September 28, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

The 4^TH Maine Infantry’s Gettysburg monument was dedicated in 1889. Confirmed dead from this regiment are Cpl. Willard Barstow, 2^ND Lt. George Bragg, Pvt. Crosby Brookings, Pvt. Nathan Chase, Cpl. Thomas Doyle, Pvt. Isaiah Eaton, Cpl. George Gardner, Pvt. John Gray, Cpl. George Hall, Pvt. Henry Hall, 1^ST Sgt. Francis Ingalls, Pvt. George Johnson, 2^ND Lt. Charles McCobb, Pvt. Michael Rariden, Cpl. John Rittal, 2^ND Lt. Orpheus Roberts, Pvt. Frederick Rogers, Pvt. John Sawyer, Pvt. John Shuman, Pvt. Alonzo Stickney, Cpl. John Stone, Sgt. John Toothaker, Maj. Ebenezer “Eben” Whitcomb, and Cpl. John Witham. As always, I find it interesting that every single one of these boulders, large and small, were here during the battle. At right, the downward slope of Little Round Top can be seen, as well as part of Sickles Avenue. 

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. JEHIEL KARCHER

Co. D, 7^TH Michigan Cavalry

Born 1832 --- Died August 10, 1863 at age 31

Pvt. Karcher (also spelled Carcher) enlisted in October 1862. A farmer, he was married to Helen and had three children, Lilly (born 1856), Cora (born 1858), and Franklin (born 1862). He died either at McDougal Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, or at Fort Schuyler, New York, and is listed as being buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, which, if correct, makes a death at Fort Schuyler far more likely.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

September 26, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

On my relatively recent walk to the Henry Spangler farm from Confederate Avenue, I got some great shots of rural Gettysburg life. Here’s a view of some of the outbuildings. The large structure at right isn’t the main house, and I’m not sure of its purpose. It seems as if most of the buildings existed in 1863 except for the barn which was rebuilt after a fire. I particularly like this scene with reds, greens, whites, and browns, and have always been a fan of white picket fences.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. WILLIAM F. DEARMAN

Co. I, 16^TH North Carolina Infantry

Born abt. 1838 --- Died October 13, 1863 at age 25

Pvt. Dearman enlisted in May 1861. He was mortally wounded in the thigh at Gettysburg and was taken prisoner 4 days later, dying in captivity. He was eventually buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

September 21, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

The Gettysburg battlefield has many charms, and one of these is a pastoral simplicity that successfully evokes the 19^TH century. Here, horses graze within an old-style fence at the George Rose farm along Emmitsburg Road. The ruined barn can be seen at right. The timelessness of the scene helps propel visitors from the modern era to the summer of 1863.

**HONORED TODAY**

CPL. FRANKLIN B. CLARY

Co. C, 147^TH New York Infantry

Born July 01, 1831 --- Died July 01, 1863 at age 32

Cpl. Clary, a widower who had lost his wife in 1860, enlisted in August 1862. He was killed along what is now Reynolds Avenue, leaving the world exactly thirty-two years after he had entered it. He is buried at Gettysburg’s National Cemetery though a cenotaph stands in Albion Center Cemetery in Albion Center, New York.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

September 19, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

The David Wills house had already seen half a century at the time of President Lincoln’s visit, making it currently about two hundred years old. Thanks to the terrific work accomplished by relatively recent renovations, one could never tell its age. The side of the house, on York Street, is perhaps seen less in photographs than the front, which opens onto Lincoln Square and boasts a double statue of Abraham Lincoln and a modern visitor. The bronze plaque seen here to the left of the door includes Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and a raised bust of the president.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. WILLIAM J. NORWOOD

Co. D, 47^TH North Carolina Infantry

Died July 01, 1863

Pvt. Norwood enlisted in March 1862. He was married to Emily and had a son Joseph (age 6 at William’s death) and two daughters, Madora (age 4) and Mary (age 1). Little is known of his life.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray