Gettysburg, Part 2, Oct 15, 2011

Today was to be a day of visiting several living history demonstrations and a battlefield walk.  We first stopped at the
Western NY Chapter of the US Sanitary Commission.  Up until today I had no idea this commission even existed.  This appears at Wikipedia “The United States Sanitary Commission was an official agency of the United States government, created by legislation signed by The President of the United States of American, Abraham Lincoln  on June 18, 1861, to coordinate the volunteer efforts of women who wanted to contribute to the war effort of the Union states during the American Civil War.” 

Here Bob is telling the story of how my great grandfather (who was here at Gettysburg) had received a sewing kit from a lady back in Athens County, Ohio (where he was from also), whom he sends a letter to later during the War thanking her for her gift, and then when he is discharged they eventually get married.  These sewing kits or “housewives”  sent to soldiers were one of the items that could have been provided by the Sanitary Commission.  They also worked as nurses, ran kitchens in Army camps, and provided places for the soldiers to rest areas for traveling soldiers.

Then on to the Ohio Valley Civil War Association Living History Demos.  It is amazing how much smoke one cannon firing once can make.  Did you know, the percussion from the cannon firing can even set off car alarms.

While we were visiting in camp, lunch was served, meat loaf (prepared with sausage), macaroni cheese and cooked cabbage.

Bob learning about the guns, (notice the fellow holding down the tent top, he was having a hard time as it was very windy today-gusts to 35 mph)

the artillery shells and the seven positions needed to fire a cannon. 

Here I am holding a 10 pound Springfield Rifle.  The gun that my great grandfather would have used during the Civil War.  I didn’t need help holding the rifle, but Park rules require the fellow keep a hand on the weapons when being shown to the public.

The Ranger program this afternoon was a Battle Walk on McPherson Ridge, Day 1 of the Battle.  The Park is clearing this area so we, the visitor, can see what it was like “then”.

This is what they call a “witness tree”, one that saw the battle.  Too bad these old soldiers can’t talk.