Georgian183
Private
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2021
I definitely know better than that, as I've read the book as well, lol.Just make sure to not ask anyone where Buster Kilrain is buried.
I definitely know better than that, as I've read the book as well, lol.Just make sure to not ask anyone where Buster Kilrain is buried.
You might consider a stop at Fox's Gap on South Mountain. The following link describes the 50th Georgia's actions during the Maryland Campaign.Hey yall. My wife and are planning a trip (good Lord willing and if the creek don't rise) to see Gettysburg and Antietam the last week of Sept. and first week in Oct. We will have a total of six days on the ground. I have already purchased a battlefield guide and map book, as I plan to do more or less what I did at Chickamauga, and actually walk as much of the battlefields as reasonably possible. With this in mind, I was planning to devote at least three whole days at Gettysburg, and if time permitted, also see Antietam. My ancestors fought on both fields, and I especially want to tour the areas they were engaged. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
I definitely plan to, as one of my 3rd great grand-uncles was wounded there, thank you!You might consider a stop at Fox's Gap on South Mountain. The following link describes the 50th Georgia's actions during the Maryland Campaign.
https://mountainaflame.blogspot.com/2011/03/bloody-50th-georgias-sons-are.html
My last visit to Gettysburg was May 2017 when I saw a tour group on horseback. I didn't have time for it myself, but left with the intention of experiencing it on my next visit. If you have three full days, you might enjoy this close up and personal adventure to balance your driving and walking tours.Hey yall. My wife and are planning a trip (good Lord willing and if the creek don't rise) to see Gettysburg and Antietam the last week of Sept. and first week in Oct. We will have a total of six days on the ground. I have already purchased a battlefield guide and map book, as I plan to do more or less what I did at Chickamauga, and actually walk as much of the battlefields as reasonably possible. With this in mind, I was planning to devote at least three whole days at Gettysburg, and if time permitted, also see Antietam. My ancestors fought on both fields, and I especially want to tour the areas they were engaged. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Although from Canada and 8 plus hours away, we have been going down to Gettysburg for 25+ years and although we all have our preferences, our special battlefield spots or area, I found it most helpful, exploring the Seminary Ridge area including the First shot marker as well...Don't forget to visit the Seminary Museum...Reynolds Woods, Lee's HQ....leaving there, head straight to West Confederate Ave, short two blocks away......here you will find most notably monuments from Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Longstreet Monument etc etc ... It's nice to just park the car and walk around..Keep going and eventually end up at Little Round Top where you'll see the most beautiful sight of the battlefield from the Union point of view including Devil's Den..The Union side of the field has amazing monuments such as the PA monument and lots of others.....I could go on and on but a REAL MUST is the Visitor's Center...get tickets for the short movie, Cyclorama of the battlefield and museum...Don't forget the book store for souvenirs...A bus tour of the battlefield or guide in your car is also recommended. Downtown has GREAT shops and restaurants that no doubt needs support...My wife and I rented an apt for a month a couple of years ago and it was amazing...Even though I re-enacted there, spending that amount of time there was simply amazing....so much to see and do...Have a great trip.Hey yall. My wife and are planning a trip (good Lord willing and if the creek don't rise) to see Gettysburg and Antietam the last week of Sept. and first week in Oct. We will have a total of six days on the ground. I have already purchased a battlefield guide and map book, as I plan to do more or less what I did at Chickamauga, and actually walk as much of the battlefields as reasonably possible. With this in mind, I was planning to devote at least three whole days at Gettysburg, and if time permitted, also see Antietam. My ancestors fought on both fields, and I especially want to tour the areas they were engaged. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Grant lead an advance unit ahead of Col. Bouquet, who was heading to Ft. Duquesne. His troops were surrounded by the French and their Indian allies. Many were killed and Grant himself was captured, only to be exchanged a few days later.What is now Rt 40 or the “National Road” is really the path that Braddock and his expedition took & built towards what is now Pittsburgh PA in their effort to wrest the area from French control. Washington’s first endeavor ended in failure, surrendering to the French and their Native allies at Ft. Necessity which is just off of the National Road in Fayette County. Braddock’s expedition was then undertaken to gain the area back. This expedition met with failure when they made contact with French and Native forces just a few miles outside of what is today Pittsburgh. They were soundly defeated at the “Battle of the Monongahela” where General Braddock was mortally wounded. Braddock died during the retreat and the local legend goes that he was buried in the road to hide the gravesite as @Arioch mentioned. Oddly enough, Braddock’s remains were identified and his gravesite is marked just off the road he built, Braddock’s Road-National Road-Rt 40. It’s quite near Ft Necessity itself which must be one of those crazy coincidences of history.
Just outside of Pittsburgh is Braddock Township, in which is the site of the “Battle of the Monongahela”. The main road into the city from this location is Braddock Avenu, a road the General would never travel.
It took the British/Colonials a third try to take the area which started the whole thing. Eventually the did force the French from the “Forks of the Ohio” and built a massive fort on the site- Fort Pitt, this of course became Pittsburgh. Weirdly, a main thoroughfare through downtown Pittsburgh is Grant Street. However, this Street takes its name not from General Grant, but from Major Grant of his majesty’s army. It was Grant who finally wrested the area from the French.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Grant_(British_Army_officer,_born_1720)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pitt_(Pennsylvania)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braddock_Expedition
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Monongahela
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braddock_Road_(Braddock_expedition)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Necessity_National_Battlefield
General Braddock’s Grave:
View attachment 399624
It’s always amazed me that a huge international conflict was started by a young man from Virginia over control of a wilderness confluence of rivers in what is now Pittsburgh. Without this young man going on this fool’s errand then there would be no United States as we know it.
Washington made a special trip to Boston to see Lord Loudon, Braddock's replacement as Commander-in-Chief in the colonies, mainly in order to advance his claim, which as you indicate was rejected. However, he had a subsequently successful career with the British, serving as commander of a two-regiment brigade under Forbes during the latter's advance on Ft. Duquesne. Washington seemed always to be angling for some advantage, a somewhat unattractive personality trait to subsequent historians and his biographers. He clashed with Forbes, who was terminally ill at the time, over the route to be taken, pressing for the old Braddock Road route, mainly because of land investments he had made in the area which would be protected and enhanced by an advance along that route. Nevertheless, with the fall of Duquesne Washington emerged with a reputation as the Colonial officer with the greatest command experience from the war which would serve him well in years to come. Following the campaign and the close of hostilities in the Middle Colonies he resigned and returned to Virginia where he married the Widow Custis and concentrated for a time on his estate at Mount Vernon.... Anyway,...Washington gets the expedition back to headquarters and makes his report...including Braddocks' promise of a royal army commission....The commanding British officer just laughed at Washington (bumpkin colonial)....Washington never forgot this humiliation...and powered his disdain and aggressiveness vs. the British in the coming independence war 10 years later.
Just a suggestion ,but you should buy “Gettysburg “a journey in time and “Antietam” by William Frassanito. I live in Harrisburg so I get down there often. They are photograph books of then and now it will guide you where the photos were taken right after the battle.Hey yall. My wife and are planning a trip (good Lord willing and if the creek don't rise) to see Gettysburg and Antietam the last week of Sept. and first week in Oct. We will have a total of six days on the ground. I have already purchased a battlefield guide and map book, as I plan to do more or less what I did at Chickamauga, and actually walk as much of the battlefields as reasonably possible. With this in mind, I was planning to devote at least three whole days at Gettysburg, and if time permitted, also see Antietam. My ancestors fought on both fields, and I especially want to tour the areas they were engaged. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
I already have the one of Gettysburg and just discovered the one on Antietam which is next on my list!Just a suggestion ,but you should buy “Gettysburg “a journey in time and “Antietam” by William Frassanito. I live in Harrisburg so I get down there often. They are photograph books of then and now it will guide you where the photos were taken right after the battle.
I would love to be able to eventually see all the Civil War battlefields.....my wife and I are taking our dog along as she loves trips too; hopefully there are some dog friendly places around town.I was in Gettysburg this past April and will be again in July. The town is really hurting several businesses are going out and several are hurting so much sure you support local business. Make sure when you visit Gettysburg to plan at least 2 - 3 days. Always know there is more to Gettysburg than just the battlefield. There's a ton of historical places close by as well shops featuring historical items in town. I have also been to Antietam in the fall and I strongly like both battlefields. remember there are other battlefields close to Gettysburg/Antietam.
Great recommendations. I would also add "Grant and Lee: The Virginia Campaigns 1864-1865." William Frassanito has given us a major contribution to the study of these Civil War battlefields.Just a suggestion ,but you should buy “Gettysburg “a journey in time and “Antietam” by William Frassanito. I live in Harrisburg so I get down there often. They are photograph books of then and now it will guide you where the photos were taken right after the battle.
Thank you all for your help. My primary concern is having enough time to properly see the battlefields. My tentative plan is for 3 days at each battlefield, give or take. Is this reasonable?
Welcome Georgian183. You have a lot of good history to look forward to, nothing compares with being able to visit the actual sites in person. Gettysburg has been, in my opinion, improved over time and they got rid of some (but not all) of the honkytonk like the tower and have worked to restore the grounds to be closer to their 1863 appearance. Many parts of the battlefield that were heavily overgrown from time are now visible and the NPS has done a good job of it. By all means try to make some time for the Antietam National Battlefield Park and Harper's Ferry which is not far away from Sharpsburg. In 1983 I spent the day at Gettysburg on a hot July day and then drove into Maryland to see the Antietam battlefield. With all the hills and backroads in Western Maryland I had underestimated how long it would take to get there. It's not so much the amount of miles to drive but you're not on an Interstate to get there. So, I came up to the visitor center just as the head park ranger was closing up and met him as he was on his way out. I had mentioned to him that we had just come down from the Gettysburg battlefield and he said that was best that we saw Gettysburg first and that we would truly appreciate the Antietam battlefield more and he was not wrong. All ACW sites are special but Antietam is one of the most intact with so many original buildings still standing. There are monuments but it is not as cluttered as Gettysburg and not as commercial. Sharpsburg, MD has mostly avoided the heavy commercial development such as Northern Virginia has experienced and you'll get to see one of the best preserved major battlefield sites that still exist. Don't get me wrong... Gettysburg is a great experience, but Antietam is well worth your time.
Bill