John Burns Memorial
May 18, 2015
On the afternoon of July 1, 1863, wearing a vest, dark coat & trousers & a high silk hat the only Gettysburg civilian known to have participated in the battle reported to Colonel Langhorne Wister of the 150th Pennsylvania Infantry & requested permission to join the fight. A veteran of the War of 1812, John Burns fought side by side with several Union regiments that day. His actions earned him the respect of the soldiers he fought alongside with. He was wounded three times & had to be carried from the field.
Burns recovered from his wounds & for the remaining years of his life was a local hero.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly elected to honor this man’s memory by erecting a memorial near the site of his service at the McPherson Farm.
The memorial was dedicated on July 1, 1903 & inscribed at the base are the words used by General Doubleday in his official report commending the heroism of this local citizen.
Dogs of Gettysburg
April 24, 2015
Dogs of Gettysburg is a unique combination of gifts for pets and their people. Go in and browse the many items in a Civil War inspired shop. We are sure you will find something to keep you and your pet happy. Our featured items include pet clothing, collars, leashes , beds and dog treats. Feel free to place an order for a custom Civil War Uniform and Kepi – Union or Confederate. In addition enjoy the many hand crafted items from local craftsman and the surrounding area. Pets are welcome ! They are located at 777 Baltimore Street suite 102 Gettysburg,Pa. 17325 across from the tour center. They are closed on Mondays and open from 10 am – 6 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and 10 am- 7 pm Friday & Saturday open Sundays from 12 – 5 pm.
717-337-DOGS (717-337-3647)
Union Major General Daniel E. Sickles
April 13, 2015
Union Major General Daniel E. Sickles is one of the most controversial figures at Gettysburg.
Commander of the Union 3rd Corps during the Gettysburg campaign, General Sickles was also a politician before & after the War Between the States.
On July 2, 1863, General Sickles was not at all happy with the position on the line that he was assigned. He felt the higher, more elevated ground to his front would be more defensible & offer his artillery a better field of fire. So, without authorization to do it; General Sickles moved his entire corps forward. This act unhinged the Union line & left the, now exposed, 3rd Corps vulnerable to attack from multiple directions & this is exactly what happened.
There are those who consider General Sickles the “Savior of Gettysburg” & there are those who view his acts as treasonous.
General Sickles was mounted, providing encouragement to his men on July 2nd when a 12 pound confederate cannon ball struck him on the right leg. The general’s horse was unhurt but, the injury would result in amputation for Sickles.
The small diamond shaped marker found on the grounds of the Trostle Farm was placed there in 1901 & marks the location of General Sickles’ wounding.
Private Joseph Lindemuth, Company L, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry
March 18, 2015
Private Joseph Lindemuth, Company L, 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry – fully equipped & down on one knee served as the model for his units monument at Gettysburg. Located on Hancock Avenue at the Angle during Pickett’s Charge on July 3rd, the memorial to these men was dedicated on September 2, 1890 & cost $1,500.00.
In position behind the crest of Cemetery Ridge, the 1st PA. Cavalry was held in reserve to be on hand to attack any confederate infantry that was able to break through the union front. The Confederate assault faltered at the wall & these troopers were not needed that day. The dedicated, watchful appearance that Private Lindemuth conveys on this memorial represents the anxious wait of his fellow troopers as they witnessed the struggle unfold in front of them.
Jennie Wade-Orphan Combo Tour
February 20, 2015Ghostly Images of Gettysburg is proud to invite you to tour the buildings investigated by the Popular Network Shows “GHOST HUNTERS”, “GHOST LAB”, “GHOST ADVENTURES”, “HAUNTED HISTORY” AND “MOST HAUNTED LIVE”. A special tour taking you INSIDE The Jennie Wade House and The Haunted Orphanage will be offered SATURDAY NIGHTS January 17th through February 28th at 7 PM (weather permitting). Space is limited. Make ticket arrangements by contacting Gettysburg Battlefield Tours, 778 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325, (717) 334-6296 option #2 (9 AM – 3:30 PM) Cost: $15 (ages 8 and older). Any remaining tickets will be sold at Ghostly Images, 777 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325, (717) 334-1156 prior to tour. Tour has been cancelled for Saturday, February 21st. The last Combo Tour will be on Saturday, February 28th, 2015.
The David Wills Story
January 16, 2015One of the most popular stops, and one you surely don’t want to miss on your trip to Gettysburg, is the famous David Wills house on Lincoln Square. No one could have guessed that this prominent landmark would have morphed from a commercial building that housed several stores, to Mr. Wills’ home and law office in 1859. The largest building on the town square soon would play a key role in one of the most historical moments in history.
David Wills was a Gettysburg area native who graduated from the former Pennsylvania College, which is now Gettysburg College, as well as trained as a law student in the office of Thaddeus Stevens. Eventually serving as a judge for the 42nd Judicial District, Wills was a powerful figure in Gettysburg who served several other important roles. These roles included:
- Burgess of the Borough of Gettysburg
- County Superintendent of Adams County Schools
- Bank of Gettysburg director
- Trustee of Wilson College and Dickinson School of Law
When the Civil War came around, confederates ended up occupying the town in the first few days of July 1863. Wills jumped into action and invited citizens into his cellar, and on the first floor provided aid to the wounded even after the battle had moved on.
Governor Andrew Curtin would soon visit the battlefield with David Wills a week later on July 10th, and astonished by how poor the conditions were, appointed Wills a state agent and put him in charge of ensuring proper burials for each person that was killed.
This appointment led to the inception of the Soldier’s National Cemetery, a place for all Union dead to be buried. For the cemetery dedication Wills would invite Edward Everett as the main speaker in addition to President Lincoln. Lincoln would stay in Wills’ home, and this would become the location where he would finish revisions to the famous Gettysburg Address.
The David Wills house is now a preserved landmark in Gettysburg where you can visit the very location President Lincoln put the finishing touches on one of the most famous speeches in history. If you’d like to hit several of the historic landmarks at once, we recommend one of our value plans, which offer you a great discount on some of the area’s attractions, totaling five to seven hours of action-packed entertainment.
Gettysburg Hotspots
November 14, 2014Even as the temperature starts to drop, the famous fields, provocative places, and memorable monuments still remain hotspots for visitors coming to witness historic Gettysburg. We’ve taken the time to put together a list of some of the popular locales that people look for when they visit so that you don’t miss any of these interesting hotspots on your next trip to see us. Have you been able to see them all?
Famous Places
- Where President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address – Located just outside the Soldiers’ National Cemetery is a marker that lets you know Lincoln delivered his historic Gettysburg Address nearby. The exact location is disputed, but the National Park Service has a brochure declaring it to be within the private Evergreen Cemetery.
- Devil’s Den – One of the most significant and haunted battlegrounds on the Gettysburg battlefield, The Devil’s Den is roughly 500 yards west of Little Round Top. Surrounded by large boulders, a Confederate sharpshooter used this hideout to take out hundreds of Union soldiers before they discovered him.
- Little Round Top – Roughly two miles south of Gettysburg in Cumberland Township there are two rocky hills, one larger and one smaller. You can probably guess the smaller one is known as “Little Round Top.” While small in size, it still remained one of the most important positions in the Union line, and a key point for the Union’s defense during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Pickett’s Charge – Located on Cemetery Ridge, this famous charge lead by General George Pickett was one of the defining moments of the Battle of Gettysburg. This ill-fated Confederate assault across the ridge would lead to over 6,000 Confederate deaths and would be Lee’s last invasion of the north, and came to signify the end of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Famous Monuments
- Peace Light Memorial –Also referred to as the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, this Gettysburg Battlefield monument was dedicated by President Roosevelt in July 1938. Featuring an eternal flame that is visible from 20 miles away, this granite monument commemorates the 1913 Gettysburg reunion of veterans that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. It is located on Oak Hill.
- Virginia Monument – The first and largest Confederate monument built at Gettysburg, this 14-foot bronze statue of General Robert E. Lee shows him on his horse “Traveller,” above seven Confederate soldiers. The Virginia Monument is located southwest of Gettysburg on West Confederate Avenue.
- North Carolina Monument – Once again located on West Confederate Avenue, this monument commemorates the 32 Carolina regiments at that Battle of Gettysburg. This collection of troops only trailed Virginia in terms of men it supplied to the battle, but featured the largest number of casualties of all the Confederate states.
- Irish Brigade – South of Gettysburg on Sickles Avenue, and just inside the Rose Woods stands a bronze Celtic cross that commemorates the predominantly Irish American infantry brigade that served the Union army.
If you haven’t seen these amazing historic Civil War locations and monuments, we encourage you to pay them a visit on your next trip to Gettysburg. Since there’s so much to see and do in Gettysburg, this list should by no means be considered expansive, but it does cover many of our most asked about attractions.
If you’d like to learn more about these or other great spots to visit on your next Gettysburg trip, feel free to comment below or contact us and we’d be happy to help!
11th Mississippi Infantry Memorial
November 12, 2014
Located on Seminary Ridge across from the North Carolina Memorial a rare Confederate Regimental marker can be found. The 11th Mississippi Infantry memorial is placed near where the regiment formed for battle on the afternoon of July 3, 1863. On the monument is Sergeant William O’Brien of Company C raising the flag & urging his comrades forward. Sergeant O’Brien was the first of 8 color bearers who were either killed or wounded during Pickett’s ill-fated charge. For the true Gettysburg “buff” there is a second marker to this unit located near the stone wall at the Bryan Barn noting the farthest advance of the remnants of this regiment on July 3rd. The 11th Mississippi entered the battle with 592 men – of these, 102 were killed, 168 wounded & 42 listed as missing or captured; a staggering 53%.
Memorial to 8th Illinois Cavalry
October 7, 2014
Located on Reynolds Avenue & dedicated on Sept. 3, 1891 is the memorial to the 8th Illinois Cavalry. This is one of three monuments the State of Illinois erected in 1891. This particular monument has quite a few stories to tell. It stands, number one, on the site once occupied by the 8th New York Cavalry. The New York marker was moved down the road (southerly) to accommodate the present occupant because Illinois was in this location first. Should you care to look at the flank markers (which have not been changed) you will notice they still reflect the information for the New York troopers. Perhaps the most intriguing part of this monument, however, is the single name found etched on the rear of the marker: David Diffenbaugh. No explanation will be found on the marker as to why this name is here. Private David Diffenbaugh was the regiments sole fatality at the Battle of Gettysburg & his sacrifice was remembered by his comrades. He is interred in the National Cemetery – Row A, Grave 4 of the Illinois Section.
CORA
September 15, 2014
Throughout recorded military history there have been many instances of soldiers naming their weapons. This happens quite often in the artillery branch of the service & we have such an example here at Gettysburg.
To be found at the farm once owned by the Trostle family is a 12 pounder Napoleon cannon named “CORA” by her crew. The name, painted on the breech, appears to be more a form of endearment than a title designed to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy.
While the gun barrel did not take part in the Battle of Gettysburg, it is Civil War vintage & saw action elsewhere.
Until a letter or a diary surfaces that mentions a gun named “Cora” this is destined to remain a mystery of history.