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Battle of Gettysburg fought 155 years ago today
DCW
Posts: 7,935 ✭✭✭✭✭
155 years ago the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia clashed in a little town to which all roads famously lead. 46,000 casualties in 3 days.
Post a coin, token, or medal in remembrance:
1863 "Good for a Scent" Boston, MA Civil War token by Joseph H. Merriam (ex. S. Tanenbaum)
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
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Yes. My great - grandfather was there. Iowa volunteers. 1861-65. And for what? Look at the country today. As divided as ever. On the positive side.....Little Hydrant grandbaby #10 was born at 2 a.m. this morning. Jennifer Anne. God bless her. And God bless America!
He was most certainly there for a reason. This country has seen it's fair share of war, tragedy, and division.
We'll all get through present day differences as long as we respect each other.
Let's try and keep this thread on course, folks...
1938 75th Anniversary medal worn by MY great great grandfather of the 34th NJ Infantry:
He was one of the remaining vets that gathered at the Last Reunion of the Blue and the Gray 80 years ago today.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
First, congratulations on the birth of your grandchild. I hope number 10 brings you as much happiness as my grandchildren have brought me.
As an Iowan, I have always been interested in my home states role in the Civil War and would like to increase my knowledge in this subject. Currently I'm unaware of any units from Iowa being at Gettysburg and I hope you would share any details of his story?
Very nice !!!
Thank you. Of course you're right. I've been to the Gettysburg battle field three times. Being there, as an adult, is the most moving and melancholy experience imaginable. Mrs. Hydrant and her mother broke down and cried at the site of Pickett's charge. Mrs. Hydrants mother was a daughter of the South, Texas. Her family fought too. Brother against brother. What a horrible time. We can't even imagine.
Here's a photo I have from the 75th Anniversary in 1938. My great great grandfather is in the wheelchair on the right, and it's the only photo I have of him. You can see an example of the badge I posted being proudly worn by the Confederate gentleman on the left.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
DCW, that's a wonderful picture. Blue or Grey they were kin. It wasn't that long ago.
RWM, I Will get back to you. Until then, how about some family history stories from the Civil War. Come on boys and girls. Tell us the family legends. It's the Independence week. Share your families stories.
My wife's great-grandfather was in the 8th Iowa Cavalry as their farrier (blacksmith). His unit was stationed in the west, and not with the Army of the Potomac (he was captured during McCook's Raid after the fall of Atlanta, BTW, and spent time at Andersonville. He escaped while the prisoners were being transferred in front of Sherman. He was in rehab in Baltimore when he managed to get a peek at Lincoln's funeral train as it passed through....
This man's brother served in the 13th U.S. Infantry, and earned the Congressional Medal of Honor at Vicksburg.
I expect most Iowans fought in the West during the war.
My great-grandfather was a Confederate who was wounded at Murfreesboro.
No one was at Gettysburg, so far as I know.
As far as our putative disunion is concerned, it is our belief in and loyalty to the Constitution defines/unites us all as Americans.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
My great grandfather was a Confederate soldier. Can't win em all. He was one of the lucky ones that survived. Those were tough times for this country, but it too survived.
Brother against brother is a scary thing. The civil war devided families and sometimes brothers actually saw each other shooting at one another.
I was a civil war reenactor for many years. One of the most amazing things I've done in my life was camping in pitzers woods. These were the woods the Confederate troops stayed in before they walked across the open field also know as pickets charge. We were portraying soldiers on the move so we didnt have any tents cooked over the fire and it was a very surreal experence.
I've never been so tired after a weekend. Due to the fact at night I couldn't sleep. I layed on that ground all night staring at the stars thinking about all the men that died right where I was laying. All the men that stood there praying and hoping they would get out of this battle alive before crossing that open field while all hell was being rained down on them. It was a very moving experience to lay there knowing that guys layed there looking at the same stars I was and some died just hours later.
HAPPY COLLECTING
Keep it coming. This is wonderful.
Time is an interesting concept. I've got a great - great uncle. He joined a unit from Massachusetts as a drummer boy in 1863 at the age of 14. While he missed Gettysburg, he basically was in every further battle the Army of the Potomac fought between then and the end of the war. He was a lieutenant by the time he was 16 in 1865. After leading men in some of the bloodiest battles in all of US history, when he left the army after the end of the war, he had to go back to high school, since he hadn't finished it.
U.S. Type Set
.> @SkyMan said:
Yes, SkyMan, time is an interesting concept. Great story about your great -great uncle. The Civil War? It wasn't that long ago.
A poem that has always signified the intensity and emotion of war for me is this one... Cheers, RickO
Battle Cry
© Ethan Patterson
Running through the battlefield, bracing for the bang.
Cannons fire near me, metal swords go clang.
Everyone I know and love could flash before my eyes.
Yet I wash out all those scary thoughts and hope that no one dies.
The ringing in my head has overcome my ears.
I watch my best friend kill someone, holding back the tears.
Think about the wives and kids that don't know if we're fine,
sitting through the churching hours, eating bread and wine.
Hoping one day they'll see their dad, running to embrace.
His tired arms wrapped around them, with a smile on his face.
Screaming and horror fills the sweat on my skin,
as I watch my best friend tumble, amongst all of the sin.
I carry him back as I watch him slowly die,
hoping someone hears me scream my battle cry.
These Political predate the Civil War by a year or so but quite poignant of the times.
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POLITICAL DEWITT-SL-1859-1, WM JOHN BROWN NGC MS64PL
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CAMPAIGN DEWITT-C-1861-13,SILVERED JEFFERSON DAVIS NGC MS62
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE
Here is a bronze copy of a gold medal that the Union League of Philadelphia awarded to General George Gordon Meade in the summon of 1866. The mintage for the bronze piece is “something over 100 pieces” although I’m sure it’s well under 200. The dies were cut by Anthony Paquet and are said to be among his best works.
The Union League awarded this medal during a time when General Daniel Sickles was trying to claim that he was the true victor as Gettysburg. Sickles foolishly led his men away from the high ground, in the Round Top area, on the left side of the Union line into an exposed area known as the peach orchard. He got his leg shot off for his trouble.
Sickles would be last surviving general of the Civil War. He died in 1914. He kept his amputated leg with him in a little casket.
Meade was the true Union leader and victorious officer in charge at Gettysburg. Although he remained the nominal head of the Army of the Potomac, U.S. Grant took charge after he was promoted to head the entire operation in March of 1864.
Commems and Early Type
That is a really neat item.
a crusty worn commem, i like
A very tough time for this country that should never be forgotten.
Thanks for sharing some of the pieces commemorating it.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
The coins are nice. The memorabilia is nice. Any personal family stories?
My great great grandfather was a Wisconsin volunteer. He died in Andersonville prison. At least, this is what has been passed down. When I retire, I plan to do some deeper looking into his record.