Gettysburg 150th Anniversary

[cpt dan blodgett]

Are any of you planning on attending?  Hotels generally sold out in and real close to Gettysburg.
I managed to get government rate of $81 a night in Waynesboro PA about 25 miles away for the week 1 - 8 July.
Think I may be to old and too fat to actually reinact, the thought of lying in the hot sun dressed in wool seems a bit much.
Plan on dressing the part of a 6th US Inf Cpt for the week.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Captain Dan Blodgett,

Wow! Seeing the name Waynesburg brought back memories ... my father's family was all from the Waynesburg/Washington area ...all coal miners ... I never relized Gettysburg was that near ....

TTFN,

[Delmonico]

I had thought about coming with the locals as their camp cook, but it's not going to happen it looks like, pretty sure now I'm not. 

Why would anyone want a motel when their is going to be some of the biggest renactor camping in history there, that's all I wanted to go for was the camp life. 

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I would like to go with some of the guys from my unit out here in the West Coast (20th Maine), but I am getting somewhat old to go on the battlefield.  I was back there for nine days in October of 2011 and will be going back after the 150th stuff is over. 

[cpt dan blodgett]

Delmonico you are prolly correct and from what I have heard about your cooking I should buy a tent just to partake.  The rub is that she who must be obeyed cannot even spell tent let alone think of spending another night in one, so it is either the 5er or a hotel.
At S4 per gallon and 12 MPG for diesel, planes and hotels are less expensive and until we retire cannot really take the time to drive out and back from AZ at 60 mph pulling trailer.

Perhaps in a couple of years I can make some of the midwest/plains musters I really hope to.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Well I fly out  friday morning.  LTC Scratch & PeaPatch will arrive 1 July, Cowtown Scout and his reenactment group get there on the third and participate in the 150 Anniversary Reenactment 4 -8 July

Anyone else out ther going?

[Major 2]

I attended the 118th. in 1981 it was mega event, had this tin type made .... nothing like this 150th going to be 

[US Scout]

Are any of you planning on attending?  ... Think I may be to old and too fat to actually reinact, the thought of lying in the hot sun dressed in wool seems a bit much.
Plan on dressing the part of a 6th US Inf Cpt for the week.

I'll be up on the 3rd for the day.  Meeting some friends from NM and AZ who are flying in to enjoy the event.  We're doing a 4-hour horseback ride with General Lee, then taking a guided tour of the battlefield, and will end the day with dinner at the Farnsworth House with (another) General Lee.  

Having worn a wool uniform at Gettysburg on more summer days than I can count or remember, I'm not overly keen on doing it again, but the group is turning out in uniform (mostly Confederate).

US Scout
Brig Gen, GAF

[cpt dan blodgett]

Update - Arrived safely in good order.  Friday 28th about 4 or 4:30.  Was able find a parking spot in the Visitors Center with no problem.  Not many available but some.  29th was at the reenactor sight for the Blue Grey alliance about 08:00.  Watched the Hanover Cavalry battle.  A couple of presentations in the speakers tent, visited Sutlers Row(s).  Wife's knees and feet started bothering her went to Gettysburg Battlefield, gave wifes Cousin briefing on First days Battle to include a drive up to Herrs Ridge. Missed the day two reenactment battles. Covered Union line for day one of battle from Seminary and where Reynolds fell over to Barlows Knob.  Went to visitors center lot was full but after 1 trip around lot followed guy to car and got a spot.  As I was pulling in an other car pulled out.  Attended two presentations in tent next to visitors center Jeff Shaara gave excellent talk.

Sunday went to blue grey alliance Picketts Charge.  Went to some activities in relation to the opening of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Scmuckers Hall (building Buford went into Cupola)  Reenactors camped on site, blacksmith Shop set up.  Many Canon.  2 from the Battery that came in with General Reynolds.  Am sure one was the #5 gun and the other I think was # 2.  Some person bought all 6 guns for Reynolds Arty Battery tubes 1 - 6 serial number 3 inch ordinance rifles, the only consecutive numbered battery in the army per one of the Reenactor Sgts.  Listened to a concert and a one man band performance of camp songs.

Monday 0800 watched the Reynold battery fire the guns for about 30 min.  Met General Reynolds and Gen Buford.  Listened to pre speachifying concert then the opening speachifying, actually remarks were short and good across the board.  Heard from Seminary and Lutheran Dignitaries, a large donor 150K(excellent talk).  Sen Toomy, PA Gov Corbett (good talk).  Wildcat Band CW era infantry regimental band excellent musically as well as the tie ins and explanations by the band leader to put music in context.  Attended Gen Reynolds and Gen Bufords talks 30 min each on day 1 Battle.  Attended a talk from a historical society presenter on the Fall of Seminary Ridge.  5 Pm ate dinner at the Appalachian Brewing Company of Gettysburg same place had dinner sunday excellent chow and service also could get into the place easily.  After dinner went into Gettysburg maybe 6:30 plenty of parking in National Seminary.  Walked from there to Ritas, power was out so no Gelati, bummer.  Walked back thru Cemetary and listened to a Choir on the battlefield adjacent to the Cemetary.

While at the Seminary Ridge just before the presentation of the Fall of Seminary Ridge, purchased Cupola Tour Tickets for 2 July.  Will tour museum and cupola after the Army Band Concert in the morning.

Crowds not as big and bad as I expected, may get worse we shall see.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Day 2 of Battle, did the Seminary Ridge Museum to include the $29 total package with climbing the Cupola for about 10-15 Min.   Views to east and south now obscured by trees and buildings that did not exist at time of battle, can no longer see the round tops.

From Museum drove confederate ave down past Longstreet memorial back onto Sickles positions at the Peach Orchard on Emmitsburg Road.  Then drove past wheatfield and walked the 6th Infantry Positions on the rocky ridge west of Little Roundtop, drove devils den, wheat field, the woods peach orchard.  Then walked all of little round top Positions.  Met General Grant who somehow made it from Vicksburg to Gettysburg rather swiftly and is due back in Vicksburg to accept surrender on the morrow.  He must be one hell of a horseman.

As it was getting to sundown a spectacular double rainbow appeared with the Arc Centered on the Pennsylvania Memorial looking SSE from Just north of the Memorial on Cemetery Ridge.

Met up with a reenacter from 2 SS complete with green uniform and berdan sharps rifle, great guy good knowledge of Battle and Battlefield.  At the Irish Bde Memorial met up with some reenactors who had crossed the US and Thier Regimental Colors in front of the Monument great photo op.

Today will take in Picketts Charge from the Union Side.  There is a 4th of July Parade and Fireworks display in Gettysburg tonight.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Spent most of the morning doing laundry and other fun stuff.  Got to Gettysburg about 11AM Toured day one positions and walked out to the railroad cut.  Parked the car in front of the statue of my wife's favorite Gettysburg Character the 70 plus year old man that took part in the battle and was wounded 3 times.

Watched pickets charge online with the western line of the bloody angle by the fence from the Barn north of Bloody angle to Emitttsburg Rd.
Even though the folks came in column vs on line was still impressive.

Yesterday when we met Grant on Little Round Top we also met a couple from University of West VA that undertook a project to read all the names of the known dead on both sides arranged alphabetically without regard to side they fought for.  This is the first time in history that this has been down.  My wife and I were invited to take part so we did, in a rotation of readers.  When we arrived at the site of the reading of the roll in the National Cemetery they were up to the "P" having started at 08:00.  We assisted to approximately 7 pm when the final name was read.

After that we photographed the Friendship Memorial erected by the Masons commemorating the Union Captain taking the letter from Gen Armistead for Gen Hancock (very moving).

We took in the Gettysburg Fireworks from the East side of Seminary Ridge about 100 yards from the Cupola on a ridge in front of Valentine Hall.  Pretty spectacular venue and fireworks.

Tomorrow it is on to the Official 150th reenactments.

[Mean Bob Mean]

I attended the 118th. in 1981 it was mega event, had this tin type made .... nothing like this 150th going to be

Nice

[cpt dan blodgett]

Went to Morning Battle of the 150th basically early day one fight, sight well organized and battle well done.  Was hot and humid, with little or no extra shade.  Left about 4 PM after visiting suttler's villiage and ordering a few things I could not do without.  Shipping costs a lot less than an overweight or extra bag on the airplane.  Will take wife to suttlers row 0830 tomorrow, watch morning battle and leave with intention of returning an hour or so before the evening battle.  Met up with Cowtown Scout dressed as a Cavalry LT on the Union Side.  His folks were Bufords Cav South of Chambersberg or Cashtown Pike.