06/02/2018
Battle of
E-Newsletter Summer 2018
Thank you for signing up for our quarterly newsletter, which now goes out to people in 42 states (including California and Hawaii and the District of Columbia) as well as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, and South Africa, to learn about upcoming products, stories, events, and interviews with authors and artists, guides and historians, military and civilian re-enactors, and much more. We hope you enjoy it, and will tell your friends about it. We look forward to hearing from you regarding any questions or suggestions on future topics, including any stories and/or photographs which you would like to share regarding your Civil War ancestors and/or your visit(s) to the Gettysburg battlefield and/or surrounding area.
Here is a photo by Patty Paschal Denton from Virginia:
Here is a photo by Audrey Cooper Dougherty from Maryland:
Here is a photo by Keith McGill from Pennsylvania:
Here is a photo by Patricia Petersen Rich from Maryland:
Thank you all for sharing your extremely beautiful photographs !!!
Several newsletter subscribers took advantage of our Spring 2018 newsletter offer to attend a FREE special Saturday morning tour on March 24, 2018 of the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee’s Civil War Flag Preservation Facility in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Normally only open on weekdays between 8:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M., the facility houses approximately 375 Pennsylvania Civil War flags --- we were able to request and see specific regimental flags associated with ancestors of our attendees.
We saw the flags of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserves/30th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 27th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry, the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 167th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 214th Pennsylvania Infantry, the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry, the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, many flag staffs, and much more !!!
(photos courtesy of Sean Barron)
(photos courtesy of Tom Miller)
Pictured below are the attendees (along with photographer Tom Miller) who were able to attend this interesting behind-the-scenes opportunity:
Pictured from left to right: Jason Wilson (facility curator); Randy Drais; Michael Walker; Deb DeMarco; Tim Antosy; Brett Marino; Trevor Ingram; Danielle Criswell; Gia Barron; Sean Barron; Paul Errett; Daniel Kieffer; Logan Eisenhower (front)
(photo courtesy of Tom Miller)
Each attendee also received a copy of the 39-page color booklet “Preserving Pennsylvania’s Historic Civil War Battle Flags” shown below:
Two other excellent reference books (in two volumes) are available for purchase directly from the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee:
For more information on these books, go to http://store.cpc.state.pa.us/shop/books or call (717) 783-6484.
Coming Down the Pike --- New Products
As our usual reminder to our newsletter subscribers, in addition to the selection of highly regarded books (go to http://battleofgettysburgbuff.net/index.php?route=product/category&path=37) available for purchase in our "General Store", we have partnered with publisher Savas Beatie, LLC to offer our newsletter subscribers a special ongoing opportunity to buy any book or books of your choice from their website at http://www.savasbeatie.com. By using our special coupon code "BUFF0618" in the “COUPON CODE” field (above the “ADD TO CART” button) on the Savas Beatie website (please note: this code will change in each newsletter) when ordering a book(s) from their website, you will receive FREE SHIPPING and a bookplate(s) signed by the author(s) with your purchase. We hope you take the opportunity to take advantage of this great opportunity from time to time !!!
We are extremely pleased to announce that after fifteen years’ of research, our good friend Rick Allen has reported that his series of books about the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th Georgia Infantry Regiments will be released very soon by publisher Savas Beatie, LLC. These regiments all served in General George T. Anderson’s Brigade of General John B. Hood’s Division of General James Longstreet’s I Corps at the Battle of Gettysburg:
(photo courtesy of Rick Allen)
These books are essentially reference books and not a collection of personal accounts. Each regimental roster is organized by company in a simple and easy to use format. Entries feature full names (if known), promotions, demotions, casualties, transfers, and resignations for every rank --- an unprecedented look into the men and the structure and evolution of these regiments. These books include the most comprehensive examination of the personnel originally enlisted and their subsequent service histories within these units in chronological order. For more information, go to http://www.savasbeatie.com. Congratulations, Rick !!!
Special Battlefield Tours And Programs
Here is the list of our Special Tours and Programs for 2018:
The Battle of Gettysburg Anniversary Reunions of 1888, 1913 and 1938
April 21
“Leaders of Men”: The Corps Commanders At Gettysburg
April 28
Major General Henry Heth And Colonel John Brockenbrough’s Brigade At Gettysburg
May 5
The Battle Of Hanover On June 30
May 12
Longstreet’s Countermarch
May 26
The Taverns Of Gettysburg AVicinity
June 2
South Carolina At Gettysburg
June 9
The Florida Brigade At Gettysburg
June 16
The Shriver House Museum: “Behind The Scenes” Tour
June 23
The Fighting In Town
July 21
Colonel David Ireland And The 137th New York Infantry On Culp’s Hill
July 28
Hancock’s Defense Of The Cemetery Ridge Line On July 2
August 11
The Other “Uses” Of The Battlefield (Camp C**t, WWII POW Camp, Airports, Etc.)
September 15
General Lee At Gettysburg
October 20
Lockwood’s Brigade At Gettysburg
October 27
“ ‘No Fail Here’: Abraham Lincoln And The Real Story Behind The Gettysburg Address”
November 3
A small fee will vary (usually within the $15 - $25 range depending upon the length of the tour, resource material handouts, refreshments, etc.), and will not need to be paid until the day of the event. A “Meet and Greet” reception afterward with the tour guide is also included. If you or any of your friends are interested in a particular tour or tours, please send us an email --- we keep everyone up-to-date via email, the newsletter, and the Battle of Gettysburg Buff page.
Here is the list of participating local businesses and attractions for our 2018 Discount Coupon Program:
AMERICAN ALLEGIANCE AMERICAN STORIES HISTORIC WALKING TOURS DUNLAP’S RESTAURANT GETTYSBIKE TOURS
GETTYSBURG DIORAMA GETTYSBURG HERITAGE CENTER
INSITE GETTYSBURG O’RORKE’S FAMILY EATERY & SPIRITS
SEGWAY TOURS & RIDES OF GETTYSBURG
SHRIVER HOUSE MUSEUM THE BLUE & GRAY GIFT SHOPPE
THE CIVIL WAR STORE THE CIVIL WAR ETC. STORE (in the Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg) THE LIGHTNER FARMHOUSE BED & BREAKFAST
Pennsylvania artist Charles Joyce is also once again a participant in our discount coupon program. Here are two examples of his fine work:
"Frey Farm and Leister Barn"
“The Henry Spangler Farm”
In addition, Civil War historian/author Scott Mingus, Sr. again joined our discount coupon program with
a special offer on all of his books for the attendees of our 2018 Special Tours and Programs !!!
REMEMBER --- NO ADVANCE PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR ANY TOUR OR PROGRAM !!!
We would also like to report that during our April 28, 2018 Special Tour by Licensed Battlefield Guide Chris Bagley about “Leaders of Men: The Corps Commanders At Gettysburg”, we had 41 attendees, including 20 firefighters from all over the country (including Alaska and Hawaii) who were in nearby Emmitsburg, Maryland as part of an officers training program at the National Fire Academy. We took time to get a photograph of them in front of the 73rd New York "Fire Zouaves" Infantry Regiment monument:
(photo courtesy of Sean Barron)
During that same tour, we were honored to have well-known historical sculptor Gary Casteel take time out of his busy schedule to meet us at his monument to General Longstreet and give us the “behind the scenes” story of the history and creation of that monument, which according to the National Park Service, is the second-most photographed monument in the Gettysburg National Military Park:
(photo courtesy of Joe Loveless)
Around the Park
(Please note: “Battle of Gettysburg Buff” does not represent the Gettysburg National Military Park in any capacity)
On March 19, 2018, the Gettysburg National Military Park announced that Chris Stein arrived as the latest acting superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site, and will serve in this position until mid-July of 2018. Stein currently serves as Chief of Heritage Areas and Partnerships in the National Park Service Midwest Region and previously served as Superintendent at St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, National Park of Samoa, Nez Perce National Historical Park (acting) and held a number of other key leadership roles within the National Park Service.
"I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve as acting superintendent for the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site for the next few months," said Stein. "My goals during my time here include nurturing and building relationships of mutual benefit with partners, and continuing to provide opportunities for residents, visitors, and volunteers to help care for, protect and interpret park resources."
Chris Stein
(photo courtesy of the GNMP)
As reported in prior newsletters, on May 26, 2017, Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Ed Clark was reassigned to the National Park Service’s Northeast Regional Office at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and given the position of acting chief for the Park Planning and Special Studies Division of the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service. Clark became the Superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site in January of 2014 after Superintendent Bob Kirby retired.
It should be noted that the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Interior had been conducting an investigation involving the Gettysburg National Military Park. William Justice, the Superintendent at the Vicksburg National Military Park, then became the acting superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site and served in that capacity through October 1, 2017. On October 13, 2017, the GNMP announced that Charles E. “Chuck” Hunt had been selected as the new acting superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site and served until the arrival of Chris Stein.
Ed Clark is still serving as the acting chief for the Park Planning and Special Studies Division of the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service.
Charles Hunt William Justice Ed Clark (photos courtesy of the GNMP)
On April 14, the Gettysburg National Military Park conducted the first of two planned “prescribed fires” that called for burning portions of a 215-acre area between Devil’s Den and South Confederate Avenue. The April 14 phase involved roughly 100 acres out of the total of 215. The goals of such prescribed fires are: to
maintain the conditions of the battlefield as experienced by the soldiers who fought here; perpetuate the open space character of the landscape; maintain wildlife habitat; control exotic invasive species; reduce shrub and woody species components; and reduce fuels in wooded areas to reduce fire hazards. The timing of the prescribed fires was dependent on conditions being within required weather parameters such as wind, temperature, and relative humidity. A combination of lawn sprinklers, hoses, mowed lines, and fire engines were used to create a buffer and fire break to protect monuments and other cultural resources in the area of the prescribed fires. The second “prescribed fire” has been postponed until the Fall of 2018.
(map courtesy of the GNMP)
(photos courtesy of the GNMP)
The annual Gettysburg National Military Park “Battle Walks” season will begin June 9 and will run through August 12. These special tours by Park Rangers last two to three hours and are devoted to a more in-depth look at a particular phase of the battle or a specific or often overlooked area of the battlefield. The schedule will be posted weekly at http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/gettdivsprograms.htm.
In addition, from July 1 through July 3, the Gettysburg National Military Park will once again offer their Special Battle Anniversary Park Ranger programs. These include
schedule will be posted at http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/events.htm.
(photo courtesy of the GNMP)
"Real Time" programs which follow
specific actions/events on the battlefield at the same day and time it occurred over 150 years ago.
The
A great way to finish a day on the battlefield is to participate in the free Summer Evening Campfire Programs normally held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night from 8:30 to 9:30 P.M. at the Amphitheater in Pitzer’s Woods on Seminary Ridge. These campfire programs are one of the lesser known “treasures” of the Gettysburg National Military Park. Park Rangers present these free programs on a wide variety of topics on the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War. And yes, the Park Rangers actually do build a campfire for everyone to enjoy !!!
(photo courtesy of the GNMP)
For those interested in Civil War music, the 24th Annual Civil War Music Muster will be held on August 10 and August 11. The free events features ballads, folk songs, popular songs of the day, field music and marches, along with dances popular during the Civil War era. The music will begin on Friday afternoon, August 10, under the tent on the front lawn of the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. Performances continue on Saturday, August 11, both inside and outside the Museum And Visitor Center, and the Pennsylvania Memorial. For more information on the 24th Annual Civil War Music Muster and all the GNMP programs mentioned above, go to http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/events.htm.
(photos courtesy of the GNMP)
In addition to the Gettysburg National Military Park website http://www.nps.gov/gett, page https://www.facebook.com/GettysburgNMP, and blog http://npsgnmp.wordpress.com, the Gettysburg National Military Park also posts videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GettysburgNPS. There are many interesting and educational videos as well as a selection of the lectures from the Winter Lecture Series.
As we reported in the Fall 2017 newsletter, the flagpole on Barlow’s Knoll will be completely restored in the near future as a result of funds raised by the non-profit organization Company F, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry (http://www.cof14thcvi.com) in honor of the 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment which fought there on July 1, 1863. The GNMP’s Maintenance Department will clean, sandblast, and repaint the historic flagpole in time for its rededication on July 1, 2018 on the 155th anniversary of the first day’s fighting.
The first flagpole was originally made of wood but came down in a storm in the mid-1890’s and replaced by a steel pole. That pole was replaced by the existing pole in 1921. The group was able to get in contact with Jim White and Tom Sullivan, both Connecticut natives who had previously “adopted” the position (see https://www.nps.gov/gett/getinvolved/supportyourpark/adopt-a-position.htm) and apply for permits to fly the flag twice a year. The flag was flown on July 1, 2, and 3 of 2017 thanks to volunteers Bob and Peg Angelovich, Jim White, and Nick and Carolyn Ivanoff. Our hearty congratulation and sincere thanks go out to these volunteers and all the members of Company F, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry !!!
(photo from the late 1800’s courtesy of the GNMP)
Around Town --- Gettysburg/Adams County Events of Interest
The Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides will once again be offering a series of Evening Battle Walks in the Summer of 2018. Each Tuesday evening from June 5 through August 28, a Licensed Battlefield Guide will lead an evening walk (normally starting at 5:30 P.M.) dedicated to a very specific topic (many of them devoted to a specific brigade or regiment). These walks are ideal for those “buffs” who desire a much more in-depth look at a distinct aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg. For more information on these evening programs, go to http://www.gettysburgtourguides.org.
The Gettysburg Heritage Center, located at 297 Steinwehr Avenue in downtown Gettysburg, will again have their Summer "Saturday Spotlight" programs. During most Saturday evenings at 7:30 P.M. from Memorial Day through Labor Day, a special program will be presented. Programs will vary from week to week but may include music performances, cooking demonstrations, and lectures such as those related to photography, human interest stories as well as the Battle of Gettysburg itself. Here is the schedule at this point in time:
June 2 – Bradford Stone: Jews in the Civil War – 1861-1865
This program highlights the many contributions Jewish Americans made to both sides of the Civil War and makes it clear that the central issues involved in the Civil War were as divisive among Jewish Americans as they were among the rest of the country.
June 9 – Thaddeus Stevens Society: An Evening with Thaddeus and Lydia
This half-hour live theatrical show features anecdotal conversation, and humorous witticisms between celebrated Civil War era lawgiver, Thaddeus Stevens, and his housekeeper of twenty years, Lydia Hamilton Smith.
June 16 – Jim McGlincy: An Evening with General Forrest
Join General Nathan Bedford Forrest for an evening discussion about his role in the American Civil War. Guests will learn about his life during the war, and the decisions he made as a cavalry General.
June 23 – Ken Rich: The Names Will Mess You Up - People, Places and Things in 1863 Gettysburg
Gettysburg is the only small town in America where every house, farm and place is known by its 1863 name. That in itself can be very confusing. How many Weikerts? Where are the Spanglers? Name the Taneys, McPherson’s, Herbst’s and Reynolds, who owned the woods? This is a 60 minute program that will try to sort all this out.
June 30 – Carolyn Ivanoff: We Fought At Gettysburg - The 17th Connecticut from Barlow's Knoll to the Spangler Farm and Beyond
This program follows the 17th Connecticut Regiment from Barlow’s Knoll to the Spangler Farm and beyond during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. Through first-hand accounts, we come as close as possible to seeing what the solders themselves saw, thought, and felt on the battlefield
July 21 – Jeff Greenawalt: Popular Songs During the Civil War
One of the best ways to connect with the people who lived during the American Civil War is to listen to the songs they sang. This program features performances of songs that were popular during the Civil War.
July 28 – Mark Quattrock: Beyond the Myth: The Confederate States Medical Department during the Civil War
In this presentation, we will look at several different aspects of the Confederate States Medical Department, including: how it was able to organize and build an organization from scratch; take a look at the challenges
If you would like information on becoming an
Associate Member, go to http://gettysburgtourguides.org/become-a-member.
they faced during the war and what they did to try and overcome them; and dispelling the myths that were created by TV and Hollywood.
August 4 – Marc Charisse: The Professor of Prestidigitation
A performer for more than 50 years, Dr. Charisse performs and recreates Civil War era magic in a program of humor, history and mystery. This evening of classic conjuring is sure to enchant audiences of all ages, as the professor introduces his audiences to the ghost of a Civil War soldier and performs what he believes to be President Lincoln’s favorite magic trick.
August 11 – Linda Clark: Close Calls, Near Misses, and Tragic Hits: What Was It Like For the Citizens of 1863?
Licensed Battlefield Guide, Linda Clark will discuss the citizens of Gettysburg at the time of the battle in 1863. Some names, such as John Burns and Jennie Wade, are well known. Many of the citizens presented are not as familiar, but have equally remarkable stories to tell.
August 18 – Chuck Teague: The Confounding of Dan Sickles
What in the world was Dan Sickles thinking on July 2 when he deployed the 3rd Corps of the Union army in the controversial way that he did? Chuck Teague will take a deeper look into the actions by General Sickles on the second day of the battle of Gettysburg.
August 25 – Randy Drais: Texans at Gettysburg: Blood and Glory with Hood's Texas Brigade
Randy Drais, amateur Civil War historian and Battle of Gettysburg buff and co-author of the book “Texans at Gettysburg: Blood and Glory with Hood's Texas Brigade” as we learn about many of those unique personal accounts by Texans at Gettysburg.
September 1 – Bernadette Loeffel – Atkins: Civil War Mascots and Pets
Join Bernadette Loeffel- Atkins as she discusses how the soldiers used mascots and pets for companionship, and a deterrent to the loneliness and hardship of battle. Also learn about the many unusual animals that traveled with the units.
The Texans from Hood's Texas Brigade who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg described their experiences
of the battle in personal diaries, interviews, newspaper articles, letters and speeches. Their reminiscences
provide a fascinating and harrowing account of the battle as they fought the Army of the Potomac. Join
As has also been done in the past, there will also be Living Historians (both military and civilian) on weekends up to and including Remembrance Day Weekend in November. There will also be special book talks and signings during June 30 through July 7. For more information on all of these programs, go to www.GettysburgMuseum.com or call (717) 334-6245.
(photo courtesy of the Gettysburg Heritage Center)
The 155th Gettysburg Anniversary Civil War Reenactment will be held this year on July 5, 6, 7 and 8.
The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee was formed in 1995 by local community members. For smaller events, the event staff totals approximately 150 and for five-year events approximately 400. The organization is comprised entirely of local citizens from Adams County, Pennsylvania and who have a common bond of cherishing and appreciating the historic community they live in. Each year, thousands of dollars of the registration fees and ticket fees are donated to organizations such as the Land Conservancy of Adams County, the Sergeant Mac National Wreath Project, and preservation projects such as the Sachs Mill Covered Bridge. For more information, go to http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com.
(photos courtesy of the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee)
For those Civil War buffs who are also baseball fans, you may want to consider attending the 9th Annual Gettysburg National 19th Century Base Ball Festival on July 21-22 in Gettysburg. The 2018 Festival will be the largest yet (there were 22 teams from Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania during last year’s tournament). Watch, learn, and enjoy how “base ball” (it was often spelled as two words) was played using the same style uniforms and equipment and playing by the same rules during the Civil War. For more information, visit http://gettysburgbaseballfestival.com.
"The American National Game of Baseball" (Currier & Ives)
Confederate sharpshooters will once again fire their rifles from the windows of George and Hettie
Shriver’s Baltimore Street home on Saturday afternoon, July 7 just as they did during the Battle of
Gettysburg. This once-a-year “Living History” live presentation by the Shriver House Museum is one event
you don’t want to miss if you are in town. Special tours will begin every 30 minutes from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00
P.M --- talk with soldiers and civilians of the 1860s to understand what the battle was like for one family in
Gettysburg in July of 1863. Advance reservations are also taken. Visitors will get a chance to listen to and
speak with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for battle, observe sharpshooters fire their muskets, and
watch caretakers tend to wounded soldiers. For more information, call (717) 337-2800 or go
to http://www.shriverhouse.org.
(photos courtesy of the Shriver House Museum)
Battlefield Buff Update
Our companion website, www.battleofgettysburgbuff.com, focuses on the lesser known or visited areas and topics for those of you (and your family) who are interested in learning or doing more than the average visitor to the battlefield. We are pleased to report that it has had over 180,000 visitors thus far since its inception on March of 2008, and have received emails from many, many descendants of Civil War veterans including those of Union General Gouverneur K. Warren and Confederate Generals William Barksdale and James Kemper. Emails have been received from all over the world, and we are grateful for each and every one of them --- many have provided ideas for new topics and stories that are ultimately incorporated into the website.
We are also proud to announce that we now have over 4,650 followers of our page (https://www.facebook.com/battleofgettysburgbuff). Thank you all so very much for your support !!!
In the Spring of 1992, the Gettysburg National Military Park held its First Annual “Seminar” focusing on
the changing interpretations of the Battle of Gettysburg. There have now been fourteen highly successful
Spring seminars to date (the seminar series switched from an annual event to a biennial one after 1998,
although there was also one in 2013 because of the 150th anniversary of the battle) with themes ranging
from “Battlefields as Sacred Ground” and “Unsung Heroes of Gettysburg” to “Leadership in the Campaign
and Battle of Gettysburg” and “Gettysburg in History and Memory.” With the exception of the first three
Spring Seminars (1992-1994), the Seminar papers from the presentations were published in limited
quantities and made available to those who attended and usually available for purchase by the public while
supplies lasted. Most of the publications are available online in their entirety (with more to be added in the
future) at http://npshistory.com/series/symposia/gettysburg_seminars/index.htm and are some of our
favorite research sources !!! Here are just three of them:
Which brings us to our Spring 2018 E-Newsletter’s “Mystery Photo”:
The photo is of the often overlooked monument to Company K of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserves (also designated as the 30th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment) located on the southwest corner of the square in downtown Gettysburg. Recruited in Adams County, du
And now, HERE IS THE “MYSTERY PHOTO” for the Summer 2018 Quarterly E-Newsletter:
The name and location of the monument will be announced in the Fall 2018 newsletter along with a new “Mystery Photo”. Feel free to post your answer on the Battle of Gettysburg Buff page at https://www.facebook.com/battleofgettysburgbuff/ or email us at [email protected].
men of Company K helped repulse the Confederate attempt to capture Little Round Top. The regiment was
ring the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, the
commanded by Colonel William C. Talley and out of 444 men, they lost 13 men killed and 33 men wounded.
In the Spotlight
We recently had the opportunity to chat with our friend Bill Hewitt, a “retired” Seasonal Ranger at the Gettysburg National Military Park as well as being an author, lecturer, and unique woodworker.
BOGB: Hello, Bill. It’s nice to see you again. Please tell the readers a little bit about yourself.
BH: Well, I was born in California, spent 31 years in the U.S. Army and then retired to Gettysburg in 2001. My wife and I wanted to be somewhere between our two families and with the history of Gettysburg.... well, it is like a magnet pulling you in. During my career, I was tasked with redoing the tactics instruction at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After some studying, Gettysburg offered all the types of operations and all the challenges to the commanders and soldiers – that is where the bug bit me. I started researching and gathering information on Gettysburg, and the last time I counted I had about 3,200 book extracts, papers and other shorter documents on the battle. In the military, my time was spent being a student of my profession and the study of Gettysburg (and other battles) and is just an extension of that larger study: why soldiers do what they do is a study unto itself. After two combat tours (Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm), the human dimension still fascinates me. Combat is another magnet that pulls you in.
BOGB: How did you become a Seasonal Ranger and how long have you been one? When does your “Season” run? How many Seasonal Rangers does the Gettysburg National Military Park normally have during the Summer? Do you have any extra duties or do you have less than the other Park Rangers?
BH: I served as a volunteer for several years and started doing Cemetery Programs. Scott Hartwig, the
former Supervisory Ranger, asked me to apply for an opening and I was selected. The seasons usually ran
about 5 months – the high visitor months. It was a great job and more like a dream. We got to use
Gettysburg as a vehicle to inform visitors not only about the soldiers who were here but also about the
soldiers from the past 250 years. Using Union Lieutenant Hazlett’s example of getting the cannon up to
Little Round Top allowed me to talk about Henry Knox moving the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to the
supporting of the siege of Boston during the Revolutionary War. In addition, Pickett’s Charge was little
different from the U.S. Army Ranger’s seizing Point Du Hoc on D-Day in 1944 – same courage, different
day. After 10 years, I resigned my appointment in 2016 as a Seasonal Ranger because I differed on the care
of the veterans’ graves in the Cemetery, and the Park permitting POKEMON playing among the graves was
the last straw – I will not work with an organization that disrespects veterans. It was a privilege to be a
Seasonal Ranger with so many great students of the battlefield.
BOGB: I have been on several of your seasonal Battle Walks and they were always excellent. Can you please tell the readers what topics you have covered on your particular Battle Walks?
BH: Thank you for you kind comments. Pickett’s Charge had 7 versions for Battle Walks. The Repulse of Pickett’s Charge had 3 versions. The battle for McPherson’s Woods/Herbst Woods had 4 versions. Culp’s Hill had 3 versions. Overall, I had done maybe 30 or so Battle Walks. Once you start working on a program in an area like the Peach Orchard, that event draws you in and you find yourself wanting to learn more and more until you have 3 hours of interesting and hopefully memorable history. Doing Pickett’s Charge over the anniversary “garbed” up was an honor for me. Those walks took a lot out of me – mentally, emotionally, and physically – the heat and death of his unit killed General Armistead. The personal satisfaction for me, though, was immeasurable.
BOGB: With that in mind, do you have any day or specific portion of the battle or a particular individual that piques your interest the most?
BH: All the Rangers get asked that frequently. I have about 175,000 favorites here. We all know the big “names”, but how about the teamster somewhere behind the lines delivering ammunition to General Greene up on Culp’s Hill or the medics trying to keep as many people alive out at the Spangler Farm, 22 hours a day, day in and day out for days on end. Along the way you learn about some interesting folks. I researched a family in Company F of the 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. A dozen members in the same unit on July 1, along with an equal number of in-laws, but with none present for duty on July 3 for Pickett’s Charge. After 4 years of researching, I discovered that this family, including cousins from Virginia, Tennessee and several other states, had 76 members at Gettysburg and over 100 with those at Vicksburg. More research found this family had over 425 serve over 10 generations in 13 conflicts, with each man deserving of respect. So I guess you could say that each one who tried to do their job is my favorite.
People also ask what my favorite spot is, and my response is always “Anywhere where Americans fought is my favorite – who am I to judge that the contributions and sacrifice here in a particular spot is more important than some other spot?” I will leave those judgments to someone smarter than me.
BOGB: You also wrote a fascinating and, in my opinion, a very insightful book entitled “The Campaign of Gettysburg: Command Decisions” but it is not book for the novice Battle of Gettysburg reader --- in fact, you mention that in the book’s introduction. What made you decide to write such a book? To be quite honest, it is one of my favorite books about the Gettysburg Campaign and I highly recommend it.
BH: Thanks again for the compliment. After reading dozens of books – you know their titles – I came to realize historians are not military men. They have no foundation to make judgments. They are restricted to what was written. If a soldier does not write that Culp’s Hill was steep and tough to climb, the historian cannot document it. Military men use certain words that mean something. For example, General Lee uses the word “demonstration” to describe his actions between June 20 and June 25. The word “demonstration” is a military term – actions used to draw attention and a response from your enemy. Historians do not see the importance, but military professionals do. Lee also used the phrase “dislodge the enemy from the ridge” as his goal, and General Ewell and General Stuart used the same word. What does this mean? Lee was anticipating additional actions down the road after Gettysburg after the enemy fled, while Longstreet wanted a more cataclysmic battle caused by shifting forces around the Round Tops. Lee wanted the Army of the Potomac to withdraw but Longstreet wanted to block those same escape routes. These two leaders were not of like minds. How many books recently written conclude that Stuart was to assault the enemy rear on July 3? Stuart mentions this but a historian does not know that the “rear” of the unit extends from behind the front lines all the way back to the supply base – in this case, Westminster. If you read Stuart’s official report, he writes that his attack was not to begin until the enemy was on the road fleeing from Gettysburg. As a result, a historian writes that Stuart was to attack the “rear” – as in the rear of Cemetery Hill, even though the Union artillery reserve of approximately 112 cannons was in between them, a fact well known to the Confederates.
So why did I write the book? I wrote it because I was dissatisfied with what was considered the history of the battle and wanted to write about what was obviously missing from history. The target audience for the book is people who know about the battle and are still willing to learn. It is not for the novice or for the professional soldier. My military friends laugh – they learned a little, but not much, from the book. The book was only the first layer of the onion, and for military professionals, my conclusions were fairly obvious. I wrote the book knowing full well there were at least two more layers but the target audience would not be ready for those yet. That book would have to be well over 800 pages.
BOGB: Tell us a little more about how you wrote it and how long it took. Was it fun to write?
BH: For about 10 years, the Park sponsored a winter symposium every two years. Each symposium focused on a phase of battle – Day 1, Day 2, Pickett’s Charge, etc. I used the symposium for “Movement to Contact, Hasty Attack, Deliberate Attack, Hasty Defense and Deliberate Defense” so each symposium became 2 chapters in my book – one for the Confederates and one for the Union. After 10 years, the book was done. It was very rewarding, relatively easy, and fun !!!
BOGB: You have been a woodworker as well, and have been able to combine that hobby with the Battle of Gettysburg in a very unique way.
BH: Yes I did, but it was by accident. In 2002, I was looking for wood to build some wainscoting for my dining room and went to a local mill, where I was shown a pile of trees that had come from the battlefield.
The trees were very old and had “witnessed” the fighting. I didn't want them to just rot so I bought them, and over the years purchased more such wood from third parties --- my part-time employment at the Gettysburg National Military Park did not figure in any way into my ability to procure the wood.
I made, and still make, many different types of “Witness Tree” items, ranging from walking sticks to paperweights and Christmas tree ornaments, and much more. I just did not want the wood to rot – it has a story to tell, but I do not have much left.
BOGB: Where can the readers see and purchase these unique items, such as the ones shown below?
(photos courtesy of Bill Hewitt)
BH: The primary source is my website http://www.gettysburgsentinels.com, and if your readers are in Gettysburg, they can be purchased at the Antique Center of Gettysburg, which is located at 30 Baltimore Street in downtown Gettysburg. The can also be bought at the Gettysburg Heritage Center, King James Galleries, and Mr. G’s Ice Cream in Gettysburg.
BOGB: Do you have any ancestors who fought in the Civil War, and in particular, at the Battle of Gettysburg?
BH: No, not that I have found. I did have ancestors in the Revolutionary War who, among other tasks, guarded Hessian prisoners.
BOGB: Do you have other outside interests or upcoming projects which you would like mention? Are you going to write another book?
BH: Well, all that we discussed has kept me busy for 10 years. I have thought about doing some work on leadership, but right now it is not, as they say, on the front burner.
BOGB: Thank you very much, Bill, for taking the time to chat with us. We are looking forward to seeing you this Summer.
BH: It was my pleasure. I do special tours for military groups – all free – so maybe I will bump into you and some of your readers on the battlefield.
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(1858 map of Adams County)
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