I spent 4 1/2 hours out on the field yesterday....studying and just enjoying the summer-like weather that we have been having. I spent the majority of my time studying the battery of James A. Hall. I guess Hall's Battery has been one of those batteries that I thought I knew a lot about...but until I did a detailed study of his actions, I didn't really understand just what Hall went through on July 1.
First, we have to understand that Hall was sent in with Cutler's brigade. As a matter of fact, when he was sent (by Reynolds) to relieve Calef, he had actually cut off the 147th NY from advancing with the rest of their brigade....which is probably why they ended up in the weird position that they ended up in.
But Hall's 2nd Maine Battery was placed on McPherson's Ridge. 2 of the guns were placed on the south side of Chambersburg Pike and 4 were placed on the north side. The six guns that Hall brought to the battle were 3-inch Ordnance Rifles.
The fighting in and of itself was complicated and hard to explain, but to make a long story short, Hall and his men were fighting the brigades of Davis and Archer. The fighting was short but intense. Many of Hall's men were wounded. I've read two different accounts as to how many men were killed: one source says 0 and the other source says 2. Hall also lost many of his horses.
After seeing the 76th NY and 56th PA retreating, Hall decided to pull his men out. What he didn't realize was that the 147th NY was still on the other side of the railroad cut. They ended up isolated and having to fight their way back to safety. Hall pulled his men out two guns at a time. The big problem was that by the time the last two guns went to pull out, there was no infantry to help cover their retreat. The final gun had to be abandoned after all the horses were shot.
Hall was able to pull his men all the way back to the eastern side of the Seminary. It took about an hour, but one of the other regiments was able to retrieve the lost gun for Hall.
They then retreated back to Cemetery Hill and that is where they stayed for that day and the next. Today, the Lincoln Speech Memorial is at the location of where Hall's battery was held. By the time they arrived at Cemetery Hill, they only had three of their guns in working order.
Hall's battery is just a small sample of the stories that we can find on the battlefield, whether its Gettysburg or any other battlefield from the Civil War. These guys fought hard. They sacrificed much. I'm so glad that today, we can go out on the field and learn about the sacrifices of these men....North or South. They gave so much that today I consider them ALL my heroes.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Lincoln Memorial
Due to my job, I was able to spend some time down in Washington, DC yesterday. The day was the perfect day for sightseeing....70+ degrees, no clouds in the sky, lots of sunshine. And many, many people were walking around looking at our nation's Capital. During my time down there, I spent quite a bit of it looking for Civil War history. Civil War history abounds down there and you don't have to go looking for it, it just shows up.
One of the key places to find Civil War history is none other than the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is one of the most recognizable places in Washington. When you walk inside, there is a large sculpture of President Lincoln sitting in a chair right in the middle of the room. Lincoln had everything to do with the Civil War: the acting president during the war, commander in chief of the Union forces, delivered the Gettysburg Address, and the list goes on and on and on. When you walk into the memorial, if you move to the room on your right, engraved into the wall is Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. The room on the left has the Gettysburg Address engraved into the wall.
I stood and watched the people reading the Gettysburg Address. I guess this has more importance to me because of the close proximity of Lincoln actually giving that address to my home. But watching the people (most of whom did NOT speak English...at least not out loud), I was struck by how they seemed to fully understand the importance of that short speech. They stood, quietly, seemingly reading and comprehending those few words that Lincoln spoke on that day in November, 1863. But do they? I'm not sure. One thing that I have noticed, both by being a tourist and by speaking to tourists, people from country's other than the United States seem to understand our history better than those who were born and raised here. I find this sad. Our students in our schools do not know who most of our early leaders were nor do they seem to care. Occasionally, you will find a student who does care and does know and when I stumble across one of these kids, I realize that maybe it isn't all a lost cause.
In the upcoming days, I will share some of the pictures that I took of Washington and things that I found that were affiliated with the Civil War. I learned quite a bit about the city this particular day and look forward to sharing it with you.
Monday, March 22, 2010
David McMurtrie Gregg
On July 3, 1863, the battle was going full fledged in Gettysburg. During the morning hours, Union General David McMurtrie Gregg's 2nd Cavalry Division was guarding the Baltimore Pike in case the Confederate's decided to attack the rear of the Union army. But Gregg looked at the maps that he had and decided that Baltimore Pike was NOT the place to be.....he felt that he needed to be on the Hanover Road. Hanover Road was the place that he felt was going to be attacked by the Confederates. And the feeling never left him.
Gregg let's General Alfred Pleasonton know that he is not comfortable guarding Baltimore Pike and that he feels the real threat is Hanover Road. Pleasonton doesn't agree with him. He tells Gregg to stay right where he is and to follow the orders given to him. Then Pleasonton tells him to get one of Kilpatrick's brigades and to place it on the Hanover Road. Gregg sends an aide to Two Taverns (which is where Kilpatrick was last located). When the aide gets to Two Taverns, the only brigade left in Two Taverns is Custer. So Custer comes to the rescue and moves his men to the corner of Hanover Road and Low Dutch Road.
Photo: David McMurtrie Gregg and his staff (Gregg, seated on right)
Thanks to Gregg's gut feeling and Custer's being eager to do whatever he could to fight, this move may have saved the Union right. To make a long story short, the battle takes place and thanks to the crazy charges made by Custer, the Confederates are forced back and that is where they stay until the Confederates leave Gettysburg.
Gregg let's General Alfred Pleasonton know that he is not comfortable guarding Baltimore Pike and that he feels the real threat is Hanover Road. Pleasonton doesn't agree with him. He tells Gregg to stay right where he is and to follow the orders given to him. Then Pleasonton tells him to get one of Kilpatrick's brigades and to place it on the Hanover Road. Gregg sends an aide to Two Taverns (which is where Kilpatrick was last located). When the aide gets to Two Taverns, the only brigade left in Two Taverns is Custer. So Custer comes to the rescue and moves his men to the corner of Hanover Road and Low Dutch Road.
Photo: David McMurtrie Gregg and his staff (Gregg, seated on right)
Thanks to Gregg's gut feeling and Custer's being eager to do whatever he could to fight, this move may have saved the Union right. To make a long story short, the battle takes place and thanks to the crazy charges made by Custer, the Confederates are forced back and that is where they stay until the Confederates leave Gettysburg.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Who were they?
I think about the civilians of the Civil War often. They had it rough. Not only did they have to hand over their loved ones to serve and fight in the war, but in many instances, they were forced to experience the war first hand. Often, these men, women and children were caught right in the middle of battle.
I was thinking these thoughts as I was walking around Harpers Ferry last week. For those who have never had the priviledge to go to Harpers Ferry, the National Park consists mostly of the lower town. As such, many of the buildings in this part of town (if not all of them) are owned by the NPS and are pretty much open to the public at any time. Most of these buildings are places where you can walk in the front door and stand in a little roped in area. What you see when you look into these buildings can only be described as stepping back in time. You can look into a room and see what shops looked like in the 1860's or someones living room or apartment, or just about anything. When I look into these glimpses into the past, I imagine what these shops and homes must have been like when things were bustling. I love to watch TV shows that are based on the 1800's. Mostly I watch (thanks to Netflix) Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. As I look into these rooms, I picture the dry goods store to be the Olson's Mercantile or Loren Bray's General Store. I look into these homes and see the homes of the Ingall's, the Quinn/Cooper family, or any of the other characters in these homes. I see many people moving around inside these buildings....purchasing their food, shopping for yarn (to knit socks, of course), looking at bolt fabric, and children looking at the latest toys and yearning for some licorice sticks. What I see in my head is what I have seen on TV. I wonder what life was really like for these people? Life was tough, but life was so much simpler than it is today.
When the Civil War arrived, many of the civilians were forced to either leave their homes or to hide out in their basements. Neither plan was ideal. If you stayed in your basement, you ran the risk of getting hurt or worse, killed. If you left your home, you had a much higher chance of coming back to nothing. What do you do? They did both. And unfortunately, many people died in the process of doing both....not just at Harpers Ferry but at all the Civil War battlefields. These were innocent people.
As I walk around and look at these buildings...interiors and exteriors....I can't help but feel proud for these people. They worked hard and made themselves a life in which they were able to survive. But then the war came.....
I was thinking these thoughts as I was walking around Harpers Ferry last week. For those who have never had the priviledge to go to Harpers Ferry, the National Park consists mostly of the lower town. As such, many of the buildings in this part of town (if not all of them) are owned by the NPS and are pretty much open to the public at any time. Most of these buildings are places where you can walk in the front door and stand in a little roped in area. What you see when you look into these buildings can only be described as stepping back in time. You can look into a room and see what shops looked like in the 1860's or someones living room or apartment, or just about anything. When I look into these glimpses into the past, I imagine what these shops and homes must have been like when things were bustling. I love to watch TV shows that are based on the 1800's. Mostly I watch (thanks to Netflix) Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. As I look into these rooms, I picture the dry goods store to be the Olson's Mercantile or Loren Bray's General Store. I look into these homes and see the homes of the Ingall's, the Quinn/Cooper family, or any of the other characters in these homes. I see many people moving around inside these buildings....purchasing their food, shopping for yarn (to knit socks, of course), looking at bolt fabric, and children looking at the latest toys and yearning for some licorice sticks. What I see in my head is what I have seen on TV. I wonder what life was really like for these people? Life was tough, but life was so much simpler than it is today.
When the Civil War arrived, many of the civilians were forced to either leave their homes or to hide out in their basements. Neither plan was ideal. If you stayed in your basement, you ran the risk of getting hurt or worse, killed. If you left your home, you had a much higher chance of coming back to nothing. What do you do? They did both. And unfortunately, many people died in the process of doing both....not just at Harpers Ferry but at all the Civil War battlefields. These were innocent people.
As I walk around and look at these buildings...interiors and exteriors....I can't help but feel proud for these people. They worked hard and made themselves a life in which they were able to survive. But then the war came.....
Friday, March 19, 2010
Catoctin Furnace
After my adventure to Harpers Ferry the other day, I made a little side trip to Catoctin Furnace. The furnace is just off Rt 15 in Thurmont, MD. This is a little visited (I've stopped there 6 or 7 times in the past couple of years and have yet to see another car) Civil War site.
The ruins of the Furnace are sitting there just waiting to be explored. I highly recommend taking 1/2 hour and visiting this site. To explain the significance of the furnace during the Civil War, I'm going to write what it says on one of the wayside signs:
When Union General John F. Reynolds' I Corps marched by here on June 29, 1863 en route to Emmitsburg and soon to Gettysburg, his men were progressing "swimmingly". The workers of the Catoctin Furnace had little time to notice, since the charcoal furnaces were in full blast.
The landscape then looked much different than it does today. The air was filled with smoke and ash and smelled like rotten eggs, while temperatures inside the casting sheds reached temperatures upwards of 120 degrees. The mountainside was barren because it took an acre of trees a day to produce the charcoal needed to keep one furnace in blast. Large pits had been dug around the area to mine the valuable iron ore, and there were large piles of slag, the byproduct of iron making, scattered in every direction.
During the Civil War, John Baker Kunkel owned Catoctin Furnace. With two furnaces in operation, production was never interrupted during the war, and the furnace workers shipped three tons of pig iron a day east to the larger arsenals and forges that made war materiel. Iron produced here was used in the manufacturing of ironclad ships like USS Monitor. Employees worked around the clock in 12-hour shifts, earning credit at the company store. According to local tradition, lost and disoriented soldiers from both sides making their way south after the Battle of Gettysburg were offered jobs here because of the chronic labor shortage.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Frederick Roeder
When going around to historic sites, the thing that really brings home what occurred at these sites are the human interest stories. I hate that term. This isn't a "human interest" story....this is history....the kind of history that happened to a real person.....at a real time. Harper's Ferry isn't any different. There are stories all over town about things that happened to real people. One of the homes that you can go into (well....you can go inside the door but that's about it) was the home of Frederick Roeder. He was a baker. I'm going to put here what the marker says about him. The marker can explain his life far better than I can.
CASUALTY OF WAR
German immigrant Frederick Roeder was a prosperous baker, the father of seven children, and recent widower. Roeder was also about to die. The Fourth of July was normally a day of celebration , but not this year - not 1861. In March Roeder had buried his wife, Anna Maria; the following month the Civil War erupted, Virginia seceded, and Harpers Ferry became a war zone - businesses collapsed and the local economy collapsed.
A Union sympathizer, Roeder longed to catch a glimpse of the United States flag flying on the Maryland shore. Venturing out to the Potomac River, he gazed across to the Stars and Stripes , only to be struck down by a ricocheting bullet fired by a Union soldier. He crawled back to his building, his home, where he died.
Roeder was the first towns person to die during the war. His home, business and other property were confiscated by the Union army for use as a military bakery, post office and headquarters.
His orphaned children abandoned their home, but returned a year later and lived here until 1881. They filed claims with the government for extensive wartime damage to this house and other family property. They were finally approved for $504.00 in 1906.
CASUALTY OF WAR
German immigrant Frederick Roeder was a prosperous baker, the father of seven children, and recent widower. Roeder was also about to die. The Fourth of July was normally a day of celebration , but not this year - not 1861. In March Roeder had buried his wife, Anna Maria; the following month the Civil War erupted, Virginia seceded, and Harpers Ferry became a war zone - businesses collapsed and the local economy collapsed.
A Union sympathizer, Roeder longed to catch a glimpse of the United States flag flying on the Maryland shore. Venturing out to the Potomac River, he gazed across to the Stars and Stripes , only to be struck down by a ricocheting bullet fired by a Union soldier. He crawled back to his building, his home, where he died.
Roeder was the first towns person to die during the war. His home, business and other property were confiscated by the Union army for use as a military bakery, post office and headquarters.
His orphaned children abandoned their home, but returned a year later and lived here until 1881. They filed claims with the government for extensive wartime damage to this house and other family property. They were finally approved for $504.00 in 1906.
John Brown's Body by Stephen Vincent Benet
I picked this book up while down in Harper's Ferry. Here is an excerpt from the book. It's about the Battle of Gettysburg:
Buford came to Gettysburg late that night
Riding West with his brigades of blue horse,
While Pettigrew and his North Carolinians
Were moving East toward the town with a wagon-train,
Hoping to capture shoes.
The two came in touch.
Pettigrew halted and waited for men and orders.
Buford threw out his pickets beyond the town.
The next morning was July first. It was hot and calm.
On the grey side, Heth's division was ready to march
And drive the blue pickets in. There was still no thought
Of a planned and decisive battle on either side
Though Buford had seen the strength of those two hill-ridges
Soon enough to be famous, and marked one down
As a place to rally if he should be driven back.
He talks with his staff in front of a tavern now.
An officer rides up from the near First Corps.
"What are you doing here, sir?"
The officer
Explains. He, too, has come there to look for shoes.
_Fabulous shoes of Gettysburg, dead men's shoes,
Did anyone ever wear you, when it was done,
When the men were gone, when the farms were spoiled with the bones,
What became of your nails and leather? The swords went home,
The swords went into museums and neat glass cases,
The swords look well there. They are clean from the war.
You wouldn't put old shoes in a neat glass case,
Still stuck with the mud of marching.
And yet, a man
With a tasted for such straws and fables, blown by the wind,
Might hide a pair in a labelled case sometime
Just to see how the leather looked, set down by the swords.
The officer is hardly through with his tale
When Buford orders him back to his command
"Why, what is the matter, general?"
As he speaks
The far-off hollow slam of a single gun
Breaks the warm stillness. The horses prick up their ears.
"That's the matter," says Buford and gallops away.
Chills. I get chills reading this. Awesome. But the proven wrong "shoes" theory is still included. Oh how I wish that STUPID theory would just die. There were NO SHOE FACTORIES in Gettysburg. The Confederates were NOT coming to Gettysburg for shoes. I don't care what Harry Heth stated in his report....he was just trying to cover his butt.
Buford came to Gettysburg late that night
Riding West with his brigades of blue horse,
While Pettigrew and his North Carolinians
Were moving East toward the town with a wagon-train,
Hoping to capture shoes.
The two came in touch.
Pettigrew halted and waited for men and orders.
Buford threw out his pickets beyond the town.
The next morning was July first. It was hot and calm.
On the grey side, Heth's division was ready to march
And drive the blue pickets in. There was still no thought
Of a planned and decisive battle on either side
Though Buford had seen the strength of those two hill-ridges
Soon enough to be famous, and marked one down
As a place to rally if he should be driven back.
He talks with his staff in front of a tavern now.
An officer rides up from the near First Corps.
"What are you doing here, sir?"
The officer
Explains. He, too, has come there to look for shoes.
_Fabulous shoes of Gettysburg, dead men's shoes,
Did anyone ever wear you, when it was done,
When the men were gone, when the farms were spoiled with the bones,
What became of your nails and leather? The swords went home,
The swords went into museums and neat glass cases,
The swords look well there. They are clean from the war.
You wouldn't put old shoes in a neat glass case,
Still stuck with the mud of marching.
And yet, a man
With a tasted for such straws and fables, blown by the wind,
Might hide a pair in a labelled case sometime
Just to see how the leather looked, set down by the swords.
The officer is hardly through with his tale
When Buford orders him back to his command
"Why, what is the matter, general?"
As he speaks
The far-off hollow slam of a single gun
Breaks the warm stillness. The horses prick up their ears.
"That's the matter," says Buford and gallops away.
Chills. I get chills reading this. Awesome. But the proven wrong "shoes" theory is still included. Oh how I wish that STUPID theory would just die. There were NO SHOE FACTORIES in Gettysburg. The Confederates were NOT coming to Gettysburg for shoes. I don't care what Harry Heth stated in his report....he was just trying to cover his butt.
Harper's Ferry and John Brown
Inside John Brown's Fort
John Brown's Fort
I just spent the morning in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Living in the Gettysburg area is great because there are dozens of Civil War sites (not just battlefields) that are within an hour or two of town. Harper's Ferry is included in that list. It's about 50 minutes from here.
John Brown's Fort (above) is one of the places that you can get up close and personal with John Brown. This building has had a very interesting history. This is what the plaque in front of the building says:
1848 Built as fire-engine house for U.S. Armory
1859 Serves as stronghold for John Brown and his raiders
1861-1865 Escapes destruction during Civil War (only armory building to do so), but is vandalized by souvenir-hunting Union and Confederate soldiers and later travelers
1891 Dismantled transported to Chicago Exposition
1895 Rescued from conversion to stable and brought back to Harper's Ferry area to be exhibited on a farm
1909 Purchased by Storer College and moved to campus
1968 Moved by National Park Service within 150 feet of its original location
This building has had such a varied history but its incredible to see it still standing. Its not a very big building and its standing right near the insection of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. As I stood looking at the building, I thought about who John Brown was....what he did....why he did what he did. I went into the John Brown wax museum and saw a wax reenactment of the hanging of John Brown (he wasn't actually hanging....he was standing on the steps leading up to the gallows) and this thought raced through my mind: "John, you had the right idea. It's a shame that you did it the wrong way." But then this thought came into my head: "What was the right way?" John Brown's action in Harper's Ferry was the unofficial start to the Civil War. If he had stormed the armory at Harper's Ferry in the hopes that more slaves would join him, would the Civil War had started when it did? So many questions....so little answers.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Gettysburg Atlas
The ultimate map book on the battle of Gettysburg has been published and it is The Gettysburg Atlas. For us map lovers, 421 maps on the battle is more than we can handle. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite regiment or brigade. Follow your favorite general. See who stood on your favorite part of the battlefield. Whatever you need (or want) to know....its in this book.
What makes this book even better (as if 421 maps on the battle isn't good enough) is that it is spiral bound. This makes taking it on the battlefield so much easier. Instead of standing around trying to figure out how to hold open a book (which I've done many times) and look around without dropping said book, this makes following the battle while on the field 1000x better.
There is also a wonderful order of battle in the back. Ever wonder how many and what type of guns a particular artillery unit had....its in here. Ever wonder what the casualty rate for a certain regiment was.....its in here.
There's a real in-depth index in the back. AND a really long bibliography (which is something that I look for in a GOOD book).
The book sells for $40 and is worth every penny. For anyone who is looking for the ultimate book, The Gettysburg Atlas by Phil Laino is it!
What makes this book even better (as if 421 maps on the battle isn't good enough) is that it is spiral bound. This makes taking it on the battlefield so much easier. Instead of standing around trying to figure out how to hold open a book (which I've done many times) and look around without dropping said book, this makes following the battle while on the field 1000x better.
There is also a wonderful order of battle in the back. Ever wonder how many and what type of guns a particular artillery unit had....its in here. Ever wonder what the casualty rate for a certain regiment was.....its in here.
There's a real in-depth index in the back. AND a really long bibliography (which is something that I look for in a GOOD book).
The book sells for $40 and is worth every penny. For anyone who is looking for the ultimate book, The Gettysburg Atlas by Phil Laino is it!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Minie Ball
I've sent some time reading about weapons and weaponry. One of the things that I have wondered about was the Minie Ball. Now, I know what a Minie ball is....but why was it shaped the way it was, why did it do the damage that it did, what was the purpose of this bullet? And so many other questions. So I did a little research. So many questions.....
Well, I hit the Internet....what a wonderful (and awful) tool. And I learned some interesting things about Minie Balls. First, here is a picture of what they look like.
It's important to know what they look like in order to understand why they did what they did.
This bullet was a conical shaped projectile with a hollowed out base. The bullet and the gunpowder were placed in a paper "cartridge" which made loading the gun easy. When the gun was fired, the gases from the gunpowder got captured in the hollow section and caused the bullet to expand. When it expanded, the bullet was forced to touch the sides of the barrel of the gun. This barrel was rifled (had circular lines on the side which helped spin the bullet on its way out of the gun) and by expanding, the bullet was forced to spin. Think on terms of a football....when you throw it without a spin, you have no control of it. When you spin it, you can throw it more accurately. Once the bullet left the barrel of the gun, it was spinning, giving the gun more accuracy and a longer range with which to hit. The Union minie balls had three grooves on the bottom of the exterior of the bullet and the Confederate minie balls had two bands of grooves. This was the basic rule of thumb for a minie ball.
Now that we know what a minie ball is and how it works, let take a little look into the background of this particular bullet. This was co-designed by Capt. Claude Etienne Minie of the French army. He built on the design of Henri-Gustave Delvigne. Delvigne had designed an early version of the minie ball but it was larger and just didn't work as well. So, Minie got ahold of his design and tweaked it, made it smaller, used soft lead and was able to come up with a bullet that did just what they wanted it to do....shot long, fast, and deadly.
The minie ball was notorious for destroying bone. When the bullet hit bone, the bone usually disintegrated. Here is a photo of a bone that I found that shows a minie ball hit. When a bone was destroyed by one of these bullets, there was very little that a doctor could do for the patient....just amputate. This is usually when infection set in and people died.
Overall, the minie ball seemed like a good idea....and it probably was. It was dangerous....but what bullet isn't? After reading up on this, now I get a much better idea of just what a minie ball is, what it did, the history, and results.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Why did Lee go North?
First, before I get into the topic, I need to find a friend. Well....actually, I need to find someone or someones who is/are taking the Licensed Battlefield Guide test in December. If anyone out there is taking the Guide test and is looking for a "study buddy" please contact me: civilwargirl1@hotmail.com. I think I'll do much better if I can find a study buddy. Besides helping study for the test, this is a way to have a friend to help cheer on. So, if anyone is interested, please let me know. The more, the merrier!!!
So, what were the reasons for Robert E. Lee to move his army north of the Mason/Dixon line? Well, according to Edwin Coddington, there are 8 reasons. Actually, these are the only ones that I have ever heard...so these are probably a really good list.
1) He wanted to draw Grant away from the Lower Mississippi Valley. Take some of the pressure off of Vicksburg.
2) He wanted to gain a decisive victory
3) He wanted to break up the enemy's plan for a summer campaign in Virginia
4) He needed to find supplies
5) He wanted to force the Peace Democrats in the north to step up their agitation against the politicians
6) He wanted to impact the morale of the citizens of the north
7) He wanted to give the Southerners a respite from the war
8) He wanted to give the Southerners a chance to harvest their crops
When you stop and take a good look at the reasons that Lee wanted to move North it makes complete sense. The war had completely ravaged the south (especially Virginia) and he needed to get the war away from the citizens. He also needed to make the Northerners realize just what was happening in the South. By moving north, he was doing just that.
So, what were the reasons for Robert E. Lee to move his army north of the Mason/Dixon line? Well, according to Edwin Coddington, there are 8 reasons. Actually, these are the only ones that I have ever heard...so these are probably a really good list.
1) He wanted to draw Grant away from the Lower Mississippi Valley. Take some of the pressure off of Vicksburg.
2) He wanted to gain a decisive victory
3) He wanted to break up the enemy's plan for a summer campaign in Virginia
4) He needed to find supplies
5) He wanted to force the Peace Democrats in the north to step up their agitation against the politicians
6) He wanted to impact the morale of the citizens of the north
7) He wanted to give the Southerners a respite from the war
8) He wanted to give the Southerners a chance to harvest their crops
When you stop and take a good look at the reasons that Lee wanted to move North it makes complete sense. The war had completely ravaged the south (especially Virginia) and he needed to get the war away from the citizens. He also needed to make the Northerners realize just what was happening in the South. By moving north, he was doing just that.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Alexander S. Webb - Forgotten Hero
Quite often as I study the Battle of Gettysburg, I stumble across people who performed unquestionable loyalty to their country. These are people who go above and beyond their duties....or they perform their duties in such a courageous way that they are almost larger than life. Occasionally one of these people really, really catches my eye....and my heart. One of these people happens to be Alexander Stewart Webb....a brigade commander in the 2nd Corps under the leadership of Winfield Scott Hancock.
First, let me repeat what Edwin Coddington states in his book about what Webb did at Gettysburg on the 3rd day during Pickett's Charge. On page 517, this is what is said:
As Webb struggled to rally his troops, for a time he despaired of preventing a major breakthrough and feared personal disgrace for himself and disaster for the Army of the Potomac. Refusing to give up, he set an example of bravery and undaunted leadership for his men to follow, although many of them barely recognized him since he had been appointed their commander but a few days before. To organize a counterattack he rushed back to his reserve regiment, the 72nd Pennsylvania, which was several hundred feet behind his line. In the confusion Webb neglected to go through channels and give Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Heiser the order to charge. Instead, he himself shouted out the order; when the soldiers did not budge, Webb in desperation seized the regimental standard and tried to drag the color bearer ahead in hopes of getting the regiment to follow. The bearer apparently not knowing him, pulled back and then, riddled by bullets, fell over head. Finally the men advanced a few paces and fired at the Confederates. They refused to go any farther, however, and steadfastly remained in a position about 250 feet back from the wall, where though without protection they kept up their fire.
Webb, almost frantic, then left the line of the stubborn 72nd and, fully exposed to enemy bullets, rushed over to the 69th Pennsylvania, the left regiment of his brigade. It had stoutly held its ground, although the right half of the regiment had pulled away from the wall at almost a forty degree angle to give the men elbow room and to keep them from being outflanked. When Webb cried out for them to fire across the front of the 72nd regiment, they raked the Confederates with a crippling cross fire. To their rear 2 companies of Webb's 4th regiment, the 106th Pennsylvania, remained steady and resolutely blazed away at the charging enemy. On his way to the 69th PA regiment Webb passed within a few feet of Armistead as he was leading his men up the slope beyond the wall. The two Generals narrowly missed a personal encounter just as the fierce contest between their forces reached its climax. Within minutes Armistead fell mortally wounded, while Webb survived to relive the scene of his triumph for years to come.
Years later General George G. Meade was given a gold medal by the Union League of Philadelphia to "Commemorate the Battle of Gettysburg". He had copies of the medal made and gave one of them to Webb. Here is the reason that Meade gave the medal to Webb: "For distinguished personal gallantry on that ever memorable field" and in appreciation of his "Cordial, warm, and generous sympathy and support so grateful for a commanding General to receive from his subordinates."
Some years later, General Winfield Scott Hancock is attending a dinner being given by General Daniel Butterfield. There was a toast given at the dinner and Hancock responded: "In every battle and on every important field there is one spot to which every army [officer] would wish to be assigned -- the spot upon which centers the fortunes of the field. There was but one such spot at Gettysburg and it fell to the lot of General Webb to have it and to hold it and for holding it he must receive the credit due him."
Now these are two men who didn't go around complimenting people.....unless they deserved it. Congress must have agreed with them because a few years after the Civil War they presented him with a Medal of Honor.
Sometimes when we read about the Civil War, these men are just names or sometimes just a face.....but when we really understand what they did.....how they put themselves out there......how they did things that the average person would not do.....that when we start to realize just how much these guys are the real heroes on the battlefield. Alexander S. Webb is no exception.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
It happened....we got a blizzard in Gettysburg. Actually things aren't too bad....it's only 25ish inches. What's an inch or two when you have 2 feet???
AND....we are expecting more on Tuesday. I've heard that we could get another ten inches. We are being punished...but I'm not sure what for, yet. Enjoy this picture because I really don't want to see any more of THIS.
AND....we are expecting more on Tuesday. I've heard that we could get another ten inches. We are being punished...but I'm not sure what for, yet. Enjoy this picture because I really don't want to see any more of THIS.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Another snow in Gettysburg
I just came home from work and had to take a drive around the battlefield. I had to do this because I may not get to drive around the battlefield again for a week or more. Why? We are expecting another really big snow storm. Depending on who you believe, we could get 6+ inches (no big deal) or we could get 24 inches (big deal). Pretty much I'm hearing about 12-18 inches. Anything less than 10 inches is just a nuisance storm. More than a foot is something that I dread. When it snows, the park closes off many roads throughout the battlefield. Pretty much, you can't get to the southern end of the park. And forget about Culp's Hill. That's not happening. So today I took a drive around because I know that I need to hit the battlefield for one last glance until we have a warm spell (hopefully soon).
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning we had a small snowstorm....maybe 3-4". This storm was just enough snow to make driving a little treacherous for a short time. But those 3-4" are great for looking at the battlefield. As of today, there isn't much of that storm left, but there is enough to see things that you don't normally see.
It was also enough to have snow banks along the sides of the roads from the snow plow. This is pretty much what is left of the storm. Until tonight. Looks like there are going to be huge piles on the sides of roads and in parking lots and where ever else it will get piled.
I have lived in Gettysburg for almost 5 years and this is the worst winter that we have had yet. I'm not complaining. But its been a wild winter. All too often roads throughout the battlefield are closed off and I haven't been able to spend as much time out there as I would like (well....its been really cold also). Looks like we are in for it again tonight....and another storm is on the horizon for Tues or Wed. So, for anyone who is anxious to get to the battlefield, unless you are good at cross country skiing, I wouldn't recommend coming until April or May or whenever we finally get out from under all this snow.
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning we had a small snowstorm....maybe 3-4". This storm was just enough snow to make driving a little treacherous for a short time. But those 3-4" are great for looking at the battlefield. As of today, there isn't much of that storm left, but there is enough to see things that you don't normally see.
It was also enough to have snow banks along the sides of the roads from the snow plow. This is pretty much what is left of the storm. Until tonight. Looks like there are going to be huge piles on the sides of roads and in parking lots and where ever else it will get piled.
I have lived in Gettysburg for almost 5 years and this is the worst winter that we have had yet. I'm not complaining. But its been a wild winter. All too often roads throughout the battlefield are closed off and I haven't been able to spend as much time out there as I would like (well....its been really cold also). Looks like we are in for it again tonight....and another storm is on the horizon for Tues or Wed. So, for anyone who is anxious to get to the battlefield, unless you are good at cross country skiing, I wouldn't recommend coming until April or May or whenever we finally get out from under all this snow.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Coddington
I've been taking my book "The Gettysburg Campaign; A Study in Command" by Edwin Coddington to work with me just about every day. Slowly but surely, I have been going through the notes at the end of the book.
First thing that I should say about this book is that even though I love the subject matter, I find the book very, very dry. There is just no excitement. Everything is presented in a matter of fact manner. Now, with that said, I LOVE this book. Unbelievable isn't it??? I have never read this book through from cover to cover....but I have read every single chapter in this book a number of times. This book is considered the "Bible" of the Licensed Battlefield Guides.
One of the juicy treats that you can find in this book is at the end of it: 200+ pages of notes about the body of the text. Reading the book and the notes at the exact same time is really hard and I admire anyone who is able to do it. What I have been doing is reading a chapter and then going into the back and reading the notes on that particular chapter. There are some real gems in these notes. The footnotes of history are almost better than the history itself.
Right now, I'm reading about the advance of the armies with them heading into Gettysburg. They are working their way slowly towards battle. The details of the advancement of these armies is wonderful. I can almost follow each corps from each army work their way north. Here is a little bit from Chapter 6: "Preparations to meet the invasion were by no means confined to the large cities, and people in the rural areas of Pennsylvania also took measures to protect their property if and when the rebels should come their way. As early as June 15 Couch had warned the residents of the Cumberland Valley of the possibility of a Confederate advance, and he advised the farmers to run off their horses to places of safety. Many banded together and sent hundreds of their best animals to the mountains or across the Susquehanna. Others his them in obscure nooks on their property. In desperation one farmer sought to save his bid gray from seizure by putting him in the basement of his house which was quite a feat. Other livestock, food supplies, harness's, wagons, and similar items were secreted in lofts and haystacks, for everyone feared the rebels would appropriate all they saw for their own use, and what they could not use they would destroy. Shopkeepers in the small towns, equally worried about what the Confederates would do, began to ship their most valuable merchandise to Harrisburg and other cities farther east."
This is interesting stuff.....and this isn't exactly a dry part of the book, but it is a good example of what the book is like.
For those of you who like to learn about the Battle of Gettysburg, I highly recommend this book. If you find that you can't sit down and read the entire book....cover to cover, then do it like I do: a chapter at a time....over the course of a few months. But by all means, read this book!
First thing that I should say about this book is that even though I love the subject matter, I find the book very, very dry. There is just no excitement. Everything is presented in a matter of fact manner. Now, with that said, I LOVE this book. Unbelievable isn't it??? I have never read this book through from cover to cover....but I have read every single chapter in this book a number of times. This book is considered the "Bible" of the Licensed Battlefield Guides.
One of the juicy treats that you can find in this book is at the end of it: 200+ pages of notes about the body of the text. Reading the book and the notes at the exact same time is really hard and I admire anyone who is able to do it. What I have been doing is reading a chapter and then going into the back and reading the notes on that particular chapter. There are some real gems in these notes. The footnotes of history are almost better than the history itself.
Right now, I'm reading about the advance of the armies with them heading into Gettysburg. They are working their way slowly towards battle. The details of the advancement of these armies is wonderful. I can almost follow each corps from each army work their way north. Here is a little bit from Chapter 6: "Preparations to meet the invasion were by no means confined to the large cities, and people in the rural areas of Pennsylvania also took measures to protect their property if and when the rebels should come their way. As early as June 15 Couch had warned the residents of the Cumberland Valley of the possibility of a Confederate advance, and he advised the farmers to run off their horses to places of safety. Many banded together and sent hundreds of their best animals to the mountains or across the Susquehanna. Others his them in obscure nooks on their property. In desperation one farmer sought to save his bid gray from seizure by putting him in the basement of his house which was quite a feat. Other livestock, food supplies, harness's, wagons, and similar items were secreted in lofts and haystacks, for everyone feared the rebels would appropriate all they saw for their own use, and what they could not use they would destroy. Shopkeepers in the small towns, equally worried about what the Confederates would do, began to ship their most valuable merchandise to Harrisburg and other cities farther east."
This is interesting stuff.....and this isn't exactly a dry part of the book, but it is a good example of what the book is like.
For those of you who like to learn about the Battle of Gettysburg, I highly recommend this book. If you find that you can't sit down and read the entire book....cover to cover, then do it like I do: a chapter at a time....over the course of a few months. But by all means, read this book!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Gettysburg: From a Newspapers Perspective
Here is a newspaper report that I found about the Battle of Gettysburg. It's from the Franklin County newspaper, "Valley Spirit", July 8, 1863. I'm going to make some comments as we read along.
The reports which the newspapers and eye-witnesses bring us of the three great battles near Gettysburg,
I guess they considered the three days of battle as three separate battles. But in the Civil War, a three day battle was considered one battle....the only thing that broke up the battle was darkness.
are not very full and satisfactory, but enough is known to warrant the assertion that we have achieved a complete and glorious victory over the enemy.
I'm not sure that the Confederates nor the Federals were considering it a complete and glorious victory. Most assuredly the North won.....but was it considered complete and glorious? The south was actually the victor on both days one and for the most part Day two.
The first engagement began at nine o'clock on Wednesday morning, July 1st, about two miles this side of Gettysburg, on the Chambersburg turnpike.
The first shot occurred at 7:30 am (or thereabouts). Buford's Cavalry was fully engaged when Reynolds arrived at 10am.
The forces engaged on our side were only the first and eleventh corps, under command of Generals Reynolds and Howard, the other corps not having arrived on the field.
General Reynolds was in charge for a very short time during the battle as he was killed about 1/2 hour after he arrived at the battle.
We were compelled to fall back a mile or so, during the great portion of the day, but regained nearly all the lost ground before night.
What????? Yes, the Union army fell back a mile or so....they fell back to Cemetery Ridge, but what ground did they regain?????
During the night the greater portion of our army came up, and all were in position by daylight. The enemy did not commence the attack until four o'clock in the afternoon.
For the most part, the battle did not really get going until later in the day....but there was fighting on Culp's Hill and a few other places.
The engagement lasted until dusk, and the enemy were repulsed at all points and driven back with great slaughter.
Again....HUHHHHH?????? Yes there was a great slaughter, but at where did the Federals push the Confederates back at all points? I must be studying a different battle. When did we regain Sickles salient???
At daylight on Friday morning the fight was again resumed, the enemy being the attacking party. We held our own until noon, when an advance was made along our whole line. The rebels hotly contested every foot of ground, but were driven back to the foot of the mountain, leaving the ground covered with their killed and wounded.
Which mountain did they retreat to....Seminary Ridge? Because as of the evening of July 3, they were still on Seminary Ridge.
Our forces captured several thousand prisoners and a large number of cannon.
I'm not so sure that the Union army captured a large number of cannon. The Confederates captured a few of the Union's pieces.
This engagement is said to have been the hottest of the war.
This is very true.
So completely were Lee's columns shattered that he commenced rapidly to retreat along the mountain the same night, our cavalry and artillery harrassing [sic] him at every step.
Isn't this why Lincoln was furious with Meade...because he DIDN'T chase after the Army of Northern Virginia?
He took the route by Millerstown, through Monterey towards Boonsboro, and will doubtless, unless he is completely cut off, go by way of Hagerstown to the river at Williamsport.
Hey, he got that prediction right!
Here his retreat has been most effectually checked, by the destruction of his pontoon bridges by Colonel French. A large portion of our forces will probably succeed in getting between the retreating army and the river.
Well, this prediction wasn't correct because General Lee actually made it across the Potomac.
In which case, if the rebel general is brought to bay, he may make an obstinate stand, and another desperate battle may be fought, probably on or near the old Antietam battle-field.
True. But it didn't happen.
Whether any considera[b]l[e] portion of the rebel army ever succeeds in recrossing the river there can be no doubt that the greater part of their immense wagon train will be capture.
Again, it didn't happen.
This train retreated by Newman's pass through Greenwood, New Franklin, and Greencastle.
I've never heard of Newman's pass. I'll have to do some checking into this.
Already fifty or sixty wagons have been taken, and if the river continues high, the entire train must fall into our hands.
Fifty or sixty wagons? Really?
Thus far the victory of our army, under command of the gallant Meade, has been most complete and over-whelming; and it only remains to be seen whether the scattered remnants of the rebel host succeed in gaining the Virginia shore and saving themselves annihilation.
They did indeed make it to the Virginia shore and they were not annihilated.
Meade has been largely reinforced, and he has already done so magnificently that we hope of still better things from the Army of the Potomac. All honor to this gallant Army! Nobly and completely has it redeemed the disasters of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville!
I'm not sure that I would say this.
Meade has been largely reinforced, and he has already done so magnificently that we hope of still better things from the Army of the Potomac.
Eventually.
All honor to this gallant Army! Nobly and completely has it redeemed the disasters of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville! And a terrible lesson has it taught the defiant rebel horde who flaunted their banners so insultingly in our faces, and boasted that they could march and plunder and destroy wheresoever they pleased.
If any lessons were learned, it was Lee who learned it....he learned that his army was not indestructible.
In reading this newspaper article and so many others, we can learn much about the battle....or any battle, but we have to keep in mind that the information isn't always accurate (the same as today). But reading these articles is always enlightening to the attitude and thoughts of the people at the time.
The reports which the newspapers and eye-witnesses bring us of the three great battles near Gettysburg,
I guess they considered the three days of battle as three separate battles. But in the Civil War, a three day battle was considered one battle....the only thing that broke up the battle was darkness.
are not very full and satisfactory, but enough is known to warrant the assertion that we have achieved a complete and glorious victory over the enemy.
I'm not sure that the Confederates nor the Federals were considering it a complete and glorious victory. Most assuredly the North won.....but was it considered complete and glorious? The south was actually the victor on both days one and for the most part Day two.
The first engagement began at nine o'clock on Wednesday morning, July 1st, about two miles this side of Gettysburg, on the Chambersburg turnpike.
The first shot occurred at 7:30 am (or thereabouts). Buford's Cavalry was fully engaged when Reynolds arrived at 10am.
The forces engaged on our side were only the first and eleventh corps, under command of Generals Reynolds and Howard, the other corps not having arrived on the field.
General Reynolds was in charge for a very short time during the battle as he was killed about 1/2 hour after he arrived at the battle.
We were compelled to fall back a mile or so, during the great portion of the day, but regained nearly all the lost ground before night.
What????? Yes, the Union army fell back a mile or so....they fell back to Cemetery Ridge, but what ground did they regain?????
During the night the greater portion of our army came up, and all were in position by daylight. The enemy did not commence the attack until four o'clock in the afternoon.
For the most part, the battle did not really get going until later in the day....but there was fighting on Culp's Hill and a few other places.
The engagement lasted until dusk, and the enemy were repulsed at all points and driven back with great slaughter.
Again....HUHHHHH?????? Yes there was a great slaughter, but at where did the Federals push the Confederates back at all points? I must be studying a different battle. When did we regain Sickles salient???
At daylight on Friday morning the fight was again resumed, the enemy being the attacking party. We held our own until noon, when an advance was made along our whole line. The rebels hotly contested every foot of ground, but were driven back to the foot of the mountain, leaving the ground covered with their killed and wounded.
Which mountain did they retreat to....Seminary Ridge? Because as of the evening of July 3, they were still on Seminary Ridge.
Our forces captured several thousand prisoners and a large number of cannon.
I'm not so sure that the Union army captured a large number of cannon. The Confederates captured a few of the Union's pieces.
This engagement is said to have been the hottest of the war.
This is very true.
So completely were Lee's columns shattered that he commenced rapidly to retreat along the mountain the same night, our cavalry and artillery harrassing [sic] him at every step.
Isn't this why Lincoln was furious with Meade...because he DIDN'T chase after the Army of Northern Virginia?
He took the route by Millerstown, through Monterey towards Boonsboro, and will doubtless, unless he is completely cut off, go by way of Hagerstown to the river at Williamsport.
Hey, he got that prediction right!
Here his retreat has been most effectually checked, by the destruction of his pontoon bridges by Colonel French. A large portion of our forces will probably succeed in getting between the retreating army and the river.
Well, this prediction wasn't correct because General Lee actually made it across the Potomac.
In which case, if the rebel general is brought to bay, he may make an obstinate stand, and another desperate battle may be fought, probably on or near the old Antietam battle-field.
True. But it didn't happen.
Whether any considera[b]l[e] portion of the rebel army ever succeeds in recrossing the river there can be no doubt that the greater part of their immense wagon train will be capture.
Again, it didn't happen.
This train retreated by Newman's pass through Greenwood, New Franklin, and Greencastle.
I've never heard of Newman's pass. I'll have to do some checking into this.
Already fifty or sixty wagons have been taken, and if the river continues high, the entire train must fall into our hands.
Fifty or sixty wagons? Really?
Thus far the victory of our army, under command of the gallant Meade, has been most complete and over-whelming; and it only remains to be seen whether the scattered remnants of the rebel host succeed in gaining the Virginia shore and saving themselves annihilation.
They did indeed make it to the Virginia shore and they were not annihilated.
Meade has been largely reinforced, and he has already done so magnificently that we hope of still better things from the Army of the Potomac. All honor to this gallant Army! Nobly and completely has it redeemed the disasters of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville!
I'm not sure that I would say this.
Meade has been largely reinforced, and he has already done so magnificently that we hope of still better things from the Army of the Potomac.
Eventually.
All honor to this gallant Army! Nobly and completely has it redeemed the disasters of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville! And a terrible lesson has it taught the defiant rebel horde who flaunted their banners so insultingly in our faces, and boasted that they could march and plunder and destroy wheresoever they pleased.
If any lessons were learned, it was Lee who learned it....he learned that his army was not indestructible.
In reading this newspaper article and so many others, we can learn much about the battle....or any battle, but we have to keep in mind that the information isn't always accurate (the same as today). But reading these articles is always enlightening to the attitude and thoughts of the people at the time.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Flooding in Gettysburg
I just got home from work about an hour ago. Usually on my way home, I head for the park (afterall, I live right down the street from it). I always try to take a quick drive through every day just to be there. Today was no different. But things were a little bit different. We are having one horrible rain storm (I am SOOOO very, very thankful that the temperatures are in the 50's today....I would hate to think about how much snow this would be).
There are certain parts of the battlefield that are prone to flooding....mostly anywhere that a creek or run runs through. Today with this storm, the flooding has happened but it is so much worse than I have ever seen it before. I drove down Wheatfield Road to get to the Devil's Den/Plum Run Valley area. The flooding in this area is normal. Everytime we get quite a bit of rain this area immediately floods. But what I saw today was unbelievable. First of all, the ground next to the roadway is lower than the road surface itself. The water usually gets up within a few feet of the road surface, but the road doesn't ever flood. Today, the water is about 2 inches from the roadway. The small bridge that goes over Plum Run is all but under water. The water is just a couple of inches from the bridge itself. I drove over it, but I felt very uneasy about it.....I was waiting for the bridge to get swept away. The Run in that area is easily 100 yards wide....and this is a small waterway that you can jump over on any good day. I have never seen it this flooded.
I got down to the Devil's Den area and was just stunned at the water. It was everywhere...but especially up to the road....which it never does. There is a "comfort station" (aka....bathroom) at the Devil's Den but in order to get to it, you have to walk across this little footbridge and cross Plum Run. Normally the bridge is nice and you get to look down in the Run and see some water creatures (frogs, fish, crayfish, etc) but you're not going to see anything like that today. First, you can't even get to the bridge. It's an island. The water is going under and around the bridge. The steps leading up to the bridge are under water, but the bridge itself is not. That's kind of ironic. The bridge is an island.
Then I drove down around the den and watched the Run tumble over and around the rocks. I just can't believe how much water we have gotten from this storm. Its unreal.
Then I went down Sedgwick Ave to get to Hancock Avenue. I realized that there was a truck sitting in the roadway facing me (but the road is one way.....heading in the same direction that I am going). It was the Park Maintenance employees (and these guys are my heroes). They were trying to open a storm sewer to let the water go down it. But the water was a couple of inches deep across the road and these poor men were standing in water that must have been half way to their knees.
This storm is very strange. One minute its not raining at all. I had my windows rolled down so that I could see better and had no trouble with rain coming in....and then all of a sudden its like the sky would just open up and you could barely see to drive. And then in a couple of minutes, no rain any more.
I would love to show you pictures of the park, but I didn't have my camera with me. I've been taking my Coddington to work with me and my purse can handle either the book or my camera....but not both. I really don't want to leave the house either. This storm is bad and I like watching it from my window and not from my car.
There are certain parts of the battlefield that are prone to flooding....mostly anywhere that a creek or run runs through. Today with this storm, the flooding has happened but it is so much worse than I have ever seen it before. I drove down Wheatfield Road to get to the Devil's Den/Plum Run Valley area. The flooding in this area is normal. Everytime we get quite a bit of rain this area immediately floods. But what I saw today was unbelievable. First of all, the ground next to the roadway is lower than the road surface itself. The water usually gets up within a few feet of the road surface, but the road doesn't ever flood. Today, the water is about 2 inches from the roadway. The small bridge that goes over Plum Run is all but under water. The water is just a couple of inches from the bridge itself. I drove over it, but I felt very uneasy about it.....I was waiting for the bridge to get swept away. The Run in that area is easily 100 yards wide....and this is a small waterway that you can jump over on any good day. I have never seen it this flooded.
I got down to the Devil's Den area and was just stunned at the water. It was everywhere...but especially up to the road....which it never does. There is a "comfort station" (aka....bathroom) at the Devil's Den but in order to get to it, you have to walk across this little footbridge and cross Plum Run. Normally the bridge is nice and you get to look down in the Run and see some water creatures (frogs, fish, crayfish, etc) but you're not going to see anything like that today. First, you can't even get to the bridge. It's an island. The water is going under and around the bridge. The steps leading up to the bridge are under water, but the bridge itself is not. That's kind of ironic. The bridge is an island.
Then I drove down around the den and watched the Run tumble over and around the rocks. I just can't believe how much water we have gotten from this storm. Its unreal.
Then I went down Sedgwick Ave to get to Hancock Avenue. I realized that there was a truck sitting in the roadway facing me (but the road is one way.....heading in the same direction that I am going). It was the Park Maintenance employees (and these guys are my heroes). They were trying to open a storm sewer to let the water go down it. But the water was a couple of inches deep across the road and these poor men were standing in water that must have been half way to their knees.
This storm is very strange. One minute its not raining at all. I had my windows rolled down so that I could see better and had no trouble with rain coming in....and then all of a sudden its like the sky would just open up and you could barely see to drive. And then in a couple of minutes, no rain any more.
I would love to show you pictures of the park, but I didn't have my camera with me. I've been taking my Coddington to work with me and my purse can handle either the book or my camera....but not both. I really don't want to leave the house either. This storm is bad and I like watching it from my window and not from my car.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Memorializing Stonewall Jackson
Here are what the waysides at Chancellorsville say about the memorializing the great Stonewall Jackson. I find the whole character of Stonewall Jackson very intriguing. So when I head down to Chancellorsville, I tend to find myself heading for the Stonewall Jackson spots....positions, or whatever. Here are the waysides:
Memorializing Jackson's Death
Of his soldiers he was the idol;
Of his country he was the hope;
Of war he was the master.
Senator John Warwick Daniel
When General "Stonewall" Jackson dies eight days after being wounded in these woods, shock waves rippled through the South. Confederates immediately memorialized him in words. "A greater sense of loss and deeper grief never followed the death of mortal man," wrote one artilleryman. Few felt Jackson's loss more keenly than Robert E. Lee, who confessed, "I know not how to replace him."
After the war local residents erected a small boulder about 60 yards from the site, to commemorate the generals wounding. That rock still stands amid the bushes to your left front. In 1888, 5000 people attended the dedication of the more formal monument in front of you.
Jackson Monuments
The effort to erect a monument at the site of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's mortal wounding began in February, 1887, when Fredericksburg newspaper editor Rufus Merchant founded the Stonewall Jackson Monument Association. On June 13, 1888, a crowd of more than 5000 spectators attended dedication ceremonies at the monument. Guests included the former Confederate cavalry general. Governor Fitzhugh Lee, whose vigilant scouting activities during the Battle of Chancellorsville contributed to Jackson's success. Prior to construction of the monument, Jackson's former staff officer's, Beverly Tucker Lacy and James Powers Smith, assisted by Lacy's brother, J. Horace, of nearby Ellwood Plantation, transported the large quartz boulder to the wounding site.
Memorializing Jackson's Death
Of his soldiers he was the idol;
Of his country he was the hope;
Of war he was the master.
Senator John Warwick Daniel
When General "Stonewall" Jackson dies eight days after being wounded in these woods, shock waves rippled through the South. Confederates immediately memorialized him in words. "A greater sense of loss and deeper grief never followed the death of mortal man," wrote one artilleryman. Few felt Jackson's loss more keenly than Robert E. Lee, who confessed, "I know not how to replace him."
After the war local residents erected a small boulder about 60 yards from the site, to commemorate the generals wounding. That rock still stands amid the bushes to your left front. In 1888, 5000 people attended the dedication of the more formal monument in front of you.
Jackson Monuments
The effort to erect a monument at the site of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's mortal wounding began in February, 1887, when Fredericksburg newspaper editor Rufus Merchant founded the Stonewall Jackson Monument Association. On June 13, 1888, a crowd of more than 5000 spectators attended dedication ceremonies at the monument. Guests included the former Confederate cavalry general. Governor Fitzhugh Lee, whose vigilant scouting activities during the Battle of Chancellorsville contributed to Jackson's success. Prior to construction of the monument, Jackson's former staff officer's, Beverly Tucker Lacy and James Powers Smith, assisted by Lacy's brother, J. Horace, of nearby Ellwood Plantation, transported the large quartz boulder to the wounding site.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Stonewall Jackson's Death
I was going through some of my notes. It's amazing how many notes I have accumulated over the last couple of years. I've got notes on everything and anything. In looking through them, I found some notes that I took when I was visiting the Chancellorsville battlefield this past March. Here are what some of the wayside markers say about the death of Stonewall Jackson (something that I really taken an interest in):
A Fatal Reconnaissance
When "Stonewall" Jackson reached this point at about 9pm on May 2, 1863, he stood at the peak of his military career. Four hundred yards in front of you, a shaken Union army hastily built earthworks to halt the Confederate tide. One hundred yards behind you, Jackson's troops formed along the Bullock Road for what Jackson hoped would be a final and climatic night attack against the faltering federals. While the Confederates prepared, the general and a small group of attendants rode forward on the Mountain Road -- little more than a woods path -- to this point. Jackson could hear the axes of Union soldiers fashioning earthworks in front. One of his staff officers cautioned the general to go back. "The danger is over," he snapped, "The enemy is routed. Go tell A.P. Hill to press right on!" With that, Jackson continued his fateful ride toward the front.
Confederate Catastrophe
Near this spot around 9:15 pm on the night of May 2, 1863, the Confederate cause suffered a disaster. As "Stonewall" Jackson and his party returned from their reconnaissance down the Mountain Road, Confederate musketry erupted south of the Plank Road (Route 3). The scattered fire rippled northward, directly across Jackson's path.
A Confederate officer yelled, "Cease firing! You are firing into your own men!" Through the darkness, a voice shouted back: "Who gave you that order? It's a lie! Pour it into them, boys!" The flash from dozens of rifles illuminated the darkness. Two bullets crashed into Jackson's left arm, a third pierced his right hand. Later that night his left arm would be amputated. On May 10, 1863, Jackson died in a farm office at Guinea Station.
After the shooting, Jackson's horse bolted through the woods. Staff officers stopped the panicked animal and lowered Jackson to the ground near the site of the present monuments.
After Jackson was shot, attendants carried him to a field hospital behind the lines. There surgeons removed his wounded left arm.
The last portrait of Jackson, taken at a Spotsylvania County farm about ten days before his mortal wounding. Mrs. Jackson regretted that the image showed "a sternness to his countenance that was not natural."
A Fatal Reconnaissance
When "Stonewall" Jackson reached this point at about 9pm on May 2, 1863, he stood at the peak of his military career. Four hundred yards in front of you, a shaken Union army hastily built earthworks to halt the Confederate tide. One hundred yards behind you, Jackson's troops formed along the Bullock Road for what Jackson hoped would be a final and climatic night attack against the faltering federals. While the Confederates prepared, the general and a small group of attendants rode forward on the Mountain Road -- little more than a woods path -- to this point. Jackson could hear the axes of Union soldiers fashioning earthworks in front. One of his staff officers cautioned the general to go back. "The danger is over," he snapped, "The enemy is routed. Go tell A.P. Hill to press right on!" With that, Jackson continued his fateful ride toward the front.
Confederate Catastrophe
Near this spot around 9:15 pm on the night of May 2, 1863, the Confederate cause suffered a disaster. As "Stonewall" Jackson and his party returned from their reconnaissance down the Mountain Road, Confederate musketry erupted south of the Plank Road (Route 3). The scattered fire rippled northward, directly across Jackson's path.
A Confederate officer yelled, "Cease firing! You are firing into your own men!" Through the darkness, a voice shouted back: "Who gave you that order? It's a lie! Pour it into them, boys!" The flash from dozens of rifles illuminated the darkness. Two bullets crashed into Jackson's left arm, a third pierced his right hand. Later that night his left arm would be amputated. On May 10, 1863, Jackson died in a farm office at Guinea Station.
After the shooting, Jackson's horse bolted through the woods. Staff officers stopped the panicked animal and lowered Jackson to the ground near the site of the present monuments.
After Jackson was shot, attendants carried him to a field hospital behind the lines. There surgeons removed his wounded left arm.
The last portrait of Jackson, taken at a Spotsylvania County farm about ten days before his mortal wounding. Mrs. Jackson regretted that the image showed "a sternness to his countenance that was not natural."
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
What was Reynolds thinking?
Someone that I know asked me to spend a little bit of time doing some research and come back to him with my thoughts on what John Reynolds meant on July 1, 1863. Here is what he was concerned about: John Reynolds arrives in Gettysburg. He sees that John Buford is fully engaged with the Confederates. So he sends a message to George Meade: "The enemy is advancing in strong force and I fear that he will go the heights beyond the town before I can. I will fight him inch by inch, and if driven into the town, I will barricade the streets, and hold him back for as long as I can." His question was: which heights was he concerned about, Cemetery Hill or Seminary Ridge.
Now, I have always thought that Reynolds was talking about Cemetery Hill. But I thought that this would make a good research project for myself. So I have spent the past 4 days reading through all my books that deal with that particular part of the battle. And I have come to a conclusion. Now what I am about to write is merely MY OPINION but I will explain why I have come to this opinion.
John Buford was holding the heights west of town with just his cavalry. He had 2500 men. BUT anyone who knows anything about cavalry knows that when you dismount cavalry, one out of four of the men go to the rear to hold the horses. Which means that Buford was down to about 1800 men. Buford's 1800 men were holding off Archer's and Davis's brigades. That's a lot of men to be fighting against. Reynolds arrives before his men.
This is when he sent the message. Now, I really don't believe that Buford could hold those heights. All he was doing was slowing down the advance of the Confederates.
Every person (of importance) who arrived in Gettysburg was concerned about one place: Cemetery Hill. Cemetery Hill was basically free of trees and it was an imposing piece of ground overlooking the town. There was a lot of ground on the hill and it was fairly flat....a great place to put artillery pieces. Plus, the sides weren't steep....but a gradual slope. Another reason why it was ideal for artillery. Buford, Howard, Hancock, and others noted the importance of this hill. And that was the central location for the Army of the Potomac. John Reynolds was a professional soldier....he was trained on how to find and place his men on the important ground.
The only thing that might change my mind is a small passage that Abner Doubleday wrote in his book "Chancellorsville and Gettysburg". Here is what Doubleday had to say: "Reynolds had the true spirit of a soldier. He was a Pennsylvanian, and, inflamed at seeing the devastation of his native state, was most desirous of getting at the enemy as soon as possible. I speak from my own knowledge, for I was his second in command, and he told me at Poolesville soon after crossing the river, that it was necessary to attack this enemy at once, to prevent his plundering the whole state." So, does this mean that Reynolds wanted to fight the Confederates on the western side of town? Possibly, but Reynolds also knew that he needed men on Cemetery Hill....which he mentioned to Howard. Howard put some reserves on the hill. Then when the men were forced off the field of the First Days Battle, Howard and Hancock were able to regroup on Cemetery Hill....which they were able to hold throughout the battle.
So my conclusion is that we will never know exactly what Reynolds meant. He was killed before he could tell us....but based on the evidence, I truly believe that the heights that he was determined to save was Cemetery Hill.....the commanding heights over the town of Gettysburg.
Now, I have always thought that Reynolds was talking about Cemetery Hill. But I thought that this would make a good research project for myself. So I have spent the past 4 days reading through all my books that deal with that particular part of the battle. And I have come to a conclusion. Now what I am about to write is merely MY OPINION but I will explain why I have come to this opinion.
John Buford was holding the heights west of town with just his cavalry. He had 2500 men. BUT anyone who knows anything about cavalry knows that when you dismount cavalry, one out of four of the men go to the rear to hold the horses. Which means that Buford was down to about 1800 men. Buford's 1800 men were holding off Archer's and Davis's brigades. That's a lot of men to be fighting against. Reynolds arrives before his men.
This is when he sent the message. Now, I really don't believe that Buford could hold those heights. All he was doing was slowing down the advance of the Confederates.
Every person (of importance) who arrived in Gettysburg was concerned about one place: Cemetery Hill. Cemetery Hill was basically free of trees and it was an imposing piece of ground overlooking the town. There was a lot of ground on the hill and it was fairly flat....a great place to put artillery pieces. Plus, the sides weren't steep....but a gradual slope. Another reason why it was ideal for artillery. Buford, Howard, Hancock, and others noted the importance of this hill. And that was the central location for the Army of the Potomac. John Reynolds was a professional soldier....he was trained on how to find and place his men on the important ground.
The only thing that might change my mind is a small passage that Abner Doubleday wrote in his book "Chancellorsville and Gettysburg". Here is what Doubleday had to say: "Reynolds had the true spirit of a soldier. He was a Pennsylvanian, and, inflamed at seeing the devastation of his native state, was most desirous of getting at the enemy as soon as possible. I speak from my own knowledge, for I was his second in command, and he told me at Poolesville soon after crossing the river, that it was necessary to attack this enemy at once, to prevent his plundering the whole state." So, does this mean that Reynolds wanted to fight the Confederates on the western side of town? Possibly, but Reynolds also knew that he needed men on Cemetery Hill....which he mentioned to Howard. Howard put some reserves on the hill. Then when the men were forced off the field of the First Days Battle, Howard and Hancock were able to regroup on Cemetery Hill....which they were able to hold throughout the battle.
So my conclusion is that we will never know exactly what Reynolds meant. He was killed before he could tell us....but based on the evidence, I truly believe that the heights that he was determined to save was Cemetery Hill.....the commanding heights over the town of Gettysburg.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Fourth Michigan at Gettysburg
I was just thinking about some of the individual soldiers who fought at Gettysburg. Each person had their own story
and each person lived their own life. One of the things that I would love to do....but is physically impossible....is to learn about each and every one of those men.
Harrison Jeffords of the 4th Michigan is one of those soldiers that I find interesting. This man was the colonel of the regiment. In the melee of the fighting in the Wheatfield, Col. Jeffords fought to save his flag. In the process, he was stabbed through the body with a bayonet. What a horrible death!
The 4th Michigan chose to remember him by placing him on their monument in the Wheatfield. Here is what is written on the monument:
Front:
4th Michigan Infantry
2 Brig 1 Div 5 Corps
Participated in 53 skirmishes and general
engagements from Bull Run Va. July 21, 1861 to
Appomattox Va
April 8, 1865
Back:
Mustered in at Adrian Michigan
June 20, 1861
Veterans consolidated with
First Michigan Infantry June 30th 1864
Total enrollment 1325 officers and men
Killed in action - officers 8 - men 115
Died of Wounds - officers 4 - men 50
Died of Disease - officers 1 - men 95
Total 273
This monument marks the location held by the
regiment July 2nd 1863
Present for duty - 27 officers - 376 men - total 403
Killed 1 officer 24 men wounded 9 officers 55 men
Missing 1 officer 75 men total 165
Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords fell mortally wounded
at this point. Thrust through with a bayonet in
recapturing the colors of his regiment.
'From his bosom that heaved, the last torrent that was
streaming, and pake was his visage, deep marked with
a scar. And dim was that eye, once expressively
beaming,
that melted in love, and that kindled in war'
It's a wonderful thing that the members of his regiment remembered him in such a way. For all of eternity (or until the monuments fall down) Harrison Jeffords will be remembered. In generations to come, he will be thought of in the same way that we today think of him. This is what makes the monuments of these soldiers so very, very special.
and each person lived their own life. One of the things that I would love to do....but is physically impossible....is to learn about each and every one of those men.Harrison Jeffords of the 4th Michigan is one of those soldiers that I find interesting. This man was the colonel of the regiment. In the melee of the fighting in the Wheatfield, Col. Jeffords fought to save his flag. In the process, he was stabbed through the body with a bayonet. What a horrible death!
The 4th Michigan chose to remember him by placing him on their monument in the Wheatfield. Here is what is written on the monument:
Front:
4th Michigan Infantry
2 Brig 1 Div 5 Corps
Participated in 53 skirmishes and general
engagements from Bull Run Va. July 21, 1861 to
Appomattox Va
April 8, 1865
Back:
Mustered in at Adrian Michigan
June 20, 1861
Veterans consolidated with
First Michigan Infantry June 30th 1864
Total enrollment 1325 officers and men
Killed in action - officers 8 - men 115
Died of Wounds - officers 4 - men 50
Died of Disease - officers 1 - men 95
Total 273
This monument marks the location held by the
regiment July 2nd 1863
Present for duty - 27 officers - 376 men - total 403
Killed 1 officer 24 men wounded 9 officers 55 men
Missing 1 officer 75 men total 165
Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords fell mortally wounded
at this point. Thrust through with a bayonet in
recapturing the colors of his regiment.
'From his bosom that heaved, the last torrent that was
streaming, and pake was his visage, deep marked with
a scar. And dim was that eye, once expressively
beaming,
that melted in love, and that kindled in war'
It's a wonderful thing that the members of his regiment remembered him in such a way. For all of eternity (or until the monuments fall down) Harrison Jeffords will be remembered. In generations to come, he will be thought of in the same way that we today think of him. This is what makes the monuments of these soldiers so very, very special.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
More questions than answers
In the month or so that I have been without internet service, I have done a ton of reading. Books have become my friends and without them I would feel so lonesome. But the biggest problem with all this reading that I do is that I start asking questions and I'm not finding the answers.
Here are a few questions that I have "discovered" and are bugging me. Maybe someone out there in "Blogland" can help me out. I've been reading up on the Confederates on July 2nd, 1863. Here are my questions:
1) The main goal of the Confederate army was to knock the Union army off of Cemetery Hill. As such, one of the places that wasn't a big priority (if one at all) was the Round Tops....both Big and Little. Big Round Top posed little danger to either army. The hill was high, steep and completely wooded.....not a good place for infantry or artillery. Little Round Top was a big different. It was still high and steep but it was cleared on the western slope. It was a good area for infantry (as proven by the 20th ME, 83rd PA, 16th MI, 44th NY and so many others) but not for artillery. Ask Gen Warren and Gen Hazlett. Pushing the guns up by hand probably wasn't a fun job. A few guns were used both on July 2 and 3 but they weren't major players in the battle. Now to head into my question. Dan Sickles moved his men out to the Emmitsburg Road....against the orders of General Meade. The Confederates knew about the troops in the Peach Orchard, but did they know about the line that went from the Peach Orchard that went to Devil's Den? AND did Hood know about these troops? His line started off on what is now South Confederate Avenue. The Alabamians marched across the fields, UP Big Round Top and DOWN Big Round Top....just in time to run into the 5th Corps on Little Round Top (who had only been there for around 10 minutes). What was the purpose of the Confederates heading all the way to the Round Tops????
2) On July 3, Rittenhouse had taken charge of the guns in Hazletts battery. There were Confederate sharpshooters in Devil's Den. Rittenhouse's guns made somewhat of an impact during Pickett's Charge. How did the sharpshooters affect Rittenhouse????
These are just some things that I started to think about over the past couple of weeks. I always have more questions than I have answers for....but I guess this is a good sign. The more we learn the more we need to know.
Here are a few questions that I have "discovered" and are bugging me. Maybe someone out there in "Blogland" can help me out. I've been reading up on the Confederates on July 2nd, 1863. Here are my questions:
1) The main goal of the Confederate army was to knock the Union army off of Cemetery Hill. As such, one of the places that wasn't a big priority (if one at all) was the Round Tops....both Big and Little. Big Round Top posed little danger to either army. The hill was high, steep and completely wooded.....not a good place for infantry or artillery. Little Round Top was a big different. It was still high and steep but it was cleared on the western slope. It was a good area for infantry (as proven by the 20th ME, 83rd PA, 16th MI, 44th NY and so many others) but not for artillery. Ask Gen Warren and Gen Hazlett. Pushing the guns up by hand probably wasn't a fun job. A few guns were used both on July 2 and 3 but they weren't major players in the battle. Now to head into my question. Dan Sickles moved his men out to the Emmitsburg Road....against the orders of General Meade. The Confederates knew about the troops in the Peach Orchard, but did they know about the line that went from the Peach Orchard that went to Devil's Den? AND did Hood know about these troops? His line started off on what is now South Confederate Avenue. The Alabamians marched across the fields, UP Big Round Top and DOWN Big Round Top....just in time to run into the 5th Corps on Little Round Top (who had only been there for around 10 minutes). What was the purpose of the Confederates heading all the way to the Round Tops????
2) On July 3, Rittenhouse had taken charge of the guns in Hazletts battery. There were Confederate sharpshooters in Devil's Den. Rittenhouse's guns made somewhat of an impact during Pickett's Charge. How did the sharpshooters affect Rittenhouse????
These are just some things that I started to think about over the past couple of weeks. I always have more questions than I have answers for....but I guess this is a good sign. The more we learn the more we need to know.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
I'm back
I am officially back. The blog is going to continue. Thank you so much for hanging in with me...I believe that the problems are over.
So lets get on with my post. Here is an update on the snowfall of Gettysburg: Right before Christmas, we had 16 inches of snow. I've lived here for 4 1/2 years and this is the largest snowfall we've had in that time. The wind was blowing during the snowfall leaving drifts up to my waist. But the snow only lasted a short time....right after Christmas the snow had pretty much melted. A couple of weeks ago, we had another snowstorm....only about an inch, but that snow is still on the ground. Funny how the 16 inches and disappear so quickly and an inch can last forever. Oh the joys of the temperatures not getting over freezing.
Today was different. It got into the 4o's today.....no wind.....no clouds in the sky. The perfect day in Gettysburg....for winter anyway.
As I tromped the battlefield in the last few weeks, I noticed just how deep and rolling the terrain on the fields are. The snow really brings this out. The one place that I really noticed this more than any other part of the field is Culp's Hill. The saddle between the two hills that make up Culp's Hill doesn't seem so steep or so deep on a normal day of the year. It stands out during a snow fall. Also, the new tree cutting on the western edge of Culp's Hill really stands out when we've had a snowfall. The ground is deep and the ravine where the men of the 12th Corps hid while trying to regroup for the next wave of attacks against the Confederates really stands out. For the first time, I could really see the ravine that was mentioned throughout the official reports and letters and such.
I'm really glad to be back and I promise to be posting more often.
So lets get on with my post. Here is an update on the snowfall of Gettysburg: Right before Christmas, we had 16 inches of snow. I've lived here for 4 1/2 years and this is the largest snowfall we've had in that time. The wind was blowing during the snowfall leaving drifts up to my waist. But the snow only lasted a short time....right after Christmas the snow had pretty much melted. A couple of weeks ago, we had another snowstorm....only about an inch, but that snow is still on the ground. Funny how the 16 inches and disappear so quickly and an inch can last forever. Oh the joys of the temperatures not getting over freezing.
Today was different. It got into the 4o's today.....no wind.....no clouds in the sky. The perfect day in Gettysburg....for winter anyway.
As I tromped the battlefield in the last few weeks, I noticed just how deep and rolling the terrain on the fields are. The snow really brings this out. The one place that I really noticed this more than any other part of the field is Culp's Hill. The saddle between the two hills that make up Culp's Hill doesn't seem so steep or so deep on a normal day of the year. It stands out during a snow fall. Also, the new tree cutting on the western edge of Culp's Hill really stands out when we've had a snowfall. The ground is deep and the ravine where the men of the 12th Corps hid while trying to regroup for the next wave of attacks against the Confederates really stands out. For the first time, I could really see the ravine that was mentioned throughout the official reports and letters and such.
I'm really glad to be back and I promise to be posting more often.
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