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

[Jack Kelly]

Hi Don,

There is another company marker on Culp's Hill, and that is of Company I, 
60th NY, placed there in the 1890's (IIRC) by a committee of Company I 
survivors headed by the company CO at Gettysburg, Rev. Jesse H. Jones.  The 
marker is pretty well obscured by trees and undergrowth from the top of the 
Hill, but is next to the 60th NY regimental marker on the old carriage path.

Regards,

Jack Kelly
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ernscave at aol.com>
To: <gettysburg at arthes.com>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 5:31 PM
Subject: GDG- "Earthworks" in front of the copse of trees


> 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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