Barlow Knoll

[James N.]

Another of the lesser-visited parts of the Gettysburg battlefield is probably that portion of the first day's fight north of town dominated by the low knob ever since called Barlow Knoll in honor of Union Brig. Gen. Francis C. Barlow who was seriously wounded here directing its defense. When Union Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard arrived on the field in mid-morning of July 1, 1863, it was after the death of John Reynolds who commanded the Left Wing of Meade's army; as next ranking officer, Howard assumed command of the entire battle, turning over command of his XI Corps to Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz, another of the North's "political generals". Schurz directed the corps to the north of Gettysburg to meet a Confederate threat coming from the direction of Oak Hill in the form of brigades from the division of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes. Schurz anchored his right flank, the division of Barlow, on the knoll and faced the rest in a line facing generally to the northwest and Oak Hill. Unfortunately, the simultaneous advance of Rodes' brigades prevented Schurz from linking up with the Union I Corps on nearby Seminary Ridge to the west.

Also most unfortunate for the men of the XI Corps, the Confederate division of Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early was approaching down the York Pike directly upon Barlow's unprotected flank. Although a battery was placed at a refused angle ( seen above in the background ) pointing at Early's men who were by then crossing Rock Creek, it was too little to stop their advance. The onrushing Confederates quickly drove Barlow's men from the knoll, wounding him in the process; the once-familiar story of him receiving succor from Confederate Brig. Gen. John B. Gordon is now thought to be a post-war figment of Gordon's fertile imagination. Barlow, whose statue is seen above, survived his wound and following the Confederate retreat his wife arrived to care for him. Another casualty here was young battery commander Lt. Bayard Wilkenson whose leg was severed by a shell fragment that also killed his horse which fell on him, forcing him to complete the amputation of his leg with a pocketknife! Unfortunately, the plucky lieutenant survived only a short time following his ordeal.

With the capture of Barlow Knoll and the turning of the XI Corps' flank, resistance withered all along the line as units dissolved and withdrew, some fighting and others turning in flight towards the town where many were captured by the advancing Confederates of Rodes' and Pender's divisions. The monument above on Howard Avenue is a fitting representation of the fate of many of these soldiers; note the designation German Regiment, as many of Schurz' men as well as Schurz himself were recent German immigrants in what the rest of the army often referred to as the "Dutch corps". Survivors who made it through the streets of Gettysburg fell back to Cemetery Hill and rallied where a third division had been left under Brig. Gen. Adolph von Steinwehr to secure these important heights.

 

[W. Richardson]

Great photos and a wonderful post, thank you for sharing them.

Respectfully,

William

 

[pamc153PA]

My gggg-uncle was in Company C, 153rd PA in the XI Corps. He was wounded on Day 1 at Barlow's Knoll, taken back to the George Spangler farm, which was the XI Corps hospital, and from there was sent to the Mulberry Street Hospital in Harrisburg. He succumbed to his wound (shot in the shoulder) on July 27, 1863, after his regiment had mustered out as a 9-month regiment.

To say I don't have a soft spot in my heart for Francis Barlow is an understatement. The fact that his statue on Barlow Knoll often has bird poop on it, I think, is rather fitting.

Nice pictures!

 

[cash]

Barlow! Turn around, you idiot, you're looking the wrong way! The rebels are behind you!

 

[James N.]

My gggg-uncle was in Company C, 153rd PA in the XI Corps. He was wounded on Day 1 at Barlow's Knoll, taken back to the George Spangler farm, which was the XI Corps hospital, and from there was sent to the Mulberry Street Hospital in Harrisburg. He succumbed to his wound (shot in the shoulder) on July 27, 1863, after his regiment had mustered out as a 9-month regiment...

So, was he one of the Pennsylvania "Dutch", or were they one of the XI Corps' several "native" units? I didn't make it to the Spangler Farm - it was CLOSED during the week, since it's run not by the NPS like you would think, but by the sleaze Gettysburg Foundation; I guess it wasn't worth their time - or more important to them, MONEY - to open it on a daily basis like the NPS.

 

[cash]

So, was he one of the Pennsylvania "Dutch", or were they one of the XI Corps' several "native" units? I didn't make it to the Spangler Farm - it was CLOSED during the week, since it's run not by the NPS like you would think, but by the sleaze Gettysburg Foundation; I guess it wasn't worth their time - or more important to them, MONEY - to open it on a daily basis like the NPS.

The Gettysburg Foundation provides a lot of money to the Park, so I don't think they're sleaze. The problem they had was lack of manpower to open it on a daily basis. The NPS sure doesn't have the money to station anyone out there either. I don't believe they charge to visit the George Spangler Farm, and the Foundation itself was the group that acquired and restored it out of their funds.

 

[cash]

The Gettysburg Foundation relies on volunteers, and other than retirees most folks work during the week and can't spend their days at the George Spangler Farm.

 

[James N.]

The Gettysburg Foundation relies on volunteers, and other than retirees most folks work during the week and can't spend their days at the George Spangler Farm.

Just another reason this belongs IN the park rather than masquerading as part of it; I was there in the week rather than on a weekend and there was a ranger leading a talk at the Peach Orchard, so they could probably manage SOMETHING, even if it was only for part of the day. I talked to at least one person I consider "in the know" while I was there who's less than thrilled with the direction the NPS has taken with this particular "partnership" which sounds like a strictly commercial venture for this so-called "Foundation".

 

[pamc153PA]

So, was he one of the Pennsylvania "Dutch", or were they one of the XI Corps' several "native" units? I didn't make it to the Spangler Farm - it was CLOSED during the week, since it's run not by the NPS like you would think, but by the sleaze Gettysburg Foundation; I guess it wasn't worth their time - or more important to them, MONEY - to open it on a daily basis like the NPS.

He was one of the "d a m n e d Dutchmen." Northampton County, PA, where his family lived was German enough at the time to support several German language newspapers. He and his father both worked at the Bethlehem Steel in the iron ore mines. When his mother applied for a pension in his name, she needed someone to translate when giving an affidavit because she only spoke mostly PA Dutch.

I was lucky to visit the Spangler farm twice before it was cleaned up as it is now. A LBG who was also working with the Foundation got the okay to take me back there. Walking around, and standing in the barn where my gggg-uncle was, before the place was "sanitized,"was a very moving experience.

 

[cash]

Just another reason this belongs IN the park rather than masquerading as part of it; I was there in the week rather than on a weekend and there was a ranger leading a talk at the Peach Orchard, so they could probably manage SOMETHING, even if it was only for part of the day. I talked to at least one person I consider "in the know" while I was there who's less than thrilled with the direction the NPS has taken with this particular "partnership" which sounds like a strictly commercial venture for this so-called "Foundation".

Well, I don't know who this supposed "in the know" person was, but the Foundation funds and does things that otherwise wouldn't be done, such as the acquiring and restoration of the George Spangler Farm and Civil War Hospital and the erecting and maintaining of fences on the battlefield to show what it looked like in 1863. They partnered with the NPS for the rehabilitation of Cemetery Hill so it will look more like it did in 1863, and they recently purchased the Gettysburg Railroad Station to turn over to the park once Congress passes legislation to include it within the park's boundaries.

 

[pamc153PA]

The Gettysburg Foundation provides a lot of money to the Park, so I don't think they're sleaze. The problem they had was lack of manpower to open it on a daily basis. The NPS sure doesn't have the money to station anyone out there either. I don't believe they charge to visit the George Spangler Farm, and the Foundation itself was the group that acquired and restored it out of their funds.

I agree, cash. The Foundation tends to get a bad rap, but ultimately it's been able to secure land and open places that the NPS just doesn't have money for.

 

[GABoy]

For some reason I have always thought it was Barlow himself that made the decision to use the knoll that bears his name, as good, defensible high ground. Almost like a "mini-Sickles" decision/mistake.

 

[cash]

For some reason I have always thought it was Barlow himself that made the decision to use the knoll that bears his name, as good, defensible high ground. Almost like a "mini-Sickles" decision/mistake.

Yes, it was Barlow's decision.

 

[James N.]

He was one of the "d a m n e d Dutchmen." Northampton County, PA, where his family lived was German enough at the time to support several German language newspapers. He and his father both worked at the Bethlehem Steel in the iron ore mines. When his mother applied for a pension in his name, she needed someone to translate when giving an affidavit because she only spoke mostly PA Dutch.

I was lucky to visit the Spangler farm twice before it was cleaned up as it is now. A LBG who was also working with the Foundation got the okay to take me back there. Walking around, and standing in the barn where my gggg-uncle was, before the place was "sanitized,"was a very moving experience.

Out of curiosity, ( you've probably told this before, but if so I haven't seen it ) were the family long-time residents or relative newcomers? I'm especially interested in the stories of the so-called "Hessian" soldiers captured at Trenton and other places who were often sent to established areas within the former colonies like that part of Penn. and the Shenandoah Valley where German settlement had already begun. Likely, quite a few of these P.O.W.'s found ways to "disappear" and remain rather than returning to the various Germanic states.

 

[pamc153PA]

Out of curiosity, ( you've probably told this before, but if so I haven't seen it ) were the family long-time residents or relative newcomers? I'm especially interested in the stories of the so-called "Hessian" soldiers captured at Trenton and other places who were often sent to established areas within the former colonies like that part of Penn. and the Shenandoah Valley where German settlement had already begun. Likely, quite a few of these P.O.W.'s found ways to "disappear" and remain rather than returning to the various Germanic states.

I was able to trace my father's side of the family back to the mid-1600s in the Palantine (Germany) before the trail petered out. The first Rothrocks who immigrated here from his family got here in the mid-to-late 1700s.

 

[James N.]

I agree, cash. The Foundation tends to get a bad rap, but ultimately it's been able to secure land and open places that the NPS just doesn't have money for.

As you can see, I have strong and negative opinions about this particular subject, but don't want to "clutter up" this particular thread regarding what I imagine has surely been discussed fully here previously. Do you have any links or know what particular titles might be searched on the Gettysburg Forum or elsewhere regarding this topic? I'd like to read more on both sides of the issue, pro and con.

Also, it's nice to be able to trace your family back so far - I have one member of mine named Finney or Phinney who was supposedly born on the Northern Neck of Virginia in 1725 and relocated to South Carolina before the Revolution.

 

[MRB1863]

Thanks to all! Enjoyed reading each of these posts! Empathize with all the sentiments. Additionally, each time I visit Barlow's Knoll, I also stop at the Alms House Cemetery. Just something about that place, too.

 

[Miles Krisman]

Just to clarify a bit, Barlow did choose the knoll as his position and chose well, because for at least a few hours, his command inflicted heavy casaulties on the Confederates under General Robert Rodes. For much of the afternoon, Rodes' men were subjected to a enfilading fire that prevented them from over-running the Federals under General Baxter. It was only later in the day, with the arrival of large body of additional Confederates under Early and Gordon on Barlow's right flank and rear, that his command was disabled.

 

[James N.]

Thanks to all! Enjoyed reading each of these posts! Empathize with all the sentiments. Additionally, each time I visit Barlow's Knoll, I also stop at the Alms House Cemetery. Just something about that place, too.

We got to the Almshouse Cemetery too, but for some reason, I failed to take any pictures of it.

 

[MRB1863]

We got to the Almshouse Cemetery too, but for some reason, I failed to take any pictures of it.

Welllllll..............
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................here are a few.............