GDG- Re: new Blue & Gray

Wed Aug 8 17:39:13 CDT 2007

-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com
[mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com] On Behalf Of J. David Petruzzi
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:26 PM
To: GDG
Subject: RE: GDG- Re: new Blue & Gray

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:

Hi,

I have read the articles, rebuttals, book accounts, and about everything
I have available, and I think there is a definite connection between
monument locations and the interpretations of the action on SCF.
I am still trying to get my own handle on this action, and would
appreciate your assistance/insights.

I do have some comments that I would like corrected if I am mistaken.
It is my belief that the comments I make below have been verified by
sources.
I also have a few questions.

In 1887 former 5th NY Cav. Officer John Hammond marked the location
where he believed his regiment protected Elder's battery on 3 July.
Was this done on his own, or at the request of the GBMA?

Hammond's location became a benchmark for determining the location of
the positions of the other regiments in a brigade line, as was GBMA
policy for Farnsworth's brigade.  Bachelder made reference to that
policy to the 18th PA's former SGT Grier.
At the same time the GBMA was relocating other regimental monuments from
advance positions to brigade line positions.

Based on Hammond's location the GBMA identified locations for the 1st
WV, 18th PA and 1st VT monuments.
Is that a true statement, as I believe the GBMA had to approve all
monument locations?

Hammond's location was later determined by other former brigade members
to be incorrect, but the monument was dedicated in the initial location.
Apparently time was a major factor here.
The GBMA recognized the mistake, and the monument would be relocated
upon completion of the new road.

The monuments to the 1st VT and 18th PA were subsequently erected and
dedicated in their GBMA assigned locations.
Were they located on park or private land?  Grier indicated that the
GBMA was to have purchased the land from its owners.

A former member of the 18th PA noted years later that their monument was
still in the wrong location.

With no action from the GBMA, sometime later the state of NY moved the
5th NY's monument to its current location.
Was the initial location, at that time on park or private land?
Was the current location on park or private land when the monument was
moved?

In 1907-8 Elder's battery's tablet was erected at the same location as
the 5th NY's monument's current location.

Probably around the same time they were identifying locations for the
regimental monuments, based on Hammond's location, the GBMA was
identifying the location of a park road for access to the monuments.
Based on its finding that Hammond's location was incorrect, the road
would also have to be relocated.
Was the initial proposed road on park property?
Would the corrected road have been on park property?
Was the road not built because the other regimental monuments were never
moved?

In 1898 the 1st WV erected and dedicated their monument on the Taneytown
road far from where the regiment fought on 3 July.

It appears to me that the initial positioning of the 5th NY's position
by Hammond set off a chain of events that resulted in the locations of
the three monuments in historically inaccurate locations.
Early historians would naturally be drawn to those monuments locations
when writing their accounts of the fight on SCF.
I am sure that those historians sincerely believed that the GBMA had
correctly identified the locations.

I wonder if Bachelder was somewhat embarrassed with the incorrect
location of the 5th NY and was slow to react and acknowledge the
mistake, and after his death and the transfer of the park to the War
Dept., this issue was basically forgotten in lieu of other priorities.

I welcome your assistance regarding the accuracy of my observations and
my questions.

VR, Rick Schaus

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