James Walker painting

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

Two of my latest works; the second one being finished today , you may notice some of my favourites regiment depicted there : the 25th Texas inf. and the renowed 6th Iowa inf. (If they hadn't existed, they should have).
Sorry for the ugly green in the second scene, I was out of the good one...

 

[Tom Elmore]

I just realized that Walker shows a burning structure in the distance on the right. I presume it to represent the Emanuel Harmon place just west of Willoughby Run. Amelia Harmon recalled that their farmer had gone away prior to the battle with the horses to hide them in the hills. When Pettigrew's brigade advanced at this hour, she went up from the cellar to the kitchen to find a group of Confederate soldiers lighting up a pile of newspapers, books, rags and furniture, with the intent of burning the house down. She saw no pity in their faces. They believed the Federals had been using the house as an elevated platform to shoot down their men prior to the advance and therefore their action was justified. She fled her burning house in the direction of the Confederate lines.

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

You may notice there some variants of the butternut colour (the soldier firing kneeling first plan, the flag bearer top left...), and two officiers with towels (?) under their hats (Foreign Legion style, but they show it in "Fort Apache" Henry Fonda wears this).

 

[Rhett Butler]

It's an interesting and fun story; here's the short form.
Dad was raised in Gettysburg going into the military after Gettysburg College, training to become a B-17 bomber pilot at Sebring, FL and Shreveport Louisiana, Barksdale Field! Mother worked at the base in Sebring. They married and came back to Gettysburg after the war where I was born.
His folks are from Pottstown where G-G Uncle Ed (121st Pa, Pvt. Edmund Wells) was from. We found information about him in a box in a closet with a letter and papers dad said I should check out. Unfortunately, I didn't know of the box and story therein until after my guiding years. Again, keeping it short, he was wounded in the arm at Fredericksburg (Meade-Reynolds), shot in the mouth at Gettysburg (1st Corps), surviving both, living until the age of 92; 26 at Gettysburg.
Finding his information spurred considerable research, finding that mother's people originally from Waresboro, Ware County, Ga, were also at the battle with Semmes (McLaws-Longstreet) in the 50th Ga, Co-A and Co-B, and Gordon (Early-Ewell) in the 26th Ga, Co-K and Co-L; Pvt Wm. Harris King, Junior 2nd Lt Willoughby Minchew and their brothers in the 26th, 5th Sgt Andrew J King, 3rd Cpl Lewis Minchew. Brothers. William would be a grandfather, Andrew an uncle, the Minchew's cousins. Although Edmund Wells survived the war, none of the others did. Andrew was killed in action in the trenches at Petersburg June 18th-1864, Lewis was killed in action at Spotsylvania May 12th, Willoughby was wounded and captured at Cedar Creek Oct 19th-1864, drying as a prisoner of war the 24th with William dying somewhere in Virginia Sept 9, 1863 of sickness or perhaps from a wound at Gettysburg, we don't know.
I had great help with my research through Col. Jacob Sheads and Dr. Harry Pfanz, NPS employes and great people. I knew Col. Sheads as we were both town folk and he my history teacher in HS, and Dr. Pfanz when guiding out of the old Visitors Center in Zieglers Grove where both were stationed. I was allowed to use the Park Library with Dr. Pfanz tolerating my pestering him with too many questions he happily answered.

Well that was so very interesting! I appreciate the detailed account of your family tree and how involved your relations were involved (on both sides!) during the war with the inevitable sadness of some of them being casualties.
I must confess that I prefer the original Visitors Centre in Zieglers Grove but things change.
It was kind of you to take time out and share- I feel perhaps privileged . Thank you.

 

[Rhett Butler]

Interesting phrasing, what are some of your reasons? (I'm curious, as I know little of Hooker)

Okay- the comment was slightly jocular. However, I have read accounts where his headquarters was described as a saloon, he enjoyed a glass or three of the "hard stuff". In modern terms he was a "party animal" . He also had a streak of insolent insubordination ( actually this saved lives at Fredericksburg in 1862 when he deliberately prevented troops from engaging in Burnside's useless assaults against General Lee's lines) . As an aside the term "hooker" does not stem from Hookers fondness for ladies although there were always ladies present and the press called them "Hooker's Division"- the term was used much earlier in the late 1830's. So that is Hooker the playboy but on the other side of the coin- he was a good organiser- setting up an office for co-ordinating military intelligence, ensured regular issue of food rations to the army, regular pay, and had a good grasp of strategy- he caught Lee unawares at Chancellorsville but then lost confidence in himself and with it any chance of success.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Two of my latest works; the second one being finished today , you may notice some of my favourites regiment depicted there : the 25th Texas inf. and the renowed 6th Iowa inf. (If they hadn't existed, they should have).
Sorry for the ugly green in the second scene, I was out of the good one...

View attachment 488312

View attachment 488313

These remind me of the Lakota ledger art of the late 19th century, i.e. Amos Bad Heart Bull´s drawings.

 

[Rhett Butler]

You may notice there some variants of the butternut colour (the soldier firing kneeling first plan, the flag bearer top left...), and two officiers with towels (?) under their hats (Foreign Legion style, but they show it in "Fort Apache" Henry Fonda wears this).

Thanks for posting your artwork- vibrant with plenty of action. Is it okay if I download them?
The officers you have shown in your pictures are wearing "havelocks" named after colonel Havelock who served in the British army in India. They were designed to protect the wearer from the sun and insect bites. Havelocks were introduced into US and CS armies but were unpopular (not sure why) and ended being used to strain coffee grounds amongst other things. Yes I do recall Henry Fonda wearing a trim kepi complete with his havelock. Also features in the film Shenandoah- several CSA soldiers are wearing them. Like your "pen name" by the way. Major Dundee was a great picture with a rousing musical score (the original score not the new version)

 

[JineArtillery]

Okay- the comment was slightly jocular. However, I have read accounts where his headquarters was described as a saloon, he enjoyed a glass or three of the "hard stuff". In modern terms he was a "party animal" . He also had a streak of insolent insubordination ( actually this saved lives at Fredericksburg in 1862 when he deliberately prevented troops from engaging in Burnside's useless assaults against General Lee's lines) . As an aside the term "hooker" does not stem from Hookers fondness for ladies although there were always ladies present and the press called them "Hooker's Division"- the term was used much earlier in the late 1830's. So that is Hooker the playboy but on the other side of the coin- he was a good organiser- setting up an office for co-ordinating military intelligence, ensured regular issue of food rations to the army, regular pay, and had a good grasp of strategy- he caught Lee unawares at Chancellorsville but then lost confidence in himself and with it any chance of success.

That is quite interesting, the juxtaposition! What are some books/accounts you'd recommend about him? I need to build my Eastern Theater library (so many Grant books, so little of anyone else).

 

[Poorlaggedman]

I desperately wanted to use this painting but I refused to pay an exorbitant fee to a random image rights company that did not own this public domain piece.

The original is allegedly at the West Point Museum. I would drive the four hours there and steal photos of it but I've been given no guarantee it's even on display. It's near impossible to find a good high resolution copy online.

All art is just interpretation. What I like about this one is it shows an oft-overlooked moment with Union troops executing a fighting withdrawal in front of Seminary Ridge. Static maps never show the transition from one battle line to the next.


Everything is a bit too clean for my tastes aside from the debris and wounded lying about.

 

[121st PA Vols]

Well that was so very interesting! I appreciate the detailed account of your family tree and how involved your relations were involved (on both sides!) during the war with the inevitable sadness of some of them being casualties.
I must confess that I prefer the original Visitors Centre in Zieglers Grove but things change.
It was kind of you to take time out and share- I feel perhaps privileged . Thank you.

Rhett, I put that on the board once or twice or aspects of same since joining last year and of course you're welcome. As a 'townie', most of my entries are about direction, distances, "go to this or that monument then left!"....and so forth. Nothing too Earth shattering tho I'm a student of the battle and former LBG. It's interesting that a broad-sweeping stylized painting can of itself be so inspirational to probably quite a few of us. Maybe because it's broad and sweeping! Gets you attention.
And the Allen C Redwood illustration of action along the Chambersburg Pike at McPherson's Barn is awesome and wow accurate. That's almost exactly where I gave my first tour at the West End Guide station, now a rest facility I think and I'll stop there before waxing too nostalgic. Hard looking at all the entries and not reminiscing as it's where this or that happened, a fight, football game-practice, sledding as kids (E. Cem Hill), MC accident (ouch), running the avenues to get in shape (Culps Hill and back, Spanglers Spg if we lost) etc, etc and I'll shut up.
I liked the Old Visitors Center too. Quite an Architectual statement and had mixed feeling with its demise tho it had little space to show artifacts. The Electric Map was innovative and extraordinary in the number of artifacts displayed. I'm not a fan of the new one but realize things change and perhaps it manages crowds better.
If anyone on the board remembers Fantasy Land, the new visitors center is right on that property with a few remnants still to be found if you like trapsing through the woods.

 

[Rhett Butler]

That is quite interesting, the juxtaposition! What are some books/accounts you'd recommend about him? I need to build my Eastern Theater library (so many Grant books, so little of anyone else).

The best way I found to learn about various generals and their backgrounds is to focus on those books which concentrate on specific battles or campaigns so as regards Hooker books about Chancellorsville, Antietam and Fredericksburg will contain anecdotes about him. A good start is the Army of the Potomac triology by Bruce Catton- the first 2 "Mr Lincoln's Army" and "Glory Road" do feature Hooker. I think there is perhaps one biography called Fighting Joe Hooker by Walter Hebert written in the 1940's so not likely to be in print.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Rhett, I put that on the board once or twice or aspects of same since joining last year and of course you're welcome. As a 'townie', most of my entries are about direction, distances, "go to this or that monument then left!"....and so forth. Nothing too Earth shattering tho I'm a student of the battle and former LBG. It's interesting that a broad-sweeping stylized painting can of itself be so inspirational to probably quite a few of us. Maybe because it's broad and sweeping! Gets you attention.
And the Allen C Redwood illustration of action along the Chambersburg Pike at McPherson's Barn is awesome and wow accurate. That's almost exactly where I gave my first tour at the West End Guide station, now a rest facility I think and I'll stop there before waxing too nostalgic. Hard looking at all the entries and not reminiscing as it's where this or that happened, a fight, football game-practice, sledding as kids (E. Cem Hill), MC accident (ouch), running the avenues to get in shape (Culps Hill and back, Spanglers Spg if we lost) etc, etc and I'll shut up.
I liked the Old Visitors Center too. Quite an Architectual statement and had mixed feeling with its demise tho it had little space to show artifacts. The Electric Map was innovative and extraordinary in the number of artifacts displayed. I'm not a fan of the new one but realize things change and perhaps it manages crowds better.
If anyone on the board remembers Fantasy Land, the new visitors center is right on that property with a few remnants still to be found if you like trapsing through the woods.

Although I´m not a townie, my family stopped in Gettysburg often when I was growing up. It was just about the limit of how far my Dad wanted to drive with a car and trailer on a Friday, or on the first day of a vacation. So I saw the twon a lot. My parents honeymooned in Gettysburg, too. Then... I went to Gettysburg College - class of 1984. Like you, a lot of my battlefield memories are about other things that happened on the national park besides the battle. (We used to leave a jack-o-lantern in the Castle on LRT every Halloween.) I remember Fantasyland fondly! Mother Goose, the Musselman´s Johnny Appleseed and the animal show where the chickens wore little Civil War hats and fired cannons at each other. (Really.) There were still a lot of bits and pieces left of that park in the early 80s, and one spring night my friends and I sneaked under the fence and explored - one of my few excursions into urban exploration. I claimed an exit sign from one of the farm buildings as a last Fantasyland souvenier. I still have it. (I should probably stop threadjacking and confessing to trespassing now. )

 

[Rhett Butler]

Rhett, I put that on the board once or twice or aspects of same since joining last year and of course you're welcome. As a 'townie', most of my entries are about direction, distances, "go to this or that monument then left!"....and so forth. Nothing too Earth shattering tho I'm a student of the battle and former LBG. It's interesting that a broad-sweeping stylized painting can of itself be so inspirational to probably quite a few of us. Maybe because it's broad and sweeping! Gets you attention.
And the Allen C Redwood illustration of action along the Chambersburg Pike at McPherson's Barn is awesome and wow accurate. That's almost exactly where I gave my first tour at the West End Guide station, now a rest facility I think and I'll stop there before waxing too nostalgic. Hard looking at all the entries and not reminiscing as it's where this or that happened, a fight, football game-practice, sledding as kids (E. Cem Hill), MC accident (ouch), running the avenues to get in shape (Culps Hill and back, Spanglers Spg if we lost) etc, etc and I'll shut up.
I liked the Old Visitors Center too. Quite an Architectual statement and had mixed feeling with its demise tho it had little space to show artifacts. The Electric Map was innovative and extraordinary in the number of artifacts displayed. I'm not a fan of the new one but realize things change and perhaps it manages crowds better.
If anyone on the board remembers Fantasy Land, the new visitors center is right on that property with a few remnants still to be found if you like trapsing through the woods.

Some interesting points! During my visits to Gettysburg I noticed folk "running the avenues" and always thought what a great way to keep fit and broaden your mind! When I first visited the battlefield (1976!!) my starting point was West End Guide station and because it was my first visit I had the guided drive tour and thankful I was too. Looking and studying a map did not prepare me for the reality .
The electric map I saw much later in1993 and was impressed. The interpretation of the events as they unfolded over the three days was easy to absorb and provided a good basis on which to tour the various "hot spots" on the actual field. The electric maps at Petersburg and Wilson's Creek were about as good. I am not sure if this was a National Park Service initiative or just done at certain battlefields.
I was never aware of Fantasy Land- perhaps for the best I probably would view it in the same light as the car sales dealership which was located on the first days conflict north of Gettysburg, thankfully it is long gone.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I remeember that dealership! I used to run by it on the way to Barlow´s Knoll.

 

[121st PA Vols]

7th Wis; I like the jack-o-lantern atop LRT. We did massive fireworks at Devils Den and LRT that didn't go over well with thrangers.

Although I´m not a townie, my family stopped in Gettysburg often when I was growing up. It was just about the limit of how far my Dad wanted to drive with a car and trailer on a Friday, or on the first day of a vacation. So I saw the twon a lot. My parents honeymooned in Gettysburg, too. Then... I went to Gettysburg College - class of 1984. Like you, a lot of my battlefield memories are about other things that happened on the national park besides the battle. (We used to leave a jack-o-lantern in the Castle on LRT every Halloween.) I remember Fantasyland fondly! Mother Goose, the Musselman´s Johnny Appleseed and the animal show where the chickens wore little Civil War hats and fired cannons at each other. (Really.) There were still a lot of bits and pieces left of that park in the early 80s, and one spring night my friends and I sneaked under the fence and explored - one of my few excursions into urban exploration. I claimed an exit sign from one of the farm buildings as a last Fantasyland souvenier. I still have it. (I should probably stop threadjacking and confessing to trespassing now. )

That's great the experiences of Gettysburg seemed to enrich you and the folks as I know from the guide years and as a native it has to many, many others. There is magic about the place that predates Colonial America with good hunting and restorative qualities (some would say) of the many springs that still crisscross the place. There is some evidence of a substantial battle fought there years ago according to the archeological record. Whatever the attraction, great numbers of people return for one reason or another.
That's a great story about jack-o-lanterns at LRT. My pranks were less creative, sneaking a cigarette into Gen. Warren's mouth (perfect fit) when no one was looking then watching the tourists howl. Then there were rockets and cherry bombs at Devils Den and atop the towers and I'll stop there tho no damage was done or intended.
Fantasyland employed many of the younger crowd and was extremely popular. One of my favorite characters was the owner's daughter, a townie who became Playmate of the Month in 1985. She (Cindy) tried throwing me off her dad's property tho he gave me permission to 'metal detect' the area. Quite a stunner and some laughs later. I think you're safe with that Exit Sign!

 

[121st PA Vols]

Some interesting points! During my visits to Gettysburg I noticed folk "running the avenues" and always thought what a great way to keep fit and broaden your mind! When I first visited the battlefield (1976!!) my starting point was West End Guide station and because it was my first visit I had the guided drive tour and thankful I was too. Looking and studying a map did not prepare me for the reality .
The electric map I saw much later in1993 and was impressed. The interpretation of the events as they unfolded over the three days was easy to absorb and provided a good basis on which to tour the various "hot spots" on the actual field. The electric maps at Petersburg and Wilson's Creek were about as good. I am not sure if this was a National Park Service initiative or just done at certain battlefields.
I was never aware of Fantasy Land- perhaps for the best I probably would view it in the same light as the car sales dealership which was located on the first days conflict north of Gettysburg, thankfully it is long gone.

I don't think anything prepares you for the enormity of Gettysburg. A three-day battle should suggest as much but still, and unless you viewed the Electric Map back in the day, it was and is still hard to comprehend the size and space for such vast armies and battle. In a word, daunting! Something in the order of 25 square miles and 17-thousand acres. You really need to prepare for it as you might the Grand Canyon as it is just that, the Grand Canyon of Military Parks. There is nothing remotely close to it anywhere in the world.
'Gettysburg' is so large I still from time to time find a small monument/marker I haven't seen while feeling I've been over every inch of the place. And whether running the avenues or sight-seeing, getting out of the car and viewing the monuments is an entirely other experience, seeing the detail of relief work, the words and overall attention to detail using such fine materials is mind boggling. Some of it is hidden in the woods, or atop a monument only to be seen in magazines or the large 'coffee table' type collections. Also, the Electric map was not a NPS initiative. Rather, it was created and owned by the Rosensteels then passed on to the Park.
About Fantasyland, it was a storybook theme park (google for more) that was very popular, just out the Taneytown Road a few hundred yards south of Meade's HQ at the Leister home behind Cemetery Ridge. See 7th Wis entry above. Quite a place that was immensely popular.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Interesting phrasing, what are some of your reasons? (I'm curious, as I know little of Hooker)

IIRC, Hooker commissioned the painting, or agreed to buy it. Walker revisited an antibellum landscape that he'd done of the area and modded it into a battle scene.