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Close up of cross carved into rock, directly below flag
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Photo of rock carving again -- I marked up the photo in red to outline the carving.
A recently had a chance to visit a few off the beaten path locations at Gettysburg and thought I would share some photos:
The January 2017 issue of Gettysburg magazine had a fascinating article by Britt Isenberg and Richard Rigney titled "The Discovery of Babcock Rock." In the article, they discuss the initial burial site of Lt. Willis Babcock and Capt. Henry Fuller of the 64th NY infantry regiment (Brooke's Brigade) after the 2nd day fighting around the Wheatfield. Based on a letter sent by the regiment's major to Babcock's father, they located a rock in the field south of the George Weikert farm with the carving described in the letter.
Rock identified in the article with G. Weikert barn in background (flags were placed by a prior visitor, probably during Remembrance Day weekend).
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Rock looking south towards the Round Top's.
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A few other unrelated locations that don't get visited very often.
61st PA monument at end of Neill Avenue ("Lost Avenue").
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61st PA monument at end of Neill Avenue with tablet indicating "Right of the Infantry of the Army of the Potomac"
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Artillery line on Powers Hill, viewed from left flank marker of Battery M, 1st NY Light artillery (right flank marker is against the wall seen in the middle of photo).
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Battery M monument looking towards Spangler's Spring
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Battery M monument looking up the artillery line on Powers Hill.
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Knap's battery monument on Powers Hill (Battery E, PA light artillery)
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Rigby's Maryland battery A monument on Powers Hill.
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Powers Hill artillery line looking towards Spangler's Spring
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Ruins of Z. Taney farmhouse on east side of Rock Creek, looking towards Spangler's meadow. I believe the large cornerstone in the lower left of the photo may be visible in the old companion photo I have posted below.
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Ruins of Z. Taney farmhouse, looking from front-left of house
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Large rock outcropping near Z. Taney farm, right side of farm overlooking Rock Creek. I believe these rocks may be visible in the old companion photo I have posted below, around the point I labeled "A." They would have provided good cover for Confederate soldiers firing over towards McAllister's woods.
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Rock outcropping on Z. Taney Farm looking towards Spangler's meadow. I believe this mound may be visible in the old companion photos I have posted below, around the points I have labeled "B."
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Old companion photos of Z. Taney Farm.
From Timothy H. Smith's book "Farms at Gettysburg: Fields of Battle," p. 47 (I outlined the cornerstone rock in red).
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From "Historic Photos of Gettysburg," text and captions by John S. Salmon, p. 25. Z. Taney farm with Rock Creek in foreground. I added red notations to indicate the possible locations of the rock outcroppings I saw at the site.
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From William Frassanito's "The Gettysburg Then and Now Companion," scene 30, p. 37, looking towards Z. Taney Farm from Spangler's meadow. Again, I added the red notation.
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Sunset near the Klingel farm, looking towards Emmitsburg Rd., taken from bridle path that goes past the Sickles wounding site and winds its way up to the Emmitsburg Rd.
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A couple of miscellaneous observations, not related to off the beaten path sites, in case you have not visited this year.
The Hancock Ave. gate restoration is completed, along with much of the restoration around the location of the old Cyclorama building. The park placed two large stone blocks in the gate entrance, apparently to prevent drivers from mistakenly turning through the gate into the new parking area.
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The old Hall of Presidents wax museum property across from East Cemetery Hill is now refurbished, but I did not see any indication of what the building will be used for. The statute of Eisenhower is still out front.
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