JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
One of the most horrifically stark portions of S.G. Elliott's 1864 map of Gettysburg's aftermath. All the IIIIIII's? Not shading by an artist, they're " rebel " graves on the battlefiels. ttttttt, would be Union graves.
When the National Cemetery at Gettysburg was dedicated in November, 1863 it was just dedicated, not completed. The gruesome work disinterring and reinterring-( nice way to say " Finding dead soldiers, digging them up all over the battlefield and moving them to the National Cemetery " ) was on-going. FAR too long to get into, The Elliot Map was also completed in 1864. The thing is, Elliott himself was nowhere near Gettysburg in time to observe any Union graves in their original spots. Confederate graves sure- they were untouched except by Weaver's examinations until 1870 or so.
Sorry, long way around to get to a question, or at least ask for opinions. It's coming, swear!
Key, to reading the map. In some places and you can guess where, those IIIIII and tttttt look like shading, they're so densely packed.
Oddest part about the Elliot Map ( opinion ) would be the dead horses? That they would be included at all seems odd, it's that there seems not-many compared to what we know. ( off thread, just find it odd ) He did manage to scatter them around Meade's HQ though, don't ask me why I find that entertaining, maybe because the famous photograph had already made the rounds?
It was a horrendous job. Samuel Weaver reported it was sometimes a matter of removing as much of a man's remains as was possible. You know that list of objects you can read, things found on those men? Watches, photos, coins? Weaver, Sr,had a kind of hand-made tool he used. Men's remains had lain under the soil for a scant few months remember yet Weaver had to make a meticulous list of what was found with the hence that tool. He used it, a long stick with a hook, to reach into pockets and retrieve personal items. By the 1870's his son Dr. Rufus Weaver perform the same kind of office for Confederate men, using his father's records. Southern mothers, daughters and wives wanted their fallen home.
Part of Weaver, Sr.'s original report, LoC and a few other places.
So take a look at The Elliot Map. Finished by 1864 it's a result of painstaking survey, the old, chain measure survey and records scoured from locals and those who were there. S. G. Elliot himself is a long and not always terrific story. Whatever the case, he somehow collected maps created at the time of the battle, showing locations of graves around weeks post battle, surveyed the ground and left us this crazy record. He simply could not have done it without Weaver, Basil Biggs or any of those contracted by David Wills as part of the cemetery project.
My money is on Dr. O'Neil for some of Simon G. Elliot's information. He made absolutely no secret of his Southern sympathies and had only been in town a few months. His account of the battle is riveting, too- spent most of it out treating wounded and got himself captured ( and released ). What's interesting is he seems to have been left out of the conversation despite stating himself that he kept a careful record during and after the battle of each Confederate grave he came across. How many of the " I " on this map do we owe to Dr, O'Neil and did Samuel Weaver, before Elliot?
The entire map is far too long to get into. What I want to know is why specific names, nearly always those of Confederate men, are painstakingly transcribed along with the locations of their original graves? @lelliott19 , any idea? Asking you because you're good with Georgia regiments, any names stand out please?
Here. " W.R. Bulley, Co. H, 4th Georgia, Lt. K.J. Grannes, Georgia ( regiment not marked ), Lt. R.A. Oursler, 11th Mississippi, Lt. Winn, 4th Georgia, E.T.Covey. 4th Georgia, Lt. Michuen, 13th Georgia
Names of men who were notable or were these graves found and marked by Doc O'Neil during the battle and the days afterwards? Did he insist they be included? For all the " I " and " t " why are these men's grave made notes of? Just a question, it's baffling, that's all. Like I said, long way around to get to the question but it's frequently tough when there's SO much behind the question, you know?
Also REALLY recommend a look at the Elliot Map if anyone's missed it- tough to see but worth it. Anyone with a relative either buried in the National Cemetery OR whose relative died at Gettysburg and is now In Richmond or elsewhere in the South, might find an idea of where they were originally buried.
Map of the battlefield of Gettysburg
Scale 1:9051. LC Civil War Maps (2nd ed.), 333 Inset: Plan of the National Cemetery. Lower right corner: Sketch of the battle of Gettysburg. [Text] Description derived from published bibliography. Available also through the Library of Congress web site as raster image.
www.loc.gov