GDG- "Earthworks" in front of the copse of trees

[Laurence Schiller]

Actually, Don, there is a marker to Co. F of the 2nd Wisconsin on  
Steven's Knoll.

best,

Laurie Schiller

On Sep 21, 2007, at 4:31 PM, ernscave at aol.com wrote:

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> Regarding the "earthworks" that seem to be in front of the copse of  
> trees, there is a very interesting history to the dirt that now  
> covers some of the wall that originally ran from the "Angle" (where  
> Company K of the 71st Pa stood while Garnett attacked all the way  
> down (running north) to the point where the wagon path cut through.
> ? From prior to the battle until the 1930's the stone wall stood  
> uncovered with dirt. In my conversations with Kathy Harrison I? 
> learned? some time ago?that during the 1930's the CCC was given the  
> task of covering up the stone wall with dirt. This was done and  
> between roughly 1935 and 1965 dirt covered most of the old stone  
> wall. In the past 30 years, there have been several projects  
> involving the removal of the dirt. One was done under Park  
> supervision by members of th 69th Pa reenactors about 6 years ago.  
> Today, the wall stands exposed from Company "I" marker (on the far  
> right of the 69th line to the Company "C" marker (about half way  
> down the 69th Pa battleline) The remainder of the old stone wall?  
> (companies G-K-B-E) remains covered with dirt. In addition, the  
> remainder of the old wall (where the 59th NY originally stood) also  
> is still covered with dirt. If one walks down to that spot, one can  
> still see pieces of the old stone wall protruding through the dirt  
> and?also can?
>  see the right flank marker of the 59th NY directly to the left of  
> Company G of the 69th. While there are those who believe that the  
> 59th NY regiment was far to the left of 69th Pa Company G?  
> (somewhere near the present 7th Michigan marker), the markers were  
> placed with the advice of the men who were there in July 1863 and I  
> can not imagine Col. Hall leaving a 40 foot hole in his front line  
> line........ prior to the arrival of Cowen's battery.
>
> As most of you know, the company markers of the 69th Pa are the  
> only regimental company markers on the Gettysburg battlefield (and  
> to my knowledge the only company markers on any American  
> battlefield) The 69th reenactors have sought the removal of the  
> dirt that still covers the left flank of our regiment but the  
> policy of the Park today does not permit this removal.
>
> Don Ernsberger
> historian 69th Pa "Irish Volunteers"
> authOr? AT THE WALL - The 69th Pa at Gettysburg
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Dr. Laurence Dana Schiller
lds307 at northwestern.edu

Maitre d'Armes
Head Fencing Coach                       Department of History
Northwestern University
Commissioner, Midwest Fencing Conference
Midwest VP, US Fencing Coaches' Association
Vice-Chair USFA Illinois Division
Lds307 at northwestern.edu
847-491-4654
FAX 847-467-1406
Official Sports site: http://nusports.ocsn.com/
Student web site: http://groups.northwestern.edu/fencing/