The Field at Gettysburg

[James N.]

Photo taken in Aug., 2014 on Cemetery Ridge.

 

[redbob]

The 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry also known as Baxter's Fire Zouaves or the Philadelphia Fire Zouaves, contained a large number of Philadelphia firefighters.

 

[nitrofd]

Nice lighting in the pic.feel proud to own that one.

 

[James N.]

Nice lighting in the pic.feel proud to own that one.

Thanks; I was lucky to be able to visit last August as the sun was going down and few people were around. Here are some more photos I took at the same time:

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/sunset-at-the-angle.104540/

 

[CWDF]

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

 

[nitrofd]

Restoration goes hand and hand with preservation.

 

[chellers]

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.

 

[107th PV]

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.

 

[James N.]

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.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

Great picture!!! I am pretty certain this monument to the 72nd Penn. is on my National Park quarter... always wondered about that. Thanks so much!

 

[CT_civilwar_buff]

That's a great picture I went in July!

 

[Union_Buff]

Awesome photo James - a job well done