The Field at Gettysburg

James N.

Colonel
Annual Winner
Featured Book Reviewer
Asst. Regtl. Quartermaster Antietam 2021
Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Location
East Texas
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Photo taken in Aug., 2014 on Cemetery Ridge.
 
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The 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry also known as Baxter's Fire Zouaves or the Philadelphia Fire Zouaves, contained a large number of Philadelphia firefighters.
 
Nice to see this monument featured. The Civil War Dance Foundation donated $1,000 toward its repair in 2013.

The 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument was blown off its base during a storm just before the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The damaged statue was placed back on its base for the anniversary but later taken down, repaired and returned to the battlefield.

GNMP Superintendent Bob Kirby said that the CWDF “emergency” donation, “made the repair and placement process so much faster . . . we would have waited a lot longer to have the monument project completed.” We were pleased to be able to help and encourage others to support preservation projects.

The CWDF has raised over $100,000 for preservation at GNMP and conducts numerous programs at the park throughout the year, including dance demonstrations and artifact displays.

Larry Keener-Farley
Civil War Dance Foundation
2011 Reenactment Unit of the Year
www.CivilWarDance.org

72nd-toppled.jpg
 
Nice to see this monument featured. The Civil War Dance Foundation donated $1,000 toward its repair in 2013.

The 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument was blown off its base during a storm just before the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The damaged statue was placed back on its base for the anniversary but later taken down, repaired and returned to the battlefield.

GNMP Superintendent Bob Kirby said that the CWDF “emergency” donation, “made the repair and placement process so much faster . . . we would have waited a lot longer to have the monument project completed.” We were pleased to be able to help and encourage others to support preservation projects.

The CWDF has raised over $100,000 for preservation at GNMP and conducts numerous programs at the park throughout the year, including dance demonstrations and artifact displays.

Larry Keener-Farley
Civil War Dance Foundation
2011 Reenactment Unit of the Year
www.CivilWarDance.org

View attachment 61410
Thank you for your good works.
 
Very nice!

Interesting to note that the survivors of the Regiment took the case of the placement of the monument to court. There was a bitter dispute centered on whether or not the regiment actually held this position during the charge. The 72nd was near the crest of the ridge, and when General Webb ordered it forward, the men refused. They finally advanced as reinforcements arrived and the surge was halted. There were other regiments who opposed the placement there as they felt that the 72nd did not earn it, triggering the controversy. Eventually the 72nd succeeded. It is illustrative of the bitter feeling even men of the same army held for each other in some circumstances.
 
Very nice!

Interesting to note that the survivors of the Regiment took the case of the placement of the monument to court. There was a bitter dispute centered on whether or not the regiment actually held this position during the charge. The 72nd was near the crest of the ridge, and when General Webb ordered it forward, the men refused. They finally advanced as reinforcements arrived and the surge was halted. There were other regiments who opposed the placement there as they felt that the 72nd did not earn it, triggering the controversy. Eventually the 72nd succeeded. It is illustrative of the bitter feeling even men of the same army held for each other in some circumstances.

I've read about the controversy before, but this has become one of the iconic monuments at Gettysburg, and I was very happy to see it repaired and in its place ( even if the 72nd may NOT have been! ) when I visited there for the first time since I'd heard about the storm damage.
 
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