Help in visiting the Rose Farm

[Georgian183]

Hey yall, my wife and I will be visiting Gettysburg and Antietam for the first time in late September. My ancestors' regiment, the 50th Georgia, fought in and around the vicinity of the Rose Farm, Stony Hill, and the Wheatfield on July 2nd 1863. I have much source material on how the unit and brigade as a whole deployed, so it shouldn't be a problem locating the sites. I have read that the area around the Rose Farm itself is private property, but have been unable to confirm this. I planned to visit the visitor's center to confirm when we arrive, but figured I'd also ask those of you who have visited the area as well. Is the public allowed to walk the grounds in and around the vicinity of the Rose Farm? I also wish to visit the site of Alexander Gardner's famous pictures of Confederate dead taken in the field southeast of the Rose Farm house; if the public is allowed the visit the area, is this field readily accessible? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[lupaglupa]

I so hope you can get to see this! I'm going to tag @Tom Elmore and @Gettysburg Guide #154 here since I think they can help answer your question

 

[MRB1863]

The Rose farm is posted near the corral and house. the orchard across the lane is not. IMHO if you respect a distance from the house, you should be ok. We have been to the site several times. The ruins of the barn are caution net fenced off. Please respect the obvious.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[James N.]

Hey yall, my wife and I will be visiting Gettysburg and Antietam for the first time in late September. My ancestors' regiment, the 50th Georgia, fought in and around the vicinity of the Rose Farm, Stony Hill, and the Wheatfield on July 2nd 1863. I have much source material on how the unit and brigade as a whole deployed, so it shouldn't be a problem locating the sites. I have read that the area around the Rose Farm itself is private property, but have been unable to confirm this. I planned to visit the visitor's center to confirm when we arrive, but figured I'd also ask those of you who have visited the area as well. Is the public allowed to walk the grounds in and around the vicinity of the Rose Farm? I also wish to visit the site of Alexander Gardner's famous pictures of Confederate dead taken in the field southeast of the Rose Farm house; if the public is allowed the visit the area, is this field readily accessible? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

You might find my thread on the subject of interest; that too was my primary intention and on the first trip gave up:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/following-alexander-gardner-at-devils-den-graphic.127728/

However, on a subsequent visit I had better luck which you will see if you read the entire thread - or you might skip to the relevant page:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/following-alexander-gardner-at-devils-den-graphic.127728/page-3

 

[51st Georgia]

51st Georgia descendant here. Enjoy your trip. Would love to hear what you see/find

 

[Georgian183]

The Rose farm is posted near the corral and house. the orchard across the lane is not. IMHO if you respect a distance from the house, you should be ok. We have been to the site several times. The ruins of the barn are caution net fenced off. Please respect the obvious.View attachment 405404View attachment 405405View attachment 405407View attachment 405408
Hope you have a great trip!

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Georgian183]

You might find my thread on the subject of interest; that too was my primary interest and on the first trip gave up:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/following-alexander-gardner-at-devils-den-graphic.127728/

However, on a subsequent visit I had better luck which you will see if you read the entire thread - or you might skip to the relevant page:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/following-alexander-gardner-at-devils-den-graphic.127728/page-3

View attachment 405425

Thank you very much, those threads are exactly what I was looking for (although I had been unable to find them using the search function, go figure!)!

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

Sorry not to have responded sooner. I've been a little busy this week, much of the time happily giving tours. In any event, it looks like MRB1863 provided the proper information.

 

[DugGapRob]

Hey yall, my wife and I will be visiting Gettysburg and Antietam for the first time in late September. My ancestors' regiment, the 50th Georgia, fought in and around the vicinity of the Rose Farm, Stony Hill, and the Wheatfield on July 2nd 1863. I have much source material on how the unit and brigade as a whole deployed, so it shouldn't be a problem locating the sites. I have read that the area around the Rose Farm itself is private property, but have been unable to confirm this. I planned to visit the visitor's center to confirm when we arrive, but figured I'd also ask those of you who have visited the area as well. Is the public allowed to walk the grounds in and around the vicinity of the Rose Farm? I also wish to visit the site of Alexander Gardner's famous pictures of Confederate dead taken in the field southeast of the Rose Farm house; if the public is allowed the visit the area, is this field readily accessible? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

My ancestor was in Co. A, 50th Ga. Infantry. I'd be really interested to find out your itinerary/spots to hit for someone interested in the 50th.

 

[Georgian183]

Awesome! What was your ancestor's name? What I would suggest is purchasing a copy of
Wiregrass to Appomattox: The Untold Story of the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment by James Parrish.

This book covers the unit history from conception to surrender and contains many first hand accounts by members of the unit. As far as visiting Gettysburg, I would spend three whole days there, and progress around the battlefield with a detailed guide that will take you on far more stops than the simple auto tour. The 50th Georgia as you know fought on the afternoon of July 2nd. They formed up along a stone fence that runs parallel to West Confederate Avenue (near the Longstreet observation tower). They then advanced in support of Kershaw's Brigade towards the Emmitsburg Road and the Rose Farm. I chose to walk this entire route. Pay particular attention in and around the Rose Farm, as well as Brooke Avenue. A small walking path leads from Brooke Avenue (before Semmes' Brigade marker on the same side of the road) into a pasture of the Rose Farm where Alexander Gardner took photographs of what are now believed to be dead from the 50th and 53rd Georgia Regiments. I would also visit the area of DeTrobriand and Sickles' Avenue in and around the Stony Hill, where the 50th engaged with the Irish Brigade. And of course the Wheatfield. Please let me know if you need anything further!

 

[DugGapRob]

Awesome! What was your ancestor's name? What I would suggest is purchasing a copy of
Wiregrass to Appomattox: The Untold Story of the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment by James Parrish.

This book covers the unit history from conception to surrender and contains many first hand accounts by members of the unit. As far as visiting Gettysburg, I would spend three whole days there, and progress around the battlefield with a detailed guide that will take you on far more stops than the simple auto tour. The 50th Georgia as you know fought on the afternoon of July 2nd. They formed up along a stone fence that runs parallel to West Confederate Avenue (near the Longstreet observation tower). They then advanced in support of Kershaw's Brigade towards the Emmitsburg Road and the Rose Farm. I chose to walk this entire route. Pay particular attention in and around the Rose Farm, as well as Brooke Avenue. A small walking path leads from Brooke Avenue (before Semmes' Brigade marker on the same side of the road) into a pasture of the Rose Farm where Alexander Gardner took photographs of what are now believed to be dead from the 50th and 53rd Georgia Regiments. I would also visit the area of DeTrobriand and Sickles' Avenue in and around the Stony Hill, where the 50th engaged with the Irish Brigade. And of course the Wheatfield. Please let me know if you need anything further!

Awesome! What was your ancestor's name? What I would suggest is purchasing a copy of
Wiregrass to Appomattox: The Untold Story of the 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment by James Parrish.

This book covers the unit history from conception to surrender and contains many first hand accounts by members of the unit. As far as visiting Gettysburg, I would spend three whole days there, and progress around the battlefield with a detailed guide that will take you on far more stops than the simple auto tour. The 50th Georgia as you know fought on the afternoon of July 2nd. They formed up along a stone fence that runs parallel to West Confederate Avenue (near the Longstreet observation tower). They then advanced in support of Kershaw's Brigade towards the Emmitsburg Road and the Rose Farm. I chose to walk this entire route. Pay particular attention in and around the Rose Farm, as well as Brooke Avenue. A small walking path leads from Brooke Avenue (before Semmes' Brigade marker on the same side of the road) into a pasture of the Rose Farm where Alexander Gardner took photographs of what are now believed to be dead from the 50th and 53rd Georgia Regiments. I would also visit the area of DeTrobriand and Sickles' Avenue in and around the Stony Hill, where the 50th engaged with the Irish Brigade. And of course the Wheatfield. Please let me know if you need anything further!

My direct ancestor was my maternal great-grandfather Newton R. Wells. His brother Jasper was also in Co. A. Most of my other relatives were in Co. B, 4th GVI, and my paternal great-great grandfather was a 2nd Lieut. and later Captain with the Georgia Militia.

I bought "Wiregrass to Appomattox" last year. A proud addition to my library.

Thank you for the info. It is greatly appreciated.

 

[Georgian183]

You are most welcome! Without that book, I know I would not have been able to find the minute areas mentioned. Also, when looking for the small foot path I mentioned, you can see through the woods into the Rose farm pasture. If you walk through this pasture back towards the Rose house, you will come across another stone fence/wall. The remnants of this wall I believe coincides with the same general location mentioned in the book where General Semmes' was said to have been wounded as he was rallying the left wing of his brigade, who had fallen back from the Stony Hill area. The same wall coincides with the where troops under Anderson and Semmes fell back to after being pushed out of Rose woods by Brooke's Brigade.

 

[Bass50Ga]

My relatives were in Company G 50th Georgia, Lt. Col Francis Kearse was
Buried by the Rose Farm Spring house, wherever that was? I'd love to find out it would give a location of the 50th. The time I went to Gettysburg, 2001. My father in law, barely stopped the motor home, didn't get to visit the Rose Farm area.

 

[Georgian183]

My relatives were in Company G 50th Georgia, Lt. Col Francis Kearse was
Buried by the Rose Farm Spring house, wherever that was? I'd love to find out it would give a location of the 50th. The time I went to Gettysburg, 2001. My father in law, barely stopped the motor home, didn't get to visit the Rose Farm area.

Please see the thread (https://civilwartalk.com/threads/adventures-at-gettysburg.189434/) I made detailing my visit to Gettysburg. In the first page of this thread you will find many pictures I took of the area in and around the Rose Farm/Woods.