GDG- 11th New Jersey

[Smith, David]

Linda--

My great-grandfather's unit was the 7th New Jersey, which acted as
reserve in the area where the 11th fought.  Their colonel, Louis
Francine was killed at Gettysburg.  The 7th's cool minie ball marker
marks the spot ("Where Francine Fell").  My great-grandfather was not
with the unit then, having caught malaria near the Gaines' Mill
battlefield and served in the Veterans Reserve Corps for the rest of the
war.  Perhaps that is why he survived the war to have children
relatively late in life.

I did some brief research on New Jersey at Gettysburg about 15 years
ago.  Toombs was pretty much all there was.  I am not sure if anything
else has been published; I know that Jim Lamason, I think, of this group
is working on a book.

There was a brief book on the 7th New Jersey or Colonel Francine
published in the 1880s, but I don't think it would have material of
interest to you.

Incidentally, regarding the controversy, you may find it interesting
that c. 1901, Confederate General James Longstreet wrote to Sickles
(actually, I think Sickles wrote to him first) and said that Sickles
move to the salient had saved the Union line and the Battle of
Gettysburg.  You might be able to find a copy of this letter on the
Internet.  Of course, Longstreet marched to the beat of a different
drummer - he became a Republican after the war, in part to gain
government appointments to feed his family, and was vilified by other
Confederate Generals of the Lost Cause School because of it.  So there
may have been some currying of favor in what Longstreet said, or some
desire to magnify his own role - or there may not have been.  He
certainly didn't believe in the July 3rd attack.

David G. Smith

 

Hello,

I am a new member looking forward to good conversation. My interest in

Gettysburg is from a family member who fought there with the 11th NJ

Vol. Co I. (GGGrandfather). Yes, I know all about the controversy. In

fact, at 57 yrs. I'm a junior at Juniata college doing a major in

history. My research paper for my /Civil War and Reconstruction/ class

is on that very controversy. This is the first class where the Professor

doesn't make me feel stupid! We were in Gettysburg a few weeks ago for

student presentations, but living in Bedford Co. I try to get there at

least once a year.

I just read something a couple of weeks ago that Little Round Top was

abandoned for a short time during the battle except for a few flagmen.

Warren was responsible for sending troops there to cover that part of

the line.

Linda