October 31, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

 

This early spring scene in Rose Woods along DeTrobriand Avenue shows the natural state of the battlefield before the blooms emerge. I can only guess at the age of the old stone structure, but it’s somehow simple and beautiful all at once. I would think that this is a tributary of Plum Run. I’ve also been here in the summer, and this area is much more vibrant, a blanket of green contrasting with the perpetual muddy color of the stream. Then again, Gettysburg is beautiful any time of the year. I should know. :-)

**HONORED TODAY**

3^RD SGT. THOMAS CLEMENT OAKES

Co. B, 38^TH Virginia Infantry

Born April/July 23, 1832 --- Died August 02, 1863

 3^RD Sgt. Oakes enlisted in April 1861. He was married to Altoney and had 2 children. He was first buried “under a walnut tree on the hill between the Schwartz and Bushman farms” and later re-interred at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. Pvt. James Allen Oakes of the same regiment also died at Gettysburg and was probably Thomas’s cousin. 

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

October 26, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

Check out this view of the Philip Snyder farm from Little Round Top. This lonely little house was built in the early to mid 1830s and even has an outhouse (seen to the left of the house and a large tree). The white rectangular structure further to the left is the Arkansas State Monument which dates from 1966. The part of the woods seen behind the monument was the starting-point for the 3^RD Arkansas Infantry.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. GEORGE H. NICHOLSON

Co. H, 126^TH New York Infantry

Died July 15, 1863

Pvt. Nicholson enlisted in August 1862. He was wounded in the leg on the 3^RD of July and suffered an amputation, dying 12 days later. After an initial burial at Jacob Schwartz’s farm he was laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Gettysburg. (His stone says “126^TH Excelsior”).

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

October 24, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

The light at the end of the (rock) tunnel

Standing beneath the “Duck Rock” at Devil’s Den sure reminds a person how small they are. As you can see, it’s not the sort of place to just skip and run with pure abandon unless you want a broken ankle (or a broken anything, really), but if you’re just taking your time and enjoying the view, go for it. I like how the light intrudes on this shot; in this ancient space there’s shadow and seclusion, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel . . .

**HONORED TODAY**

LT. COL. JAMES WASHINGTON HANCE

53^RD Georgia Infantry

Born October 26 or November 30, 1828 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 34

Lt. Col. Hance, originally a member of the 19^TH Georgia Infantry, was married to Sallie and had four little girls at the time of his death, Blanch (age 6), Lela (age 5), Sallie Jo (age 4), and Mamie (age 2). He was killed in battle and is buried at Laurens City Cemetery in Laurens, South Carolina.

(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray

October 19, 2016

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

In this shot, I’m standing at the Spangler farm looking toward the Sherfy farm (the farmhouse and barn are visible at center left). To the left is Big Round Top, looking rather scraggly. The Henry Spangler farm is a very peaceful and interesting place to explore if you don’t mind a relatively long trek from Confederate Avenue during which time you’ll be obliged to navigate huge piles of horse,  um, waste. Well, it makes it more authentic, at least. I’m sure farm folks in the 19^TH century were similarly engaged in avoiding the “presents” their equine friends left behind.

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. HUDSON THOMPSON

Co. I, 111^TH New York Infantry

Born 1831 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 32

Pvt. Thompson enlisted in August 1862. He was wounded in the lungs on the second day of battle and subsequently died, eventually being laid to rest in Gettysburg’s National Cemetery.


(c) 2012-2016 Skies of Blue and Gray