September 11, 2013

12 years since 9-11 . . . Never Forget

Remembering Those Who Died

The Peach Orchard is one of my favorite places on the battlefield, probably because it seems out of the way at least in my eyes . . . we rarely take the time to drive out Emmitsburg Road during the auto tour route. This time, however, I wanted some good, unique shots of the orchard and the Sherfy farm, and I caught this odd occurrence: a harsh wind-storm has all but snapped the small fragile trees. It looks as if a tornado went through here. Though it’s difficult to tell on this photo, it was taken on a beautiful blue-sky day, warm temps and abundant sunshine. The cannon making an appearance on center stage is a 3-inch Ordnance Rifle representing Thompson’s Battery C, Pennsylvania Light Artillery. 

Lately I’ve been studying Barksdale’s Mississippi Brigade, and the distance they had to cover --- from Seminary Ridge to the Peach Orchard and beyond --- reminds me of the march made by the men of the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge, though under vastly different circumstances and with different results. The Mississippians faced a huddle of Union infantry and various hulking artillery batteries here among the peaches. It’s doubtful that the men in blue and gray had time to take notice of the trees and the pastoral setting, but if they did, such a homey scene likely reminded many of their childhood haunts.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. CHARLES HENRY FINCH

Co. B, 11^TH Virginia Infantry

Born December 02, 1833 --- July 03, 1861 at age 29

Pvt. Finch enlisted in the Confederate Army in March 1862, doubtless giving a tender goodbye to wife Sarah and four-year-old son John William. The young soldier found himself at Gettysburg among the men who embarked upon the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge on the third of July; it was during this charge that he was killed. Pvt. Finch was later buried at the Finch Family Cemetery in Gladys, Virginia.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray