The day brightened up the next day as the sun came out, and I had the opportunity to circle back around Cemetery Ridge, past Farnsworth’s Charge, up to Little Round Top, and finishing up at the Stone Wall. Like some of the Battle Fields in Virginia that I visit fairly often, you can always find something new and different that you haven’t seen before. Perhaps it’s the condition of the field with wild flowers or new growth, the unusual sky framing the field of battle, or a piece of artillery cleaned and refurbished. Sometimes, it’s another visitor that you strike up a conversation with, or maybe you have read other accounts of the engagement, and your visions are different as you walk the field.

I will be going back sometime in the Spring of the Year. You can’t see it all in 3 days or so.

Bobby Edwards
Moderator of the 3rd North Carolina Cavalry Site

p.s. – some of the photos are on the site, along with hundreds from Petersburg and Richmond battlefields

http://www.myfamily.com/group/nc3rdcavalry

That’s a strange oddity as my ancestor’s birthday was the 12th of September, and although my father mentioned to me once that my great-grandfather was at Gettysburg, there’s no way to prove it – unless I could find his name on a muster slip. I know that some member of the 3rd North Carolina Cavalry [41st NCT] were in Gettysburg, because Seven of them show up on the Regimental Roster of Moore’s List as having been captured around the region of Gettysburg. The Unit was assigned to Robertson’s North Carolina Brigade in that time frame, however the Regimental Records shows the 3rd North Carolina on duty at the South Anna River Bridge, July 4th 1864 helping with the defense of Richmond.

Here’s a listing of the Seven Privates and the locations of capture vary, which leads me to believe they could have been elements of scouting forays – just a guess on my part. Any comments about this group or observations, much appreciated…

JOHN BOSTIC – Company B – captured Gettysburg on South Mountain July, 4th 1863. Sent to prison Fort Delaware, died august 1st, 1863

WILLIAM JONES – Company D, captured at Gettysburg, July 3rd, 1863, and admitted to Hammond General Hospital at Point Lookout, Maryland from Chester, Pa

J.S. SHEPPARD – Company G, captured at Gettysburg, July 3rd, 1863, and confined at Point Lookout, Maryland – died September 11th, 1864, and buried in the Confederate Cemetery.

J. FREEZE – Captured at Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863, and confined at Fort Delaware, where he died October, 21st, 1863.

BENJAMIN F. COTTER – Captured at Gettysburg, July 4th, 1863, and Confined at the U.S. General Hospital at Chester, Pa – Until Transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland – October 2nd, 1863.

W.S. STACK – Company K, Captured and Confined at Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, July 2nd, 1863. Released after taking oath of Allegiance November 24th, 1863.

I plan to take a large group of photos and will post a link later when I get back. I will be staying at the Wyndham. Any recommendations of a nice place to eat on Anniversary night?

Bobby

I love the ECF as well, and as you both stated it is a great place to just stop and stare and take things in.

Regards from the Garden State,

Steve

My favorite spot is East Cavalry Field. There’s almost never anyone else there, and I love to take in the terrain and ponder what happened there.

Eric

Steve’s also right about Remembrance Day. Walk in the National Cemetery at night during the luminary, and you’ll never forget it. Hundreds of people there, and not a sound except for folks reading the names on a little PA system of those interred there. Awesome. You gotta do it.

J.D.

GE

Randy