January 28, 2015

** This blog now published Mondays and Wednesdays **

Every once in awhile I check out Culp’s Hill by way of East Confederate Avenue off Middle Street, a route I don’t usually use to tour the area, and I always find it interesting. I’ve taken this route so seldom that I still haven’t memorized what goes where. On one November day last year, I stopped at the Steuart’s Brigade near Rock Creek and captured this view. No monuments or markers, just natural Gettysburg. I wonder if any of Steuart’s boys noticed the boulders as landmarks. I’m always well aware of them, as I find them fascinating in every shape and size.

The second photo showcases a path that can be reached from near this spot; if you stop at the Steuart’s Brigade marker, you’ll see a narrow path that heads down to the 28^TH Pennsylvania monument and Rock Creek. This photo shows one of the narrow wooded paths you’ll encounter. Again, there’s nothing particularly historical-looking, but just knowing that soldiers walked here (and for some it would be their last walk), that the scene would have been much the same in 1863, makes the trek worthwhile.

**HONORED TODAY**

SGT. VALENTINE MARCUS PLOTT

Co. C, 33^RD North Carolina Infantry

Born 1837 --- Died July 15, 1863 at age 26 

Sgt. Plott enlisted in September 1861 and was a farmer. He was the husband of Mary and the father of two children, 2-year-old Thomas, and Bessa (born sometime in 1863). Wounded at Gettysburg and subsequently captured, he died in captivity and was later buried at Holy Rood Cemetery in Washington D.C. 


(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray

January 26, 2015

** This blog now published Mondays and Wednesdays **

This view of Stone-Meredith Avenue showcases the striking fall colors of early November. The 7^TH Wisconsin Infantry monument is seen at right, while in the left distance, a smaller and a larger flank marker sit side by side. The monument seen at left is that of the 2^ND Wisconsin Infantry. Beside the 2^ND, part of the bronze brigade marker describing the Iron Brigade’s action in Herbst Woods can be seen.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. CURTIS HARVEY WOODS

Co. B, 84^TH New York Infantry

Born June 18, 1836 --- Died July 01, 1863 at age 27 

Pvt. Woods, who enlisted in September 1862, was the father of Robert (age 9), Florence (age 7), Anthony (age 4), and Ida (age 1). Little is known of his life. 


(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray

January 21, 2015

** Hi all! Just wanted to let you know I’m changing my posting schedule . . . from this point forward, I’ll be posting only on Mondays and Wednesdays (barring breaks for vacation or other “bumps in the road”). Fridays will be reserved for my new blog venture, “St. Augustine Fridays”, dedicated to my second-favorite place in the world, St. Augustine, Florida. Feel free to check it out at http://staugustinefridays.blogspot.com **

At least in my opinion, Culp’s Hill is one of those battlefield haunts that seems relatively untouched (safe for an abundance of monuments and the observation tower). Unlike the rest of the field, constantly abuzz with traffic and curious tourists, Culp’s Hill still has a sort of eerie field, as if it still carries the memories of combat. The woods are thick, mostly untraveled ... rumor has it that they still hold Confederate graves. While enjoying the spirit of the place, this particular cannon caught my eye because it appeared to have been recently repainted. It represents Pennsylvania’s Independent Battery E, also known as Knap’s Battery.

The first photo shows the 10-pounder Parrott Rifle with an interesting background. The Napoleon at left belongs to Battery K, 5^TH United States Artillery, while the marker to its right describes the battery’s action at Gettysburg. Note the observation tower (wonder if there were any hearty intrepid souls up there ...). The second photo showcases some of the woodland of north Culp’s Hill. I particularly like the cannon wheel shadow and the sun glinting off the barrel.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. LOGAN BOLCH

Co. C, 28^TH North Carolina Infantry

Born 1824 --- Died September 03, 1863 at age 39 

Pvt. Bolch enlisted in March 1863, the husband of Martha Ann and father of seven children under the age of 16 ... Nathaniel (age 15, who enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1864), Mira (age 13), Job (age 11), Julia (age 9), Harriet (age 5), Mary (age 3), and Jefferson (age 2). He was mortally wounded at the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge and taken as a prisoner of war to a Federal hospital at Chester, PA (according to Find A Grave, “Ward A, Bed No. 2”), where he died of his wounds. Pvt. Bolch was later buried at Philadelphia National Cemetery at the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument.


(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray

January 19, 2015

** Hi all! Just wanted to let you know I’m changing my posting schedule . . . from this point forward, I’ll be posting only on Mondays and Wednesdays (barring breaks for vacation or other “bumps in the road”). Fridays will be reserved for my new blog venture, “St. Augustine Fridays”, dedicated to my second-favorite place in the world, St. Augustine, Florida. Feel free to check it out at http://staugustinefridays.blogspot.com **

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting the Gettysburg battlefield at sunset, you’ll know what I mean when I say this is a magical time of day. The sun’s last weak rays reflect in shiny cannon wheels . . . if you’re lucky, the sky explodes in a burst of oranges, pinks, and purples. Here, we see the High Water Mark memorial and part of the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Charge. Part of the Codori barn can be seen underneath the cannon tube (wheel to the left), while I believe the white house in the distance is the Klingel farmhouse. The monument to the left of the photo is the 59^TH New York Infantry. If you click for to enlarge, you can see the Longstreet Tower to the left of the white house.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. CHARLES GASTON LEGGETT

Co. B, 72^ND Pennsylvania Infantry

Born 1836/37 --- Died July 03, 1863 

Pvt. Leggett enlisted in August 1861. He was married to Maria and had a daughter named Ann. His mother, who was born in the Virgin Islands, died in 1865 as the result of an illness contracted after traveling to Gettysburg to bring his body home. He was later buried at Ronaldson’s Cemetery in Philadelphia.


(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray