Widow Gibson Cabin Found?

[gunny]

1. I posted this earlier under another forum that doesn't get viewed much, but this is a copy and paste just so people will be more likely to see it. The follow up post is in the south and western theater forum - Understanding Perryville. Check out this discovery!
   
   
   
   gunnyFirst Sergeant
   As usual, my constant, plodding of Perryville has once again noted something heretofore unnoticed. Below are two photos. Take a look at the two of them and see if you note anything out of the ordinary or similar. The pictures were taken on the same day by the same photographer and are from the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center - part of the MOLLUS collection.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Today at 2:37 PMEditReport
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[lelliott19]

So are you thinking the log structure with the two side sheds in your modern photo is the same as the one visible behind the cabin in the MOLLUS photo? Or that the log structure with the side sheds is the cabin with the sheds added on later?

I note that the current day image shows a 10 log stack structure of similar size to the 10 log stack for the cabin pictured in the MOLLUS image. Additionally, I note the similarity of the rise of ground in the background in both images and I think that small tree off by itself to the left - is it the same one?

Is there any sign of the foundation of the fireplace?

ETA: Heres the link to the discussion in the "Understanding Perryville" thread
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/understanding-perryville.101144/page-9#post-1465706

 

[gunny]

So are you thinking the log structure with the two side sheds in your modern photo is the same as the one visible behind the cabin in the MOLLUS photo? Or that the log structure with the side sheds is the cabin with the sheds added on later?

I note that the current day image shows a 10 log stack structure of similar size to the 10 log stack for the cabin pictured in the MOLLUS image. Additionally, I note the similarity of the rise of ground in the background in both images and I think that small tree off by itself to the left - is it the same one?

Is there any sign of the foundation of the fireplace?

Actually both of the images were taken on the same day in 1885 by the same photographer. If you go to the Understanding Perryville thread you will see my enhanced comparison photographs. There are five distinct identifiers in both photos! The tree on the left is in fact one of them as well as the shed looking structure barely visible on the immediate left of the big tree trunk and in the distance behind the cabin. Exciting!

 

[redbob]

CSI Perryville- good work gentlemen.

 

[lelliott19]

Actually both of the images were taken on the same day in 1885 by the same photographer.

Missed that part. Sorry about that. So then, the second image was taken from directly (or thereabouts) behind the cabin?

 

[gunny]

Missed that part. Sorry about that. So then, the second image was taken from directly (or thereabouts) behind the cabin?

Yes. It appears that the photographer moved to the right and past the cabin taking the image from several degrees further to the right. This can clarify how much closer the structures were to each other. Before this it was believed they were over 125 yards apart. I would suggest by the scale that they weren't more than 30-40 yards apart at maximum. Also they found the four corners of the crib and are able to tell which direction it faced, thus they can get an approximate line to the cabin. Also note that there is low ground between the two structures.

 

[lelliott19]

Great detective work! I need to come up there sometime and get you to show me around. I know nothing about Perryville and since the 16th AL was there, I would like to see it.

 

[James B White]

Cool. I see now. The left side of the corncrib is barely visible in the cabin picture! Took me a while to see it.

What is that roundish lighter object in the lower edge of the corncrib-only picture? It's located at the bottom of the image just to the left of the little shrubby tree. Is it someone's hat on their head? Or the top of a stump? I don't think that it matters, but I was just curious. It looks so manmade compared to the other things there, like a hat, but it could have been natural.

Both pictures look cropped, because you can't see the edges of the plate holder. Have you ever been able to see uncropped versons that show everything there, right up to the edge, in case anything else exciting was captured? Though certainly what you've found is exciting enough.

 

[gunny]

Cool. I see now. The left side of the corncrib is barely visible in the cabin picture! Took me a while to see it.

What is that roundish lighter object in the lower edge of the corncrib-only picture? It's located at the bottom of the image just to the left of the little shrubby tree. Is it someone's hat on their head? Or the top of a stump? I don't think that it matters, but I was just curious. It looks so manmade compared to the other things there, like a hat, but it could have been natural.

Both pictures look cropped, because you can't see the edges of the plate holder. Have you ever been able to see uncropped versons that show everything there, right up to the edge, in case anything else exciting was captured? Though certainly what you've found is exciting enough.

That is in fact a hat. Someone was just barely in the photo at bottom left. I haven't seen any other versions of these photos but would love to see others.

 

[John Winn]

Pardon my Perryville ignorance but was the location of the cabin not known before now ? Is there anything left of either structure ?

And the only thing I can note that you haven't is that isn't a pine tree; some species of hardwood.

Good work.

 

[gunny]

Pardon my Perryville ignorance but was the location of the cabin not known before now ? Is there anything left of either structure ?

And the only thing I can note that you haven't is that isn't a pine tree; some species of hardwood.

Good work.

They knew the general vicinity of it from period maps, but have never found the actual site. They did - however - locate the foundation of the corncrib. So now, they may be able to find the precise location of the actual cabin by aligning the foundation and terrain. I noticed that also about the pine tree identification. It was definitely an oak.

 

[gunny]

I was perusing through Panoramio and found this witness tree photo from the Perryville battlefield. I'm not saying this is the case, but the terrain looks kinda similar!

Wouldn't it be something if that tree is the tree above?

 

[John Winn]

I was perusing through Panoramio and found this witness tree photo from the Perryville battlefield. I'm not saying this is the case, but the terrain looks kinda similar!

Wouldn't it be something if that tree is the tree above?

View attachment 121610

It would indeed ! I can't see enough detail of the old photo to say what type of tree it is (other than it's a hardwood and not a pine tree) but if you are right that it's an oak then they're not the same as the 2007 photo is of a maple (I think sugar maple) and not an oak.

 

[Podad]

I was perusing through Panoramio and found this witness tree photo from the Perryville battlefield. I'm not saying this is the case, but the terrain looks kinda similar!

Wouldn't it be something if that tree is the tree above?

View attachment 121610

the water in the background is probably Doctors Creek. Was the widows place and/or Rousseou's position along the creek ?

 

[Podad]

It would indeed ! I can't see enough detail of the old photo to say what type of tree it is (other than it's a hardwood and not a pine tree) but if you are right that it's an oak then they're not the same as the 2007 photo is of a maple (I think sugar maple) and not an oak.

Look closely, Is it possible the maple leaves showing may be from a tree closer to the photographers position, not from the big oak.

 

[John Winn]

Look closely, Is it possible the maple leaves showing may be from a tree closer to the photographers position, not from the big oak.

I think you might be right; didn't see that. gunny might have himself a double whammy here !

 

[gunny]

It would indeed ! I can't see enough detail of the old photo to say what type of tree it is (other than it's a hardwood and not a pine tree) but if you are right that it's an oak then they're not the same as the 2007 photo is of a maple (I think sugar maple) and not an oak.

Yep I thought that too at first, but if you look real close, those maple leaves are from a branch in a tree that's not visible in the photo.

 

[gunny]

the water in the background is probably Doctors Creek. Was the widows place and/or Rousseou's position along the creek ?

The position of the cabin is supposed to be very close to an intermittent stream that they call Donelson's Run. It is a tributary that empties into Doctor's Creek. I'll post a map that show where they suppose it to be.

 

[damYankee]

That's the strangest looking pine tree I have ever seen...

 

[James B White]

Yep I thought that too at first, but if you look real close, those maple leaves are from a branch in a tree that's not visible in the photo.

I agree--the maple leaves aren't part of the big tree farther back. The big tree sure looks like an oak. (We're talking on the modern color photo, right?)

The "pine tree" (heh!) on the older photo could be an oak, in my very amateurish opinion, worth virtually nothing.