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.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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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