Anything to know about Gettysburg but were afraid or too busy to ask?

pamc153PA

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Since this is the Gettysburg forum and we have the blessing and benefit of many folks here who have spent years reading and studying the battle, I thought we could put those resources to use. I know I have been interested in the battle and the battlefield ever since 1999 when I researched relatives who fought in the battle, but there's still tons of questions I have about the battle, the national military park and the town of Gettysburg. I'm sure others do, as well, both newbies and those who have been around the block a few times, so how about let's make this a thread to ask--and answer--some of them?

In order for this to work, a couple ground rules: no question is too stupid to ask, humor is good but taunting is not, anyone can answer a question not just "experts," citing sources would be a good thing so people can check for themselves. The topic is Gettysburg--the town, the battle, the aftermath, the NMP, the soldiers, etc.

I'll start!

I have heard about a farm site on the battlefield called the Masonheimer farm, but I haven't been able to locate it, and I don't know whether it was there at the time of the battle of not. Anyone know? Thanks!
 
Great idea for a thread! I don't know the answer to your question, but the Adams County property records are available online for a small fee at https://adamscountyparecorder.com/external/User/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/external/Index.aspx

The database is supposed to cover years 1800-1936, so property belonging to the Masonheimer family should be included, located and described. Emphasis on "should," I haven't looked. But to save a few bucks, I'll be someone comes along who knows. :bee:
 
I've never really grasped at what point fighting moved through the town of G-burg. And when I was there (wayyy back when I was in 5th grade) we were showed a house inside the city that was potmarked on one whole side of the building with bullet holes and it was an infamous place because of the amount, does Anyone know what place I am talking about?

As a followup to both of my previous questions has "bad" was the fighting inside the town?
 
I've never really grasped at what point fighting moved through the town of G-burg. And when I was there (wayyy back when I was in 5th grade) we were showed a house inside the city that was potmarked on one whole side of the building with bullet holes and it was an infamous place because of the amount, does Anyone know what place I am talking about?

As a followup to both of my previous questions has "bad" was the fighting inside the town?

I think I do, if you're not referring to the Farnsworth house, which is a restaurant on Baltimore Street near where it forks. That has bullet holes, too. But the one I think you mean is in town more, a smallish brick house that is now painted a silver color. It's on the auto tour. According to what I've heard, there was a sharpshooter up in the attic window that the Union soldiers were trying to dislodge, so to speak. That would have been the afternoon and the night of the first day's battle, I think, as the Confederates chased the Union First and Eleventh Corps off Seminary Ridge and Barlow's Knoll through town to Cemetery Hill.
 
This house, the Jacob Stock house?

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Unfortunately, the bullet holes are on the side of the house facing the open lot, so you can't see them.
 
Though the Stock house has it's share of holes I think it is the Farnsworth building. Only place I know with an obvious attic. Over 100 holes all up and down the side. I love the ones with cannonballs in them and the one with another kind of shell the name escapes me at the moment...one near the Seminary.
 
I've never really grasped at what point fighting moved through the town of G-burg. And when I was there (wayyy back when I was in 5th grade) we were showed a house inside the city that was potmarked on one whole side of the building with bullet holes and it was an infamous place because of the amount, does Anyone know what place I am talking about?

As a followup to both of my previous questions has "bad" was the fighting inside the town?
The fighting through the town happened on the first day, after federal troops were forced back into the town. I believe it continued sporadically for the rest of the battle. I thing the house you are referring to is the Farnsworth Inn on Baltimore Street, which has a number of on the side.
 
Here's one about the National Cemetery - a few years ago as my Mom and I were wandering around, she overhead a guide telling his group that the soldiers were buried with their boots closest to the headstones because the designer believed this would allow them to rise and face the battlefield on the day of reckoning. (In other words, they are laid in the ground the opposite way.) I have never been able to find this in print. Does anyone know if it's true?
 
Here's one about the National Cemetery - a few years ago as my Mom and I were wandering around, she overhead a guide telling his group that the soldiers were buried with their boots closest to the headstones because the designer believed this would allow them to rise and face the battlefield on the day of reckoning. (In other words, they are laid in the ground the opposite way.) I have never been able to find this in print. Does anyone know if it's true?
Traditional Chrisitian burial is done in an east -west orientation, so that the head faces east at the Day of Resurrection. I cannot see that this would be different at Gettysburg, but I may be wrong.
 
You mean just factoids in general, things about and around the battle? Here's one which makes me deeply thoughtful.

Our famous Elizabeth Thorn, whose statue stands right through the arch at Evergreen Cemetery in testimony to the 105 graves she dug while pregnant has been a kind of icon. She was also a poor immigrant woman whose husband, the keeper at Evergreen, was away as an enlisted soldier. The cemetery caretaker president president David McConaughy ordered Elizabeth to bury all those dead- it was untidy. So she did.

On another note, O.O. Howard takes a lot of heat, not exactly wearing laurels for his part in the battle but while at the Gatehouse was extremely considerate with the Thorns.

Not a question, just something which has always bugged me. :smile:
 
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Traditional Chrisitian burial is done in an east -west orientation, so that the head faces east at the Day of Resurrection. I cannot see that this would be different at Gettysburg, but I may be wrong.
Thank you for your comment. That's what I was thinking also but I'm wondering what this Guide was talking about.
 
Thank you for your comment. That's what I was thinking also but I'm wondering what this Guide was talking about.
I think maybe the guide heard and perhaps misinterpreted something told to him/her. Perhaps it just happens that the cemetery is oriented in an east west direction, as many are, but the guide did not realize the reason for that, and surmised a reason for the direction. Or I could be completely wrong!:unsure:
 
Please make note of this new information that I just came across that corrects an answer I gave here before, that I truly believed to be true. Even a call today to the G.N.B.P. gave me conflicting information but this is from a correspondence between Gov. Morton and representatives from the Cemetery Commission. Here is the link:https://archive.org/details/soldiersnational00indi

Two feet space is allotted to each, and they are laid with their heads
towards the center of the semi-circle. At the heads of the graves
there is a stone wall, built up from the bottom as a foundation for
the head stones, which are to be placed along the whole length of
each section, and on which, opposite each grave, will be engraved the
name, regiment and company of the deceased.
 
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