Winter Reading Adventures for Children at Gettysburg NMP in Jan and Feb 2022

Winter Reading Adventures!

"True Tales & Trailblazers from American History"
Saturday Mornings at 11 am
January 8 to February 26, 2022
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center

Gettysburg National Military Park is again offering a free Winter Reading Adventures program for children ages 4 to 10 and their families, every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. from January 8 through February 26 in one of the museum’s theaters. Our 2022 Winter Reading Adventures theme is: "True Tales & Trailblazers from American History" with a new children's book featured each week (with pages on the big screen) ranging in subject and time period from Thomas Jefferson to Lin-Manuel Miranda, from Abigail Adams to Lucille Ball and more! Each featured book and person (and one historic dog!) are TRUE stories about invididuals blazing new trails, both literally and figuratively. Short activities or family adventure instructions will follow each book. “Our Winter Reading Adventures program is for kids who are learning to read or love to read, and want to spend part of their Saturdays time traveling back and forth between all eras of our history -- from the 18th century right up to last Friday!" explained Education Ranger, John Hoptak.


NOTE: All programs will be conducted consistent with CDC recommendations. Masks are required for all attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Schedule is subject to change.


Sat. Jan. 8 -- Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library, by Barbara Rosenstock

Sat. Jan. 15 -- I Am Martin Luther King, Jr., by Brad Meltzer

Sat. Jan. 22 -- Leave it to Abigail, by Barbara Rosenstock

Sat. Jan. 29 -- Seaman's Journal: On The Trail with Lewis & Clark, by Patricia Reeder Eubank

Sat. Feb. 5 -- I Am Lucille Ball, by Brad Meltzer

Sat. Feb. 12 -- Looking at Lincoln, by Maira Kalman

Sat. Feb. 19 -- Friends for Freedom: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, by Suzanne Slade

Sat. Feb. 26 -- Fearless Trailblazers: 11 Latinos Who Made U.S. History, by Naibe Reynoso

Adams County Historical Society Campaign Over $8 million

Giving Spree Results Push ACHS Campaign Over $8 Million
ACHS Website

Dear Friends - this is a very exciting time for Gettysburg and Adams County!

Last week, we learned that ACHS will receive a $2 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to help complete our new home. This incredible news comes after months of hard work and bipartisan leadership from local and state officials. Thank you to our three fantastic County Commissioners, and to the Governor and his staff, all of whom recognized the importance of this project!

And just this morning, we received more amazing news! For the second year in a row, ACHS topped the list of nonprofits participating in the annual Giving Spree, raising nearly $800,000 in just one day and surpassing 1,000 total donors to the project.

Thanks to YOU, we've reached a major milestone - $8 million raised and over 80% of our fundraising goal met, all in less than one year! This means we can do the following:

Continue on schedule with construction of our new home, saving millions of historic items in our collection that are currently stored in unsafe conditions.

Open a world-class museum with stories, artifacts, and experiences like you've never seen before.

Create programs, events, classes, and tours that take you deeper into the history of this incredible place.

And so much more!

Civil War-Era Personal Tintypes Exposed: Your Questions Answered

Photographic image of Private William Mixon of the 2nd U.S. Infantry from the approved pension file of Matilda Butz Nicholson, widow of both Mixon and Private Jeremiah Nicholson, 66th Ohio Infantry, WC 55265 (NAIDs 116008446 and 201383529). A gunshot passed through Mixon’s left elbow at the Battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia in June 1862, shattering the joint. He submitted this tintype image to the Pension Bureau in 1889 to support his application for an increase in his monthly pension rate.

Civil War-Era Personal Tintypes Exposed: Your Questions Answered

The following post is by Jackie Budell, Archives Specialist at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

**Please note that the following post contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some readers.**

This is the first of three posts about tintype images in the Civil War Pension Application Files from the Records of the National Archives

You may view the latest post at http://text-message.blogs.archives.gov/2021/12/07/civil-war-era-personal-tintypes-exposed-your-questions-answered/

Gettysburg NHP Visitor Center Begins Winter Hours

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center began winter hours Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.

The Museum & Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. December through February. The Museum & Visitor Center closes annually on the following holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Hours are subject to change. Visit GettysburgFoundation.org or call 877-874-2478 to check operating hours and weather, emergency or early closures.

Civil War Cavalry Saber donated to Sekigahara Battlefield, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

Governor of Gifu Prefecture, Hajime Furuta (left) and Chief Consul of the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya, Japan, Matthew Senzer (right) pose for a photograph.

News Release Date: November 3, 2021
Contact: Jason Martz, 717-338-4423

On October 22, 2021, a Civil War cavalry saber was unveiled at the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Museum to commemorate the opening of the museum. The Model 1860 light cavalry saber is a permanent donation from The Gettysburg Foundation: Gettysburg National Military Park’s non-profit philanthropic partner. It was presented to the Governor of Gifu Prefecture, Hajime Furuta, by the Chief Consul of the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya, Matthew Senzer. In exchange, Governor Hajime Furuta presented Chief Consul Senzer with a Nishiki-e (multi-colored woodblock print meaning “brocade painting”).

On behalf of Gettysburg National Military Park, Chief Consul Senzer gave a speech to introduce the Model 1860 light cavalry saber and expressed a wish for further development and prosperity of the mutual partnership between the Gettysburg and Sekigahara battlefields. Governor Furuta expressed his deepest gratitude for the original saber and said that it would be displayed at Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum. He was certain that the donated saber would contribute to strengthen the partnership which started from The World Battlefields Summit in 2016.

The scene of one of the largest samurai battles in history, the Battle of Sekigahara took place on October 21, 1600. Approximately 160,000 warriors from opposing Eastern and Western factions battled for just over six hours resulting in the deaths of 8,000 samurai and brought about 260 years of peace. Sekigahara was long regarded as a strategically important transportation hub that separated eastern and western Japan. Even today, travelling east or west, most travelers still cross the mountain passes and old barriers of Sekigahara.  

The donated saber was not present at the July 1-3, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, as it was manufactured in 1864, but is representative of what a typical cavalry soldier carried during the Civil War. The Sekigahara Memorial Museum plans to display the saber along with other items already donated such as reproduction Union and Confederate uniforms.

On September 5, 2016 Gettysburg National Military Park signed a sister park agreement with the Sekigahara Battlefields in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The Borough of Gettysburg also signed a sister city agreement with Sekigahara, Japan. Visit the Sekigahara Memorial Museum for more information about the Battle of Sekigahara: https://sekigahara.pref.gifu.lg.jp/en/.

Jana Friesen McCabe Named Site Manager of Eisenhower NHS

National Park Service (NPS) Superintendent Steve Sims has named Jana Friesen McCabe, as the new Site Manager of Eisenhower National Historic Site effective January 2, 2022. The park preserves the home and farm of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States.

“Jana’s extensive experience managing historic and natural resources, coupled with her demonstrated skill collaborating with partners, make her the perfect choice to be site manager of Eisenhower National Historic Site. She is an outstanding leader, and I am excited to have her join the team,” said Sims. 

  “I am excited to join the team at Eisenhower NHS in telling the story of our 34th president. The site has so many amazing stories to tell of the post-WWII era, the Cold War, the space race, the expansion of social programs, the Civil Rights movement, the creation of the interstate system, and the growth of the historic preservation movement; to name a few,” said McCabe.  

  In her more than 20 years with the NPS, Jana has worked at the park, regional, and national levels. She began her National Park Service career as a volunteer at Rock Creek Park. Her first permanent position was as an interpreter at the C&O Canal NHP. During her four years at the Washington Support Office with Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, Jana edited the Natural Resource Challenge Report to Congress. At Yosemite NP, she facilitated public engagement in the park planning process for the Merced and Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River plans and the Mariposa Grove restoration. At the National Mall and Memorial Parks, Jana established interpretive operations at Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument after its designation in 2016.  

 

Jana lives in Frederick, Md., with her husband Sean, son Jacob, three cats and dog. Jana has a BA in Latin American Studies and a MA in Luso-Brazilian Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  

__________
Jason Martz

Communications Specialist

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