July 12, 2013

Anyone who has devoted a great deal of time to studying the civilians of Gettysburg and the civilian experience during the battle of 1863 will probably know that the town was home to a thriving African-American community in this year and beyond. Evidence of that is the Lincoln Cemetery, which is the final resting place for many of Gettysburg’s black citizens. While many of the people interred here date from a much later time than the battle, the cemetery is still fascinating to explore. I’d always wanted to find it but actually came across it by accident while doing a little Gettysburg joy-riding a few years back. You might recognize names of citizens like Basil Biggs and Abraham Brian, who lived in the area during the Civil War.

 

Since I’m a big fan of cemetery-hopping, especially in historic places like Gettysburg, I wish I could read more of the gravestones on these photos. However, I could read some, and I was eager to find out more about these people. At far center right on the first photo there’s what you might call a “typical” stone, not the stone at the extreme right but the one to the left of it. You can just make out the name “Brown.” I did some research and discovered that the stone honored Allen Brown and his wife Hannah. Allen lived from 1890 to 1940. Hannah was born in 1884 and died in 1974.

According to the website “Hallowed Ground”, Lincoln Cemetery is the resting place of Civil War soldier Isaac Buckmaster and other intriguing figures. The cemetery is located along South Washington Street. Check it out! I’m not sure if it’s permissible to go inside (I took these photos from the car, and I don’t remember seeing an open gate, but I could be wrong) but you can definitely stand at the fence and take photos to your heart’s content, remembering the men and women and children who lived and died here in Gettysburg so long ago.

**HONORED TODAY**

2^ND LT. EDWARD STANLEY ABBOT

Co. A, 17^TH United States Regulars

Born October 22, 1841 --- Died July 08, 1863 at age 21

Though they’d often denied the credit they deserve, members of the United States Regular Army placed an integral role in the Union’s victory at Gettysburg. Lt. Abbot, who went by the name Stanley, was one such man. He enlisted on July 01^st, 1862, and would die almost exactly a year later to defend his country. Lt. Abbot’s mortal wound was incurred at Houck’s Ridge above Devil’s Den, where he sought to push back the waves of Confederates who confidently swarmed from Little Round Top and the Triangular Field. He was injured in the lung and succumbed on July 08^th. He's buried in Beverly, Massachusetts. Many anecdotes of Lt. Abbot's life can be found here.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray