Strange Fog Cloud at Sachs Bridge

[Grayram]

I was wondering if anyone has seen a mysterious fog cloud at the Sachs bridge in Gettysburg?. About 5 or 6 years ago I was there sometime in the fall at around dusk on the far side of the bridge with my 2 sons when I noticed the fog cloud coming across the field next to the bridge. It was moving fairly quick along the ground from the road (pumping station rd) towards the woods behind the little parking area. It was probably the width and height of a 2 car garage. We ran to the other side in time to see it go into the woods. Very strange, my only regret was not staying longer to investigate!

 

[Kurt G]

Not at Sachs bridge , but I saw a nearly identical thing happen at our property in northern Michigan . It was early Spring and a fog bank rolled quickly out of the woods and into a depression in the field . It kept moving in the depression for quite a distance . I'm sure what you saw was a natural phenomenon.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I was wondering if anyone has seen a mysterious fog cloud at the Sachs bridge in Gettysburg?. About 5 or 6 years ago I was there sometime in the fall at around dusk on the far side of the bridge with my 2 sons when I noticed the fog cloud coming across the field next to the bridge. It was moving fairly quick along the ground from the road (pumping station rd) towards the woods behind the little parking area. It was probably the width and height of a 2 car garage. We ran to the other side in time to see it go into the woods. Very strange, my only regret was not staying longer to investigate!

Sachs Bridge can be weird. I once took a ton of photos there just because it was Sachs Bridge and part of Gettysburg's story. Didn't think too much about it except being pleased they were ok- worst ever photographer on the planet here. Posted them here and someone said ' Nice orbs! ". Hadn't noticed but yep, 3 of those things and not just in one shot- different shots from different angles have them.

Yes, there'll be some explanation about why there are bright white circles floating in those photos. I've heard a few and none have explained them to my satisfaction. That trip the camera finally quit, then the camera on my phone stopped working AND the Kindle camera I finally resorted to did the same thing. Oddest Gettysburg trip I've ever had.

Bet someone else has had an experience similar to yours. Like I said, Sachs Bridge can be weird.

 

[Kurt G]

Orbs can be caused by a spot on the lens or light bouncing around in the lens . I have had several game cameras that I have set up over the years and have gotten some really odd orbs and streaks . Most of these were on the earlier cameras . I have a few pictures of deer where it appears that a beam of light is coming out of the sky directly above them . Orbs under some conditions can also be caused by small insects or particles in the air .
I would never discount anyone's experience at Gettysburg . I certainly had an odd thing happen at the Wheatfield many years ago . I guess I would call myself an open minded skeptic.

 

[Grayram]

Not at Sachs bridge , but I saw a nearly identical thing happen at our property in northern Michigan . It was early Spring and a fog bank rolled quickly out of the woods and into a depression in the field . It kept moving in the depression for quite a distance . I'm sure what you saw was a natural phenomenon.

If it was it was awesome to see !

 

[Grayram]

Orbs can be caused by a spot on the lens or light bouncing around in the lens . I have had several game cameras that I have set up over the years and have gotten some really odd orbs and streaks . Most of these were on the earlier cameras . I have a few pictures of deer where it appears that a beam of light is coming out of the sky directly above them . Orbs under some conditions can also be caused by small insects or particles in the air .
I would never discount anyone's experience at Gettysburg . I certainly had an odd thing happen at the Wheatfield many years ago . I guess I would call myself an open minded skeptic.

Love the Sachs bridge!...picture taken 2009

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

I would never discount anyone's experience at Gettysburg . I certainly had an odd thing happen at the Wheatfield many years ago . I guess I would call myself an open minded skeptic.

Would you please tell us what your odd thing was? I'm certainly curious!

 

[Kurt G]

Many years ago I was in the Wheatfield . It was early in the morning and dead calm . It was also already getting hot . My girl friend had decided to go to the Eisenhower farm. There was another car in the pull off , but no one was around . Suddenly I saw a flank marker for the 61st NY. Some one had placed a plastic rose against it . From nowhere I chocked up and tears rolled down my face . I was overcome with emotion . I looked around to make sure no one had seen me fall apart like that . I told my girlfriend and other friends and family about it later and , knowing me , they were very surprised about my reaction .
What would have been an even more interesting story is that I found out I had a Great Uncle who was a drummer boy in the 61st. He didn't join until 1864 , however. It was a very intense moment that I will never forget .

 

[Kurt G]

The image

 

[Kurt G]

If you want orbs , I've got orbs .From back in the film days I took a few photos from my truck in a light rain . I didn't know some rain got on my lens . This caused a problem the next day as you can see .

 

[Kurt G]

I see I made a mistake . It was not my great uncle , but my great great uncle in the 61st .

 

[lelliott19]

I found out I had a Great Uncle who was a drummer boy in the 61st. He didn't join until 1864 , however.

Kurt thanks for telling us about that experience. Have you checked to see if you have other relatives who served in the 61st NY who might have been present at Gettysburg?

 

[Kurt G]

I don't . I had a great great grandfather in the 39th NY and another great great uncle in the 106th NY .They joined in 1864 and 1865 . I didn't know about the 61st connection until at least a decade later when my girlfriend was doing genealogy . My only other Civil War connection is a great great uncle in the 4th Michigan Cavalry .

 

[3rdIndianaCav]

Had the privilege of attending the 2008 event, At High Tide, held at a farm just off the park at Gettysburg. The day prior to the event officially starting, the 1st Minnesota reenacting group put together a preservation march. We started at the Pennsylvania monument about 360 strong.
We first went into line of battle just to the left of the corpse of trees where the actual 1st Minnesota was during Picketts' charge.
Next we marched in column to to the Wheatfield, back into line of battle and recreated the charge of the 1st Minnesota that occurred July 2. Very weird feeling there. Hair on my arm still stands up recalling it.

Back into column, we marched to the Peach Orchard where we rested and filled canteens. This was the last weekend in June and was extremely hot.
Back into column we marched across the field to the confederate line where we again rested. From there we marched off the park to Sachs Bridge. Oddly, as we approached the bridge the temperature dropped quite a bit and a rain started. At that point we had about 300 of us left, 50-60 dropping out from heat, twisted ankles, etc. So during this rain, all of us huddled inside Sachs bridge. It was unexplainably strange. I chalked it up to being tired, hot, wet, now chilled, but had never heard the haunting stories.
The rain let up after about 45 min and we marched out, in column, through the fields to the event site. That was a ragged bunch at route step until we were about a 1/2 mile from camp. The fifes and drums started playing, all the men snapped to, in step, and was a grand sight that last bit of the March as many other reenactors started to appear from the tree line to watch. Awesome event.

The Lincoln Guards - Company D, 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

The first two photos on that page are from the event and the first shows us marching off Sachs bridge.