Gettysburg+Photos

=Gettysburg video= 1st Minn. Infantry demonstration media type="youtube" key="XF28qGCXUFI" = = =Gettysburg Photos= = = Some photographs from my recent visit to Gettysburg can be accessed on the [|"Manage Space"] command that is on the left menu or by clicking on the hyperlink. Click on the photos for an enlargement. The description for the photographs is below:

[|Army Tent] - This is an example of a tent that enlisted soldiers would use. An officers tent is bigger.

[|Bloody Angle] - a view from behind the area known as the Bloody Angle, where Pickett's Charge failed on the third day.

[|Bryan House] - The home of a free black family on Cemetary Ridge that was damaged by the fighting.

[|Cashtown Inn] - Currently a bed and breakfast, at the time of the Civil War this was an inn, 8 miles west of Gettysburg, that served as the headquarters of Third Corps General A.P. Hill.

[|Cemetary Hill] - View from Cemetary Hill looking over Cemetary Ridge across to Seminary Ridge.

[|Cemetary Ridge] - Looking down the fence line along Cemetary Ridge.

[|Cemetary Ridge] - Looking up at Cemetary Ridge and the Copse of Trees from the view of PIckett's Charge (aka Pickett/Trimbel/Pettigrew Charge).

[|Calvary] monument - Calvary fighting at the Bloody Angle? Where's his horse? Yes...this monument honors the 1st Pennsylvania Calvary, who occupied the area just behind the crest of Cemetary Ridge. They were being held in reserve. Although they did not see action on the third day, they were prepared to fight dismounted. Notice his gun is shorter than an infantry rifle. It is a Sharps carbine, the rifle used by calvary. On top of his kepi (hat) is the symbol of the calvary corps, the crossed sabers.

[|Cannon] - Cemetary Ridge cannon

[|Codori Barn] - One of the many barns that were in the middle of the battle. Pickett directed the assault on Cemetary Ridge near the barn. See below: Infantry - 106th Pa.- for more information.

[|Copse of Trees] - This was the target for the soldiers of Pickett's Charge. [|Second view] (wave to Mr. Z sitting on Cemetary Ridge).

[|Old Glory] -

[|Gen. John Reynolds] - Second Corps commander who was died in battle. This is the monument in the National Cemetary. The other is in Reynolds Woods. He is also represented on the Pennsylvania Monument, since he is a native Pennsylvanian.

[|Gen. George Meade] and Old Baldy (his horse) - Meade's monument on Cemetary Ridge looks directly across at Gen. Lee's monument on Seminary Ridge. More [|Meade] up close and personal. More [|Meade].

[|High Water] monument - This monument on Cemetary Ridge, behind the Copse of Trees, honors the units that fought on the third day; the Confederate soldiers that made the assault and the Union soldiers who defended the line. It commemorates the "northernmost" incursion by the South into Northern territory. More [|High Water]. A pyramid of cannonballs is holding the book up. (Hmm...I wonder if that would work for some of my library displays??) High Water [|cannon].

[|Infantry] - //72nd Pa. Infantry// monument - This regiment was known as the Philadelphia Fire Zouaves. The Zouaves were the soldiers whose uniforms were based on a French Army unit known as the Zouaves. There were both Union and Confederate Zouaves. Their uniform usually consisted of red baggy pants, a vest, and a fez (a hat with a tassel). This particular unit was involved in a court case over the placement of their monument. The monument association placed their monument at the position the that the 72nd occupied prior to Pickett's Charge. Once the assault began, they were ordered forward, (some dispute that they went willingly) and the 72nd wanted their monument placed at the position nearest the line of battle. Eventually, the courts decided in their favor, so now they have two monuments. Notice the Zouave uniform and how the soldier is using his [|musket].

[|Infantry] - //106th Pa. Infantry//- There are 3 monuments honoring this regiment. This one stands near the High Water Mark. On the second day, July 2, they helped turn back Wright's Confederate brigade, that actually crossed over the stone wall but had to retreat because they had no support. Later in the day, they were moved to East Cemetary Hill to fight there. On July 3, two companies were sent back to this position. This monument shows four knapsacks and blanket rolls that form the base. Atop the base are three stacked drums. The drums, of course, were used for music and relaying orders, but they also serve another purpose on this monument. Together they form a trefoil, or clover. The trefoil was the symbol of the Second Corps, the corps to which this regiment belonged. There are also 40 trefoils carved around the monument, which symbolizes the 40 rounds of ammunition that each soldier carried. The bronze plaque shows the charge the regiment made on the [|Codori] house and barn on July 2, where they recaptured the cannon from a Rhode Island artillery and over 250 soldiers from the 48th Georgia Infantry.

[|Infantry] - //1st Andrews Sharpshooters// (Massachusetts) - Remember Col. Shaw mentioning Governor Andrews in Glory? Sharpshooters were a special unit within the regiments that were used for sniping. You had to qualify to be a sharpshooter. Sharpshooters could place ten shots in a ten inch circle from 200 yards away, firing in any position. This soldier is using a specially designed musket. Although this was an elite group of soldiers, many others in the armies felt that sharpshooters practiced an "unchristian" style of fighting because they were usually fighting under cover and they aimed specifically for high-ranking officers on the field or artillery gun crews. The weapon shown on this monument has a telescopic sight. The sight wasn't good by today's standards but it did help the sharpshooters shoot more accurately. The slogan on the monument reads: "In God We Put Our Trust, But Kept Our Powder Dry." (Gunpowder doesn't fire if it is wet.)

[|Infantry] - //111th New York// - This regiment entered the battle as skirmishers. Skirmishers were the soldiers who went out ahead of the main body of the regiment, to draw fire and to scout out the enemy locations. They were sort of an early warning system. This monument stands at the location of the regimental colors (flags) during the battle. Four color bearers and two officers were killed. The skirmiser in this monument has his cap back so he can see clearly and since he could be shot at any moment, he is shown cocking the trigger, prepared to fire.

[|Philadephia Brigade] - //72nd Pa// regiment was part of this brigade. See above for information about the disagreement over where the monument should be placed. Notice the 72nd Pa. in the background.

[|Pickett's Charge] - the fences that slowed down the advance. [|View 2] - The Confederates started their assault all the way back at the tree line in the distance and marched that distance to reach Cemetary Ridge.

[|Tammany] monument - Why is there a monument of an American Indian teepee on Cemetary Ridge? This monument honors the 42nd New York Infantry, and no, they were not American Indians. Hint: Check your Social Studies text for "Tammany Hall" politicians.