December 29, 2014

Part of Smith’s 4^TH New York Independent Battery

Sometimes you’re lucky enough to visit Devil’s Den and Triangular Field without having to share the area with a ton of other people . . . during my visit in November, I had one of those glorious days. Thus, this first photo of a Parrott Rifle shows absolutely nothing but Sickles Avenue, Houck’s Ridge, artillery, Triangular Field (and Warfield Ridge beyond), and the marker for Robertson’s Brigade. No tourists. Zip. Nada. Zilch. Just the way I like it. :-) I like the fact that the cannon wheel and barrel are visible in the shadow to the right. Such details really make or break a photo in my opinion.

The second photo is also people free (though not car free . . . there’s one peeking through the right cannon wheel). You can see Robertson’s Brigade marker, a finely-painted Parrott, another Parrott, and, beyond, the 124^TH New York monument. I particularly like the fact that the shadow cast over the cannon carriage’s “tail” is the soldier statue atop the 4^TH New York’s very own monument. Beyond, the trees of Rose Woods stand at attention. There are even some rocks on this photo. You can’t go wrong :-)

**HONORED TODAY**

2^ND LT. ROBERT HALL

Co. D, 42^ND Pennsylvania Infantry (13^TH Reserves)

Born November 08, 1838 --- Died July 03, 1863, at age 24

It is clear from stories of Lt. Hall that he valued family above personal safety. During the battle of Second Bull Run/Manassas in August 1862, he witnessed his cousin’s death; instead of fleeing in the face of imprisonment, he remained to take care of the burial, no small feat considering that he’d already survived stints at Libby and Belle Isle. He met his match at Gettysburg, though, dying on the third day of battle, and was buried at Stillwater Cemetery in Busti, New York.


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