Spangler Meadow ca. 1890

[Gettysburg Greg]

I have used this ca. 1890 image of the Spangler meadow for a then and now previously, but here I would like to focus soley on contents of the photograph. If interested, I will include my then and now. The POV is from behind the stone wall occupied by "Extra" Billy Smith's Brigade. Somewhat coincidentally, some of the men behind this wall were members of the "Stonewall Brigade". Out of frame to the right, the abandoned Union works were occupied by North Carolina men, including A. L. Cobel. At 7:30 am, some say as late as 10:00 am, the 27th Indiana and the 2nd Mass. were ordered to attack this position across the open meadow seen in the photo. The 2nd and 27th began their attack from the small hill on the left and advanced less than 100 yards before being repulsed with heavy losses. Of the 655 men engaged, 242 were killed or wounded. When Lt. Col. Charles Mudge of the 2nd Mass received the order to charge the entrenched Confederates he famously said, "It is murder, but it's the order. Up men, over the works. Forward double quick." Mudge was killed by a shot to the throat before reaching the rocks we see today around the spring. In the background, Powers Hill can be clearly seen, from where Union artillery pounded Culp's Hill.

 

[Yankeedave]

Is that Powers Hill in background?

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

Is that Powers Hill in background?

Yes it is, as I pointed out it was an artillery platform for the batteries shooting at Culps Hill.

 

[Yankeedave]

Lol. Missed it in original post! Thanks Gregg!

 

[Cavalier]

@Gettysburg Greg. That's a view of Powers Hill that I don't remember ever seeing before. What a difference 150 years or so makes. I am very grateful for any attempts the NPS makes to restore the battlefield to its original condition. Thanks very much for the photo.

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

Lol. Missed it in original post! Thanks Gregg!

Appreciate the question, no prob.

 

[infomanpa]

It's interesting how visible Power's Hill once was back then. It's difficult to find the hill from the meadow in the summer. I've been told it's easy to see when the leaves are off the trees.

 

[dhh712]

It's interesting how visible Power's Hill once was back then. It's difficult to find the hill from the meadow in the summer. I've been told it's easy to see when the leaves are off the trees.

Yes, I've always been struck in the period photos by how "open" the land was back then compared to now. This is probably a stupidly obvious speculation, yet I would imagine that is due in part to just how much easier we have access to water and the ability to plant trees and other vegetation? Amazing what a world of difference it makes, but then I guess it just makes sense that it does. Has anyone else been struck by how "treeless" many of the pictures looked back then, or maybe those are just the ones sticking out in my mind (I do not recall the photos being all post-battles either, though I'm sure that played no small part in clearing out trees; that very well could be a lot of what's going on too).

You know what just popped in my mind after I wrote the closing paragraph? I remember for some reason particularly in reference to the Chickamauga battlefield reading that farmers often let their goats and pigs and cattle and what-not graze in the wood-lands which kept a lot of the undergrowth down. Maybe that also is what contributes to the lack of trees and vegetation of the old pictures.

Well I guess another obvious one is there's a ton more houses and buildings. Yet for some reason I'm always struck by the lack of trees. Maybe that's because I like them so much!! (It's been a long 13-hr day for me at work, coming home with a slight headache so I'm sure that's also contributing to this rambling post!).

Well, just lots of speculation. Love these now and then photos though! Thanks so much for the posts. I'm always telling myself I've got to get my "Then and Now" photo books I have and start walking the battlefield here but alas for lack of time... One of these days! One of these days!!

 

[Doug5861]

It looks like that area is due for a burn.

 

[Yankeedave]

I have read one aspect to the openness of some woods or woodlots was they were tended. They didn't just slash thru all the timber. The openness of Powers Hill back then may have been for grazing.

 

[ccb1863]

Yes, I've always been struck in the period photos by how "open" the land was back then compared to now. This is probably a stupidly obvious speculation, yet I would imagine that is due in part to just how much easier we have access to water and the ability to plant trees and other vegetation? Amazing what a world of difference it makes, but then I guess it just makes sense that it does. Has anyone else been struck by how "treeless" many of the pictures looked back then, or maybe those are just the ones sticking out in my mind (I do not recall the photos being all post-battles either, though I'm sure that played no small part in clearing out trees; that very well could be a lot of what's going on too).

You know what just popped in my mind after I wrote the closing paragraph? I remember for some reason particularly in reference to the Chickamauga battlefield reading that farmers often let their goats and pigs and cattle and what-not graze in the wood-lands which kept a lot of the undergrowth down. Maybe that also is what contributes to the lack of trees and vegetation of the old pictures.

Well I guess another obvious one is there's a ton more houses and buildings. Yet for some reason I'm always struck by the lack of trees. Maybe that's because I like them so much!! (It's been a long 13-hr day for me at work, coming home with a slight headache so I'm sure that's also contributing to this rambling post!).

Well, just lots of speculation. Love these now and then photos though! Thanks so much for the posts. I'm always telling myself I've got to get my "Then and Now" photo books I have and start walking the battlefield here but alas for lack of time... One of these days! One of these days!!

You are right about goats/pigs/cattle grazing in wooded areas. This was true at Gettysburg at the time of the battle, as evidenced by Greg's excellent photos. If you look at old photos of Culp's Hill, you will see the similar "cleared" areas on wooded sections of that hill. And elsewhere on the battlefield.

 

[KianGaf]

I only became aware of this engagement after watching an excellent documentary on Prime Video. It had several interesting tales from Gettysburg.

https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0...rce=ASIN&pageTypeId=B07CYLDG3Z&qid=1616250139

 

[bankerpapaw]

I always appreciate the hard work you do. Seeing the before and after pictures helps to put thing into perspective.

 

[Tom Elmore]

According to my research, at the commencement of the charge by the 2nd Massachusetts (followed immediately by the 27th Indiana), the wall was held by five companies of the 2nd Virginia (on the left extending nearly to Rock Creek) and six companies of the 1st North Carolina extending to the right, with some men like Coble taking cover among the boulders to the right. Smith's 49th Virginia was still a couple of hundred yards to the north, but closing quickly and helped deliver the final blow to the 27th Indiana. Tasting victory, the 49th Virginia impetuously countercharged across the wall, compelling the 2nd Massachusetts to withdraw, but an effective fire from the 3rd Wisconsin, which in the meantime had moved up to the edge of meadow, dashed their hopes and the 49th fell back to the wall, which they held for several more hours. Attached map marks about the furthest advance of the 27th Indiana, just before they broke to the rear (my interpretation).

 

[Gettysburg Guide #154]

Visiting the field in winter months, or early spring before the trees leaf out, allows for a good appreciation of the importance Powers Hill in this area. There is definitely much less undergrowth in the 1890 photo. Note however, that the 1890 photo is a "no leaves on the tress" season photograph. Nevertheless, even with leaves on the trees, Powers Hill would be much more prominent back in the 19th Century. As usual, Greg's post provides an important historical perspective.

In visiting the field today, take a look at the monument for the 13th NJ (dedicated in 1887). The bas relief of the soldier skirmishing is a good illustration of the lack of vegetation between the trees.

 

[infomanpa]

Visiting the field in winter months, or early spring before the trees leaf out, allows for a good appreciation of the importance Powers Hill in this area. There is definitely much less undergrowth in the 1890 photo. Note however, that the 1890 photo is a "no leaves on the tress" season photograph. Nevertheless, even with leaves on the trees, Powers Hill would be much more prominent back in the 19th Century. As usual, Greg's post provides an important historical perspective.

In visiting the field today, take a look at the monument for the 13th NJ (dedicated in 1887). The bas relief of the soldier skirmishing is a good illustration of the lack of vegetation between the trees.

Coincidently, I was observing Power's Hill from the roadway, today!

 

[dgfred]

Goodness. Awesome pics and descriptions. I really like the before and afters. Thanks!

 

[Rebforever]

Those 2 hickory trees on the right of the picture are still standing.
My GGrand was shooting across that field from behind the rock fence.

 

[Tom Elmore]

A couple of relevant sources:

Lt. W. James Kinchloe of Company C, 49th Virginia: "The attack became furious at 5 o'clock a.m. We were placed in position while under a severe shelling of the enemy to support some of Johnston's [Johnson's] troops. We were soon moved from there and marched by the left flank [southward] farther down to the left about half a mile. As our regiment was in front, the left company having arrived at the top of a hill was fired on by a body of the enemy coming around to flank Johnston's position. Our right wheeled to the left and came in line and charged the enemy's serried lines. They fought well but we continued to advance and fire and routed them entirely in the course of fifteen minutes. The two other regiments of our brigade formed in our rear [actually just one] and did not engage in the fight." (University Memorial Biographical Sketches of the Alumni of the University of Virginia who Fell in the Confederate War, by Rev. John Lipscomb Johnson)

1st Sergeant William O. Johnson of Company H, 49th Virginia: "... we came to a small field at the front of Culp's Hill on the bank of Rocky Run [Rock Creek] where the Yankees opened on us with grape and canister from a 20 gun battery and in less than five minutes killed and wounded 150 of our men [a substantial exaggeration], which caused a halt. Not having any command to halt I continued to advance about a hundred yards in the woods to the left of Culp's Hill." Johnson tried to fire twice unsuccessfully at an enemy officer but found the chain positioned between hammer and barrel. "I threw it in the proper place and in the act of taking a third aim a ball struck my gun, splintered it, passed through my left hand, struck me in the breast, passing [through the?] strap, struck a rib and lodged under my arm. When recovered there was not a comrade within a hundred yards of me ... during a lull in the firing I joined my command behind a rock fence at the foot of Culp's Hill on the bank of Rocky Run, which the two regiments held until the retreat was ordered ..." (Diary, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond) [Comment: It sounds to me like Johnson went through the fringe of woods that appears on the far right in the above images/photograph.]