soon found his way to division headquarters when General Crawford and his staff quickly mounted and the order was passed along to fall in. We moved in the rear and east of the Round Tops, filed to the left and crossed the ridge between Little Round Top and the Cemetery. We were then moved to the left and took position on the western slope of Little Round Top, massed in a battalion front with the Third Brigade leading. This formation placed my regiment in the rear of the brigade."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>8</b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQeGOfInmYyJ86aPPjzjECURORCppEsrHk9cLys6PNs_WTNslY6-Qd1sWIqHBLUxYO9UMt-bqdvlnSfiT9tVU-Sr7EhIpQpjse02hQHqr-G7AVU8QGaPCDE9zdX03kaxuOkzBf9Q5xR0_/s1600/SamuelCrawford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQeGOfInmYyJ86aPPjzjECURORCppEsrHk9cLys6PNs_WTNslY6-Qd1sWIqHBLUxYO9UMt-bqdvlnSfiT9tVU-Sr7EhIpQpjse02hQHqr-G7AVU8QGaPCDE9zdX03kaxuOkzBf9Q5xR0_/s1600/SamuelCrawford.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></a>General Crawford wrote that he was ordered "to mass his troops upon the right of a road running through our line, near our left flank, and which, descending a rocky slope, crossed a low marshy ground in front to a wheat-field lying between two thick belts of woods beyond. The position occupied by our troops on the left was a naturally strong one." By the time the Reserves had arrived in this position, things were dramatically shifting against Union success in the ground which Crawford described. Thousands of soldiers in both blue and gray had already fallen in areas such as The Wheatfield, Devil's Den, Stoney Hill, and even on the southern slopes of Little Round Top. The fighting on the Union left was about to reach a crescendo.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>9</b></span><br />
<br />
Just as the United States Regulars were running into trouble in The Wheatfield, Crawford moved his men across the road to cover their possible withdrawal from his front. He was ordered to send one brigade "to the left of Barnes' division, on the crest of the ridge." He dispatched Colonel Joseph Fisher's Third Brigade to which the 11th PA Reserves were attached. The 12th, 5th and 10th Reserves filed off to the left from Colonel Jackson's front and just as he was about to follow, a major on General Crawford's staff came bounding up to him and shouted, "Colonel Jackson, General Crawford directs that you remain in position and hold this hill at all hazards." Jackson ordered his men to face front and realign into the position they were about to vacate. At this moment the men in the 11th PA Reserves had one of the grandest panoramas on the battlefield, albeit a deadly one. The United States Regular troops were being driven from The Wheatfield in their front and there was still heavy firing to their left along the slopes of Little Round Top. Colonel Jackson noted that the most troublesome fire was coming from Devil's Den and that "quite a number of my officers and men were here killed and wounded."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>10</b></span><br />
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The United States Regulars had fought gallantly and suffered grievously in their brief action out in front of the PA Reserves and now, what remained of them was attempting to escape back towards the northern slopes of Little Round Top. Captain Frank Gibbs and his 1st Ohio Battery L, with six Napoleans on the northern slopes of Little Round Top, were also feeling the pressure. They couldn't fire until their own infantry troops had cleared the field of fire. Gibbs became quite concerned over the Confederate troops that were quickly pressing towards his position on the heels of the Regulars. Colonel Jackson told Gibbs to double-shot his guns and that the 11th PA would see to their safety. Some men of the 11th near the guns started to shout, "Stand by your guns, Dutchy, and we will stand by you!"<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>11</b></span><br />
<br />
Gibbs had his guns loaded with double canister and once the Regulars had cleared his front, he ordered them to belch forth their missiles of death. They did terrible execution on the approaching Confederate mobs from Anderson's, Semmes', Kershaw's and Wofford's Brigades. Gibbs reported that "so rapidly were the guns worked that they became too hot to lay the hand on."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>12</b></span><br />
<br />
As the smoke from the artillery and musketry began to mask the view of the valley below, the situation disintegrated into confusion. Even with the hot work done by Gibbs' battery, the Confederates continued to press not only across Plum Run, but up the gentle slope towards the ridge and the Union soldiers above them. They seemed unstoppable. Colonel Jackson remembered inquiring to some men stumbling back towards him if the front was clear of Union men. They told him, "Yes; those fellows (pointing to the line moving up the hill a few rods in our front) are Johnnies. I immediately gave the command to fire, which was obeyed with alacrity, and we poured a terrible volley into the very faces of the enemy. This evidently was a surprise, for they faltered in the onward march and began to collect in groups."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>13</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the approximate position of the 11th PA Reserves<br />
into the Plum Run Valley, showing the entire area of their charge</td></tr>
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The Confederate attackers had reached the crux of their heroic attack that day. After charging nearly a mile, all the way fighting and losing heavily over broken terrain, the Confederate attack was losing steam. Captain Sloan of Company B recalled the 11th firing "three or four rounds," causing their adversaries much devastation. Just when it appeared the momentum might be swinging back to the Union, Colonel Jackson kept the initiative in favor of his Reserves. Sloan remembered, "I was near Colonel Jackson when he received the order to hold the hill at all hazards. I was also near him when he gave the order to fix bayonets and charge. I would certainly have seen any officer giving him the order, and as certainly have heard such an order if it had been given to him by any one. There were no orders given him and therefore am I positive in my belief, and deliberate in my statement, when I say, that Colonel Jackson alone determined the action of his regiment, and of his own motion and as the only possible way to hold that hill until reinforcements could be got up, gave his order to fix bayonets and charge."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>14</b></span><br />
<br />
Many claims place the resulting charge with the efforts of General Crawford, taking the colors of the 1st Reserves and leading the brigade forward, but no mention of this is made in his official report. Crawford did remark in his official report eight days later that "Not a moment was to be lost. Uncovering our front, I ordered an immediate advance. The command advanced gallantly..." Jackson remembered this moment differently, claiming that "I soon realized the fact that the only way to hold the hill was to charge forward. Therefore, I gave the command to fix bayonets and charge. This order was obeyed with a will and, with that familiar yell peculiar to the Pennsylvania Reserves, we rushed upon the foe with a determination to either drive the invaders back or sacrifice ourselves on our native soil."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>15</b></span><br />
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Regardless of who ordered the advance, Crawford and Jackson definitely agreed on two things. First, as the Reserves were given the order, they let out quite a yell. Secondly, the ensuing forward movement was made with some sort of indescribable enthusiasm. The front line charged down the rocky northwest slopes of Little Round Top at a run with the 1st, 11th and 6th Reserves (from left to right) in the front line. The 13th (Bucktails) and 2nd Reserves followed closely behind. At that same moment, or shortly after, the 98th PA from Wheaton's Brigade advanced on the left flank of the Reserves. The Confederate soldiers that just a few moments before seemed to be everywhere, evaporated from their front. Eventually reaching the base of the slope they continued to surge forward across the swampy lowlands bordering Plum Run and once across the stream made for the stone fence on the east side of The Wheatfield. Finally catching up to some of the fleeing Confederate soldiers, some brief hand-to-hand combat surrounded the stone fence over which so many hundreds of soldiers from both sides had moved that day. Eventually the Confederates were forced to relinquish the hard fought ground which was now littered with hundreds of dead and dying men.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>16</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards the stone wall </td></tr>
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Even as the 11th PA and its sibling Reserve units reformed along the stone fence, the severity of the fire on the brigade's left flank from Houck's Ridge and the Devil's Den area became intolerable. To solve this problem, Colonel William McCandless (commander of the 1st Brigade of Reserves) ordered the 13th and 2nd Reserves to shift to the left of the 1st Reserves, forming one long brigade line which slightly angled back on the left in this order: 13th, 2nd, 1st, 11th and 6th (left to right). Many of the Reserve units had lost cohesion in their bold movement down the slope and through the swampy ground. One officer called it "the most irregular line that ever made a charge." Finally at the stone wall, the Reserves were able to regroup. It was at some point during this pause in the action that General Crawford rode in amongst the men of the 11th Reserves and found Colonel Jackson exclaiming, "Colonel Jackson, you have saved the day, your regiment is worth its weight in gold; its weight in gold, sir."<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>17</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private Alexander Eakman,<br />
Co B 11th PA RVC<br />
wounded at Gettysburg -<br />
Author's Collection</td></tr>
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Captain Sloan remembered the praise heaped upon the regiment's colonel saying, "this was a compliment and all felt proud and were glad we were there." The unit had much to be proud of. In the face of a seemingly relentless Confederate assault, they had charged into the face of death with alacrity and raw courage. Trying to settle after the drama that had just engulfed them, the Reserves still had work yet to be done.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>18</b></span><br />
<br />
Nightfall had set in across the day's field of battle and there was still the sound of musketry coming from the other end of the line to the northeast. A near full moon and clearing skies made matters worse as the smoke from thousands of small arms dissipated. It was almost as if the daylight had never gone away on a day that seemed to last an eternity. No one dared raise their scalp above the stone wall and it was suicide to even think of rushing aid to fallen comrades. Thousands of dead and wounded soldiers carpeted the bloody, nightmarish landscape. For now all the men could do was keep quiet, rest and wait.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigM4rHwG39WEUbI3DfSX6R39iE-lZRLqSCmbTgxiIkuKQ_KL4agIJGqQ-VMSQyBmDOxQahjWqocIYKt_TPokWgXht5GyPeW22J6qHkGgiK2eUiJh7WJqYj4gw06iIa54aD2zCtjVEk-fd/s1600/James+P.+Boggs+-+Bvt.+Major+11th+PA+Reserves+-+40th+PA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigM4rHwG39WEUbI3DfSX6R39iE-lZRLqSCmbTgxiIkuKQ_KL4agIJGqQ-VMSQyBmDOxQahjWqocIYKt_TPokWgXht5GyPeW22J6qHkGgiK2eUiJh7WJqYj4gw06iIa54aD2zCtjVEk-fd/s1600/James+P.+Boggs+-+Bvt.+Major+11th+PA+Reserves+-+40th+PA.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st Lieutenant James P.<br />
Boggs who participated<br />
in the charge that day with<br />
Company D -<br />
Author's Collection</td></tr>
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As July 3 dawned, the Pennsylvania skies held promises of an even hotter and more sultry day than the previous. More epic events were unfolding even as the sun rose on the third day of fighting at Gettysburg. The right end of the Union line at Culps Hill would play venue to seven hours of sustained combat until the Confederate forces there finally gave up their efforts. Then another one of those eerie lulls settled over the once quiet Pennsylvania farm land. All this time the Reserves held their position. Shortly after noon the silence was shattered by perhaps the loudest event in the history of the continent. After about one and a half hours of truly horrifying amplification, Pickett's, Pettigrew's, and Trimble's brave Confederates made one more concerted effort on breaking the Union line... and ultimately failed.<br />
<br />
Around 5:00 pm the Reserves were called into action once more. The men of the Eleventh PA were ordered forward with McCandless' Brigade across The Wheatfield towards the Rose Farm. The attack surprised the Confederates there and the Reserves were able to fall upon their enemy's flank. On top of disbursing the Confederate soldiers in their immediate front, the Confederates were also forced to withdrawal from the area of Devil's Den and the Slyder Farm. Capturing over one hundred prisoners, one battle flag, one Napolean cannon and three caissons, the movement was deemed a complete success. They had regained all the ground previously lost by the Third Corps on July 2, and if the toll in human carnage hadn't been apparent before, the Union troops now had control of most of the major areas of fighting from that previous bloody day.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>19</b></span><br />
<br />
The 11th PA Reserves remained in their position through July 4, when they were finally pulled back across The Wheatfield in a driving rain storm towards the stone fence they had fought so valiantly to win. They had taken significant losses in their brief fights on both July 2 and 3. Of the 25 officers and 367 men taken into battle, one officer and four men were killed, and two officers and thirty-three men were wounded, a casualty rate of thirteen percent. The morale of these tough Pennsylvanians was sky high and the sacrifices seemed to have meaning on their native soil, but there was much more fighting for these soldiers just ahead. Gettysburg definitely provided the men of the 11th PA Reserves with one bit of certainty though. They knew that the next time they would face the challenge of their Confederate foe, that they would be following a fearless leader who would fight alongside them to the last, until the crowning victory was won.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>20</b></span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuG7c9lX0N6AxjeGiH8miQdicJqjL0z3k9OiGI-DNwmOQW9ZdlQSwx3Wco8prD2A8msCYGvCTFdwki89Kq4i0WlbTJxM1UhIL_JLaNQPA2bgC5uOCWrvaENq-GsyQRf-C1icAMirZwJhY/s1600/40th+PA+-+11th+Res.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuG7c9lX0N6AxjeGiH8miQdicJqjL0z3k9OiGI-DNwmOQW9ZdlQSwx3Wco8prD2A8msCYGvCTFdwki89Kq4i0WlbTJxM1UhIL_JLaNQPA2bgC5uOCWrvaENq-GsyQRf-C1icAMirZwJhY/s1600/40th+PA+-+11th+Res.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLjiutXBJw-bd1jQbPHNz2sjMU3lNLYbK2_x-xyoqOnhFWpv0eY3Ozcz5hZMBbemC5J1x7jk_R5MiHFOiffGMksMLYrLEgrrpdyy-3CoEEgslIH5WYP5Om5eTpuruX-VqImOq_laa6TnP/s1600/40th+Infantry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLjiutXBJw-bd1jQbPHNz2sjMU3lNLYbK2_x-xyoqOnhFWpv0eY3Ozcz5hZMBbemC5J1x7jk_R5MiHFOiffGMksMLYrLEgrrpdyy-3CoEEgslIH5WYP5Om5eTpuruX-VqImOq_laa6TnP/s1600/40th+Infantry.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<b>ENDNOTES</b></div>
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1. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Bradley M. Gottfried, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Brigades of Gettysburg</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2002), 269-281. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -47.999996185302734px;">Jeffrey F. Sherry. pabucktail.com, ""The Terrible Impetuosity": The Pennsylvania Reserves at Gettysburg." Accessed April 3, 2014. http://www.pabucktail.com/Reference/Terrible Impetuosity.htm. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John P. Nicholson, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Volume I</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Harrisburg, PA: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904), 274-285. Michael Dreese.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;"> "'I can't give you my colors'." </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Military Images Magazine</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">, July/August 2003. http://www.pareserves.com/?q=node/1845 (accessed April 3, 2014). </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Richard Wagner, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">For Honor, Flag, and Family: Civil War Major General Samuel W. Crawford 1827-1892</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: White Mane Books, 2005).</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">2. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">3. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">4. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Historical Data Systems, Inc., "American Civil War Research Database, Samuel McCartney Jackson." Accessed April 3, 2014. http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&852516. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">J.H. Beers & Co. </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Armstrong County, PA: Her People Past and Present</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, ( : 1914)http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/). </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Josiah R. Sypher, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">History of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Lancaster, PA: Elias Barr & Co., 1865), 441-442. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Roger D. Hunt, and Jack R. Brown, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Gaithersburg, Maryland: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1997), 311.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">5. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">6. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Edwin B. Coddington, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1968), 334-335. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John P. Nicholson, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Volume I</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Harrisburg, PA: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904), 274-285. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John W. Busey, and David G. Martin, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Hightstown, New Jersey: Longstreet House, 1982), 136.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">7. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">8. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">9. </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"> 1880-1901, Washington, D.C., Ser. 1, Vol. xxvii, Pt. 2, p. 652-656.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">10. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John P. Nicholson, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Volume I</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Harrisburg, PA: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904), 274-285. </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"> 1880-1901, Washington, D.C., Ser. 1, Vol. xxvii, Pt. 2, p. 652-656.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">11. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John P. Nicholson, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Volume I</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Harrisburg, PA: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904), 274-285. </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"> 1880-1901, Washington, D.C., Ser. 1, Vol. xxvii, Pt. 1, p. 662.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">12. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">13. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John P. Nicholson, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Volume I</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Harrisburg, PA: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904), 274-285.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">14. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">15. </span> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Bradley M. Gottfried, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Brigades of Gettysburg</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing, 2002), 269-281. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Edwin B. Coddington, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1968), 408-410. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Harry W. Pfanz, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Gettysburg The Second Day</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Chapel Hill and London: The University of North Carolina Press, 1987), 398. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Jeffrey F. Sherry. pabucktail.com, ""The Terrible Impetuosity": The Pennsylvania Reserves at Gettysburg." Accessed April 3, 2014. http://www.pabucktail.com/Reference/Terrible Impetuosity.htm. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John P. Nicholson, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Volume I</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Harrisburg, PA: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904), 274-285. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Josiah R. Sypher, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">History of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Lancaster, PA: Elias Barr & Co., 1865), 460-462. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Michael Dreese.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;"> "'I can't give you my colors'." </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Military Images Magazine</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">, July/August 2003. http://www.pareserves.com/?q=node/1845 (accessed April 3, 2014). </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Richard Wagner, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">For Honor, Flag, and Family: Civil War Major General Samuel W. Crawford 1827-1892</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: White Mane Books, 2005). </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;">The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-indent: -48px;"> 1880-1901, Washington, D.C., Ser. 1, Vol. xxvii, Pt. 2, p. 652-656.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">16. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">17. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">18. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">19. Ibid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">20. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John P. Nicholson, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Volume I</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Harrisburg, PA: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904), 274-285. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">John W. Busey, and David G. Martin, </span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;">, (Hightstown, New Jersey: Longstreet House, 1982), 136.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span>Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6475979796190668611.post-86544538369203662592014-03-09T21:33:00.000-04:002014-03-09T21:33:03.643-04:00Building a Legacy: John Page Nicholson, Chairman of the Gettysburg National Military Park (1893-1922)Today as we walk around the battlefield at Gettysburg and indeed on other Civil War battlefields, it is easy to spend hours interpreting and envisioning the deeds of men and women who made history 150 years ago. These privileges, which many of us take for granted, rarely cast a glance towards how we came to obtain these precious abilities. Groups such as the <a href="http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Gettysburg Foundation</a> and the <a href="http://www.civilwar.org/" target="_blank">Civil War Trust</a> carry on the tradition of saving America's hallowed ground at Gettysburg and elsewhere today, an effort that was undertaken as soon as the guns fell silent all those years ago. Although we may never completely succeed at saving all of these important tracts of ground that witnessed so many incredible events, we can continue to try. It took a lot of truly remarkable people and organizations to preserve the places we have saved. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brevet Lt. Colonel John P. Nicholson</td></tr>
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One of the unsung heroes who has a humble monument at Gettysburg, which receives little notice, Lieutenant Colonel John Page Nicholson. Born in 1842 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nicholson's vocation in preservation started at a very young age. He learned the trade of book-binding from his father, which is in effect, preservation of words and images. He applied this trade until the bells of war tolled across the nation in 1861. With the outbreak of Civil War, Nicholson enlisted as a Private on July 20, 1861 in Company K of the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He must have clearly made an indelible impression in the way of leadership with his comrades and commanding officers. Starting off as the Commissary Sergeant, he eventually was commissioned 1st Lieutenant and named the regimental quartermaster by September of 1862. His unit served in the Shenandoah Valley, at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Ringgold, Mill Creek Gap, Resaca, Pine Knob, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and many other more minor engagements. <i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-center;">For gallant </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-center;">and meritorious services in the Savannah and </span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">North Carolina Campaign and war,"</span></i></span> Nicholson was brevetted to the ranks of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel.<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></b><br />
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As his service in the Civil War ended, Nicholson quickly developed notions (along with many others) for ways of remembering the events and sacrifice of so many young men just like him. He and his fellow surviving comrades helped to form the 28th Pennsylvania Veterans' Association. During this period he also became a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) and rose to be the recorder of the patriotic organization in the Pennsylvania Commandery. With his influence in this new position, he had new opportunities to extend his hand in commemorating what happened during the war. As MOLLUS and other veteran's organizations started gathering regularly, Nicholson was a strong advocate in getting veterans to talk about what had happened and recording their memories. He wanted the history of the war preserved, not forgotten.<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicholson Monument at Gettysburg</td></tr>
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As Nicholson was being proactive in veterans affairs, Gettysburg National Military Park was also taking shape. The Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association had been preserving parcels of land since shortly after the battle through the foresight of men like David McConaughy and David Wills. Nicholson became deeply engaged in the 1880s with the State of Pennsylvania' s efforts to memorialize the battlefield in an attempt to commemorate the deeds of all the units from the 'Keystone State.' Using the networking capabilities of numerous veteran politicians, including the Pennsylvania Governor James Beaver, plans were laid to allocate funds to each Pennsylvania unit for the erection of a monument at Gettysburg. Nicholson was a major proponent in the process and by 1888, "Pennsylvania Day" was scheduled for September 11 & 12 as a Pennsylvania dedication day of sorts. Thousands of Pennsylvania veterans flocked to Gettysburg to participate in the commemoration events of their individual units. John Page Nicholson recorded all of the events and gathered speeches, stories, and priceless accounts of those fateful days in July 1863, preserving them for future generations.<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span></b><br />
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In 1893 the landmark "Pennsylvania at Gettysburg" was published through Nicholson's comprehensive work. It was also in 1893 that Nicholson was chosen as the Chairman of the Gettysburg National Park Commission. This was the beginning of a long tenure as the park's chairman to which end he oversaw how Gettysburg's history would be remembered long after he was gone. In 1895, the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association turned over all the park's roads, lands and assets to the United States War Department and Gettysburg National Military Park was established by an act of Congress through the work of General Dan Sickles.<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVg26KwgG5uh1rimBD0Q5OCoLIE-fKyAWh7sez_4MxYJ9K0jA2t9pOFFai2n_iCp20Gf0pMHmpEzL8X2Pd1zCU0TRIchkB70BcA7ievO8xw6zRu-VBrqU5TN-hjxTKJ1KYjPQzUp1Uhdl/s1600/John+Page+Nicholson+Letter+to+Gen.+Henry.+H.+Bingham+concerning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVg26KwgG5uh1rimBD0Q5OCoLIE-fKyAWh7sez_4MxYJ9K0jA2t9pOFFai2n_iCp20Gf0pMHmpEzL8X2Pd1zCU0TRIchkB70BcA7ievO8xw6zRu-VBrqU5TN-hjxTKJ1KYjPQzUp1Uhdl/s1600/John+Page+Nicholson+Letter+to+Gen.+Henry.+H.+Bingham+concerning.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Letter from Nicholson to General Henry<br />Bingham with his MOLLUS statrionary.<br /><i>Author's collection</i>.</td></tr>
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Nicholson was involved in everything from the construction of park roads to general maintenance, land acquisition, monumentation, commemoration, research, interpretation, and much more. He served in this role as faithfully as he had during the war for an impressive 29 years. Writing in the 1911 annual commission report on the Pennsylvania State Memorial he says, "arrangements having been perfected by the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Memorial Commission for transporting the veteran soldiers of Pennsylvania to Gettysburg and for other details, a large platform was erected in accordance with plans of the engineer under the direction of the Gettysburg National Park Commission, the avenue fences on two sides of the monument were removed, and the ground graded. The dedication took place September 27, 1910, a large assembly of veterans and others being present, estimated at 10,000 persons; the ceremonies of the dedication were according to the program and very successful." This was one of the thousands of projects in which Nicholson participated to a successful conclusion. All the while he continued to serve as Recorder-in-Chief for MOLLUS. During his entire tenure, he privately collected thousands of volumes and manuscripts from fellow veterans, creating a library of information that has few rivals.<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">5 </span></b><br />
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On March 8, 1922, John Page Nicholson passed away at the age of 79 years old. He had truly lived and all the while kept the sacrifices of his brothers in arms in the foremost of his mind. It is to Colonel Nicholson, as well as many other fervent folks, that we owe much gratitude for the Gettysburg National Military Park that exists as it does today. These men had a deep commitment to the idea that the world "can never forget what they did here," and they fulfilled that commitment to their utmost ability without wavering for a moment. In many ways, the history of Gettysburg after the guns fell silent is nearly as vibrant as those momentous three days in July of 1863. For John Page Nicholson, those three days in 1863 defined his life's work in preservation, always a faithful soldier throughout, and a shining example of how one person can help to change the world.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>6 </b></span> <br />
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<u>Works Cited</u></div>
1. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Historical Data Systems, Inc., . "John P. Nicholson." (2014): n.pag. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">American Civil War Research Database</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">. Web. 9 Mar 2014. <http://www.civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?SoldierHistory?U&1092257>. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Rose, Joel. "John Page Nicholson." </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Explore PA History</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">. ExplorePAHistory.com. Web. 9 Mar 2014. <http://explorepahistory.com/story.php?storyId=1-9-9&audioId=1-5-34>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">2. Ibid. John Page Nicholson Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park on east side of North Hancock Avenue.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">3. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Nicholson, John P. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Pennsylvania at Gettysburg</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">. 2nd Ed. Harrisburg, PENNA.: WM. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1904. Print.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">4. John Page Nicholson Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park on east side of North Hancock Avenue. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Platt, Barbara L. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">"This Is Holy Ground": A History of the Gettysburg Battlefield 1863-2009</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">. Harrisburg, PA: Huggins Printing, 2001. 7. Print.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">5. Ibid. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Nicholson, John P.. "WAR DEPARTMENT, GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK COMMISSION, Gettysburg, PA., August 1, 1911.." Trans. Array </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Annual Reports of the Secretary of War National Archives and Records Administration</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">. 1911. Print.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">6. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Dodge, Russ. "John Page Nicholson." (2007): n.pag.</span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">Findagrave.com</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-indent: -48px;">. Web. 9 Mar 2014. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=nicholson&GSfn=john&GSmn=page&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=22829701&df=all&>.</span>Britt C. Isenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00107468166761260054noreply@blogger.com0