OT Bull Run & GB pics

[Ddog]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Perhaps a more typical example of Kentucky fence.

If you go back to camera location 6, you will see Virginia fence on one side of the road, and Kentucky fence on the other. Looks like Virginia fence uses a lot more wood and is less efficient in the use of land as well.

That is more than I ever knew about fences. Interesting that the more elegant fence is named after the mountain folk while the aristocrats just piled up some downed wood.

The piled up wood fence (or Virginia Swayback) was built out of neccessity lol It didn't require post holes which were impossible to dig in some areas.

[Cap Mandrake]

McPherson's Ridge isnt very much of a ridge, is it? I have gopher burrows taller than that in my yard. Anyone know the elevation climb from Willoghby Run to McPherson Ridge?

I'm guessing the golf course West of Willoughby Run isn't period? [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Pickett's Charge
panning left
On the right you see the Pennsylvania Monument, to the left of that the Codori Farm barn (not the original), then the Vermont Monument and the Angle. The fellow in the field is about 50 meters out.

When I see this pciture I can't help but ask, "What on Earth was he (Lee) thingking?"

[geofflambert]

Before I begin showing the pics from the Gettysburg National Tower, here is a skyview to help orient you. In the upper left you see the location of the Virginia Monument where "Pickett's Charge" began. In the lower center is the Trostle Farm, which is the location of a period pic I will show later. In the upper center you can see the Angle, the Leister Farm (which was Meade's HQ), and the tower location.

[geofflambert]

The next four pics were taken from the West side of the tower, panning right. In the center you see Round Top, and you can see the nearly bald western face of Little Round Top below it. On the right you can see the Pennsylvania Monument. The road running past it is Hancock Ave. A lot of these roads such as this one and Confederate Ave were constructed later for the tourists. The road in the foreground is Taneytown Rd..

[geofflambert]

Here you can see the Emmitsburg Pike approaching the town. Along Hancock Ave you see the Vermont Monument and "the Angle".

[geofflambert]

In the distance in the center in the nook in the trees you see the Virginia Monument where the charge began. In the foreground is the Cyclorama, which I believe is no longer in use.

[geofflambert]

This part of town is modern, all built since the war.

[geofflambert]

The next three pics were taken from the North side of the tower, panning right. Here you can see the Herr Tavern, McPherson's Barn on McPherson's Ridge, and the Lutheran Seminary Chapel to the left of which you can see the cuppola of the Seminary building. Remember that at the time of the battle the area between the Seminary and Cemetary Hill was mostly open fields. In the lower center right you see the Soldier's National Monument.

[geofflambert]

Here you can see in the lower left the New York State Monument with the Cemetary below it. The Gate House is amidst the trees in the bottom center. The arrow to the right of that points to the camera location I used for the pan from Cemetary Hill. In the distance you can see the Eternal Light Peace Monument .

[geofflambert]

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[geofflambert]

The next two were taken from the East side of the tower, panning right. Here Benner's Hill is pointed out, where I took one pic of Culp's Hill. The bronze dude on the horse in the lower right is General Slocum.

[geofflambert]

Here you see the Culp's Hill tower on top of Culp's Hill. Further away on the right is Wolf's Hill.

[geofflambert]

The next four pics were taken from the South side of the tower panning right. Here Culp's Hill is in the foreground and Wolf's Hill beyond that.

[geofflambert]

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[geofflambert]

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[geofflambert]

Back to Round Top.




I'll finish up in a few hours.

[geofflambert]

Here is a skyview of the Leister Farm where Meade had his headquarters.

[geofflambert]

Here is my pic of it looking North from Taneytown Road.
The monument behind the picket fence yard appears to be for the Oneida New York Cavalry. To the left of that on the otherside of the tree there appears to be a greenish monument that could be for the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry (but it's white, not green).
You can see the Cyclorama to the left,

[geofflambert]

Here is a pic from after the battle. You can see three dead horses. When the Confederates began their barrage of the Union line before Pickett's Charge, the guns made so much smoke that the targets were obscured. They continued firing even though they couldn't see where their cannonballs were landing. With each discharge the tongues at the rear of the gun carriages dug deeper into the ground thus elevating the gun barrels. The shot slowly crept up Cemetary Ridge flying well over their intended targets and began landing in the Union Army's train. That is what killed these horses. If I recall the story correctly, there was an orderly standing in the front door of the HQ with Meade present when a cannonball took off the orderly's head.
I believe you can see a couple of spots where cannonballs struck the stone wall and debris was launched to the right.