Gettysburg battlefield: March 2008 Archives

Photo by Randy Drais. His ancestor may have been treated in this field hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Randy Drais, a lifelong resident of York, has created an interesting new website specifically pertaining to the Battle of Gettysburg. Covering a broad and diverse range of topics, Randy's site has something for everyone, including a page with ideas to help children understand the battle and the Civil War experience.

Randy has pages devoted to out-of-the way locations that often are of interest to even the casual battlefield tramper, as well as pages for side-trips (including York and Hanover), recaps of National Park Service battlewalks, interesting monuments, and much, much more! For those who want to dive deeper into the battle's details, Randy includes an array of weblinks and books organized by topic and battle sequence.

For many years, the National Park Service has allowed various organizations, as well as private citizens, to "adopt" a monument or position on the Gettysburg battlefield. Volunteers are encouraged to clean-up and maintain the general environ of the area around the monument. Activities include weeding, trimming, clearing underbrush, and general maintenance of the grounds. These volunteer groups often meet once or twice a year for organized work parties that often include meals or refreshments together before or after the work.

A couple members of the York CWRT have adopted positions and are having a clean-up day on April 5. I'm sure they would welcome more help from any Cannonball readers!!

This weekend marks the third annual Reenactor Appreciation Weekend in Gettysburg. Hundreds of uniformed reenactors and living historians will be in town for this event, which is highlighted by a period ball, a ladies' tea, and a fashion show. Several merchants are offering discounts to those in period dress. if you are a reenactor, why not take a stroll through town and register for these free events?

I have gone to this event the past couple of years, as we presented a series of miniature wargames to the public. However, due to sparse attendance at these games, we did not plan any games this year.

Background post: 2008 York CWRT schedule

Mark your calendars!!! The March 19, 2008, meeting of the York Civil War Round Table will be an interesting look at the monumentation at the Gettysburg National Military Park. Dick Simpson will be talking on "Gettysburg: America's Great Art Park." He will take a close look at the outstanding carved and cast battlefield monuments, and will show slides of many popular monuments.

As always, the event (and parking) is free to the public. It will be at 7 P.M. 3/19 at the York County Heritage Trust on East Market Street in downtown York.