Latest Tree Clearing at G'Burg

[tomh]

Folks,

The tree clearing efforts on the Slyder Farm are progressing rather nicely!

This week, I had the extreme pleasure of walking Hood's approach (with authors Jim Thomas and Garry Adleman) through the Slyder farm and up to Devil's Den, ground that has not been clear for several decades. The north side of the farm is completely cleared, with a small (about 50 feet) band of trees still seperating the Triangular Field and the Den from the farm. From the farm, you can see the rocks of Houck's Ridge through the trees. Whether planned or inadvertant, they have taken a somewhat dramatic approach to this area. All the cut trees have been removed from the cleared area (unlike other areas where the downfalls remained for a while) and when they do remove the last band of trees it will be like raising a curtain on the view.

On the return trip we walked the length of the Slaughter Pen (the old bridge footings at the electric trolley path have completely washed out from this season's excessive rain) and returned to the Slyder Farm by following Oates' path (in reverse).

The clearing has certainly added to that area. Now, you can see where the 2nd US Sharpshooters were positioned at the onset of the action and follow their retreat, and the CS assault from the southern end of Confederate Avenue. Approaching the Triangular field from the south now gives a much better understanding of how the 124th NY must have felt when CS regiments suddenly appeared a mere 20 yards from their position, and how the CS troops must have felt when they took the last few steps up the incline and suddenly had a clear view of the entire southern part of the ridge.

I am hoping to take photos this week and will post them for everyone's entertainment.

Later,
TomH