Moses McClean Sunset

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

Near the end of another Tuesday Battlefield Walk, this was the sunset on the Moses McClean Farm, located at the base of the eastern slope of Oak Hill. On the battle's first day, O'Neal's and Ramseur's attacks would have likely passed just on the other side of the barn and farm house, and the 45th NY advanced from behind the camera up to the red barn. In addition, Page's and Dilger's batteries of Napoleans would have been shooting over the tops of the buildings during their artillery duel.

McClean's tenants at the time of the battle were David and Harriet Beams. David was away in Virginia with the 165th Pennsylvania. Harriet was ordered out of the house on July 1 by Confederate troops, and wisely so. She left with her 3 year old daughter and only the clothes on their backs. She would return on July 4 to a barn and house stripped of all personal property, including food and livestock. The crops were all flattened by the ebb and flow of the combat across the farm's fields. David would not return until the end of his 9 month's service near the end of July. The delight that I felt at seeing this sunset was a stark contract to the despair that the Breamses must have felt in the battle's aftermath.

 

[JOHN42768]

Very peaceful setting

 

[A. Roy]

The delight that I felt at seeing this sunset was a stark contract to the despair that the Breamses must have felt in the battle's aftermath.

Yes, what a beautiful spot! And what a contrast to what the family had to confront upon returning. Maybe you'll remember I've been studying the Oak Hill engagement a bit, so I can picture what the aftermath must have looked like. The more I study the war, the more I'm struck by the immense personal and economic cost of the conflict.

Roy B.

 

[mofederal]

This looks like a quiet place so very peaceful today compared to 1863. When it must have felt like hell on earth.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Samuel Pickens of the 5th Alabama Infantry encountered some North Carolina sharpshooters posted in the barn who were out of ammunition. They may have been from Iverson's brigade and the first soldiers from Rodes' division to occupy this ground. See also: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/ro...-a-failure-at-gettysburg.175217/#post-2284787

Also on July 1, a lone Union cavalryman was observed to make a bold dash out to and around the barn while it was in possession of the Confederates. I believe it may have been Sergeant Ebenezer S. Johnson, an orderly serving on the staff of Brig. Gen. John C. Robinson, who was singled out for generous praise in both Robinson's and Coulter's official reports. (It rather reminds me of the scene from Dances with Wolves, when Lt. Dunbar rides close along the front of the Confederate line.) See: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/un...r-s-johnsons-wild-ride-s.128608/#post-1419554

 

[Pete Longstreet]

Great picture. Calming.

 

[infomanpa]

Also, I believe that your picture could have been the view that skirmishers of the 61st OH saw even though they were more to the right.

 

[Tom Elmore]

I imagine this view was held by members of the 45th New York as they approached the barn to collect prisoners from O'Neal's brigade, around 3 p.m. on July 1: