Two notes about the 15th Alabama

          The hand-scribbled note and pre-printed memorial sheet are among the heart-wrenching items you sometimes see at a National Military Park like the one here in Gettysburg.

          This week, with the crowds growing ever larger in advance of the looming 150^th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Gettysburg, more are likely to pop up. You have to be careful; these things can sneak up on you. Were this one a snake, I’d be dead.

          I had decided not to return to the 20^th Maine area on Little Round Top because I am unhappy with the paved walking paths the National Park Service (I assume it was the NPS) installed in the area. But, while visiting General Warren on Little Round Top, I decided to return to the 20^th’s area anyway.

          The two notes, which you can see here, sat side-by-side.  I admit to moving a

stone away from the printed list of names so as to include the final name in the image. I then rolled the stone back to keep the thing standing.

          It was hard to photograph the notes in a way that shows where the notes stood when I saw them, so all I could do was shoot the goofy image you see that includes the 20^th Maine Regiment’s marker. The image also includes the idiotic paved path recently installed.

        The first note says 15TH ALABAMA NEEDS A MONUMENT.

 

         It so happens that I agree the 15^th Alabama should have a marker near the 20^th. We are not likely to see one erected. Remember Elder’s Rule regarding National Military Parks: Battle winners get to locate and install the markers, not to mention determine the wording for the markers in National Military Parks. Losers are allowed to visit National Military Parks.

          At one time, there might have been a marker installed for the 15^th. William

Notes below center,
20th Maine monument
upper left-center.

Oates, who commanded the 15^th at Gettysburg, was the Governor of Alabama at the same time that J.L. Chamberlain, who commanded the 20^th at Gettysburg, was the governor of Maine. Oates inquired of Chamberlain whether the Maine man would support the idea of some sort of memorial for the 15^th.

          As I understand the story, Chamberlain initially supported the idea until the matter of placement came up. Oates wanted to place the memorial on the location where Oates recalled his beloved brother was felled in the close fighting for the left flank of the 20^th Maine and, indeed, the entire Army of the Potomac on July 2, 1863. Oates described the location.

          Chamberlain, the governor of Maine, disagreed with the idea that the younger Oates advanced as far as the elder Oates, by then the governor of Alabama, believed. The men never came to an agreement and the matter died. In essence, two politicians agreed on something but two old soldiers did not.

          In the spirit of, uh, whatever, your loyal blogger did a very brief check on the Alabama soldiers listed on the pre-printed list shown in the photograph.

          John Robert Woodham did serve in Company H of the 15^th. Born in South Carolina, he was married when he enlisted in the Confederate Army July 3 of 1861. He is listed as severely wounded and captured at Gettysburg. He eventually returned to the 15^th.

          Cornelius Vertilus Atkinson served in Company E of the 15th. Born in Georgia, Atkinson was a farmer when he enlisted at age 16. He was captured at Gettysburg. He remained a POW until the end of the war.

          Manly Scott Anderson was born in South Carolina and was an 18-year-old farmer when he enlisted at 18. A member of Company K, he was captured on July 5^th, during the Army of Northern Virginia’s retreat from Gettysburg.

          Carnes Pattillo Anderson enlisted at Newton, Alabama on August 21, 1862 and served in Company K.

          William Harris was an unmarried farmer living in Daleville, Alabama when he enlisted at age 21. A member of Company K, he was killed at Chickamauga in September of the same year.

 

          Thanks for reading.