Spotsylvania Civil War Blog: Gettysburg's "Harvest of Death" correction to post of 2-18-12

Monday, February 20, 2012

Gettysburg's "Harvest of Death" correction to post of 2-18-12

Notice: Be sure to go back to the post of a few days previous by clicking here. Incorrect material had been added by your blog host in a premature effort to fill in some blanks. As I point out within the correction, "Haste makes waste."

Many thanks to my friends and loyal readers for keeping me on track. It was a close call.

Stay vigilant!

1 comment:

Karen Cummings said...: You will figure it out! In spite of the nay sayers!; February 21, 2012 at 1:01 AM

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Why I am here:

I am the owner of Spotsylvania Commemorative. For over 20 years I provided battlefield guide services, but as of January 1, 2022, I have retired from that aspect of my work. I continue to conduct historical research and assist and advise fellow historians. Living on the Spotsylvania battlefield has its advantages. The most important to me is that I am right on the ground that played an important but usually disregarded role in the campaign. The actions of May 14, 1864 resulted in the near capture of General George Gordon Meade while it also helped to anchor a new Federal left wing. Known as the battle of Myer's Hill, it focused on what was until recently a wooded summit, one half mile southeast from my driveway. There remains close to 75 acres of land which includes the Myer house site. In 1864 it was a 400 acre farm. I advocated for 20 years to influence the preservation of this property. During this time I sadly witnessed the destruction of some of the cultural resources on the site by deforesting, including what was a beautifully preserved trenchline built by the Federal 6th Corps. Seeing an imminent threat to the house site, I personally negotiated with the logging company and minimized the damage, while the surrounding acres were clear cut.
I have come to know the story of John Henry Myer and his family and the struggle for the farm site they called home. Myer, conscripted into the 40th VA Infantry, watched helpless from the Confederate trenches on May 15, 1864 as his home was destroyed by the Union occupants. It had been intended as a sanctuary from the ravages of war.
Their story, and those of countless others, is my inspiration. Thankfully, in 2018, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust did purchase, and now aims to interpret, the Myer's Hill battlefield. I shall continue to advocate and assist where I can.

Battlefield Guide Services

Monday, February 20, 2012

Gettysburg's "Harvest of Death" correction to post of 2-18-12

1 comment: