June 28, 2013

  

As with my last blog post photo, there are a few things going on in this shot besides the obvious. The eye is quickly drawn to the monument at center, an upright cannon barrel proclaiming this spot as the once-headquarters of Gen.Winfield Scott Hancock. I personally think it’s in great shape despite having been dedicated one hundred years ago. The gold trefoil at the bottom of the barrel represents Hancock’s Second Corps. But what’s that monument to the right of the headquarters marker?

This particular monument dates from the late 1880s and represents the 4TH New York Cavalry. Like Gen. Hancock’s headquarters marker, it can be reached from Pleasonton Avenue where it diverges from Hancock Avenue and Humphreys Avenue. Note the stone wall running from left to right in the background. I’m uncertain if it’s original, but it’s likely that there was a similar wall here in 1863. The large red barn in the right distance is the Peter Frey barn. Unfortunately the original barn is long gone and this one was built around thirty years after the battle.

**HONORED TODAY**

CPL. GEORGE P. SAWYER

CO. G, 1^ST Minnesota Infantry

Born December 07, 1838 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 21

War records give us a rare treat with Cpl. Sawyer: a physical description, putting a face to a man whose image would otherwise have been forgotten. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, with blue eyes and dark brown hair, and his complexion was listed as fair. He was a farmer from Medford, Minnesota when he enlisted in the army. After dying at Gettysburg he was buried at Medford’s Riverside Cemetery.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray