CASSIE & TOM'S GETTYSBURG PHOTOS
| Photo Requests - Continued |
| A recent search for "Gettysburg" on a major search engine came up with well over 500,000 pages. A similar search for "first shot marker" resulted in less than 50 pages. This small but significant marker is hard to find in person and is just as elusive on the Internet. It's located at the intersection of the Chambersburg Pike (U.S. 30) and Knoxlyn Road approximately 3 miles west of the battlefield. A handful of General John Buford's Cavalry were positioned here on the morning of July 1, 1863. They saw the head of General Henry Heth's Division approaching along the pike from the west. At 7:30 a.m. Lt. Marcellus Jones borrowed a carbine from Sergeant Levi Shafer and fired towards the Confederates. The Confederates returned fire. Although this opening exchange resulted in no casualties the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil was underway. Jones and Shafer returned to Gettysburg in 1886 to place the marker exactly where the famous event took place. They even paid for it themselves. | |
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| See the marker? | Direction of the first shot. |
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First shot marker. |
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| Not long after the epic three day battle was over a dead Union soldier was found in a sitting position in a field near where Stratton Street crosses the railroad tracks. Clutched in his lifeless hands was an ambrotype of three children. His body had no other identification. It was obvious his last thoughts were of his family. Dr. J. Francis Bourns of Philadelphia had the ambrotype copied and printed in various publications throughout the country in hope of identifying the soldier. A woman in Portville, New York recognized the children as those of her neighbor, Philinda Humiston. Upon seeing the image Mrs. Humiston of course recognized her children and realized the fate of her husband. That was how the soldier was identified as Sergeant Amos Humiston of the 154th New York Infantry. This memorial is located very close to where his body was found. He's buried in the Soldiers National Cemetery. The American Civil War resulted in well over 600,000 deaths. Each and every one has a story behind it. |
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| Humiston Marker |
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| 20th Maine, Co. B. Marker On July 2 Colonel Chamberlain of the 20th Maine ordered Company B, commanded by Walter Morrill to protect the 20th's exposed left flank. Well hidden behind a stone wall the Company was too distant to help the 20th in the main fight. However, when the 20th made their famous bayonet charge Company B's sudden appearance greatly added to the Confederate confusion. This seldom visited site is well hidden much as Company B was on July 2, 1863. The wooded photo was taken directly in front of the marker looking towards the 20th Maine's position on Little Round Top. It's understandable why few visit this site but these off the beaten path places on the Gettysburg battlefield are among our favorites. | |
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| This marker is on the site where Major General Daniel E. Sickles had his right leg shattered by a solid 12-pound cannonball. Legend has it he was carried from the field coolly smoking a cigar. Sickles had the amputated leg sent to the Army Medical Museum in Washington, D.C. where he would "visit" it for many years. This easy to find but rarely visited battlefield marker is right behind the Trostle barn. | This tiny battlefield marker says, "Here fell Jed. Chapman Capt. Co. H 27th Conn. Vols." The location is just off DeTrobriand Ave. near the Wheatfield. Most of the 27th Conn. were captured at the battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863. Only two Companies of men were left when the war reached Gettysburg. The horrific fighting at the Wheatfield on July 2 thinned their ranks even more. Not long after the battle the few men who were left were mustered out after their 9-month enlistment had run out. Jed (Jedediah) Chapman, killed on this spot, is buried in Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut. |
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| Willoughby Run Running north-south along the western edge of the Gettysburg battlefield is Willoughby Run. On July 1 General Buford, who was an expert in troop placement, positioned many of his dismounted cavalrymen along here. The stream offered a natural line of defense. Confederate Brig. General James Archer was captured in this vicinity. As he was being moved towards the rear of the Federal line he ran into his old friend General Abner Doubleday. Upon seeing Archer for the first time in years Doubleday said how glad he was to see him. Archer's heated reply was, "Well, I'm not glad to see you by a damned sight, Doubleday!" |
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This historical marker in front of Gettysburg College isn't Civil War related but we included it since Eddie Plank is one of Gettysburg's most famous sons. His total wins rank him 11th all-time and 3rd for a left-hander only behind Warren Spahn and Steve Carlton. For a lefty he's ranked 1st for shutouts and completed games. Babe Ruth said "Gettysburg Eddie" was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. Eddie is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. |
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Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. |
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Sunset From The Peach Orchard |
Music playing is "Red River Valley"
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