April 29, 2015

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

Until recently, the Gettysburg Rail Station looked like this:

Though yellow was a good look for this old building, it wasn’t authentic to 1863, and folks got to thinking how it would be to see how it looked when President Lincoln arrived, or during the battle when the wounded were treated on the station platform. As they wished it, so it was done, and a few months ago I had the pleasure of driving past and checking out the new colors. Good job, Gettysburg!
 

 

**HONORED TODAY**

SGT. TRAVIS R. MAXEY

Co. K, 8th Georgia Infantry

Born 1826 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 37

Sgt. Maxey enlisted in May 1861. He was wounded at 1st Bull Run/Manassas in July 1861 and later in June 1862, but survived another year of combat. At Gettysburg he was killed instantly by a shell to the chest which rendered him unrecognizable. His burial place is unknown.

(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray

April 27, 2015

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

Today’s little piece of Gettysburg is a photo of one of the 12-pounder Napoleons from Stevens’ Battery. Can you figure out why I like this picture so much? It’s ‘authentic’ (meaning a soldier from 1863 could look at it and not see anything out of place), it’s got a cannon, there are rolling mountains in the distance, and there’s blue sky. I mean, what else could anybody ask for? (Except maybe the chance to fire it, but we all know that’s not going to happen . . .)

According to the website Gettysburg Stone Sentinels, 2 artillerists were killed and 13 were wounded while operating and defending this battery. Of the wounded, it appears 2 died. The deaths were: Pvt. Sylvester L. Brown, Pvt. Charles Bryant, Pvt. Sullivan Luce, and Pvt. William H. Wydner. If you visit this battery, please take a moment to think of them.

**HONORED TODAY**

CPL. ISAAC BROWN NEWCOMB, JR.

Co. C, 22nd Massachusetts Infantry

Born November 20, 1820 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 42

Cpl. Newcomb enlisted in September 1861. In civilian life he worked as a piano polisher. He married Margaret, who sadly died in 1858, and with her he had five children, only two of whom survived (Mary F. born 1849 and Hattie G. born 1857. Mary Jane was born in 1842 and died in 1843, Margaret L. was born and died in 1848, and Charles S. was born and died in 1855. Cpl. Newcomb later married a lady named Salome. He was buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery.

(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray

April 22, 2015

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

Here’s a different perspective of East Cemetery Hill and the iconic Evergreen Cemetery gatehouse, taken from Wainwright Avenue. I particularly like this view . . . Hays’ Louisiana Tigers must have a similar view as they trekked up over the picturesque rolling meadows opposite the hill. And of course there’s artillery (albeit hard to see). The prominent statuary monument to the right of the gatehouse memorializes the 4th Ohio Infantry. Now all we have to do is get rid of the power lines . . .

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. JOAB BAILIFF

Co. A, 7th Tennessee Infantry

Born April 06, 1836 --- Died July 16, 1863 at age 27

Pvt. Bailiff enlisted in May 1861 and reenlisted in April 1862. He was married to Elizabeth and was the father of Mary (age 9 in 1863), James (age 8), Nancy (age 4), and John (age 2). Some sources also list a child Thomas, who, if still living in 1863, would have been 7.

(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray

April 20, 2015

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

I suffer from a rare (though apparently not so rare among Civil War buffs) condition known as artillery withdrawal. Here’s some photos to cheer me (and hopefully you) up! These particular pieces are from Wheeler’s New York battery along Howard Avenue. The cannon tubes were manufactured by Phoenix Iron Co. On the top photo you can see the monument to Wheeler’s Battery, the 13th New York Independent Battery, and on the bottom, part of Oak Ridge and Oak Hill. Wheeler’s artillery would have been dueling with Page’s Battery which was positioned down over the slope of Oak Hill, as well as blowing holes through the lines of Confederate infantry.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. PHILONAS KINSMAN

Co. K, 7th Wisconsin Infantry

Born July 07, 1812 --- Died July 26, 1863

Despite being over the age considered ideal for enlistment, Pvt. Kinsman joined the Union cause in August 1861 and fought bravely for nearly two years. He left behind a wife, Adeline, two grown children (Henry, age 21, and Sarah, age 18) as well as two minor children, Rosina (age 13) and a daughter whose name I do not know (age 9). He and his wife also lost two children in infancy. Pvt. Kinsman was wounded on the first day of battle and lingered for nearly a month. He was later buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery.

(c) 2012-2015 Skies of Blue and Gray