December 01, 2014

 

Yes, there are actually some artillery pieces on the Gettysburg battlefield that I haven’t yet photographed. Battery C of the 1^ST New York Light Artillery is no longer one of them! This battery, which was restored fairly recently I believe, is located along Sedgwick Avenue off Wheatfield Road. In the background of the first photo, Day’s Hill (part of the Houck’s Ridge/Devil’s Den extension) can be seen. 

Click for larger image 

The second photo is an admiring portrait of one of the cannon that mark Battery C’s position. The fact that it’s autumn is quite evident: brown colors reign supreme, while the trees have lost (most of) their leaves. The 3-inch Ordnance Rifle reflects the weak mid-day sun. Sure would be easy for some Rebels to hide in that tall grass! Photo #3 shows the sort of terrain men had to contend with: ancient boulders propped up every which way, both obstructing movement and providing blessed cover for the boys in blue.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. GILBERT (OR GILFORD) ARWOOD

Co. F, 38^TH North Carolina Infantry

Born abt. 1835 --- Died July 01, 1863

Pvt. Arwood enlisted in October 1861 and was a farmer by trade. He was married to a lady named Amanda and had two children, Mary M. and Frances C. War did not agree with him . . . this soldier was wounded both at Mechanicsville, Virginia, and at Chancellorsville, the latter of which occurred less than two months before his fatal wound at Gettysburg.


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