152 Miles
Woke up the rooster a little early this morning and pulled onto the battlefield.
I wanted a picture from Longstreet's perspective on that fateful morning when he sent Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble up that terrible, empty slope. Heavy thunderstorms rolled through Gettysburg last night leaving the air heavy with water and a light mist lay over the field, much, I imagine, as it was on the morning of July 3, 1863.
Like the troops in the trenches of Flanders in WWI, as I've said before, I understand every step they took...except the first one. I don't know how these men take the first step.
I earlier mentioned "connections" to historic people and/or places. I have a special connection to Gettysburg. My grandfather died in 1921 leaving my grandmother and four children, my father being the oldest. Without belaboring the point too much, it is accurate to say that my father and the truth were passing acquaintances, at best. His version of the story was that after my grandfather died some lawyers (it's always lawyers, isn't it?) cheated his mother out of their land on the St. Johns River just outside Geneva, Florida, causing her to lose her mind and, eventually, be committed to the Florida State Hospital for the Insane in Chattahoochee. The impression given by my father was, at the time of his mother's commitment, he was too young to take care of his brothers and sister, but too old to accompany them into the state orphanage in Enterprise (across Lake Monroe from Sanford).
My research indicates the truth was somewhat different. After her husband died my grandmother sold the property and bought property in Sanford from a man named Mr. Lord. Mr. Lord, a wealthy and well-respected citrus farmer of the area, was a lifetime diarist. His daughter or granddaughter edited his diary after his death and placed a copy with the Seminole County Historical Society. Her edits were clarifying in nature, explaining obscure events or people who wouldn't be known to the casual reader. His diary entries relating to my grandmother read as follows: (Mrs. Geiger is my grandmother)
"Mar 29, 1926 - Rainey cold day. Mrs. Geiger lost her mind. Gus & Fannie called a few minutes this P.M.
Mar 30, 1926 - Nice warm pleasant day. Jennie & I went to see Mrs. Geiger. She is some better this P.M. Minton is tractoring for someone near the cemetery.
April 1st - Lovely cool day, Mrs. Geiger is worse today. Minton & Fannie took her for a ride in my car. I wrote Lillie a 4-page letter.
April 2nd - Rainey cool day. Rob sit with us till 9:30PM Minnie & Mrs. Toler came out this A.M. for water. Minton Lord arranged with Bro. Austin to take the 3 Geiger children to the orphanage at Enterprise.
Apr. 7th - Jennie & Frannie went to Sanford & sold 10 doz. eggs $4.20. She rented one of our rooms to Mr. Hanson at $6.00 per week. Mrs. Geiger was sent to the insane asylum.
Apr 8th - Minton took Mrs. Geiger's 3 youngest children to the Methodist Orphanage. Fannie, Rosa & Jennie went with him. Rainey day. They returned at 3:30."
This information indicates my father was 17 1/2 years old when his mother was committed and his siblings placed into the orphanage. I suspect his story was to deflect any criticism for an almost grown man allowing his younger siblings to be placed into an orphanage, an understandable motive. I am not about to second-guess why he didn't try to keep them himself. That would have been an awesome responsibility and very difficult at best. The fact that Mr. Lord and his family remained friends with my father for decades after indicate to me they felt the same way.
The connection to Gettysburg? Mr. Lord was wounded on the second day of battle at Gettysburg. His diary is very matter-of-fact about it, reporting his injury and the fact that he laid on the field for several days before being properly treated.
Rode off down the Emmitsburg Highway (Hwy 15) south, to Hwy 77 W alongside the Catoctin Mountain Park. This is a nice ride through dense foliage. Early in the morning, everything was quiet, little traffic at all. Just good riding.
Took Hwy 64 S just short of Hagerstown, joining Hwy 66 to Boonsboro. At Boonsboro took Hwy 34 to Sharpsburg and the Antietam National Battle Field.
Monument to John Bell Hood's Texans at "The Cornfield." (One of only four confederate memorials on the battlefield.)
The Texans suffered over 82% casualties sealing a gap in the Confederate lines on September 17th. This was the highest casualty rate sustained by any troops at any time during the Civil War.
Prior to this battle, the Texans had seen considerable combat and their flag was quite tattered. Several ladies in Richmond, among them President Davis' wife, Varina, determined to replace the battered banner. All white cloth having been appropriated for bandages, the ladies used their wedding dresses to replace the Divisional flag for the Texans.
During the stand in the cornfield the flag was carried by thirteen (13) separate bearers, each, in turn, mowed down by the whithering fire. The last, and final, bearer fell to the ground with the flag beneath him.
Captured regimental and divisional flags were significant military accomplishments and often used to demonstrate success in battle. Two to three days after the battle the flag was returned by Union soldiers to the Texans under a flag of truce. To return such a flag without counting it as captured speaks volumes about the stand in the cornfield that day.
The "Cornfield" today.
September 17th, 1862 is the bloodiest day in U.S. history.
Union casualties were 12,401 with 2,108 dead (25% of the Federal force).
Confederate casualties were 10,318 with 1,546 dead (31% of the Confederate force).
A great many of them fell here at the 'Sunken Road.'
The famous Burnside's Bridge at Antietam. Between 400-500 Georgia troops held off Burnside's division for five hours as they made
attempt after attempt to cross.
This view from the Georgian rifle pits.
The other perspective, looking up toward those rifle pits.
A federal cannon pointed towards the Georgia defenders. I suspect the cannons weren't this close during the battle. If they were, I would think the Georgia sharpshooters would have made life awful difficult (and short) for them.
Left Antietam still on Hwy 34 taking Hwy 230 at Shepherdstown, joining to U.S. 340 and on to Harper's Ferry.
St. Peter's Catholic Church in Harper's Ferry
Old bridge foundations across the Shenandoah.
The old firehouse where John Brown was incarcerated.
Left Harper's Ferry on Hwy 340 through Charles Town, WV and south through Boyce, VA to US 17-50. Took US17 S through Warrenton and into Fredericksburg. Met friends Claye and Sylvia at their home where they kindly invited me to stay the night instead of doing the motel thing. A very welcome respite from the road.
After a nice visit and a hearty, if not healthy meal, we toured the Fredericksburg battlefield.
View of Marye's Heights.
Federals attacked up the hill (yet again) and paid the price for it.
The Innis House, site of horrific fighting.
Bullet holes in the interior wall. (Photographed through a window)
The "ghosts" of Fredericksburg.
Trying to capture a picture of a battlefield painting I inadvertently caught some of the ghosts of the battlefield. Specifically, from the left Sylvia, me, and Claye.
And, no, that's not my gut, it's the smoke of a firing cannon in the picture.
Sylvia and Claye made for a great evening of conversation, friendship and courtesy.
Claye is Fleeter of motorcycle touring fame. Qualified, but not yet certified Iron Butt rider extraordinaire.
