September 27, 2013

Favorite Close-ups, Part Two

 

In the second installment of my favorite close-ups photos, I chose the 53^RD Pennsylvania Infantry’s bronze statue and the 17^TH Maine Infantry’s granite masterpiece. The 53^RD Pennsylvania monument is located along Brooke Avenue near the Wheatfield. Just seeing the way this statue’s eyes shift to the right makes you want to glance over to see if there really is anything to be concerned about. This monument dates from 1889, so he’s been making observant visitors nervous for quite awhile :-)

The 17^TH Maine’s soldier is one of my favorites on the field. He’s been carved in the act of readying himself for combat at a stone wall, which, if you look at the “real” stone wall which runs behind the monument, is exactly what the Maine men were doing on the afternoon of July 02^ND. I never really noticed the top of the monument until this last trip. It really is true that you could visit Gettysburg a thousand times and still see something new each time!

**HONORED TODAY**

SGT. WASHINGTON KNIGHT

Co. C, 74^TH New York Infantry

Born April 24, 1840 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 23

Despite his relatively young age, Sgt. Knight worked as a blacksmith before the war, a job he probably thought much harder than soldiering. His death at Gettysburg would have firmly severed such an idea. Though he was first interred at the Nicholas Codori farm on the battlefield, he was later brought to the Gettysburg National Cemetery.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray