Coming Down the Pike

The Pipe Creek Circular

Union General George Meade's "Pipe Creek Circular" of June 30, 1863 with plans for a defensive "fall-back" position is often used to criticize him as a timid field commander. What exactly did it say, who did or did not receive it, why was it not carried out, and should it have been ???

The first Union soldier killed at Gettysburg

The first Union soldier killed in action at Gettysburg was shot by Confederate troops not on July 1, 1863, but on June 26, and he was actually born in the Gettysburg area.

While graves of Confederate soldiers can be found in many cemeteries throughout Pennsylvania and northern Maryland and not just in Gettysburg, there is one Confederate soldier who is still buried in a marked grave along the Susquehanna River just north of Wrightsville.

The Gettysburg Reunions of 1888, 1913, and 1938

Truly an interesting facet that is often overlooked is the trio of battlefield reunions held on the 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The human interest stories alone make for worthwhile and insightful reading when exploring these attempts at reconciliation between former enemies.

Side-trip to the site of another cavalry skirmish: Hanover

In addition to a side-trip to Emmitsburg, Maryland (see my "Off The Usual Path" page), I plan on taking a side-trip in 2008 to Hanover. The skirmish on June 30 in Hanover between Union cavalry under the command of General Judson Kilpatrick and Confederate cavalry under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart resulted in a stand-off, and forced Stuart to head to the east instead of west, which resulted in a further delay in his effort to link up with the main body of the Confederate forces. A self-guided tour with 18 wayside markers was established in 2005 by the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, which had previously published a well-written and detailed account in 1963 entitled "Encounter at Hanover: Prelude to Gettysburg" (see my "Books Worth Reading" page). The book was reprinted in 1985, but may still be hard to find. If you can track down a copy, it makes for excellent reading.

In 2008, I plan on taking (or retaking) many of the National Park Service "Battle Walks" that focus on the lesser known or least accessible areas of the battlefield such as the "lost avenue" (see my "Off the Usual Path" page). I will give a report and add photos after each one of them on this website on my "Battle Walks" page.

From what I have read and learned, there were perhaps as many as 5,000 Union soldiers and a similar number of Confederate soldiers who were taken prisoner during and after the battle. Many of them did not survive their captivity, with many Union prisoners ending up at the infamous Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia. What is too often overlooked is that many Confederate prisoners died as well at prisons like Point Lookout, Maryland, and Elmira, New York. The terrible plight of prisoners, both North and South, is often forgotten by historians and buffs alike, but it should not be.

An upcoming archaeological "dig"

I will be helping with an archaeological "dig" in April of 2008 at the Tillie Pierce House, located at 303 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg (see my "Something Different" page). After undergoing a long and an extensive restoration lasting more than two years, the house opened as a "Bed and Breakfast" in November of 2007, but before the final landscaping in the back yard is completed this spring, a month-long archaeological "dig" is planned by the owners, Keith and Leslie Grandstaff (Leslie has a degree in archaeology). A limited number of slots are available for individuals who would like to participate for a nominal fee, so if you would like more information, go to http://tilliepiercehouse.com . In any event, I will give a full report afterward on what is found !!!

(UPDATE): The "dig" lasted through May (due partly to a lot of springtime rainy weather on the weekends) and encompassed an area of 6 feet by 6 feet by more than 2 feet deep.  Some of the many volunteers who were able to participate were members of a Girl Scout Troop from nearby York, and all of them found the experience very rewarding --- in fact, several of them came back the following weekend on their own ! I helped out a couple of Saturday afternoons in April and found it to be a wonderful learning and fun experience --- among my "finds" were several nails, a button, pottery shards, many glass fragments of various sizes and colors, including a baseball-sized fragment of a brown glass bottle that had the letters "DISTILL" intact. Also found during the "dig" was what appears to be a hinge of some type, marbles, and many bone fragments of animals (Tillie's father, James Pierce, was a butcher by trade), but sadly, no minie balls or shell fragments.  The bottom photograph shows just some of the many artifacts that were found:





    The hard part of archaeology is just now beginning --- all the bits and pieces must be cleaned, catalogued, researched, and reassembled as much as possible. It is the goal of owners Keith and Leslie Grandstaff to eventually put the best artifacts on display, so watch for another update in the months ahead !

Cannons, "Cora", and "Penelope"

Although there are roughly 390 Civil War cannon (or to be more accurate, cannon tubes) placed throughout the battlefield, I believe only a handful (less than 10) of the 170 which may have seen service at Gettysburg during the time of the battle have actually been documented as such. I am currently attempting to track down the exact number and their locations. In addition, I will also include some photographs of the cannons named "Cora" and "Penelope", and perhaps add a few surprises as well.
(UPDATE): See my "Odds and Ends" page

The Devil's Kitchen

While every buff knows about the area known as Devil's Den, how many have heard of the "Devil's Kitchen" or the "Devil's Slipper"? I will have more information and photographs of these rock formations and others on this website in the spring.
(UPDATE): See my "Something Different" page

The other monument to the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment

While most buffs are aware of and perhaps also visited the monument to the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment that is located on the southern spur of Little Round Top, I wonder how many are aware of (and visited) their other monument located on Big Round Top?
(UPDATE): See my "Odds and Ends" page

The Lutheran Theological Seminary Cupola "Tour"

Twice a year, the Adams County Historical Society allows people (for a donation) to go up in the cupola and get a view of the battlefield and a feel for what it must have been like for General John Buford as he surveyed the opening action on July 1 and anxiously watched for the arrival of General John Reynolds' I Corps. The next tour date is in April, and I will be signing up soon. I will add a report and photographs taken from the cupola afterward to this website !!!
(UPDATE): See my "Something Different" page