December 17, 2012

Anyone who loves history and historic structures will view Gettysburg as a goldmine of battle-era homes and farms. I have a particular soft spot for fieldstone; there is something about those old stone houses and barns that evokes a sense of nostalgia to me. Because of this, one of my favorite battlefield homesteads is the George Weikert farm, which is nestled underneath iconic Little Round Top and sits along Cemetery Ridge not so very far from the site of the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge.

The George Weikert farm, sometimes confused with the John Weikert farm which also lies on the battlefield, has a haunted past. (Many say literally). It was built in the late 1790s (making it one of the oldest farms of the battlefield) and still has many of its battle-era outbuildings intact. It is located on the “last leg” of the tour (if you are ending at the site of the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge and not taking one of the offshoots) along United States Avenue. Just to the left is the New York Officers monument and the Pennsylvania State Memorial.

This farm was spared widespread bloodshed, but was still briefly used as a hospital. It was also vastly important to Union troops who used it as a temporary refuge from the rain of bullets. The house itself is not the only thing of interest . . . the beautiful white barn, which sits back a bit, is quite striking and is a good example of Gettysburg farm architecture.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. THOMAS L. B. ATKINSON

Co. C, 9^th Georgia Infantry

Born October 02, 1828 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 34

Pvt. Atkinson was one of many Georgians lost in the prime of life during the hot fight for “Stony Hill” just beyond the famous Wheatfield. At the time he was a member of the 9^th Georgia Co. C, known as the “Hillyer Rifles.” His death was mourned by his wife Elizabeth, whom he had married at a very young age, and their four children, James, age eight, Emma, age six, Charles, age three, and Tommy, was only two. His final resting place is the Waynesboro Confederate Memorial Cemetery in Waynesboro, Georgia. It is probable that his wartime residence was in Walton County.


(c) 2012 Skies of Blue and Gray