June 21, 2013

Even the most intrepid battlefield hikers may pause before considering a trek to the summit of Big Round Top, which, unlike its benign, smaller cousin, is quite a haul. If you do choose to visit, there are a few interesting monuments and some stone walls (possibly original) worth checking out, though I haven’t been able to find out if these are original walls or if any walls existed here during the time of the battle.

The scene above shows part of a stone wall and two monuments on the crest. The large white monument at left honors the 34^TH Pennsylvania Infantry (also known as the 5^TH Pennsylvania Reserves), while the pink granite monument (tiered, at right) represents the 41ST Pennsylvania Infantry or 12^TH Pennsylvania Reserves. There are three other monuments at the summit (two for Pennsylvania and one for Maine) and two on the lower slope (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania Reserves) as well.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. THOMAS J. ANDERSON

Co. G, 42^ND Mississippi Infantry

Born 1843 --- Died August 08 (or 18), 1863 at age 20

After being wounded during the battle of Gettysburg, Pvt. Anderson was moved to Camp Letterman north of town by reason of a fracture to the right femur. He didn’t survive long and was later buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. Unfortunately, this is nearly all I can discover about him.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray