GDG- Approval & placement of plaques, monuments, etc

[gboland]

The John Devine history of the 35th Battalion VA Cavalry asserts that  
the unit was one of the first into Gettysburg and one of the last to  
leave as they formed the rear guard of the ANV.

The 27 June 1863 edition of The Star & Sentinel had this to say:

http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getteducation/bcast04/star-sentinel/ 
star3.htm
courtesy of 'The Compiler'- "Our usually quiet town was kept in a  
high state of excitement all last week. Reports of the advance of the  
rebels upon us were brought in almost every day, but all proved  
untrue until Friday. On that day persons from Cashtown and vicinity  
reported having seen them in force. The 26th P. V. M. [Pennsylvania  
Volunteer Militia], Col. Jennings, was sent up the road, and when  
about three miles from town the rebel cavalry came upon them,  
captured some forty of the regiment. The balance got off, but at the  
time of writing [Saturday noon] we were not advised of their  
whereabouts.

At about 3 O'clock, sure enough, the rebel advance (cavalry) entered  
Gettysburg charging up Chambersburg Street at a rapid rate, in  
pursuit of a number of persons on horseback who were hurrying off  
down York street. They fired a few shots, and the pursued were  
halted. In a few moments they had entire possession of the town, and  
their guards around it. They assured the citizens that they would not  
harm them, and fears should be quieted. The advance consisted of  
about one hundred and fifty men - White's cavalry from Virginia....

My great-grandfather, John L. Boland was amongst these men (Company  
C).  As many of you would be aware, the 35th was on detached service  
with General Early's advance into PA. But they are never listed in  
the order of battle.

What I'd like to see is a the placement of a marker featuring a  
stainless steel etching of the local newspaper's headline and article  
reporting the arrival of the confederate cavalry.

The question of confederate cavalry at Gettysburg is, of course, a  
matter that has generated considerable controversy since June 1863,  
and I think that a modest marker that features a facsimile of the  
newspaper headline and article would be of interest to locals and  
visitors alike; not to mention the descendants of the men of "White's  
cavalry from Virginia."

There is a certain wryly ironic quality to the way in which the  
headline and article reads today... or, for that matter at any point  
since 1 July 1863.

I believe that during the days of the battle the 35th Battalion VA  
Cav. were posted on the extreme left flank of the ANV, along Rock Creek.

My question is - how does one go about progressing such a project?   
As you can see from my signature I am at some distance from PA and  
only get back to the States every few years. My father is now 85 and  
though he is in robust good health I'd like to think that I could  
manage to accomplish the organization and placement of such a marker  
while he is yet amongst us. He must surely be amongst a rapidly  
dwindling number grandchildren of CW veterans still alive and kicking.

Can someone please help me understand how I would go about  
progressing such a project?

Kind regards to you all.

Jerry Boland

Coordinator,
MA (Communication - Cultural Performance)
Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Cultural Event Management
http://www.csu.edu.au/student/pgcommunication/field_study.html

Lecturer in Theatre/Media
School of Communication, Charles Sturt University
Bathurst, New South Wales AUSTRALIA      2795
p.  (02) 6338-4514
f.   (02) 6338-4409
e.  gboland at csu.edu.au

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas  
Students (CRICOS) Provider Number is 00005F for Charles Sturt  
University and the Charles Sturt University Language Centre.