Connecting with Those Who Fought at Gettysburg

The Gettysburg Project Week group began the day by hearing some background to the battle. Later in the day they are going to watch the film "Gettysburg" to better see what happened there.

• Prior to the film members of the group researched a person who fought there to be able to connect with the person when we visit the battlefield tomorrow and Wednesday. Here is what we discovered:
• George E. Pickett received an appointment to the U.S Military at the age of 17, and graduated last in his class at West Point in 1846.
• John Reynolds was born in Lancaster PA
• Daniel Sickles has hit in the right leg by a cannonball.
• George Custer's middle name was Armstrong and was killed by rain in the face.
• George Meade was in born in Candiz, Spain in 1815 and graduated from the U.S. military academy.
• Edward Cross always wearing a red bandanna on his head rather that the traditional officer's hat. that his way of making easier for his men to locate him quickly on the battlefield.
• E Porter Alexander's most famous engagement was on July 3, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, during which he was in command of the artillery for Longstreet's corps.
• Jeb Stuart's Great Grandfather. Alexander Stuart was a commander in the Revolutionary war.
• John Buford was a Union officer even though his father was a slave owner and he was from the Confederate state of Kentucky
• Longstreet... was the finest corps commander in the Army of Northern Virginia; in fact he was arguably the best corps commander in the conflict on either side.
• Joshua Chamberlain received the Medal of Honor for his defensive tactics on Little Round Top.
• Winfield Scott Hancock was in California when the war started but requested transfer to lead and fight in the Army of the Potomac.
• Robert E Lee entered west point in the summer of 1825.

Looking forward to learning more...