Thursday, January 27, 2011
break
Taking a break from blogging today after spending today working and cleaing off snow. Will be back this weekend with a new post.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Sarah Patterson Farm
If there was ever a moment in my life where, I had my Civil War moment is it recently during the weekend of Gettysburg Remembrance Day in Nov of 2010. The day after the Remembrance Day ceremonies I was driving past a farm on the Tanneytown Road that during the Civil War was owned by Sarah Patterson. During the Battle of Gettysburg from the afternoon of the 2nd day till the afternoon of the 3rd day up until 2PM-3PM it was used by the Second Corps as one of its hospitals. The staff at the hospital was forced to move when shells from Confederate Artillery that was being used to bombard Cemetery Hill in preperation for Picketts Charge overshot and landed on the grounds of the farm. The wounded that were lying on the ground were out in the open with no shelter. All of the hospital tents were still in Westminster, MD per the orders of the commander of the Army of the Potomac, Maj Gen George Gordon Meade.
As I drove past the farm, I saw that the owners were having a yard sale and I thought it would be a perferct time to stop and talk to the owners as well as walk on the grounds of the farm. I did speak to one of the owners who told me that there was a total of 500 wounded that came through the hospital. The house is modern and the original house that was there was a two story farm house. The only original buidling that is left on the property is the barn which, was used by the medical staff of the Second Corps to perform operations.
Walking the grounds, I felt I was transported back in time to the time of the battle. It was a great feeling being there and walking the same grounds of the people who I portray as a Historical Interpreter. The work and dedication that the medical staff and caregivers that were there helped to save many lives and as a result, of 3100 Union and Confederate wounded that came through the Second Corps Hospital 86% of them survived. It was truly a job well done and the experience of walking on the grounds of the Sarah Patterson farm I will treasure always!
As I drove past the farm, I saw that the owners were having a yard sale and I thought it would be a perferct time to stop and talk to the owners as well as walk on the grounds of the farm. I did speak to one of the owners who told me that there was a total of 500 wounded that came through the hospital. The house is modern and the original house that was there was a two story farm house. The only original buidling that is left on the property is the barn which, was used by the medical staff of the Second Corps to perform operations.
Walking the grounds, I felt I was transported back in time to the time of the battle. It was a great feeling being there and walking the same grounds of the people who I portray as a Historical Interpreter. The work and dedication that the medical staff and caregivers that were there helped to save many lives and as a result, of 3100 Union and Confederate wounded that came through the Second Corps Hospital 86% of them survived. It was truly a job well done and the experience of walking on the grounds of the Sarah Patterson farm I will treasure always!
Monday, January 24, 2011
10th Mountain Division
Today, I was speaking to one of the members of the team I work in at work. He told me a story today of his great uncle who during World War II served in the 10th Mountain Division in Italy. The sad part of the story was that my friend's great uncle had survived the war up until April 10, 1945 when he was shot and killed by a German sniper. The war in Europe would end in May of 1945.
My friend showed me some pictures of some of the items of his great uncle's that they have in his possesion. They have a huge collection of letters that his great uncle wrote of his experience during the war and newspapers including Stars and Stripes that he had collected. They also, have a very nice collection of pictures showing his great uncle and the unit he was in. I suggested to my friend that he publish his Uncle's letters and he is seriously thinking about it.
My friend also told me that his grandfather had served in WWI. He was a soldier in the French Army and had fought in Verdun, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. He still has his grandfather's uniform.
Let us remember these two soldiers. I truly thank them for the service they gave and their stories are what History is all about. May we remember them always.
My friend showed me some pictures of some of the items of his great uncle's that they have in his possesion. They have a huge collection of letters that his great uncle wrote of his experience during the war and newspapers including Stars and Stripes that he had collected. They also, have a very nice collection of pictures showing his great uncle and the unit he was in. I suggested to my friend that he publish his Uncle's letters and he is seriously thinking about it.
My friend also told me that his grandfather had served in WWI. He was a soldier in the French Army and had fought in Verdun, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. He still has his grandfather's uniform.
Let us remember these two soldiers. I truly thank them for the service they gave and their stories are what History is all about. May we remember them always.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dedication
Hello:
Welcome to my new blog titled "History Remembered!" This blog is dedicated to all those who came before us and who contributed to the history of our country. Special thanks goes to those veterans who fought and those who in Abraham Lincoln's words gave "Their Last Full Measure of Devotion." We woudln't be here and to enjoy the liberties and freedoms we have today.
Special thanks goes to a true friend, Amanda Morris whose advice in starting this blog is greatly appreciated. Thank you for the confidence you have in me and I will continue to strive to keep History alive.
Going through Grade School and High School, History was always taught that you had to memorize facts and dates. Going through college and graduate school, I learned that History is a story. It is truly the greatest drama and is better that a soap opera. It is about appreciating our triumphs and what we have and the lessons we need to learn from the dark times in our History. Most important of all, History is about ordinary people who do extra ordinary things. They didn't have super powers like Superman, a special ring like Green Lantern, or gadgets like Batman. Men like, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock who, heard his nations call during the Civil War. When the Battle of Gettysburg came he rose to the occasion and was one of the true heroes of the Battle and one of the major figures during the Civil War.
Then there are the unsung heroes, the doctors and surgeons like those during the Civil War. There dedication and devotion to duty even to the point of exhaustion helped to save many lives and we are still living with the accomplishments and the legacy they created.
To all of them, this blog is dedicated!
Welcome to my new blog titled "History Remembered!" This blog is dedicated to all those who came before us and who contributed to the history of our country. Special thanks goes to those veterans who fought and those who in Abraham Lincoln's words gave "Their Last Full Measure of Devotion." We woudln't be here and to enjoy the liberties and freedoms we have today.
Special thanks goes to a true friend, Amanda Morris whose advice in starting this blog is greatly appreciated. Thank you for the confidence you have in me and I will continue to strive to keep History alive.
Going through Grade School and High School, History was always taught that you had to memorize facts and dates. Going through college and graduate school, I learned that History is a story. It is truly the greatest drama and is better that a soap opera. It is about appreciating our triumphs and what we have and the lessons we need to learn from the dark times in our History. Most important of all, History is about ordinary people who do extra ordinary things. They didn't have super powers like Superman, a special ring like Green Lantern, or gadgets like Batman. Men like, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock who, heard his nations call during the Civil War. When the Battle of Gettysburg came he rose to the occasion and was one of the true heroes of the Battle and one of the major figures during the Civil War.
Then there are the unsung heroes, the doctors and surgeons like those during the Civil War. There dedication and devotion to duty even to the point of exhaustion helped to save many lives and we are still living with the accomplishments and the legacy they created.
To all of them, this blog is dedicated!
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