Spangler Meadow ca. 1890 T&N

Gettysburg Greg

First Sergeant
Joined
Jun 6, 2010
Location
Decatur, Illinois
meadow2.jpg


The top photo is circa 1890 and shows the Spangler Meadow with the completely barren Powers Hill in the background. The meadow in the foreground is where the futile attack of the 27th Indiana took place. The view is from behind a stone wall that was occupied by an unseen Confederate regiment. The top arrow points out the location of the 27th's monument where the charge began. The lower arrow marks the location of the advance marker only 90 yards away. It was here that the charge was turned back after the 27th suffered over 100 casualties. Unfortunately, when I took the now photo a couple of summers ago, the meadow was overgrown so the advance marker isn't visible. However, I pointed out the regimental monument to show the same orientation.
 
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I believe the 27th Indiana and the 2nd Massachusetts were pretty well slaughtered there on July 3rd.

The Battle of Gettysburg - Friday July 3, 1863
Spangler's Spring - The 27th Indiana & the 2nd Massachusetts
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On the morning of July 2, 1863, the men of the 12th Corps were determine to take back the earthworks taken by the Confederates the previous night. The men of the Confederate 2nd Corps watched their union counterparts warily from the tree line behind the monument pictured. Believing that the Confederates in his front held a vulnerable position, Colonel Silas Colgrove ordered the 27th Indiana forward. Savaged by a hailstorm of Southern lead, the Hoosiers' grit only allowed them to travel half way across this open field. With appalling loss, they were forced to retreat, losing about a third of their men with no gain to warrant their sacrifice. [33]
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"The only possible chance I had to advance was to carry his position by storming it. I selected the Second Massachusetts and Twenty-seventh Indiana for the work, and ordered the Second Massachusetts to charge the works in front of their position; the Twenty-seventh, as soon as they should gain the open ground, to oblique to the right and carry the position held in the ledges of rocks. At the command. "Forward, double-quick!" our breastworks were cleared, and both regiments, with deafening cheers, sprang forward. They had scarcely gained the open ground when they were met with one of the most terrible fires I have ever witnessed. Up to this time the enemy had remained entirely concealed. It had been impossible to tell anything about his strength in our immediate front, but it was now clearly ascertained that he had massed a heavy force at that point. It seemed that the two regiments were devoted to destruction. Undaunted, on they charged, officers leading and cheering their men.

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The Second Massachusetts succeeded in clearing the open ground to the left of the breastworks. The Twenty-seventh Indiana, having obliged to the right, had nearly double the distance to traverse to gain the position of the enemy, but on it went; at every volley of the enemy, gaps were being cut through its ranks. It became evident to me that scarcely a man could live to gain the position of the enemy. I ordered the regiment to fall back behind the breastworks, which it did. The Second Massachusetts was also overpowered by numbers, and had to fall back. The Twenty-seventh had scarcely gained the breastworks when the rebels in turn charged, with the intention of carrying our works. As soon as they had fairly gained the open ground, I ordered fire to be opened upon them, the Third Wisconsin, Twenty-seventh Indiana, and part of the Thirteenth New Jersey firing from the breastworks; the Second Massachusetts, from the new position on the left, had an enfilading fire upon them. At the first fire they were completely checked, and at the second they broke in confusion and fled, leaving their dead and wounded upon the field." - Colonel Silas Colgrove. [5]

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To your left you see the marker noting the point of advance reached by the 27th Indiana. This marker is situated in the open field about half way between the 27th monument and the Confederate works in the tree line in the distance. The marker reads simply, "27th Indiana Infantry. This marks the farthest point gained by the regiment in its charge at 6am July 3D, 1863 on the works at the base of the hill behind this tablet. Four color bearers were killed and four were wounded."




Courtesy of: http://www.brotherswar.com/Gettysburg-3j.htm
 
The time of the attack is subject to much dispute. I favor a few minutes before 5 a.m. When the attack was launched, the stone wall on the north end of the swale was held only by a portion of the 2nd Virginia, separated from Steuart's left wing. However, Smith's brigade was just then moving up to fill the gap at the wall, with the 49th Virginia in the lead, followed by the 52nd Virginia. It was the 49th Virginia that played the most significant role in the repulse of the 27th Indiana, and it was the 49th Virginia that soon counterattacked across the same field and was in turn repulsed. I figure the position of the observer in the above (post #1) photographs is close to where the left of the 49th Virginia, and the right of the 2nd Virginia, rested.

Not far off the left flank of the 2nd Massachusetts at its furthest advance was the large but untried 1st Maryland (Union) Potomac Home Brigade (regiment), which then occupied the south edge of Pardee field, with its right wing having moved briefly further into the woods on the east side of Pardee field.
 
Nice. I always got a laugh from the marker at Spanglers Spring because they actually show a fish hook on their map.

I have mentioned in other posts that I enjoy visiting Gettysburg from November through March. March is my favorite month as the grass and brush has been beaten down by winter and without leaves, the sightlines are great.

Gettysburg is splendid in summer, but you learn so much more in cold months.

Great post.
 
Nice. I always got a laugh from the marker at Spanglers Spring because they actually show a fish hook on their map.

I have mentioned in other posts that I enjoy visiting Gettysburg from November through March. March is my favorite month as the grass and brush has been beaten down by winter and without leaves, the sightlines are great.

Gettysburg is splendid in summer, but you learn so much more in cold months.

Great post.
You do tours? Individuals?etc.
 
You do tours? Individuals?etc.
Kind of.

I have been taking freinds, family and coworkers to Gettysburg for years. I am well read on Gettysburg, but attempting to memorize all the actions is something I simply can't do. I use a couple map books with the regiments shown only if I have to. I normally determine an itinerary and put notes gathered from books and the internet on index cards. I have found most people aren't terribly interested in regiments and casualty statistics. Typically they want to see Picket's Charge and the 20th Maine. I have 2 buddies that I take frequently that are into the details of Gettysburg. So they are challenging to come up with something new. Trust me, I could not pass a Gettysburg License Guide test. But I try.

I can navigate myself around the battlefield really well. I probably have over 120 days on the battlefield over the years.
The only place I haven't been to is Neill Avenue. It is called Lost Avenue for a reason. I love taking people to places they have never been to. Some are in wide open areas such as the 1st Minnesota monument which remarkably not many know about their day 2 action. Others are out of the way spots with interesting tales (such as the Rose Farm rocks, "DA" rock,etc).

Everytime I see Greg's postings it feels like I am going home. I have seen most of the Then photos ( but not many of the art work he uses) over the years. But when he posts the now photos, it seems like I am standing right there.

It does appear that Greg's photos are taken in the summer. But as I stated above, summer brings weeds, brush and leaves which obscures the sight lines. The NPS has removed trees and brush which helps a lot but you need the cold weather months to really see things.

Take a look back at Greg's same sharpshooter post. His now rock photo was taken with high weed growth. The NPS has cleaned brush up in that area. Scroll down and look at my March '16 photo of that rock. That rock is completely exposed showing it in its full glory.

Unfortunately I couldn't make it to last years CWT Gettysburg's gathering. I would love to spend time on the battlefield with the experts found here. Hopefully I can attend a future gathering. I hope that one day a March or November CWT gathering could be made so people could see Gettysburg without its summer bloom.

I live 140 miles west of Gettysburg so it is an easy day trip for me. I would be glad to meet people on the battlefield anytime the schedules allow. Long rambling post, sorry, but I am retired.
 
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