Double Canister at Ten Yards

There are monuments all over Civil War Battlefields that have unique things incorporated into them. This happens especially at Gettysburg. There are quite a few. This one in particular is for Andrew Cowan's First New York Independent Battery near the Angle and the Copse of Trees.

There is almost always a significant story behind these unique inclusions. Read a book about Pickett's Charge and you're likely to come across the experiences of Cowan and his battery ramming the barrels with two rounds of canister and letting loose at the overflow of Confederate soldiers that swarmed the area. Some even got as close as ten yards, hence the words "Double canister at ten yards" being engraved on this monument.

A Bend in the Trees

The replanting of the peach trees at the Peach Orchard has been an ongoing process at Gettysburg National Military Park. I'm pretty sure the National Park Service ended up planting the peach trees a second time due to some form of a disease the trees picked up. I could be wrong, though.

This photograph was taken about two years ago. So, the trees look a lot bigger if you've visited the battlefield recently. One thing you'll notice is that when the wind blows all of the trees bend at the same angle. It's a fascinating site to take in. You can also notice the importance of the terrain that the orchard sits on. Much higher ground than the swampy land to the east that the Federal III Corps held before venturing out this far, spreading itself thin and thus exposing it's flanks.

The original orchard by Joseph Sherfy was much more expansive at the time of the battle. Possibly two or three times the size that it is today.

The Swale

When I first read Stephen Sears' book, Gettysburg, I was intrigued upon reading about the plight of Alfred Iverson's North Carolinians on the first day of fighting. It explained that the brigade was pretty much surprised by the I Corps troops of the Federal Army waiting behind the stone wall just on the edge of Shead's Woods. The Union fire was extremely effective and for cover the Confederates took refuge in a dip in the ground, otherwise known as a swale.

My next trip to Gettysburg pitted me on a search to find this swale in front of Oak Ridge and Shead's Woods. I followed the park avenue towards the stone wall that the Union troops under John Robinson used for cover and then I saw it. "Son of a bitch" were the words that came out of my mouth.

Today, the stonewall is partly obscured by rows of golden corn, but from the right angle you can see the huge dip in the ground where the desperate Confederates sought cover from the blistering fire.

"Unwarned, unlead as a brigade, went forward Iverson's deserted band to its doom. Deep and long must the desolate homes and orphan children of North Carolina rue the rashness of that hour."

In the Distance

There are few spots on the Gettysburg battlefield in which both Round Top hills are a dominating presence. Especially if you're south of town. This was taken along the northern portions of Seminary Ridge looking southeast.

I also found it fascinating that the fence line found its way into the middle of this photograph. Remarkably, this was taken in the afternoon, but the infamous Gettysburg fog still makes an appearance and adds depth to the picture.

Turn That Cannon

I think that this is one of my really cool shots from around the Cemetery Ridge and Bloody Angle area. This is taken right at the bend in the stone wall and under the tree that adorns it. I figured that getting a very in-depth shot looking down the line was a  great way to imagine units composing Webb's Philadelphia Brigade, as well as the Vermont monuments in the background, as they would have been during the Confederate artillery barrage and during the infantry assault that followed.

The infamous "Copse of Trees" also peaks through a few of the monuments. Some argue that it was the Confederate objective during the Pickett's Charge assault, but others claim that the true prize was Cemetery Hill. That's another story in itself.

Before the Texans Faltered

The infamous gate at the top of the Triangular Field just west of Houck's Ridge and Devil's Den. As far as I know, the stones used on the field's borders are original from 1863. Not entirely sure, though. The body that was part of the staged sharpshooter photographs was found just over the ridge to the left. There are multiple paths that head to that exact spot.

Troops from Henry Benning's Georgians and Jerome Robertson's Texans stormed through the woods in the background (as well as to the right of the ones depicted) and rolled the Federal line in front of Devil's Den. Those Union troops were commanded by John Hobart Ward. The Confederate deployment for the second day's assault outflanked the Union brigade on Houck's Ridge.

Elements of the Texas brigade were very successful up until this point in the war. After outflanking units of Ward's brigade, for the first time in the war they would begin to be pushed back as they began to climb the slope of Little Round Top.

Harried Advance

For years during visits to Gettysburg with my dad, we've driven down the Emmitsburg Road and merged onto Confederate Avenue, looked to our left and wondered how to get to the Slyder and Bushman farms. Last June we found a trail that led us to this area.

The Slyder farm buildings are back and to the left of where this photograph was taken. It was also used as Robert E. lee's headquarters in the 1993 film Gettysburg. An outhouse was built to conceal the US Sharpshooters monument that is within the Slyder yard.

It's a walk that is approximately half of a mile in length. It's  very scenic and gives you a better view of the skirmishing that took place between Berdan's Sharpshooters and the elements of John Bell Hood's Division that advanced through this area.

Repulse

Throngs of Gettysburg visitors flood the areas on the southern portions of Cemetery Ridge and the area of The Angle (in the middle of the photograph). The northern sectors of the ridge are quite less-visited. The Ziegler's Grove area is now as close to the way it looked in 1863 for the first time since the old Cyclorama building was completed.

The surrounding field was held by Gen. Alexander Hays' division of Winfield Scott Hancock's II Corps. These troops also assisted in the repulse of Confederate troops on July 3. They faced elements of gen. AP Hill's Confederate Corps. Ironically, those Confederate soldiers are easily forgotten to have participated in the assault known as Pickett's Charge.

Obscure Names in History

Names that have been only remembered in history because of the events that happened in and around the town named for James Gettys. They adorn the ridges, hills and woodlots outside and around the farm fields of Gettysburg. McPherson, Ziegler, Plank and Culp. The names go on and on

A lot of people forget that towns in the mid 1800's had all kinds of geographic features named for families on farms surrounding their respective areas. Even more can forget about the people that were there prior to when the two armies met.

A quick stroll through Evergreen Cemetery can provide you with a quick refresher on the families and names that dot many locations we're all familiar with on the battlefield.

That is the Matter

One of the first things I was able to do during my most recent trip to Gettysburg was seeing and touring the new Seminary Ridge Museum that was inaugurally opened on July 1 in time for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

One of the first things to notice is the awesome paint job that was done on the outside of the building. The gold color helps the brick to pop out of the building, in my opinion. The cupola is not the original that Gen. John Buford and his adjutants used at the opening of the battle. It was struck by lightning in August of 1913, caught on fire and was rebuilt as accurately as possible.

This is a significant part of the battlefield. Not only was it an observance point for Buford's cavalry troops, it also served as a hospital throughout the battle's duration. Legend has it that John F. Reynolds met Buford there as he led the I Corps onto the field that day as it's dramatized in the 1993 film. I've read conflicting reports in certain books. Still, Reynolds assistants swear that the meeting took place on McPherson's Ridge directly west as time was scarce. A favorite quote of mine was by Buford as one of Reynolds' aids rode into town that morning and asked Buford what was the matter. At that moment artillery fire was heard from this area of the field, west of Gettysburg. Buford turned back and said "That...is the matter."