December 30, 2013

We almost missed an amazing sunrise during our last Gettysburg trip, but fate intervened. A decision to start home without waiting to tour the battlefield one last time was vetoed by our love for the tour, and so we drove the field just as the vibrant sunrise colors emerged. The following pictures show how the first day’s battlefield appeared as another day dawned over Gettysburg.

 

The first photo was taken along McPherson’s Ridge, looking toward the Lutheran Theological Seminary’s “Old Dorm.” This is one of my favorite-ever shots. The second photo is of Iverson’s Pits. Just a few moments later, by the time we reached Oak Ridge, the sunrise colors had faded and were mixed with a generous amount of blue. It was a classic example of being at the right place at the right time.

**HONORED TODAY**

CPT. NORMAN FOX WEER

Co. E, 123^RD New York Infantry

Born 1836--- Died July 26, 1863 at age 27

Cpt. Weer’s first brush with fate in the form of a gunshot wound was at Chancellorsville, and, having survived that wound, he may have thought himself protected by good luck. The battle of Gettysburg less than two months later proved such a notion wrong. He was taken to Camp Letterman with a wound in his knee, and after lingering for less than four weeks, he died for his country. Cpt. Weer was later buried at East Hartford Cemetery in Hartford, CT. A photo can be found here.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray