Parting shot at Gettysburg

 

          The final two days at Gettysburg were spent wandering the battlefield, Nikon in hand.

          This year the mystery that had been Culp’s Hill became a great deal clearer (to one particular person) and the Nikon availed itself to recording the areas of the Hill where your favorite blogger finally has a working understanding of the fighting.

          After walking in the dark for six years, a small spec of light finally made itself visible to this human’s eyes. One of the images here came from Culp’s Hill, while others came from elsewhere.

          No exaggeration here: It was a great deal more satisfying to walk on the Hill with the ability to record an image and know what happened in the pictured location. Yes, the weather was miserably hot and humid. Yes, the Hill was a steep climb in places. But understanding the Hill’s story made all the physical effort more worthwhile.

          And, truth be told, that basic understanding of the Hill’s unique place in the Gettysburg story could not have happened for this blogger were it not for the Civil War Institute and the tours planned for Gettysburg each year.

          You can laugh at this next part. Mrs. Leeway sure did.

          The remnants of the trenches dug by the Federal defenders of Culp’s Hill evaded this blogger for six years. It was one of those situations where the forest was hard to see because all the trees were in the way. Of course, it helps to look in the right place if you want to see something.



Look where the ground slopes to the left
and look at the tree line. The trenchs
were on the spot where the ground seems
to level out.

         

Tour guide: You can see what remains of the Union trenches right here.

          Blogger (peering closely in the indicated direction): Really? Where?

          Tour guide: You’re standing on one.

      

 

         The other images came from locations around the battlefield and are offered as a mini tour for the reader.

          Some of the images here were captured as part of a project. Others are locations seen in this blog space before, but this time in an attempt to capture a fresh viewpoint. One thing Gettysburg does not lack is interesting opportunities for the camera.

          The general idea for Speedyleeway Research Month was for your loyal blogger to research something every day or listen to an expert in a field each day during the month of June. Whether it was getting tips on ways to conduct more research or stumbling into something most of the world already knew about, this month was a success for Speedyleeway.

 

Look above the artillery piece. The tallest hill in the distance, to the right, is Round Top. To the left
you can see Little Round Top. The image was captured from the spot where General Lee met the troops
as they returned from Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863.

Shot from the same spot as the previous image. The bigger bunch of trees to the right is the Copse of
Trees, the target of the Confederates charge on the final day at Gettysburg.

 

The flank marker for the 20th Maine. Look at the small
change across the top.

Memorial to the Irish
Brigade.

General Warren on
Little Round Top.

 

          There were a few days when yours truly had to put aside research and go to work. It seemed possible, even probable, that no research would be done. But, with the mental dexterity developed as a graduate from a great American university, the hurdle was overcome with a simple question: “Hey, what was the fastest Pro Stock run ever made here?”

          That, my friends, is research.

          Whether it is your own family tree or something to do with your favorite athletic team, this writer hopes you find something to research and that the result gives you joy.

          Thanks for reading and happy Speedyleeway Research Month!