August 31, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

If you’ve driven along Confederate Avenue near the Florida State Memorial, you may have noticed a dirt path along the left side of the road, marked by a sign that says “Spangler House.” On my last visit my curiosity got the better of me, and off I went. The Henry Spangler is a beautiful farm that was also a rallying point for the Southerners of Gen. Pickett’s division on the afternoon of July 3^RD. Unfortunately, this beautiful barn wasn’t standing during the battle, but was rebuilt after the sparks of combat sent the original barn up in flames.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. EDWARD GREERSON

 

Co. B, 76^TH New York Infantry

Born abt. 1832 --- Died July 01, 1863

Pvt. Greerson was born in England and immigrated to America at age 9 (Sep 1842). He was killed in battle and was later buried at Waterford Rural Cemetery in Waterford, New York.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

August 29, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

This view taken from the top of the Pennsylvania Memorial shows a portion of Cemetery Ridge looking toward Emmitsburg Road. The distant tree-line is Seminary Ridge. Visible farms are the Abraham Trostle farm (far center left) and the Daniel Klingle farm (center-right). In the foreground, one Ordnance Rifle from Pennsylvania Batteries C and F and the Napoleons of Battery C, 4^TH U. S. Artillery can also be seen. Of particular interest is the shadow of “Winged Victory” which tops the memorial, spreading across Hancock Avenue.

**HONORED TODAY**

1^ST SGT. JOSHUA MARTIN ADKINS

Co. D, 42^ND Mississippi Infantry

Born 1837 --- Died July 01, 1863 at age 23

1^ST Sgt. Adkins enlisted in May 1862. His pre-war residence was named as Flewellin’s Cross Roads, Mississippi, where he was a merchant. He was killed near the Railroad Cut on the afternoon of July 1^ST. Unfortunately, I have little information concerning his life.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

August 24, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

The 9^TH Massachusetts Battery monument is located along Wheatfield Road and is flanked by two Model 1857 Napoleons. The gun tube on the left dates from 1862 and was cast by the Revere Copper Co., while the one on the right is a rifled piece and was cast by the Alger Armory in 1862. I particularly like this photo as the fences in the background are a perfect prop. The monument itself was dedicated in 1885. I believe the red barn just barely visible to the left is part of the Daniel Klingle farm.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. THURSTON THOMAS

Co. D, 134^TH New York Infantry

Born 1844 --- Died July 20, 1863

Pvt. Thomas enlisted in August 1862. He was mortally wounded in the left leg on the third day of battle and later died from his injuries. His final resting place is in Gettysburg National Cemetery.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

August 22, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

If you were a member of Gen. Robertson’s Texas Brigade on the afternoon of July 2^ND, 1863, this would have been your view as you waited to begin the attack. I imagine the scene must have appeared much the same --- not a power line in sight. The only modern-looking things are South Confederate Avenue and the spattering of monuments on the crest of what was once called ‘Sugarloaf Mountain’. From left to right we can see the Philip Snyder and/or Michael Bushman farm fields, Little Round Top with the 12^TH/44^TH New York “castle” monument, Big Round Top, and the Bushman farm. The little white barn to the left of the stone and brick house may be part of the Slyder farm.

**HONORED TODAY**

2^ND LT. FREDERICK W. BLISS

Co. B, 8^TH Georgia Infantry

Born September 10, 1839 --- Died July 04, 1863

2^ND Lt. Bliss was mortally wounded during the battle of Gettysburg and is thought to have died at the John Edward Plank farm. Friends spoke highly of him and remembered his mother’s devotion to him throughout his life. He was buried secondly at Baltimore then finally interred in Savannah’s Laurel Grove Cemetery.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray