American Byways

The battle for Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was on.

While the Union commanded ultimate victory over Gettysburg, it helped turn the tide of the Civil War, leading to the overall Federal success. Months after Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address, which helped motivate a nation to heal and unite.

_{Little Round Top was the site of an unsuccessful assault by the Confederate against the Union left flank on July 2, 1863. The incident was considered by many historians to be the key point in the Union Army’s defensive line for that day, and Little Round Top was defended successfully by the brigade of Col. Strong Vincent.}

On July 3, 2009, I traveled from my residence in Cincinnati to Gettysburg to witness the 146th Annual Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment. The festival featured six battle recreations and live mortar fire demonstrations, along with all-day living history programs, Civil War medical workshops, period speakers, two living history activity tents with continuous programs, live Civil War music, period fashion shows, real Civil War weddings, a large and diverse sutler village and a variety of delicious period and modern food and beverage.

It was a trip filled with meeting new characters and learning a bit about what they do for a living and what their role was at the reenactment.

Julio C. Zangroniz, a battlefield photographer who portrays a ‘news correspondent’, started participating in Civil War reenactments in 1987 beginning with a small skirmish at state park near Haymarket, Virginia. Zangroniz never went previously as a spectator. He learned about the Civil War events through a ‘Weekender’ issue of the Washington Post. Zangroniz, a Cuban, said he was inspired most by Pennsylvania colonel who fought in Gettysburg and was also a Cuban.

Sue Sodomin, who has been reenacting at Civil War battlefields for six years, portrays Clara Barton. Barton was a pioneer American teacher, nurse, and humanitarian, and was described as having a “strong and independent spirit.” She is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross.

Her assistant, Anna Carver, is portrayed by Gail Wagner who has been involved with the Civil War reenactment scene for two years. During the Civil War, women were typically not allowed out alone, especially if they were single, hence the need for an assistant.

Sarah Meyers, who portrays an individual from the 46th Pennsylvania Regiment Band from Altoona, Pennsylvania, attempts to sell hardtack to the hungry soldiers. She is a veteran of the reenactment scene, having traveled extensively for the past ten years.

Jim Weiss, who counts himself as a six-year living historian veteran, portrays Stephen R. Mallory, the Secretary of the Navy of the Confederate States of America. Mallory, a Catholic, wanted to get Europe to recognize the Confederates through the church in order to gain legitimacy and support. Many in the Confederacy were Catholics. For Weiss, his influences were Earl Flynn, the 1939 star of the western, Dodge City, and his father, who often gave his son books and materials on the Civil War as a child.

The 2nd South Carolina String Band was formed in August of 1989 by five riflemen of Co.I, 2nd SC Volunteer Infantry, a unit of Civil War re-enactors whose purpose is to perform Civil War music as authentically as possible. They use 19th century instruments to present 19th century music.

I paid a visit to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center along Baltimore Pike south of Gettysburg. The center, a result of a partnership between the National Park Service and the Gettysburg Foundation, is based on a 1999 General Management Plan for the national park.(3) The new $135 million museum opened in 2008, and boasts a sprawling museum on the Civil War from its earliest beginnings to its conclusion. Among its displays are genuine Gettysburg artifacts and documents and a restored Cyclorama.

The Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama was painted by Paul Philippoteaux in the late 1800s. This colossal canvas was created after Philippoteaux studied the battlefield for months, interviewing veterans and using field guides and photographers as references. The original cyclorama measured 377 feet by 42 feet, longer than a football field and as tall as a four-story building.

The cyclorama was in private hands until the 1940s. It was housed in a tile-covered building on Baltimore Pike, however, it lacked any temperature and humidity control, and the painting deteriorated until the new Cyclorama Center was completed in 1962 as part of the national Mission 66 program.

The Cyclorama Gallery featured a central column suspended from steel beams linked with steel cables. It was one of the largest and most ambitious 122 visitor structures constructed during the Mission 66 period, and was designed by architects Richard J. Neutra and Robert Alexander, who led the modern architecture movement. The goal was to respect the historical context of the battlefield while expressing the forward-looking approach of Mission 66.

By the late 1990s, parts of the painting were nearly beyond repair. The canvas survived fires, water leaks and years of display in dusty halls. To fit into some exhibition spaces, portions of the canvas was sliced into panels. For instance, more than 15 feet of the sky were cut away. Restoring Philippoteaux’s canvas painting was a six-year, multimillion-dollar effort that spanned the globe.

Here is a selection of photographs from my trip:

A view of General Reynold’s monument along Chembersburg Pike. Major General John F. Reynolds was one of the Union’s most respected senior commanders, playing a key role in committing the Army of the Potomac to Gettysburg. He was killed at the very start of the battle.

Early morning fog blankets the Pennsylvania memorial.

Spangler Home

Pennsylvania Memorial

At the farm of Abraham Trostle on July 2, Captain John Bigelow positioned six cannons of his 9th Massachusetts Battery against the oncoming Confederates from Peach Orchard. He was backed against the stone walls in the farm, and was prepared to retreat further when Lt. Col. Freeman McGilbery, his superior, ordered that he hold his position until a Union line could be established. Bigelow had to face the oncoming onslaught. While the Confederates charged, only to be decimated by the canons and by the muzzles of the Union guns, they did reach the farm buildings and began shooting at the cannoneers. Bigelow and his troops escaped, and while the Confederates captured four cannons, Bigelow had bought valuable time.

The Peach Orchard battle was a confrontation between Longsteet’s Confederate troops and Sickles’ Union troops. It was the scene of intense fighting on July 2, 1863 when Longstreet ordered the Confederate infantry assault.

Sunset at Trostle’s Barn.

Here are a sampling of photographs from the battle reenactments.

Please click through for the a brief history of the battle, along with information on the visitor’s center, cemetery and reenactment. Attached are photograph galleries containing over 300 images.