May 24, 2013

On a blustery February day I decided to walk to the Virginia State Memorial and try some different photo angles. The infamous fields of the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge lay serene and crisp under a winter sun. The tour roads were more or less quiet. Then I snapped this photo and appreciated the many different features that came into play, some of which aren’t readily apparent.

Being a self-proclaimed cannon freak, my main focus was the artillery battery located in the center of the photo. These Napoleons (and one Howitzer) represent the Madison Light Artillery of Ward’s Battery, Poague’s Battalion. The battery participated in the cannonade preceding the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge and was taken off the field on July 4^TH for the sad march to Hagerstown.

As for the rest of the photo, there are more cannon located across West Confederate Avenue. The first can be seen just to the left of the large bronze and granite marker at the left of the photo. The second is located beside the farthest left cannon of Ward’s Battery. The platform and steps seen in the foreground at left and bottom belong to the Virginia State Memorial. This peaceful scene tucked away in Spangler Woods is so much different than it was in July of 1863 . . .

**HONORED TODAY**

LT. JAMES THORNWELL SCOTT

Co. C, 2^nd South Carolina Infantry

Died July 02, 1863 at age 22

Lt. Scott understood combat. Having enlisted in May 1861, he’d fought at Fredericksburg and Antietam, among other places. Unfortunately, though he was lucky enough to survive previous engagements, he wouldn’t survive Gettysburg. History tells us that he fell near the Wheatfield or possibly near the George Rose farm on the second day of battle. Lt. Scott’s story holds even more pathos than that of other soldiers who died at Gettysburg: his body was never recovered. He is honored with a stone in Elmwood Memorial Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina. It says, “J. Thornwell Scott. Killed at Gettysburg. His body was not recovered.” Thus, it is highly likely that he still lies on the battlefield.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray