The Virginia Monument, Gettysburg

This massive monument was presented in 1917 by the governor of Virginia. On the top is a sculpture of Robert E. Lee on Traveller. The figures face the field of "Pickett's Charge."

More Scenes from East Cavalry Battlefield

East Cavalry Battlefield is within Gettysburg National Military Park although it is outside the town of Gettysburg. Here J.E.B. Stuart's Confederate Cavalry found itself unable to defeat Union Cavalry and had to retreat. An interpretive sign tells the story:

A Violent Collision of Cavalry — July 3, 1863 - Third Day —

"So sudden and violent was the collision that many of the horses were turned end over end, and crushed their riders beneath them."

Capt. William E. Miller, U.S.A.

4th Pennsylvania Cavalry

On the afternoon of July 3, Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart mounted several cavalry attacks against Brig. Gen. David M. Gregg's Union cavalry positioned along the Hanover Road 1/2 mile in front of you. A colonel of the 1st Virginia Cavalry reported the fighting was "hand to hand, blow for blow, cut for cut, and oath for oath...."

At 4:00 p.m., Stuart assembled 12 regiments of troopers for the last great charge of the day. A Union officer wrote of the massed Confederates: "In close column of squadrons, advancing as if in review, with sabers drawn and glistening like silver in the bright sunlight-the spectacle called forth a murmur of admiration."

The closest Union regiment available to halt the Southern horsemen was the 1st Michigan Cavalry. Brig. Gen. George A. Custer rode to the head of the regiment, stood up in the stirrups with his saber aloft and with a determined yell, led a countercharge. While Custer viciously attacked the head of the Confederate column, other Union cavalry under Col. John B. McIntosh closed in on the flanks. Assaulted on three sides, the Confederates retreated. The attack on the Union rear had failed.

Dr. Poland of NVCC Explains the Cavalry Battle

While Gettysburg Battlefield is a naturally beautiful place, it is littered with so many monuments and signs that the scenery is obscured. Here's a marker commemorating the Cavalry Corps, Third Division, Second Brigade under General Custer. (You can read the text on HMDB.)

Scenes at East Cavalry Battlefield

I took these pictures on a field trip to Gettysburg last year. We were continuing our study of the role of cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign which had begun in Brandy Station.

• See posts about Brandy Station.
• See all posts about Gettysburg.
• See Gettysburg Campaign series on CivilWarFieldTrips.com.

The marker is one of several on Cavalry Field.

Army of Northern Virginia
Stuart's Horse Artillery

Beckham's Battalion McGregor's Battery
Two Napoleons and Two 3 Inch Rifles

July 3 The Battery took an active part in the fight arriving about 2 p.m. and keeping up its fire until the ample supply of ammunition furnished on its way here in the forenoon was exhausted. It withdrew from the field under orders about nightfall.
Losses Killed 5 Wounded 7 Total 12
Horses killed and disabled 11

One of Dr. Poland's Diagrams, Cavalry Battle

Hanging Out with Abe Lincoln

Gettysburg National Park Visitor Center

Text of Gettysburg Address

Zig Zag Fence , Gettysburg Battlefield

I noticed a bird sitting on one of the rails. This is near the parking lot for "Pickett's Charge."

You might also like: Snake Style Fences.

No. Va. Community College Civil War Course

Dr. Poland's field trip course is scheduled for May 18-20, 2012. Here are a few photos from last year's trip to Gettysburg.

Previously I posted last year's Brandy Station tour on this blog.

See the Advanced Civil War course listing on NVCC.edu. The topic is Civil War Prisons and Hospitals.

Visit CivilWarFieldTrips.com.

Scans from My 1984 Album

Elias, Meadow, Marie, Lynn

The first two photos include members of my sister's family (plus my kids in picture #1). Peggy's children are younger than mine. Below we see the Roy Rogers Restaurant that was at the corner of King and Washington Streets in Alexandria. Both my daughters worked there while in high school.
	Meadow, Larry, Elias

A Lighter Oak Floor

We had the hardwood floors refinished at the Lake House. The old floors were quite worn, as you can see in the second photo, taken two years ago. They were also dark, and since we were having them redone we switched to a light color.

The newly finished floors are beautiful!

A Lake in March

We've been cleaning up the Lake House and even though the work is dusty and tiring, we can get refreshed by looking at the view.

I don't know the name of the lake yet. We'll have to ask the neighbors.

History Professor Charles Poland Receives Award

Congratulations to Dr. Poland, my longtime history professor and Civil War Field Trips leader. His hard work and talents were recognized with Virginia's 2012 Outstanding Faculty Award.

I was one of the students who submitted a letter of recommendation for this award and I was very happy that he was selected. I've taken many of his classes and maintain a website about the Civil War field trips.

Read the NVCC Press Release.

Charles and Betty Poland Surrounded by Some of His Students

Betty Poland	Me with Dr. Poland and a Marvel Comic he got as a gag gift

Squirrel #99

I've posted plenty of squirrel photos! This is the 99th post tagged with the label "Squirrels."

Turkey Tries to Escape

Click and watch the short video.

Basye Orkney Springs Library Program

Farmer Tom let his turkey graze on the library/airport grounds. At first the turkey grazed casually, but eventually he made a break for freedom. Fortunately the farmer was able to catch him before he disappeared in the woods.

See all "Library" posts.

Planting Seeds

At the Library in Bryce Resort

Miss Mona likes to include a hands-on activity during each children's program at the library. For "What Does a Farmer Do All Day," the activity was decorating a small pot and planting seeds in it.

Since the weather was warm, the children worked outdoors at picnic tables.

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Farmer Tom's Animals

Miss Mona arranged for Farmer Tom to bring animals to Basye for a children's program at the library. Many of the animals were very young and the children were enchanted with them. Actually, so were the adults!

The program was lively and educational. We even had a perfect spring day for it!

Tom's farm products are sold at the Friendly City Food Co-op in Harrisonburg.

Kids With Animals

What could be cuter than kids with animals?

Kids with baby animals!

Farmer Tom brought young animals to Basye for the library's program, "What do Farmers Do all Day?" Chicks, piglets and lambs were among the adorable creatures he transported in his truck from Turkey Knob.

Spring Gobbler

Welcome, Spring!

Since it's the first day of spring, I felt like adding a few daffodils to the photo. Basically I copied a couple of clusters and pasted them in using Photoshop®. I also added a light canvas texture so that viewers can see that this is an altered photograph.

Cute Chick!

Greystone Lodge

We took a look at Greystone Lodge, which is vacant and offered for sale. Apparently it was once a hunting lodge catering to visitors from the city. Now it is advertised as a potential B&B, but it only has two bathrooms.

At one time I would have been impressed by the mountain views but I've gotten so spoiled by our own view and some others up here that I found this view to be mundane. It's on the "other" part of Supinlick Ridge, south of 263 and has a Mount Jackson address.