Siege of Yorktown, 1862 - Then and Now

     Last week, on April 26, I had my first opportunity to visit the Yorktown, Virginia area. I set off on this adventure as part of a family visit. One of my stepdaughter's husband is stationed near there, and spending time with them was a welcome opportunity to see the sights. Initially, having no preconceived notions of what the battlefield park offered, I had one very specific goal, and that was to visit the Moore House, site of the October 18, 1781 surrender negotiations of British General Cornwallis's army. That event was the opening door to the final cessation of hostilities during the Revolutionary War. However, my primary focus was, predictably some would say, to examine the 1862 Civil War connection to the site, as well as the unfounded rumor that Colonial-era Governor Alexander Spotswood was buried on the property. (therein is my Spotsylvania County connection, and excuse for posting about it here.) Below, is a May 1862 Gardner photograph of the Moore House, showing damage it suffered during the first month of the Peninsula Campaign, April 5 to May 4, 1862. Ironically, the structure had escaped damage during the 1781 conflict, having been located well east of that fighting's concentration. Today it is beautifully restored and managed by the National Park Service, as seen in the modern view. This view is looking roughly 112 degrees southeast. 

 

     Arriving at the park's visitor center, I began to formulate where I would need to go to focus on the Civil War  story, of which very little is presented. Taking a fast perusal of the souvenir/book store, I was delighted to find a thin, but quite informative book entitled, A Guide To Civil War Yorktown, by Dr. Thomas Adrian Wheat, Col. USA Retired. Within its 46 pages was a well designed walking tour of the siege works and the town itself, all based around Civil War era images. Included are some well detailed maps that provide the location and direction of each image. It does not, however, provide modern comparison images, but they are easily ascertained with the use of the maps provided.  Having set out on my adventure with only two predetermined 1862 images on hand, I was extremely pleased to have found this volume. Armed with it, I was now able to assemble some interesting then and now comparisons. I recommend that visitors seek out this guide. Without it I would have been at a loss to understand how the 1862 campaign utilized a good portion of the former British fortifications. Beginning with the photo below, I will present some of the images covered in the book. I have attempted to create as accurate modern views as I could, but I acknowledge that some could benefit from a bit of tweaking. Two in particular have been deliberately shifted, slightly, to adjust for modern obstructions. Be sure to click on any image for larger viewing.

 Looking roughly 150 degrees southeast along a portion of the

 Confederate, "High Bastion", near the visitor center.

 Looking roughly 278 degrees west, within "High Bastion", toward the visitor center.

 On Main Street, looking northwest, from in front of the Nelson House, in the town.

 On Main Street, looking southeast. The Courthouse is on the left.

 A battery of eight-inch Columbiads, on the east side of Church Street,
 near Grace Episcopal Church. The view is looking southeast.

 Looking roughly northward at the end of Church Street, across the York River,

 with Glocester Point on the opposite shore. The modern view is shifted slightly.

 The Sessions House and the Nelson House, looking southwest, from within a deep ravine.

The Nelson House was used as a hospital in 1862, and had been Cornwallis' headquarters in 1781.

 Attempting to achieve the same modern view is difficult due to current vegetation.

 Moving forward of the vegetation provides a similar, but not identical view. The ravine is evident.

     The Custom House on Main Street at the corner of Read Street, looking south. Photograph by George Barnard. The building served as headquarters for Confederate General John B. Magruder. The ruins of the Ambler House are at right. It was destroyed most likely by Federal incendiary shells, around May 3, 1862, during the Confederate evacuation of the town.

Graves Torn Open and Headstones Damaged in Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery, AGAIN!

     Nearly three years after a freak storm struck Fredericksburg's Confederate Cemetery, uprooting a large tree and tearing open graves (see story from July 2010), another fast, and violent storm swept through the area on Friday, April 19, 2013. This time the damage was manifest in the uprooting of a massive tree, the roots of which ripped open several graves and damaged numerous headstones. An examination of the site on Saturday did not reveal exposed human remains, but the damage to the ground and untold headstones was seen to be extensive. One marker was totally pulled from the ground and cast aside, unbroken. The massive tree appears to have stood approximately 108 feet, and probably 5 feet in diameter. As it came crushing down branches broke surrounding stones, and the giant trunk likely hammered several, straight down into the ground as it landed. This was the last of four historic trees that had been planted near the four corners of the center monument, dedicated in 1884. Further details of the storm and its wrath can be found by clicking here.

Click on any image for larger viewing.

 The massive root base opened numerous graves.

 This stone was uprooted and cast aside, unbroken.

 Its inscription indicates it was for a "Richard Jett", from Texas.

A search through several record sources did not reveal a positive

correlation to known soldiers from Texas fighting in the area.

The name engraved is perhaps a misspelling.

 Uprooted and broken stones abound.

 Approximately 108 feet tall, it effected numerous stones.

 Trees in the civilian sections also damaged stones.

 Your blog host stands next to the root base.

The roots tore through several graves.

The entrance gate to the cemetery, on Washington Avenue.

Additional damage, perhaps previous vandalism and not storm related,

is seen in the extreme shift of this column on the southwest corner of

the center monument. Could a 90 mile an hour wind gust shifted this?

Following the Trail of Gardner's Gettysburg Prop Gun?

     Before reading any further, if you are a novice to the photographs of Civil War dead at Gettysburg, and you have a delicate constitution, and/or get squeamish at the sight of mutilated bodies, you may not want to read further. So be WARNED, there will be, following this block of text, some vivid imagery, all very real and recorded within a few days after the conclusion of the battle in July 1863.

 

     Photographer Alexander Gardner made his way onto the field with his crew of assistant photographers with the intent of recording the horror of what transpired there, just as he did the previous September when he photographed the dead of the battle of Antietam, Maryland. Beyond this brief introduction, I have no purpose with this post to go into greater detail of the well researched and documented story behind the images taken. My purpose here will be to illustrate one small aspect of the series created that day, and that is the issue of the "prop" rifle that is seen in a number of the scenes taken along the south end of the battlefield. I believe it is clear that the photographers used only one weapon along this journey, toting it about from subject to subject, for about the extent of roughly a half mile before discarding it in all likelihood. Small arms had been collected from the field by the Union Army prior to, or along with the burial crews that cleaned up the battlefield. Something the local citizenry was appreciative of.

     Here, I will make a hypothesis, that once found, on or near the Rose Farm, this rifle was a visual prop that Gardner would exploit to add a bit more drama to the dead who had otherwise been stripped of most military equipment.

     It is my theory, and I suppose I am not the first to suggest it, that Gardner moved south from the series taken on the Trostle Farm and arrived on the Rose Farm, finding a large number of Confederate dead who had been assembled in burial formations. The Rose Farm images are thoroughly documented by William A. Frassanito in his famous book, Gettysburg: A Journey In Time, published in 1975, and expanded upon in the follow up work, Early Photography at Gettysburg in 1995. In consideration of the locations of these images, discovered by Frassanito, I might suggest that the first or one of the earliest on that site was a lone soldier horribly mutilated, either by an artillery shell or as some suggest, post mortem by wild hogs. I will not venture any speculation on that issue here, but what I am interested in is that this is the only (that I recall) view taken on the Rose Farm that shows an obviously placed prop gun. In the image the underside of the wood stock is visible, and only the muzzle end of the barrel can be seen, badly rusted, with a bayonet incorrectly attached on the end. The locking mechanism of the bayonet has not been engaged on the front sight of the barrel. The bayonet is not seen in any of the later images from that day. Again, this is also the only time that the rifle is seen on the Rose Farm series, I would think, because this was the only body presentable that was not pulled into a burial formation. It was the only view where one could suggest that the body was in situ, as he fell from the ghastly wound. WARNING, I am about to show this image, and it is very graphic. I have also turned the image upside down so as to make the rifle easier to view and appreciate within the context of the other images I will show, most of which, it can be easily seen are utilizing the same rifle.

 

    Below, a detail of the muzzle end of the rifle, showing the incorrectly attached bayonet. The important element here is not the bayonet, the important thing to note is the rusted nature of the visible portion of the barrel, from the front sight (to the left of the blade of grass at center) to the front end of the wood stock, showing the receiving channel for the ramrod which is missing.

    The next image below, is taken at a location to the south and then east of the Rose Farm series, about a 730 yard journey, inside the stone wall of a feature known as the "Triangular Field". It shows a  prop rifle in front a dead Confederate. Clearly there is not enough detail in this image to verify that it is the same weapon as the Rose Farm rifle, but I wager it is, based on the next two images.

    Somewhere within 43 yards or so, directly east of the previous body, was that of another dead Confederate, the subject of one of the most discussed issues of a body being moved to facilitate a more "romantic" image of a soldier's agonizing death. This is a subject well covered by Frassanito and others, and I am only interested in focusing on the gun seen in both views. A detail from this image, below, shows a clearly rusted muzzle end of a rifle. Here I have also turned the image over to better view the rifle in context to the story.

    Proceeding down the length of the barrel we can see a very distinct pattern of rust, also apparent on the lock plate assembly. Combined, all these rust patterns will indicate the use of the same "prop".

     Below, a larger view of the flipped image, showing the entire weapon. Get its rusted features firmly in your mind. The next image will clearly show this weapon in the more famous view of this body.

     Another 75 yards or so, directly east, Gardner is said to have moved the previous body to a more interesting location, a sharpshooters lair. Here, in the detail, the very clearly rusted muzzle end of the rifle now leaning against the stone barricade. Also visible is the distinct rust pattern on the barrel and lock plate further down.

     Below is an enlargement of the rusted muzzle, which to my mind leaves no doubt it is the one on the Rose Farm.

 The fingerprint like uniqueness of the rust along the barrel as it sits in the wood forearm of the stock.

     The next image, below, shows a prop rifle placed with bodies about 205 yards south and east, in the area of a post-war trolley line, now used as a foot path. The details of that are available in Frassanito's, Early Photography at Gettysburg. The details are not clear to say for certain, but my wager is we are looking at the same rifle. That is supported by the details of the next image we will examine.

     About 125 yards slightly northeast of the previous bodies is the scene below, in an area dubbed, "The Slaughter Pen". In this gruesome detail of a dead Confederate exhibiting massive head trauma, we can see what appears to be the same prop rifle, based at first look on the rusted muzzle end.

     Below, we look further down the barrel and we can see what appears to be the very distinct rust pattern again, along the stock and rear sight.

     Below, we see the full image of this photograph. This rock is very near the Devil's Den parking lot, along Plum Run. It is here that I believe the rifle was abandoned by Gardner. To my recollection I don't believe we see a prop gun in any of the views Gardner took on Little Round Top. I may be wrong, but I believe this indicates the path Gardner took after leaving the Trostle Farm. There were other images taken that day in the area of Devil's Den, including the famous portrait of newspaper artist Alfred Waud, but they are all within the reasonable path of the ones I have presented here.

     Here is a map that marks the approximate position of the images presented here, starting with the mutilated body on the Rose Farm, marked as A, in the upper left. From there it is quite possible that Gardner's crew swept south, around the large, wooded area, and then east to arrive at the Triangular Field where the next body was located about where I have marked B. Continuing east, then south around the boulders of the Devil's Den area, finding the next bodies below and along Plum Run, marked, E and F. From A to F we are looking at a distance of around 3/4 of a mile.

Debunking the CCWP's, Lincoln at Gettysburg Discovery

     Updated. See additional material at end of post.

     On November 16, 2007, USA Today ran a front page article proclaiming that a member of the Center for Civil War Photography had discovered two new images of President Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg. Stating that the "discovery" doubled the known images of the President on the day he delivered his Gettysburg Address, the article, and subsequent press release from the CCWP, described how the President could be seen riding through the crowd, saluting soldiers with his left hand. Upon seeing the images, acclaimed Lincoln scholar, Harold Holzer is quoted, "All I can say is, Wow! Unbelievable." President of the CCWP, Bob Zeller proclaimed, "I think it’s one of the most significant Civil War photographic discoveries in quite some time. It’s as if we can ask a Civil War photographer to go back out on the field and take just a couple of more shots of the greatest president in American history."

     But, what do these photographs, taken as stereo pairs, actually show? The images are derived from glass negatives taken by Alexander Gardner, and are available for inspection via the Library of Congress website's, Prints and Photographs Online Catalog. Three exposures from virtually the same camera position survive today. Gardner's camera was either purposely, or accidentally moved to the right in the third image of the sequence. The timing of the three images is easily determined by the change in location of various individuals, and a horse-drawn vehicle in the first and second, as well as by the clear movement of a shadow along the west wall of the Evergreen Cemetery gate. Below are the left-hand portion of the three stereo negatives, in order of their creation. Click on these and all images presented, for a larger view.

     Below, the horizon details of each, in the same sequence, anchoring the fixed camera position. Stationary objects at left, and right serve as markers. Remember, for the third exposure, Gardner's camera is slightly moved, but the dominant features maintain their relative position.

 The third is the telling image. It appears the soldiers have decided to get off their feet in some cases.

     The next three detail views demonstrate the shadowing cast of the wall of the gate house. The first is faint due to apparent cloud cover.

      In the second exposure, the sun has emerged to cast a very strong shadow, but this image was taken within a very short time after the first. Minutes? Note that some of the soldiers have now stuck their bayonets into the ground. Not at attention, but at rest.

      In the third exposure, the sun has clearly risen, and the shadow has moved like a sun dial across the face of the wall. Unfortunately, there has been a structural addition built on this wall, which will today, obscure the shadowing seen here, thus making difficult an effort to calculate the exact time it was taken on the anniversary date in November. The soldiers have now stacked their arms.

     Below, closer detail of the three images, again presented in the order taken. In all three I have marked certain features. At left is a tree which I have marked as "T". At right, a grouping of spectators that maintain their relative position, marked as "3". The figure that was said to be the "saluting" Lincoln, is marked by "1", and a horse-drawn carriage, driving toward the right, is marked as "2". This first image here, was incorrectly considered to be the second image by the CCWP.

    The true second exposure below, made probably within a minute of the previous image, shows that the "Lincoln" figure, "1", has actually not moved from his previous position, yet the horse-drawn carriage, "2",  has advanced closer to the group of spectators, "3". The carriage drivers are easily discernible. The foreground figures are getting settled on their mounts. Nobody seems to be focused on the figure said to be Lincoln. The specators at right appear to be more interested in what is happening further to the right (their left), on the speaker's platform.

    And, in the third exposure, taken after a short time has elapsed, (perhaps ten or fifteen minutes?)shows what may very likely be the same "Lincoln" figure, possibly obscured by another mounted figure, still marked by "1". The horse-drawn carriage, "2", has parked and there is an individual seated on its hard top roof. The driver is still seated. The group of spectators at far right have maintained their spots, looking toward the speaker's platform, and the tree at far left has of course stood vigilant throughout.

     Additional thoughts regarding the supposed "Lincoln" are, A. Why would the President salute with his left hand? He wouldn't. B. How is he passing through the crowd as suggested by the CCWP? He isn't. The figure is standing in one spot. It is the horse drawn carriage that has moved past the figure. And C. If this is the President, why are most of the people in the crowd, especially the military, just loitering about? In the third image, the soldiers have stacked arms, and no one seems to be leaving the site, although it was suggested by the CCWP that the President was on the move, facing to the left even. Exiting? The entourage should be arriving from left to right. Note: The speaker's platform is to the right of center, and just left of a large tent, in the full frame images, appearing like a small hill. What this series does show is a very bored crowd waiting for something to happen. No one is standing at attention. Could it be that Lincoln has not yet arrived, and the crowd is waiting for it to happen? Or, is he and the other esteemed guests already gathered and the soldiers in the crowd are preparing for a long period of oration? Edward Everett spoke for over two hour prior to the president's few minutes. If we can firmly determine the time, based on the moving shadow of the sun on November 19, we may have an easier time figuring at what point in the dedication ceremony these images were taken.

And one additional thought to this consideration: Why is the focus of the crowd in this detail below, placed on the apparent speaker's platform, still, if the President has either not yet arrived or is leaving, based on the CCWP presentation? This detail is extracted from the very same image that provides the so called "saluting" Lincoln, the first image in the series. And, you will see, at now far left, the group of spectators that I had previously tagged with a "3", staring toward the center, along with everyone else it now seems. If the President of the United States was far off to the left from this view, why wouldn't the attention be focused on that fact? No, I have to say, Lincoln is already on the speaker's platform in this and the other two images. The third image, based on the absolute look of boredom and the stacked arms of the soldiers, gives me reason to believe that it is during Mr. Everett's agonizingly long speech.