Well, it’s official. Taking the family on a “Eastern” adventure that will land us ultimately at Gettysburg on June 28/29. My wife is from Pennsylvania and I am from Chicago. I pitched the trip to the wife and kiddies as a “let’s go see the family” trip! Wink, wink. However, for me it will be about Gettysburg. We are out here in Colorado so it will be a 3600 mile or there about round trip.
As some of you know I have an ancestor (Charles H. Weygant) who became a Colonel of a regiment and wrote an excellent history of that regiment, the 124th NY “Orange Blossoms”, who fought heroically at Devil’s Den. Note: photo above from Jenny’s Flicka, it is the tribute to the 124th at Gettysburg.)
I am virtually ignorant of the tactical aspects of the battle and am re-reading Weygant’s book and also, gulp, Sear’s book on Gettysburg. If anyone is going to be there on the 28/29 and knows their way around the battlefield I would love to meet with you!
Finally, there has been some interesting blogging going on about Eric’s cavalry book about Gettysburg and some remarks by renown historian Gary Gallagher in the new issue of Civil War Times Illustrated. I have not read the new issue but will. There has also been some heated exchanges (well not really heated) between Kevin and Eric.
Clearly Eric is very passionate and upset right now, and I don’t blame him. I have a book coming out either late this year or early 2008 and I know it is far from a perfect piece of history. I suspect if anyone reads it I might take some hits from reviewers, that cannot be pleasant.
Anyway, if anyone lives near Gettysburg or will be there in a few weeks when I am let me know!!
Chris
Do you have Woodworth’s battlefield guide? I haven’t seen that particular one but I really like the ones in the series that I have read.
Yes, looking into battlefield guides. I am hoping I can buy one there when I arrive, though it might be cheaper to do it now….
C
Chris,
Well, I can verify that I70/64 are clear for your trip from Richmond to Limon after the last few days! Looks like I’ll just miss you at Gettysburg, I’ll be up the morning of the 30th. Maybe we can link up in Colorado? I’ll be in the Springs until the 27th.
Chris,
Sorry I’m going to miss you. I will arrive in the ‘burg on the evening of the 21st and head out on the 24th. I’m going to miss you by three days.
Have a great time.
Eric
Chris,
Sorry I’ll miss you as well – I’ll be there the same time as Eric.
Have a terrific time (well, when is there ever a bad time at Gettysburg)!
J.D.