Gettysburg Battlefield Spangler Springs and A.L Coble RockThis area of the Gettysburg National Military Park was one of the most strategic on the Gettysburg Battlefield. This area on the south slope of Culps Hill was occupied by both Union and Confederate troops during the 3 day Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863. The spring which is this area is named for was used for many years for watering horses and thirsty men for many years prior to the famous battle. The area saw heavy fighting mostly between the Union Twelfth Corps under General Greene, and the 2nd Maryland, Tenth Virginia, and North Carolina regiments. Legend has it that during the fighting truces were set to allow the thirsty soldiers to get water from spring as it's position during the fighting was in "no mans land" between ... 05/23/2011

One of the great things about living in Gettysburg Pa is that I get to enjoy everyday in a place that people come to vacation. Yeah it has it's dirty underbelly as do all towns, but every once in a while I get to just pull off the road and get to experience something wonderful. As was the case the other day with beautiful sunset  on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Enjoy your weekend my freinds.... 04/02/2011

Harvest of Death - The Wheatfield on Gettysburg BattlefieldHarvest of Death is the name of a famous photograph by Civil War photographer Timothy H. O'Sullivan showing dead Union soldiers at the Wheatfield on the Gettysburg Battlefield during the second day of the battle.  The fighting that took place at the Wheatfield consisted of eleven different brigades attacking and counter attacking for over two hours. Over 20,000 soldiers, (6 Confederate brigades & 13 Union brigades) participated in the action that transpired at the Wheatfield. Of those that engaged over 6,000 were killed, wounded, or captured. 20,000 men engaged in battle on an 19 acres of ground, no wonder they consider the Wheatfield among the bloodiest battles on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Some of the casualties were able to ... 03/08/2011

Gettysburg Battlefield Little Round TopLittle Round Top Is probably the most strategic geographical area on the entire Gettysburg Battlefield. Luckily for Union forces Col. Strong Vincent saw the strategic value of the hill top and made sure that the ground came into and remained in Union hands. Not that the Confederate forces did not try to take the Little Round Top. Two brigades in Maj. Gen. John Bell Hoods division, one under command of Brig. Gen. E.M. Law and another under command of Brig. Gen. J.B. Robertson attacked the western slope of Little Round Top. It is there that the 20th Maine made it's famous stand against overwhelming Confederate odds and held the ground. The 20th Maine under the command of Col. Joshua Chamberlain. Col. Vincent positioned approximately 1,350 men of the ... 01/30/2011

Robert E Lee and George Meade Continue to Faceoff in Gettysburg PaConfederate General Robert E Lee and Union General George Meade continue to face each other here in Gettysburg Pa. You will see two different equestrian statues pictured in this post, one of General Robert E Lee, and the other of General George Meade. First a little background on the two statues. The Meade statue was sculpted by Henry Kirke Bush-Brown, who incidental also did the John Reynolds, and John Sedgewick equestrian statues at the Gettysburg National Military Park.  The Meade statue was dedicated on the morning of June 5, 1896. Meade is depicted on his favorite mount "Old Baldy". Despite suffering fourteen bullet wounds during his service in the Civil War, Old Baldy outlived Meade and served as the riderless horse... 05/28/2010

Gettysburg Battlefield - Landscapes and EmotionIn observance of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, I will be posting a daily feature on the Gettysburg Battlefield. I wanted to start with something that captures the emotion that one feels when touring the battlefield, yes the Gettysburg National Military Park is beautiful, but there is no denying the raw emotion that one feels as well. My goal in this exercise was to capture some of that emotion through the landscapes of the Gettysburg Battlefield, as well as though the faces of the various sculptures that dot that landscape. I have never thought of the Gettysburg National Military Park as a vacation  place, but rather a place of great solemness, sadness, and emotion. A very powerful place for lack of a better word. I hope that comes acr... 05/27/2010