November 06, 2013

In my post of February 22^ND, I mentioned the 151^ST Pennsylvania Infantry at McPherson’s Woods and how they protected the flank of the Iron Brigade while taking heavy losses. These photos are special not only for the nice shots of the 151^ST’s monument but also for what can be seen in the background. In the first photo, the road in the background is Reynolds Avenue. Gen. Lee’s Headquarters can be seen directly to the right of the monument, above the road. The building beside it belongs to Larson’s Quality Inn. 

The blocky marker to the left of the monument is either for the Third Division of the First Corps or the First Division of the Cavalry Corps . . . it’s difficult to tell which. The road through the trees at left center is Wadsworth Avenue. At the far left of the photo along Reynolds Avenue is the monument to Battery L, 1^ST New York Light Artillery. The small marker to the right of the large trees says “Reynolds Woods.” This is where Gen. Reynolds received his mortal wound on the afternoon of July 01^ST.

The second photo doesn’t show as much background detail, but the Edward McPherson barn at far left is a notable exception. There appears to be a black statue just to the right of the roof, and if this is actually a statue and not just a dark branch, it must be the monument to Gen. Buford across the road. The black vehicle to the right of the 151^ST Pennsylvania monument is traveling on Route 30 / Chambersburg Pike which turns into Lincoln Highway near Gen. Lee’s Headquarters.

**HONORED TODAY**

SGT. JAMES SAMUEL NOBLE

Co. K, 3^RD Arkansas Infantry

Born October 18, 1846 --- Died July 07, 1863 at age 16

At first glance this soldier may have seemed like just another boy who joined the army young so he might fire a rifle and find adventure, but Sgt. Noble held much more responsibility than the average 16-year-old. At Gettysburg he was shot in the thigh and subsequently taken prisoner. He died five days after his wounding while under guard in a Union field hospital. Though every soldier who died at Gettysburg was a precious life lost too soon, stories of such young soldiers are even more difficult to bear. 


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray