Special Remembrance Weekend Symposium - Fri Nov 19

Gettysburg Heritage Center announces:

Special Remembrance Weekend Symposium
Presented by the General Meade Society of Philadelphia

Friday, November 19
4:00pm - 6:00pm
$20/person
(tickets sales now available online, or purchased at the door until sold out)

BUY TICKETS

Event Details &
​Schedule of Speakers:

Each presenter will speak for approximately 30 minutes, and the evening will conclude with a panel discussion and Q&A opportunity.

Author/Historian Tom Huntington: It Takes an Army: Meade's Subordinates at Gettysburg

George Meade obviously did not fight the Battle of Gettysburg alone. He relied on the ordinary soldiers of the Army of the Potomac, as well as many subordinate officers. Some of those officers served him capably. Some not so much. I will take a quick look at some of the officers who served with Meade at the battle--people like Gouverneur Warren, Alfred Pleasonton, and Henry Hunt--and examine their lives and their contributions to the victory.

Tom Huntington is the author of Searching for George Gordon Meade: The Forgotten Victor of Gettysburg, Maine Roads to Gettysburg, Guide to Gettysburg Battlefield Monuments, Pennsylvania Civil War Trails, and Ben Franklin’s Philadelphia. His latest book is Maine at 200: An Anecdotal History Celebrating Two Centuries of Statehood, which Down East Books published in 2020. Huntington is also the former editor of American History and Historic Traveler magazines, and his writing has appeared in many publications, including Civil War Times, America’s Civil War, Smithsonian, Air & Space, American Heritage, and Yankee. Although born and bred in Augusta, Maine, he now lives in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

SHOP TOM'S BOOKS

Bob Hanrahan, Jr.: portraying Union Major General John Gibbon

Major General John Gibbon was a career military man, and one one of the most successful commanders of the Federal Army. Taking on the role of General Gibbon, Bob will offer first-person insight to the events that took place during the course of the Battle of Gettysburg. Gibbon found himself in the center of Lee's attack on July 3rd, fortunately, he had prepared his defensive line well and able to turn Pickett's Charge with only a few soldiers breaking the union line.

Bob Hanrahan, Jr., is one of the the founding members of the Confederation of Union Generals, and has a long history with the Philadelphia civic and business community. Currently a retired consultant in the information technology field, Bob received his undergraduate degree from La Salle University. Bob is an active participant and member of the United States Naval Institute, including the Arleigh Burke Society & Commodore's Club. Other interest & include President of G.A.R. Sons of the Union Veterans Camp 299, the Heritage Foundation: Washington, D.C., Presidents Council Member; Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, Board Member, and many more organization.

Mark Leonard: portraying Union Cavalry Commander General John Buford

Mark will offer a first-hand account of General John Buford and his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg. General Buford is credited with selecting the field of battle at Gettysburg. When arriving on June 30th, Buford discovered a large rebel force was in the area and he quickly understood the need to secure the high ground south of town. His skillful deployments west and north of town effectively delayed the Confederate troops and allowed the bulk of the Union army to occupy Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge on the first day.

Mark Leonard, is a lifetime resident of the Holstein, Iowa area, and a graduate of Iowa State University in Animal Science, with additional studies in genetics. He is a rancher by nature and a banker professionally. His interest in the American Civil War began at an early age when he was given a set of Marx toy Civil War soldiers as a Christmas present at age 6. With a lifetime of study and admiration for the men who fought for a cause they believed in - on both sides of the conflict - he joined the Confederation of Union Generals to share his admiration with others.

Anthony (Andy) Waskie, Ph.D.: portraying Union Army Commander Major General George G. Meade
Dr. Anthony Waskie, president of the General Meade Society, will present a first-person account of General George Meade as the commanding officer of the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg. Although General Meade was still new to the command of the Union army, during the Battle of Gettysburg he was able to both hold off Lee's attacks, and finally devastate the Confederate army on the third day of fighting.

Dr. Anthony Waskie was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and pursued a Languages/History major at Bloomsburg University. He studied abroad at Salzburg, Austria, and pursued graduate study in Germany; and received a scholarship to study Slavic Languages at Charles University, Prague. He received an M.A. and Ph.D. degree from New York University. Dr. Waskie, now retired, was a professor of Languages and History at Temple University. He is a co-founder of the “Civil War & Emancipation Studies” at Temple. As a Civil War historian, author and researcher he specializes in the life and career of Gen. George G. Meade. Dr. Waskie serves as president of the General Meade Society of Philadelphia, and as a Board member of a number of history related institutions.

  • Panel Discussion / Q & A opportunity

The event will be held in the Gettysburg Heritage Conference Room, located at 297 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325.
Tickets are available online, or by calling 717-334-6245.
Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door.


The David Wills house to reopen for special days in November 

LincolnBedroom in David Wills house

The home where Abraham Lincoln completed the Gettysburg Address will soon reopen to the public. The historic David Wills house will be open, free of charge, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 1 pm to 5 pm, from Thursday, November 4 through Saturday, November 20. 

  The three-story brick house at 8 Lincoln Square was the home of David and Catherine Wills before, during, and after the Battle of Gettysburg. President Abraham Lincoln was one of their house guests the night before the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. Lincoln finished composing his Gettysburg Address in the second story bedroom the evening of November 18, 1863. 

  “The National Park Service is excited to be back in the heart of downtown Gettysburg and to make this historic home free to our visitors. The David Wills house should be a part of any visit to Gettysburg.” said Steve Sims, superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park. “The David Wills House exhibits provide an opportunity to learn about the Wills family and reflect on the meaning of Gettysburg, the aftermath of the battle, and the legacy of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.” 

  The David Wills house is part of Gettysburg National Military Park. National Park Service Rangers will staff the home, with support from Main Street Gettysburg

  Visit our website for more details: https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/david-wills-house.htm

  The reopening of the Wills house will be conducted consistent with CDC recommendations. Capacity will be limited to meet federal facility covid standards. To promote our staff and visitors’ safety, masks are required in all National Park Service buildings and on all forms of enclosed public transportation, regardless of location or vaccination status. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus

  Gettysburg National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service that preserves and protects the resources associated with the Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg National Cemetery and provides an understanding of the events that occurred there within the context of American history. 

Jason Martz, Communications Specialist
Gettysburg National Military Park & Eisenhower National Historic Site
Office - 717.338.4423

160th Anniversary of Battle of Ball's Bluff Observed in VA on Sat. Oct. 23

160th Anniversary of the Battle of Ball's Bluff
click here for ABT notes on Ball’s Bluff

click here for park website

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Anniversary event next Saturday, October 23rd.  Here's the schedule for the day:

  • 11:00 - Guided Battlefield Tours

  • 11:45 – Fife & Drum Corps

  • Noon – Reenactor Skirmishes

  • 1:00 – GMU Civil War Band Concert

  • 2:00 – Cannon Firing

  • 5:00 - Lighting of Luminaria

  • 7:00 - Cemetery Ceremony

Here's a link to the event on FB to share with your friends:  https://fb.me/e/1va5FlQs4 

Reflections of a Civil War POW by Jenny Ashcraft

Reflections of a Civil War POW
October 4, 2021 by Jenny Ashcraft
Fold 3 by Ancestry

More than 3 million soldiers fought in the Civil War, and each had a story to tell. Some of those stories have been preserved through personal journals. We recently came across the journal of Union Soldier William Hosack. William spent nine grueling months as a POW, first at Libby Prison and later at Andersonville and Florence Prison. His journal is housed in Special Collections at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Our special thanks to IUP for sharing William’s story with us.

William Hosack

William Hosack was born on February 10, 1843, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. His father Samuel died when he was just 6, so the seven Hosack siblings were farmed out to various family members and neighbors. William lived with his grandfather until age 17, then moved to the nearby town of New Alexandria to learn the blacksmith trade before enlisting in the Union Army.

In 1861, William enlisted in the Pennsylvania 11th Reserve Infantry. He was just 18 and small in stature. Military officials refused to swear him in without the written consent of his mother, which he obtained. His first skirmish happened along the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. He was serving on picket duty and recalled that Union soldiers were on one side of the river and Confederate soldiers were on the other side.

“We were on friendly terms, and we met in the river and done trading until that Regiment was relieved by a South Carolina Regiment. The next morning as some of our men went to wash as usual, a comrade of Co. G was shot in the leg which was a signal for hostilities when a lively skirmish opened.”

During 1862, William’s Regiment fought in fierce battles, including the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam. After Antietam, William said they returned to camp near Sharpsburg, “blanketless, shoeless, no money and with tattered uniforms.” He described a brutal winter with conditions that tried the endurance of the men. The following summer William’s regiment marched towards Gettysburg, arriving July 2, 1863. They fought on Little Round Top, and William poured volleys of buckshot upon the enemy, then charged them with his bayonet. He recollected that one of the last shots of Gettysburg was fired at him.

“Next morning at break of day – being the 4th of July – I got up cold, saw a blanket over the stone fence, I put it around me as was walking my beat when a rebel picket shot at me which was one of the last shots of the battle, as all the rebels army had retreated in the night and the picket line was last to leave and gave me a parting shot. I heard the ball pass my head.”

During the Battle of the Wilderness, in May 1864, William was shot in the heel of his shoe. Despite all the hardships he had endured thus far in the war, it did not compare to what was shortly to come. On May 30th, during the Battle of Bethesda Church, William was captured and taken prisoner. For the next nine months, he endured hunger, sickness, and every kind of deprivation before being liberated in March 1865. William was first taken to Libby Prison where his blanket and tent were confiscated. The guards demanded that prisoners turn over any money and searched each prisoner.

“I had seven dollars in green backs which I slipped in a hole in the sleeve of my comrade’s blouse. He was searched before me, and they failed to find the money. Then I was searched. I had $2.00 in their money, but they would not take that.”

William staked out a small space on the floor at Libby Prison and used his shoes as a pillow at night. He spent 11 days there before being transferred to Andersonville… READ THE WHOLE STORY

Lincoln: A President Surrounded by Chaos, Mystified by Magic 

A President Surrounded by Chaos, Mystified by Magic 
President Lincoln's childhood fascination with magic continued into his time in the White House. Learn more about his love of mind-boggling feats and some of the magicians he encountered.Head-Tilting History • October 11, 2021 • Updated October 13, 2021
from the American Battlefield Trust
Complete story - click here

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President Abraham Lincoln was a relentlessly curious man, seeking knowledge and entertainment at every turn. With the many lines he read and extraordinary sights he saw, it is no wonder he was known as an enchanting storyteller. But it wasn’t always stories that Lincoln offered to an audience! As a young man, he was quite taken with magic tricks and would perform rudimentary ones of his own for anyone willing to watch. His fascination grew with age, even continuing into his time in the White House. During this time, his path crossed with several magicians, including Horatio “Harry” Cooke, “Wyman the Wizard” and “Signor Blitz,” as well as Compars (Carl) and Alexander (Leon) Herrmann.

  Horatio “Harry” Cooke

In 1864 Lincoln met an enchanting young soldier that went by the name of Horatio “Harry” Cooke. After enlisting with the 28th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Cooke had become known not only for his beautiful penmanship (he had written correspondence for Generals GrantRosecrans, Sherman, and Sheridan) and expert marksmanship, but also for shocking escapes and other tricks…. CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Antietam National Battlefield Developing Plan To Better Preserve History

Antietam National Battlefield Developing Plan To Better Preserve History
From National Parks Traveler
By Compiled From NPS News Releases... - October 8th, 2021

Antietam.jpeg

Work is underway to develop a landscape management plan for Antietam National Battlefield/NPS file

Time has taken a toll on the landscape at Antietam National Battlefield, where park officials are developing a landscape management plan to better protect and preserve historic aspects of the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.

Antietam, in Maryland, is considered one of the best-preserved Civil War areas in the National Park System, attracting approximately 350,000 visitors annually. The farms and farmlands in and near the battlefield appear much as they did on the eve of the battle in 1862 and the terrain and landscape directly affected the outcome of the Battle of Antietam.  

But, time and visitors have taken a toll on the setting. The end goal of the landscape management plan is, among other things, to rehabilitate historic viewpoints, protect 'witness' trees, sustainably manage land uses, including agriculture, native grasslands and forests, improve water stewardship, increase resiliency to climate change, and make for a better visitor experience.

A virtual public scoping meeting will be held on October 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to join the meeting and view the meeting presentation live. Audio for the meeting will be available via computer through the above website link or by dialing (877) 286-5733 (Conference ID: 902 759 352#). A recording of the meeting and meeting presentation materials will also be available for viewing after October 21 at this site.

You also can comment online from October 21 through November 21 at this site.

Written comments may be mailed to the address below. They must be postmarked by November 21, 2021 to receive consideration.

Superintendent
Attn: Landscape Management Plan
Antietam National Battlefield
PO Box 158
Sharpsburg, MD 21782

NPS Awards $917,173 in Battlefield Interpretation Grants

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From National Parks Traveler

The National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program has awarded $917,173 in Battlefield Interpretation Grants to preservation partners across the country. This new grant program funds projects that use technology to bring the stories of sites of armed conflict alive for modern audiences, from tactile maps that expand accessibility, to smartphone apps with augmented reality, to engaging videos and more.

“Now more than ever, we know how modern technology can bring people together. Harnessing powerful stories at these battlefields and sites of armed conflict can open our eyes to the lessons from the past and lead us to greater understanding of our shared history. The National Park Service is proud to support local communities as they improve universal access, engage new audiences, and broaden our perspectives around these important places,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge.

Coming out of years of historic and archaeological research, the Fort Ticonderoga Association will use these funds to roll out a new interpretive plan, increasing access to an area of the National Historic Landmark known as “Liberty Hill.” During the Revolutionary War, the fort served as a strategic northern passageway between the American colonies and British-controlled Canada. This site was occupied and reoccupied by Continental, British, Native American and German troops throughout the war. The project team will leverage long-standing relationships with universities and descendent communities to co-create inclusive and accessible experiences for visitors. The Association will initiate conversations with tribal communities to ensure that Native perspectives of the fort’s history are front and center. New York University’s Ability Project also joins the project team to develop universally designed trails and interpretive signs for all visitors. 

You can find the full list of grants here.

NPS ABPP’s Battlefield Interpretation Grants empower preservation partners nationwide to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation – to inspire wonder, understanding and empathy at the places that witnessed some of our nation’s most challenging events. In addition, the program administers three other grants: Battlefield Land Acquisition, Preservation Planning, and the newly authorized Battlefield Restoration Grants. This financial assistance generates community-driven stewardship of historic resources at the state, tribal and local levels.  

Deer Management Program at Gettysburg

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Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site will conduct lethal removal of white-tailed deer as part of the White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement between October 2021 through March 2022. This action addresses over-browsing of native vegetation and agricultural crops and is a management strategy that supports long- term protection, preservation, and restoration of critical elements of the cultural landscape and other natural and cultural resources while maintaining a deer population at both park units. The cultural landscapes of both park units are fundamental resources and critical to the interpretation of the events that took place at each park.    

Hunting is not permitted inside the two parks--only qualified federal employees will take part in the effort to manage the deer populations affecting the parks. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services will be doing the work under an inter-agency agreement with the National Park Service (NPS). NPS closely coordinates all activities associated with implementation of the plan with the Borough of Gettysburg, surrounding Townships including Cumberland, Mount Joy and Straban, state law enforcement officials and with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 

In June of 2017 the Pennsylvania Game Commission designated a new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Area which includes a portion of Gettysburg National Military Park and all of Eisenhower National Historic Site. For this culling season all culled deer will be tested for CWD regardless of which area they are taken from. Once negative CWD tests are confirmed, all venison will be donated to local area food banks and non-profits via United Way of Adams County.    

Jason Martz
Communications Specialist
Gettysburg National Military Park & Eisenhower National Historic Site
Office - 717.338.4423

Farming in Gettysburg National Park

By Molly Hoffman
from the Gettysburg Connection

Gettysburg has been a hub for agriculture even before it was on the map. Fertile soil and a temperate climate attracted hard-working settlers willing to live off the land. But the quiet rural life was suddenly jeopardized as soldiers marched into town in late June 1863. When it became clear that a bloody battle loomed, farmers fled town or hunkered down. Those who returned found their homes burned and their crops trampled.

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Luckily, the story of farming in Gettysburg does not end there. As the land around Gettysburg transformed into a National Military Park, so too did the farms that suffered such an unfortunate fate. The National Park Service now ensures that visitors experience the well-known Spangler, Trostle, and Rose farms as they were at the time of the battle.

Corn and soybeans on the battlefield

What is less known to many people is that about 2,000 acres in the battlefield still operate as active farms. The Park Service calls it the agriculture program, or “ag program” for short. This program allows farmers to rent land from the park to grow their crops or raise their cattle. The farmers save the Park Service time and money by maintaining the area as an open landscape. Without the farmers, the Park Service would dedicate more resources to mowing fields and setting prescribed fires. “It’s a continual struggle to keep it in an open condition,” says Zach Bolitho, Chief of Resource Management for Gettysburg National Military Park.

How It Works

Before each growing season, the Park Service publishes an advertisement indicating that land is available for rent. Interested candidates then complete an application for a special use permit. Park rangers review the applications to determine who would partner well with the park. There are 15 pre-determined parcels of land for rent each year, with returning permit holders and new candidates alike applying for them.

Once selected, the farmers pay their rental fees. Row crop and hay farmers pay a rate per acre while cattle and horse owners pay a rate per animal. All of the farmers must adhere to the park’s guidelines and restrictions. This includes asking permission to use certain herbicides and only mowing their property at designated times.

What the farmers do with their crops is their choice. The Gettysburg Foundation, which leases the apple orchard next to the Spangler Farm, turns their apples into hard cider. Its partner, Good Intent Cider Company, makes and sells the cider while giving a portion of the proceeds back to the Foundation. Leftover apples are donated to community organizations, such as South Central Community Action Programs (SCAAP).

Not all crops in the battlefield are part of the ag program. The Park Service currently manages 180 acres of orchards in the park, including the peach orchard. This might soon change, however, as the Park Service is looking to lease those parcels as well. While it is also true that there are private holdings in the park, they are small in size.

Conservation

Recreating history is not the only goal when it comes to land management in the park. “We could get really purist about things, but we’re not,” says Bolitho. The Park Service also views the battlefields as habitats worthy of conservation. Instead of abiding by old property blueprints, the Park Service evaluates what is sustainable for the landscape. For example, the Park Service grows soybeans because it puts nutrients into the soil, not because it was grown during the battle. Seasonal grasses grow to resemble crops but mainly serve as breeding grounds for grasslands nesting birds. This could be the last summer for cattle in the park due to water quality and sedimentation concerns.

Farming is just one method of conservation in the battlefields. The Park Service also manages forest monitoring plots to study the evolving composition of the forest. Rangers take monthly water samples for a water quality index as per National Park Service guidelines. A new habitat rehabilitation project will help reintroduce the regal fritillary butterfly to the area. All conservation projects follow the park’s General Management Plan.

It doesn’t take a public lands expert to appreciate the rural beauty of the battlefields. Still, knowing the intricacies of what goes on in the Park can help us appreciate it that much more.

Fall Family Day at Gettysburg's Spangler Farm on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, 10am to 3pm

From the Gettysburg Connection

The Gettysburg Foundation will host Fall Family Day at Spangler, a free, one-day event from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital. The event marks the final opportunity to visit the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital this year.

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Offering free admission and the opportunity for the Adams County community and visitors to Gettysburg to experience the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, Fall Family Day at Spangler provides an educational fall day for families to experience and learn more about the history of the 80-acre historic site.

“Fall Family Day is an excellent day for families and those who enjoy learning about history,” said Paul Semanek, Spangler Farm Site Coordinator. “We’re glad to offer this special free event in autumn during the long holiday weekend, to provide families and visitors the opportunity to experience the George Spangler Farm one final time this year,” added Semanek.

Historians from Civil War Historical Impressions will be on-site during the event. Living historians will portray Union and Confederate soldiers, Gettysburg civilians, generals and surgeons. Guests will have the opportunity throughout the day to walk through the encampments and see history come alive.

Historic Gettysburg-Adams County (HGAC) will present information on historic barn preservation throughout the day. HGAC interprets the design, construction and use of this stunning expression of an iconic, vernacular architectural form—the Pennsylvania Bank Barn.

In the decades leading up to the fateful summer of 1863, and for well over 100 years afterwards, George Spangler’s Pennsylvania Bank Barn served as the hub of a thriving, active farm. Its restoration in the past decade—from a dilapidated structure in danger of collapse to a visage of its original glory—revived an important, tangible component of American history in its own right.

The fall family-friendly programming and offerings include the opportunity to: 

  • Visit one of the best-preserved Civil War field hospitals utilized during the Battle of Gettysburg.

  • Hear stories about the civilians and their role at the farm during and after the battle.

  • Explore Civil War era pharmaceuticals and dentistry.

  • Learn about the Letterman System and how it was used during the battle.

  • See a reproduction of a Civil War Wheeling (Rosecrans) ambulance that was used to transport the wounded.

  • Hear stories about the Spangler family.

  • Discover Civil War era games.

  • Treat yourself to a local favorite with Mr. G’s old fashioned ice cream.

“We are pleased to offer free access to the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital on Oct. 9 for Adams County and visiting families and enthusiasts to spend quality time experiencing this historic site during the fall season,” said Gettysburg Foundation President and CEO Wayne Motts. “Fall Family Day is a great way for our guests to explore the site, hear the Spangler family story, interact with living historians, learn about the surgeons’ and civilians’ roles during the battle and get a glimpse of the important history that took place here,” added Motts.

Shuttles to the Fall Family Day will depart from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center throughout the day. Free shuttle tickets are required and are available at the Ticket Counter inside the Museum & Visitor Center, by phone, 877-874-2478, and online at GettysburgFoundation.org.

Face coverings/masks continue to be required on all shuttle buses, consistent with TSA guidelines.

The site, a successful family farm before and after the Battle of Gettysburg, served as the Union Army’s 11th Corps field hospital where more than 1,900 wounded soldiers—both Union and Confederate—received care. In addition, the site served as an artillery reserve, ammunition reserve, provost guard and a temporary cemetery for both Union and Confederate soldiers. The George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital is located at 488 Blacksmith Shop Road, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.