GDG- The Bliss Farm Torching

[JIM COOKE]

Gettysburg College professor Micheal Jacobs placed the time of the signal shots at 1:07 P.M. This is the same gentleman who gave us the temperature readings for the three days of the battle. He lived at the northwest corner of Washington and Middle streets. There is a wayside marker infront of the building.
JC
----- Original Message -----
From: Alan D. Brunelle <Alan.Brunelle at pobox.com>
To: GDG <gettysburg at arthes.com>
Sent: Mon, 5 May 2008 07:25:55 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: GDG- The Bliss Farm Torching

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:


Robert G. Pielke wrote:
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
> Given the ambiguity about the Bliss torching time, I wonder why almost everyone is so certain about
> the beginning of the cannonade at 1 pm?? [There seems to be a kind of universal agreement about this,}
>
> ??
>
> Bob Pielke

Hi Bob -

I don't have the details right here, but I think it was due mostly to a 
professor in town who recorded /some/ things quite accurately - time & 
weather conditions. Didn't he put it @ 1:07pm?

But as Bruce states, there was quite a lot of "first hand" accounts 
providing a number of various start times, but more frustratingly, a 
/lot/ of variance in the end-time (or, more precisely, the duration of 
the cannonade). I think values here go anywhere from 45-60 minutes up to 
2-3 hours.

The start time would have been pretty easy to figure out - plus/minus a 
little. The end time may have been harder due to the fact that there 
must have been some artillery fire continuing as the Confederates 
started there infantry assault.

It would be /so/ much easier if the soldiers providing the information 
carried clip-boards around with accurate time pieces jotting down all 
this interesting stuff... :-)

Regards,
Alan
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