Batchelder Maps

[infomanpa]

After much research, I can't seem to get the answer to some questions about maps created by John Batchelder after the battle. Help would be appreciated.

In the Batchelder Papers, there are frequent references to maps 1, 2, and 3, which obviously correspond to each day of the battle. In addition, there are some references to the action at East Cavalry Field that seem to indicate that there were 4 additional maps covering that area (Total = 7 maps). All of the above maps appear to be readily available online from the Library of Congress. Evidently, there are also a set of 28 maps that correspond to specific times of the battle over the 3 day period that were published later. It appears from my research that some believed that the 7 maps were too crowded with detail, so Batchelder simply created these 28 maps by separating the data into specific times during the battle.
My questions:

1. The Batchelder Papers references contain map coordinates such as F-2, H-10, etc. to locate units. The Library of Congress maps include no such coordinates. Why? Are these different maps?

2. Savas Beattie is about to republish the 7 maps, but they claim to include the coordinates. Is it worth getting these maps if they are essentially the same ones that are available online?

3. Evidently, the 28 map set is out of print even though available at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/John-Bachelder-Gettysburg-Map-Set/dp/B005J65RN Are these maps essentially an expansion of the 7 map set with the same information, or are there more details that would make them worthwhile to pursue?

 

[Scott Brown]

The "seven" that came with the first edition of the Bachelder Papers published by Morningside were actually printed on five sheets of paper. One map for each of the three days of the battle, along with four different ECF maps, doubled up, with two on a sheet. The coordinates/grids were created/added by David & Audrey Ladd, who wrote the footnotes in The Bachelder Papers that reference them. They were black & white versions of maps available at LOC.

Years later, when Andy Turner was at the helm of Morningside, he reprinted the set of 28 Bachelder maps (these are different from the seven) , which were in color and included several different maps for each day (with troop positions and movements depicted at different hours of the day).

As for whether they are worth it, I still reference mine a lot. There are errors - and modern map studies like Imhof and Laino and Woods are much more comprehensive - but trying to find them is part of the fun.

 

[Tony Z]

Morningside, 3 decades ago, was a treasure! I bought many, many books from them, and the care used in the physical publishing/printing, was a nod to an earlier time, when books were treasured.

 

[infomanpa]

The "seven" that came with the first edition of the Bachelder Papers published by Morningside were actually printed on five sheets of paper. One map for each of the three days of the battle, along with four different ECF maps, doubled up, with two on a sheet. The coordinates/grids were created/added by David & Audrey Ladd, who wrote the footnotes in The Bachelder Papers that reference them. They were black & white versions of maps available at LOC.

Years later, when Andy Turner was at the helm of Morningside, he reprinted the set of 28 Bachelder maps (these are different from the seven) , which were in color and included several different maps for each day (with troop positions and movements depicted at different hours of the day).

As for whether they are worth it, I still reference mine a lot. There are errors - and modern map studies like Imhof and Laino and Woods are much more comprehensive - but trying to find them is part of the fun.

Thanks you! Then, without buying the soon-to-be-published Savas Beattie maps, you can still see the exact same thing online, only without the coordinates.

Too bad we can no longer access the 28 map set, without sinking about $500. Maybe someone will publish them at a future date.

 

[Scott Brown]

The 28 map set originally listed for $250, and when Morningside was liquidating inventory they could be had for $150.

That was several years ago, of course.

I remember having the set in my hands at the old Greystone and then deciding to pass. Took me several years after that to find a reasonably priced set, but I'm glad I have them. Big maps, 28" by 36". Not as big as the copies the Park has, but not bad.

And if you're into the history of the history like I am, these maps are basically the grandaddy of Imhof, Laino and Woods.

 

[Scott Brown]

Thanks you! Then, without buying the soon-to-be-published Savas Beattie maps, you can still see the exact same thing online, only without the coordinates.

Correct. And frankly, unless you're a novice of the battle (which you are clearly not) you don't need grid coordinates to locate map references.

The paper copies are cool to have though, and I still think the grids/coordinates were a very cool idea.

 

[Scott Brown]

And now the announcement is out that Savas Beatie will be selling 28×36 black and white copies of the seven BP maps on five sheets for 40 bucks.

If I didn't have them I'd be all over that. Less than seven bucks a map shipped.

 

[infomanpa]

And now the announcement is out that Savas Beatie will be selling 28×36 black and white copies of the seven BP maps on five sheets for 40 bucks.

If I didn't have them I'd be all over that. Less than seven bucks a map shipped.

Exactly! I got wind of this a week ago, which is why I started this thread. Since they are so large and I can see the same thing for free online, I will pass on this.

 

[danny]

Morningside, 3 decades ago, was a treasure! I bought many, many books from them, and the care used in the physical publishing/printing, was a nod to an earlier time, when books were treasured.

I too have many, many books purchased from the Youngers

 

[Tony Z]

I too have many, many books purchased from the Youngers

Many years ago, Bob Younger used to come to Gettysburg, during the battle anniversary days, and would have a table at the book sale, that used be held at the middle school, off the Baltimore Pike. Many authors were also present on the same weekend. Also the relic sale occurred, on the Saturday and Sunday immediately after the anniversary days, out at the old Eisenhower complex. Great days!