Version 1.0 Of Animated Map -- The First 4 Hours, Heth Vs Reynolds

johncla

Corporal
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Version one is now up on my page. Go to this address and click on the 'Special Topic -- Heth vs. Reynolds' link.

This map covers the first day, 730am to noon. It focuses on Heth's assault on McPherson Ridge, the defense by Buford's division, and the counter-attack by Wadsworth's division. This animation implements some requested new features:
  • shows movement by regiments, rather than brigades
  • speed control offers reverse, as well as slow, normal, and fast
  • unit IDs display with a mouse-over rather than a click
The timing issues discussed in this thread are resolved.

Any ideas for new features? From here, I plan on updating the existing 'version one' animations of days one, two and three to create 'version two' maps. Fixes and upgrades.

Why do I do this? Because -- seeing something is always the beginning of understanding. I have a general big-picture beef with the way history is presented: too many words, not enough visuals.

For example, how many of us can correctly explain the timing relationship between Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire? Probably not many, because we're missing the visual picture of how it all played out. Classical Greece, Alexander, the Roman Empire ... it's all connected, but we don't see the connections.

Same thing for Gettysburg. Three days, bewildering. Historians like Martin and Pfanz do a great job, but for me it's too micro and I didn't UNDERSTAND it. So, animate it! Web browser plus JavaScript. I hope it helps. I dedicate these maps to all of you, the Gettysburg forum.
 
Much improved. Another step closer to understanding how it all unfolded. Great job!
 
Could the Regiments be identified?

Maybe a "pop-up" for the time and location when Renolyds was killed?

Similar "pop-up" when the prisoners were taken at the rail cut?

It's really good, any plans for a soundtrack in the "normal speed" version maybe?
 
Could the Regiments be identified?
Are the regiments not identified for you? Here's what I see in my browser. Mouse over a regiment icon, and then I expect you will see a popup like in the attached screen shot.

Screen Shot 2020-11-12 at 10.40.59 AM.png
 
Are the regiments not identified for you? Here's what I see in my browser. Mouse over a regiment icon, and then I expect you will see a popup like in the attached screen shot.

View attachment 381309
Ah, yes, I see. This seems to need to be paused to use it well as hoovering over seemed hard as they moved.

By "pop-up" I meant a dot appearing at the spot on the map with a text bubble saying "Renolds fell" XXX prisoners from YYY taken" type of stuff, maybe even the first cannon shot fired? :smile:
 
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